On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 7: The Mystery of Her

This chapter will be told from Parker's point of view!!!

~~~

From the moment I met her, I knew things would be different in this city. From the moment she first sassed me, I knew she was actually worth getting to know.

People move to Austin from all over. We get a new kid a week, it feels like. With her, though, it was different. I always know everyone's next move. I can hear what they're thinking. I know their drive, their motivations, and sometimes, their darkest desires.

Her mind is silent, like white noise.

I'm used to predictability. It has brought so much more peace to my life. I'm not nervous when I meet anyone because I know their true intentions. I never thought I could find harmony in silence and unpredictability, but now that unpredictability's name is Jackie Robinson, it has piqued my interest. 

More than she'll ever know...

~~~

Driving home from her apartment complex that afternoon, millions of questions crossed my mind. Why did she move here? Why is she named after a dead baseball player? Why is she so emotionally distant? Why did she tell me that scar was from a skiing accident when that is far from the truth; who is she protecting and why?

I found myself wishing that I could just read her mind for ten minutes. Hell, one minute. Anything that could give me a clue into this girl's life.

I changed gears in frustration. There had to be a way to find out more about her. It wouldn't be fair if I picked apart her brother's mind to learn more about her. There had to be a reason why she's so distant. I guess I'll just have to prove to her that I'm worth trusting.

I turned into my driveway and parked my car. I carried my backpack inside and was instantly greeted by my two cats, Star and Carl.

I gave them love and petted them before filling their food and water bowl. I grabbed a peach and ate it while I watched them eat what I gave them.

"See you two at dinner," I said as I climbed the stairs.

My parents were at work, and they would be until late tonight. My parents are the city's best doctors. Mom's a cardio surgeon and Dad's a neurosurgeon. Under their knives, you're more than likely to come out alive and well. They have some of the best outcomes in the country. Their talent attracts a lot of patients from all over the world. Unfortunately for me, it means I'm home alone a lot.

I walked past Liz's room. I held my breath, and I told myself she's at cheer practice and she'd be home soon.

Not the healthiest thing to tell yourself your dead sister is coming home. I know she's gone, and she will never be coming home, but sometimes, when you're home alone, you just need some comfort and familiarity before everything changed.

My parents got those rankings after Liz's death. They threw themselves into their work. I know why. They weren't her doctors. If they were, Liz might have survived, but with the rule that you cannot operate on family, she was given the second-best, and my parents blame those doctors for the loss of their daughter. They work harder now because they don't want to cause another family the grief and loss they went through.

Sometimes, I wonder if they know I'm still here. They lost a daughter, but I lost a sister.

My parents don't know about what happened when I woke up after the accident. I don't know how to tell two people who thrive off of sheer logic that their son can read people's minds. I don't know if they'd believe me or commit me. I don't want to find out either.