The Brightest Stars

Skyler

I've never seen Mom mad as she is today. Kristen tends to bring out that scary part of her, but AJ was the one that caused such a ruckus today. I barely recognize him.

After AJ left the house for a run, Mom and Kristen were in the study room. Every other moment I could hear Kristen and Mom raise their voices and then there were ominous whispers.

Kristen walked in the door the moment Mom was yelling on the phone to the owner of our house. The moment her eyes saw Kristen walk through the front door, she quickly went to the backyard and finished her heated conversation there. With even more weight on her shoulders, she closed the door of the study behind her to have a talk with Kristen.

Now, I am still laying in my bed for what seemed like hours. I took a quick shower and decided to read a few newspapers from school, but nothing seems to ease my mind. So I take my phone and open the messages with Ty. I stare at the last goodnight we gave each other. It was as if I could hear him whisper goodnight in that quiet and soothing voice he has.

My thumbs linger on the small letters on the keyboard. My heart flutters and my hands sweat at the thought of him. With a sigh, I put my phone down and close my eyes once again; waiting for the darkness to surround the echoes in my ears.

Yet, almost immediately, a small thump makes my eyes open wide. My eyes stay glued to the ceiling, but I let my ears search the house for that sound. The only thing I hear is AJ walking into the house and going to his room.

It must've been AJ then.

Once again, I close my eyes and try to drift off to sleep, but that sound comes back. Cursed with very good hearing over years of music practice, I sit up and look around my room.

It better not be a rat!

This time, my eyes fall on my window when my ears recognize the sound of hitting the glass. Just as another small rock hits the glass, I slowly move towards the window. I stay against the wall and slowly move a side of the thin curtains. My heart flutters and a sigh of relief escapes my lips when I see Ty with pebbles in his hand.

I slightly move the curtain away and give him a wave. For the first time, Ty gives me a smile that shows a hint of a dimple. His blue eyes shine as he signals for me to open the window.

I struggle to open the window. I tend to get very cold no matter what season we're in, but Ty waits patiently until a gush of fresh air enters my room like a wave.

"Hey," Ty says loud enough for me to hear. "I was wondering if you were in the mood to go out for a ride." My eyes follow his finger toward a parked bicycle on the sidewalk.

Immediately, a small smile forms on my lips at his proposal and I nod. "Let me ask my mom. Wait there."

"I won't go anywhere!" He gives me a chuckle and my heart flies.

I nearly run out of my room and enter the study room without even knocking. Mom and Kristen look up at me with surprise. I recognize the sad blue eyes Kristen carries.

She's been crying.

But I ignore her this time and say, "Mom. Is it okay if I can go out for a bike ride with Ty?"

"Didn't I say you were grounded?! N--"

"No, Mom," Kristen quietly says. "It's not her fault. It was my fault she was in that office. Don't ground her. Ground me and AJ. But she had nothing to do with this."

At first, Mom is caught by surprise. Even I have my eyes wide in surprise, but I give my mother a begging look anyways. With a sad sigh, Mom nods and I give her a thankful smile. "Don't worry. I won't be home late."