Chapter Sixty One

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Rose

       Mother Nature hates me. Whenever I go outside for fun, I get bruised by rocks, scratched by twigs and bit my bugs. So I stay inside most of the time. But sometimes, people feel the need to be bold and try something different. So on my break at Le Café, I decide to transform and climb a tree. As I use my cat claws to pull myself higher, I feel like a tomboy. This is something Hunter or Krys or Jenny would do. But not me. Nonetheless, I continue climbing until I find a sturdy branch to dangle my legs from. I sink my cat claws into the bark so I don’t slip. I swing my legs up and down. When I was little, I was always the first kid to get to the swing set when I went to the playground with my friends. I grabbed the first swing and while everyone else needed to be pushed, I refused anyone’s help and pumped. I swung my long, skinny legs back and forth until I was high enough to loop over the swing set if I wanted. All my friends envied me. I kick my legs back and forth now but it doesn’t get me any higher.

            “Rose?” a voice asks. I look up and through the thick green leaves I see a red glow. “Joe?” I ask nervously. His head pops out between the branches. “Hey Ro.” He says grinning. I roll my eyes. Who would bother making a nickname for a name as short as Rose? “What do you want?” I ask annoyed. “What? Can’t a boy just hang out in a tree and watch the clouds?” He points to the sky where white, puffy, marshmallow clouds drift by. “I guess so. But . . . it seems like you might be spying.” I wonder how many times he’s watched us from this tree. Or maybe he really is just relaxing. Something no one in Super Six has time for as April 20th approaches rapidly. Then, instead of fighting me or tormenting me, Joe does something unexpected. He waves his hand summoning me to come over to him. “Come up here.”

            “Nah. I’m good down here.” I reply. If I go up there will he shoot me or grab me? “Just climb up here. I don’t want to fight you or anything.” He insists. Why not? Maybe if I’m friendly to him, he’ll be nice enough to return the favor and quit his dumbass “mafia”. So I climb higher and crawl onto the same narrow branch as Joe. It bends a bit under my weight but it holds firm. I still quiver a little while I sit beside Joe. He points to the clouds. “That one looks like a dick.” I’m tempted to shove him off the branch. “Are you for real right now?” I snap. “Be mature!” I study the cloud and realize he’s kind of right. Maybe I can just spend a little time being a silly teenage girl. “You know . . . Mute came to the warehouse to talk to us,” Joe begins randomly. He never mentioned anything to me about going to the warehouse.

            “What did he say?” I ask. Joe shrugs a little. “He just kept telling us we should stop working for Rob and Scotch.” He replies softly. “So why don’t you join our side?” I ask. “Well . . . Matt quit working for Rob and Scotch and he gets to be Krys’s girlfriend,” Joe begins slowly. “They’re not really boyfriend and girlfriend . . . yet.” I point out. “Well . . . you’re not really Jake’s girlfriend either.” Joe blurts out. Where did that come from? He looks up at me with big pleading, puppy-dog eyes and his face is red. He might have felt me on a dare but he really does have a crush on me. I can tell. “But I don’t want to be your girlfriend.” Even though he didn’t directly say he wanted me to be it was kinda implied. Joe’s face falls and he looks down. “Well . . . maybe I’ll join your side . . . if . . . if you kissed me.” He looks back up at me with those big, hopeful eyes.

            I feel the color rise in my cheeks. I don’t really want to kiss him. But what’s the harm? He knows I don’t like him so it’s really only an advantage for me if it means he’ll join our side. But full out on the lips is a lot to ask. “Uh . . . how about on the cheek?” I offer. He nods eagerly. Better to just get it over with. Butterflies crowd my stomach and I feel like I might fall. Joe’s hand slides over mine. What’s he doing? I’m too dizzy and light-headed to think or care. I quickly lean in and plant one on his cheek. He looks love struck like he’s just been shot with cupid’s arrow. It’s just a little kiss but it looks like someone just had a “home run” with him. He starts to fall back. I quickly slide my arm around him so he doesn’t fall. “Whoa.” He whispers in awe. I roll my eyes and smile a little. It’s just a kiss. That’s all.

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