Salute » Harry Styles

Chapter 17

∞ Chapter 17 ∞

"What?" I say her with an appalling expression. Why would anyone send such a beautiful piece of work to me? Me out of everyone else in the world.

Gemma nods and she hands me the 'bracelet'. I hold the item. The band is a silver color, what seems to be a star and a crescent moon entwined together. Next to the moon and star is a silver band that has some writing engraved on it which I cannot read.

"What does it say?" I ask, lending the item back to Gemma. She squints her eyes at the engraving.

"It says, 'Even If I'm Not There Beside You, I Will Always Protect You, From The Moon And Back - CB'," Gemma reads.

I narrow my brows down together. How can someone write such a beautiful quote, a beautiful quote for me?

But the initials at the end throw me off. 'CB'? Could it be from Theo? It has to be from Theo. He is such a gentleman and I'm not going to lie and say that he is not intriguing. May be 'CB' must have been code so that no one could recognize his initial initials.

"Who's 'CB'?" Gemma asks in curiosity. She is just as confused as I am.

"Probably one of the girls from the SI. They're always messing with me," I lie, laughing nervously.

She gives me a peculiar look. "But Jade, see the little rocks on the side of the silver band? They are diamonds. They're worth millions, especially this kind. How can some woman from the SI give you a beautiful bracelet for this much money?"

"I have no idea," I say with a sigh. "May be its just some bitch messing with me."

Gemma opens and closes her mouth, wanting to say something but decides to keep it to herself.

"You shouldn't worry about it, Gemma. It's just a 'bracelet'," I say with a shrug. Gemma sighs while nodding her head. I put the 'bracelet' on my wrist anyways.

"So, I wanted to go and visit the Home. I know we missed last week but we were a bit busy," Gemma says, changing the subject and I nod.

"I would love to go to the Home," I say.

***

"Gemmy!" the little boys squeal. Their little wandering eyes flicker to me and smile. "Jadey!"

They run towards us, pulling on the hem of our pants. I cannot hold back the smile crawling up my face.

"Hey PJ! Max, don't shove anyone!" Gemma says in a motherly tone. She pulls the plastic bag from behind her. Before coming here, we stopped at a place called McDonald's and ordered quite a few 'McChicken sandwiches'.

We pass out the food, the little boys squealing in delight as they devour the food. I smile again at them.

Gemma and I stay longer, listening to the elderly women tell stories, not only entertaining the little boys but Gemma and I as well.

Gemma then teaches the boys how to do a braid with a girl's hair. I laugh as Henry struggles to keep up with Gemma's pace. I try to help him, since I do not know how to do a braid either. We both laugh when I end up tying my finger in my hair accidentally.

I feel so comfortable hanging out with the little boys and the elderly women. I feel as if I finally have found a place where I belong, a place where people will like me. I mean, I love staying with Gemma and Anne but I feel as if I am a burden. Anne already has enough bills to pay; she does not need me to add more money.

The roof leaks again, the water dripping into a silver pail. Janet sighs.

"We still haven't gotten it fixed," she says. Michelle, another elderly woman, pats her back in reassurance.