I Amsterdam (Completed)

Chapter 10.2 - Brandon

I woke up with Emma's raven sketch in my hand. Up above the sun was rising, and in response, I jumped out of bed and dashed to my window. I was desperate to see Emma's deep green eyes staring at the sunrise in awe, her cute dimples that paired with her bright smile, and her wavy, brown hair that she liked to keep locked behind her ears. She was a sunrise in itself.

But when I glanced down at her window, she wasn't there. The curtains were open, but the room was dark and empty.

Maybe she slept in.

I decided to go over to check. Gently gripping the raven sketch, I made my way over to my door, but just as I opened it I saw Hailey standing outside, her hand ready to knock.

"Hailey," I said, surprised. "Why are you up so early?"

"I could ask the same for you," she replied. "But I think I already know."

I combed my hand through my hair and stuffed it into my black jeans. "Why are you up early?" I asked her again, ignoring her comment.

"I couldn't sleep," she answered. "Can I come in?"

Half annoyed this was wasting my time, for I could be seeing Emma by now, I let Hailey walk inside. She sat down on my bed, and I took a chair. "What's up?" I asked.

She criss-crossed her legs and held them tight to her chest. "Do you remember our rule book?" she asked me. "The one we made all those years ago?"

I wondered where this was going. "Yeah."

"Do you remember all the rules?"

"Well, there were only five, so yeah, I do."

She nodded, more to herself than to me.

"Why?" I asked.

She looked at me. "Do you love Emma?"

I stared at her. I knew the answer, but saying it was another thing.

Hailey continued. "Does she really make you happy? Is she worth everything to you?" I felt her voice becoming more powerful, even though she was basically whispering.

"Worth-. What?" I asked, perplexed. "Hailey, what's this about?"

"We threw away the rule book, but the rules still apply, right?" she ranted. "They always did. But are you willing to throw it all away for Emma? Even though I like her, I don't like her enough to say so."

She was making no sense. "Hailey-."

"So are you?" she pressured. "Are you okay with abandoning the rules for Emma? Just like you did with Isaak and the others?"

"I-I don't know," I stammered.

She gave me a look. "Don't lie to yourself. I think you are. You already broke rules one through four yesterday, shouting at our parents, and I'm worried about you breaking the fifth. I sat on my bed crying as I heard your argument with them. Do you even remember the fifth rule?"

"Yeah, I do." I shot back.

"Then don't forget it."

"Hail-," I started.

"She better be worth it," Hailey interrupted. "I can see what you think of this family and

how you think Emma is your savior or something. I can understand. I've been through everything with you and I understand it. But knowing you, I'm afraid you'll do something you'll regret. Emma's just some girl you met a few days ago, and I must admit she's made an impact on you, for good or for bad. But is she worth Rule Five?"

I remembered the rule book. I remembered its scrappy pages, falling out and dangling from thin threads of the book's binding. I remembered the pictures we glued carelessly onto wherever had a blank spot. We made it at our grandparents house one summer.

I looked down at the raven sketch I was still clutching, and held it up for Hailey to see. "Emma drew this," I told her. "You know, the raven is the symbol for mystery and magic. And to me, Emma is a raven."

"So?" Hailey asked. She almost spat the word, but I didn't care.

"So?" I repeated, smiling. "So that is why I love her."

Hailey looked to me and sighed. "Then be careful where you tread, big brother."