The Beautiful Life of Robyn Rose

What Were You Thinking?

"Hey! Aren't you cold?" a deep, masculine voice interrupted my concentration.

I opened my eyes slowly and stared at the stranger across my yard. My head was still in the clouds as I tried focusing on where I was.

"No, I'm alright-" I rubbed my eyes and began but he cut me off.

"Oh I know you. You go to Brooke don't you?" he casually leaned on my fence, a gray beanie keeping brown hair out of his amber eyes.

"Yeah, I do," I remained passive, but couldn't help the curiosity inside me pique at who this person was.

Where did he even come from? How long had he been standing there?

"Yeah, you're Riley, right?" He grinned, displaying slightly crooked teeth and dimples.

"Yup, that's me, Riley," I said sarcastically and stood dusting grass off of my dress. Rain began to pepper my skin in soft little kisses. Thunder rumbled overhead, sending delicious shivers up and down my spine.

"What were you doing just sitting there?" he looked genuinely confused, but I had a feeling he wouldn't understand if I explained that I was trying to listen to the winds voice and become a deep rooted tree.

"Meditating," I answered simply.

"Oh... that's cool. So, is it true you worship the devil?" he changed the subject.

I had a feeling he was going to ask.

I stretched and smiled at him. He backed up off the fence warily.

"Look, this conversation was really interesting, but I've got to go. It's time to feed my cat," I waved goodbye and turned around to head inside the house.

I knew he would jump to conclusions at my lack of an answer to his question and only fuel the fire of rumors at school. I just didn't care.

"Robyn, what were you doing outside?" my aunt Macy asked nonchalantly as I walked through the kitchen.

I didn't answer.

"I saw her sitting in the grass with her eyes closed, chanting," Jeremy, my cousin, sat at the kitchen counter and dug through a box of
cereal.

I winced.

He didn't look at me.

Macy whirled around and stared at me, horrified. I swear I watched the blood drain out of her face.

"Robyn Rose, you will not bring demons into this house! I told you before and I will tell you again, if you want to continue living here, you will attend church and be rid of your demonic lifestyle," she gripped the counter dramatically, her other hand on her heart.

I eyed her like she was a ticking bomb about to explode. I heard a noise come from Jeremy, something similar to a choke but I knew he was holding back a laugh.

I bit my tongue and left without saying anything, heading up to my room instead.

I closed my bedroom door behind me and delicately organized my rain jars on my desk. My cat, Midnight, was curled up on my bed cozily, and I envied his constant sleep schedule.

"Must be nice," I complained.

He opened his eyes and gave me a look that said, 'And?'.

"You know what, you don't get to say anything. You have no idea what kinds of responsibilities are put on teenagers. Or human beings in general," I ranted at him.

He blinked at me.

"I don't appreciate your attitude," I told him.

The door opened and Macy poked her head in, her eyes glancing at my numerous candles suspiciously before resting on my face.