Salted Wound

Chapter 23 Zamari- Oct 6, 2018

"Jade! I'm leaving right now, are you going?" I call.

    She comes to lean in the doorway to my room, watching me dump some clothes, a toothbrush and charger into my backpack.

    "Nah, not really my scene." She perches on the edge of my bed and I sit in my chair.

    "It could be if you get to know them."

    "Nah, they're not my type, you know that. Too girly for my taste." She shrugs, looking unbothered but I know my sister. It bothers her more than she's willing to admit that she feels like she doesn't fit in. Something I can relate to more often than not.

"Last chance to change your mind, I'm gonna be taking the car. I can drop you off at Naomi's house still."

"They're your friends, not mine." She says and I look up, starting to understand her inherent hesitation when it comes to Ana and the others.

"They didn't use to be, I became friends with them recently. You could too if you get to know them."

She grins and pushes my shoulder slightly. "Since when are you the touchy-feely type?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm right you know. They already want to get to know you."

She stands up and shrugs.
    "You're wasting your breath bro, I'm happy right here."

"You're gonna have to socialize sometime," I warn her turning off my light as we walk out. Amari is spread out on the living room floor coloring, and I give him a friendly kick in the ribs in lieu of a goodbye. He yelps in surprise and pretends to glare at me for breaking his focus.

"You headed out, sweetie?" Mom asks from her perch on the couch, remote in hand and swaddled in a blanket, guaranteed to be asleep within minutes of putting on whatever movie is decided on.

"Yea, ma, I won't be there too late tomorrow, I should be home by the time Jade stumbles out of bed."

"Okay, we'll be here." I lean down to kiss her cheek and turn to wack Jade as I stand but she ducks my swing, coming up with a smirk.

"Slowing up old man."

"Old my ass, you're three minutes behind me." I swat at her again and she bats me away.

"Language." Mom calls mildly, already focused back on flipping through TV channels.

"Bye guys," I call, ducking out the door before Jade can get a hit in.

I pull up the address Freddie gave me for his house to see how far it is, thankful I could take the car and not be subjected to Freddie's God awful driving. I text Marcus that I'm on the way to pick him up and roll the window down, enjoying the cool breeze that blows through, turn the music up and give myself a minute to enjoy the freedom of the drive. It's rare I get to drive somewhere without having a time limit, a place I have to be right away. Marcus doesn't live that far away, and pretty soon I pull into his driveway and text him again saying I'm there, as well as Freddie to let him know we'll be on the way soon.

    "Took your time getting here," Marcus calls from his front door as he locks it behind himself. He swings a black duffel bag onto his shoulder. Wearing loose grey sweatpants, a soft blue shirt and socks with slides, it's obvious he's planning on being as comfortable as possible.

    "Figured I'd give you enough time to get ready, I've heard you gotta give a lady plenty of time to prepare." I bat my eyelashes at him and he can't help but laugh. He climbs in the passenger door, puts on his seatbelt and I pretend to pout.

    "What, no kiss?"
    He snorts and says "Not those big ass lips."
    "Uncalled for," I say, but I'm laughing.

I pull out of the driveway and wind through town, following the directions Marcus reads off my phone to a neighborhood comparable to my fathers. We pass houses set far back from the road adorned with ivy-covered trellises, rose bushes, outdoor staircases leading to balconies and garages that are left open, as if being stolen from is of no concern. I pull up outside the house I assume to be Freddie's and crane my neck to try and take it all in. The large white and blue house has two stories and a wrap-around porch, a wide cobblestone walk, and steps leading up to the double front door, a three-car garage at the head of the drive. On the second story, I glimpse a balcony, with floor to ceiling glass doors surrounded by stained glass in complex, swirling patterns. I whistle appreciatively.