Twenty Øne Reasons to Live

Chapter Twø

Sarah's Point of View

I couldn't believe my sister... she was ruining my special day. I've dreamed about meeting them in person for like, my entire life, and they like her more than me! That's pretty obvious. All Josh did was talk to her. I took a quick glance her way, her big green eyes glistened in the moonlight and I realized she was prettier than me. She was smarter than me, she was better than me in every way.

"You still hogged him," I spoke up after a few more minutes, and she didn't even look my way.

"I'm sorry..." her voice cracked.

"What?"

"They're turning," she informed me in a flat tone.

"Right." I turned, and followed the glowing tail lights of their Ford Focus.

"I didn't mean to, you know..." Kit replied, voice low.

"Well you still did it," I informed her.

"You think I meant to? I don't even like them!"

"Exactly! Why don't you like them?!"

"Because! They don't care about us! They only like you because you make them money, Sarah!" she yelled.

I pulled into the parking lot and gave her what for.

Josh's Point of View

I could tell she was in pain. It was written all over her face like you wouldn't believe. And those scars...she never noticed that her thumbs slipped out of the holes, and her sleeves came up a few times. Some were really, really fresh....Poor kid. It's pretty obvious that she still did that, and I couldn't help but feel like I was responsible to stop it.

Turning into the pizza parlor, I asked, "Hey Tyler, did you notice-?"

"Yeah. It was the first thing I noticed, actually," he replied to me.

"What do we do, Ty?"

"What can we do?"

I sighed. I guess he was right. "I don't know, but there has to be something."

"They're fighting again," Tyler nodded toward their station wagon, and I jerked my head to see them very obviously going at it. It looked like it was mostly her sister, and I blinked. Kirsten didn't need that. Not at all.

"Let's go..."

We got out and Sarah slapped her sister's arm, seeing us. It wasn't a harmful slap, it was a knock it off warning. Kirsten jumped and turned and I waved awkwardly, not realizing how dumb that probably looked. I didn't know what to do, okay? I had to act like I didn't see them at each other's throats even though it was insanely obvious!

They stumbled out and we all walked towards Rossi's.

My Point of View

Josh held the door open, and I tucked a piece of hair that had fallen in my eyes behind my right ear. That was nice of him...

The girl standing behind a small counter smiled and her eyes lit up. "Tyler! Josh! Hey!"

"Hey Sue!" Tyler greeted.

"We come here anytime we're in the area," Josh leaned down and informed me in a hushed voice.

I nodded and leaned away. Once again. My bubble.

"Just two?" the girl named Sue asked.

"Nope, we've got company today," he replied, grinning.

"Lucky girls!" she laughed.

We followed her back to a booth all the way in the corner, and Tyler looked a me. "You want the inside or the outside?"

Oh. So apparently I was sitting next to him. Greaaaaaaat. "Uh. The inside please." Truth was, I can't sit on the outside because I feel too vulnerable. Same reason why I can't sleep without covers, or go on roller coasters, or swim in a bathing suit. I know it's weird. But it's true.

"Oh! Good! I can't sit on the inside, it makes me feel too claustrophobic and that spikes my anxieties."

Was he seriously playing this angle right now? Maybe he was on to the fact I have an anxiety disorder, but I very seriously doubt he could do anything to make me open up about it or whatever. Gosh, that is so cliche.

"Then it all works out, doesn't it?" I replied, caustically.

"Yep!" he said, clearly not picking up on my sarcastic manner.

"Do you want the inside too?" Josh asked Sarah.

She looked at him, and simply based on the look in her eyes, I knew she didn't hear a word he just said. "Okay..." she replied in a mellifluous tone, grinning crookedly.

They got seated and a waitress came up and stopped cold, stupefied.

"Hey! You're new here," Josh said, smiling. Well, he definitely wasn't kidding about them coming here whenever they're in town...they recognized everyone one of the staff, it seemed.

"Are- Aren't you the guys from twenty øne piløts?"

"Yeah! You a fan?" Tyler asked, simpering.

"Yes!"

"Thanks for your support!"

"Of course, you guys are great!"

They both looked down, seemingly becoming bashful all the sudden. That was kind of cute... I mean what???? WHAT WAS THAT, KIRSTEN? PULL IT TOGETHER! "Thanks," they said in sync.

"So, can I start you guys off with some drinks?"

"Dr. Pepper," Tyler said.

"Nothing," I squeaked.

"C'mon, kid!" Josh countered.

"Drinks are expensive..." I looked down, abashed.

"It's on us, don't worry about it."

"Uh-"

"She'll have lemonade," Josh ordered for me, and I glanced at him in surprise. How the blue heck did he know lemonade was my favorite beverage? Lucky guess. That, or he's stalking me. That's paranoia.