Devoid [Bruno Mars]

Chapter thirteen

Chapter thirteen

Outside and above us, the sky was a mass of gray, nearly white. Though the sun was hidden it was still hot, and the AC was on full blast. It helped keep my mind clear as I thought of ways to drag Michelle out of her quiet mood. She'd been like this ever since she woke and we bade goodbyes to Hotel Hosein. “I think it's amazing that you're going to Africa,” I tried, not getting a response from her. She stared blankly at the road in front of us. I sighed and shot a look to Brook, who was in the backseat. She poked her head between our seats and agreed with me. “Everyone thinks Africa is this all-indigent continent. I actually wish I could go with you, Michelle, visit my home country and find me some sexy African men.”

We looked at Michelle expectantly, but hadn't even gotten a blink of her eyes. So I turned up the radio. I didn't want to tell her that she shouldn't act this way on our last day together, because whatever she was feeling was okay to feel.

Several minutes later, Michelle burst into herself again, vibrant and glowing with her ways. I think it was our nearing of Brook's house that gave her an exit out of her mood; she realized our triangle would be soon broken into pieces. “Brook you crook!” Michelle yelled, watching Brook from the rear view mirror take tissue rolls and towels from the hotel out of her purse. “You sly ass!”

I narrowed my eyes, faux menace. “Why didn't you tell her?”

“My memory's awful.” Brook pouted.

“I would have taken the damn window curtains if you gave me the idea.” Michelle scowled, looking at Brook in appreciation. “You badass.”

I gasped. “Brook you just earned the ultimate title. Now you can drop out of college and sell everything you own because nothing else matters anymore.”

Brook threw her hands up, tissue rolls bouncing off the ceiling, crying out success. One of the rolls bopped me in the face.

“Badass not living up to her name.” I threw the roll back at her, wiping my tissue dust tainted eyes. They began to water.

“I think the opposite.” Michelle grinned.

I scowled at her. “You're lucky you're driving. Would have gotten a mouth full of four ply.”

Brook lived in a white bungalow forty-five minutes west of me. When we pulled up to the driveway Michelle cut the engine and we stayed in silence for awhile. “Well, this was fun,” Brook said. “Michelle pop the trunk will you.”

We all got out the Tank and Michelle and I watched Brook pull out her bags. “Do you live here alone?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Heck no. This is my dad's place. I'm staying here for the rest of the summer with my sis.”

We walked her to the door. I kicked at the doormat. “Before we leave I just wanted to let you know that you're my sisters and,” I pulled out a two sterling silver bracelets from my pocket. I bought these at a souvenir shop today at the hotel after Bruno dropped me off, which I'm not going to tell Michelle. “There's this story my mom used to tell me about sisters. Some Greek mythology; the story is crazy too but guys chase after you all the time, don't they?” I pressed the bracelets in their hands, certain they didn't know what the hell I was saying. “Well legend has it they changed into stars.” I held up my necklace, warm and pulsing like a heartbeat in my palm. “It kind of matches mine. I don't have much family. All I have is my mom and like aforementioned, sisters, you feel to me.”