The Beginning

Nicky

Dropping her makeup bag on the floor, Tess sank into the couch and kicked her feet up. She released a drawn-out groan. "Everything hurts." She whined then turned her face into the cushions.

"Do you remember anything from the wreck?" I wondered. I placed her suitcase beside the couch and fished my phone out of my pocket.

Tess sighed. Her hand moved to her forehead as if touching the bruise would help her remember. "I was driving. It was a little wet out, but it wasn't cold enough for ice, right?"

It was too early to ask her questions, I supposed. Adrenaline and a good dose of heavy painkillers probably had her warped. "It's okay." I sat in front of the couch beside her head. I sent a text to Roni with one hand and shook her awake with the other.

"Why?" Frustration begat by fatigue and physical upset leaked out in faux child-like sobs. She rolled toward me to push me off.

"You're bleeding again."

Stitches on her forehead seeped into the cushion behind her. Tess's hand flew to her face. "Oh no." She bolted upright. She winced, caught the bridge of her nose, and fell backward. "I got it on the couch." She groaned.

I snickered. "Santi's going to shit."

"Over a couch?" She eased herself up on the couch. "Damn it." She cursed at the dirt her shoes left behind. "I didn't think this through."

I laughed harder. "Don't worry. I can get it cleaned before I leave."

"What if doesn't come out?" She turned her back to me, observing the deep red stain closer.

"I'll fuck him up." I replied with a shrug.

Her head snapped in my direction. "That is not how we solve our problems."

"That is in fact how Santi and I have always solved our problems." I corrected her. "We fought over who got the front seat, who got the first plate, who got the last hit." I listed. "Like clockwork, it started every Sunday with the red tie." It didn't end until I moved out.

"The red tie?" She inquired.

"The only nice one we owned. Satin. I got it by default because I was the youngest and Santi didn't think it was fair. So, I fought him for it. The last time, I accidentally ripped it and he beat my ass. Walked into church with a bruised eye and a broken pinky. Mom found out and beat our asses after church." I chuckled at the memory. I missed the days when we cared enough to fight about things.

Tess, however, didn't hear a happy memory. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"I'm guessing you and Theo were a little more civil?" I sorted through her things to find anything comfortable. She had packed nothing but work uniforms and a few nice outfits to return to the school.

Her eyelids grew heavy as she gazed down at me. "I didn't have the chance to compete with him." Her voice hoarse as she spoke. "Theo was the backbone of our family. When our parents went on separate month-long benders, there was Theo, doing everything that they were supposed to do by himself. I think that's why we stopped getting along. I was his burden, and he was my keeper." Her eyes grew distant, reliving those horrific times.

I placed a hand on her thigh and fought the urge to give it a squeeze.

She blinked herself back into the present moment. A delicate smile turned the corners of her mouth. "Hmm?" Her brows rose.

I wanted to laugh it off. Changing the subject was my forte, running from the things that hurt was my favorite pass time, but even in her haze, I couldn't bring myself to make light of her circumstances. "I'm sorry, Tess." My thumb smoothed over her hospital issue sweats. "You deserved a lot better than you got."