I blink, staring at her as a torrent of thoughts battles inside my head. Do Icare? Is that what this is? It’s new, and I’m not sure how to feel about it just yet. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt anything besides emptiness.
“Right…” I mutter, pulling her along as I scale the rocks further away from the stream.
I show her how I search for bones, crouching down with her by my side as we root through the mud. She doesn’t complain about the grime as she produces a perfect little tibia bone with a gleam in her eyes.
“Found one!” She exclaims excitedly, showing it to me.
“Good job,” I say as I take it from her and run it under the water. I don’t smile, but she isn’t looking for one. She’s looking for companionship—something I never thought about outside of my two friends. Knowing that she isn’t expecting me to change who I am makes this easier than I thought it would be. I don’t have to pretend, because Melody wants me just the way I am.
There are no forced smiles as Dad expects, or complicated conversations when I have nothing to say. She fills the space herself, talking about dance rehearsals and her first day at school as I dig around in the muck. She doesn’t even need acknowledgment that I’ve heard her rambling, and it makes me ease into this fragile bond.
“I have a recital coming up, and I don’t know if I’m ready,” she admits as she sits on a rock. She’s abandoned her shoes as she kicks her feet through the water, splashing.
I count the bones in my fresh pile, humming. “You’ve been practicing your plie, right?”
She blows out a breath, resting her head back against her shoulders. “Yeah, but I’m not as good as Stephanie. She’s perfect at every new move…”
“You’re not Stephanie.”
She lifts a brow. “No, I’m not.”
“So, stop comparing yourself to her.” I shrug. “You’re going to do fine.”
She grins, the evening light reflecting across her face. “Thanks.”
“MELODY! KADEN!”
Both of our heads whip up towards the house in the distance. Ms. Love stands out on the terrace, her hands cupped around her mouth as she calls for us.
I shove my bones into my pocket before standing. I offer my hand to my new sister, an open invitation. She smiles coyly before her fingers curl around mine, and we walk hand-in-hand back to the mansion. For the first time, my ritual doesn’t feel like something created. It’sshared.
And I think I like that.
Chapter seven
Melody
Settlingintothisnewlife isn’t so bad with Kaden by my side. He doesn’t talk much, but I don’t mind filling the space for both of us. Even this party isn’t as stifling as I thought it would be.
Mr. Wilder encouraged Mom to start her own clothing line. She’s always wanted to do something in fashion, and he provided the money and connections to help her get started. After months of planning, she’s finally opening her own store in Queens. Tonight is her celebration and a chance to mingle with the city’s fashion icons.
Men and women in fancy dresses and expensive suits converse in the ballroom of the Upper East Side. The ceiling is grand, with massive golden chandeliers hanging high above, glittering and sparkling under the lights. Intricate paintings reside above, scenes of angels in the clouds making the air itself feel sacred. Glasses clink softly as servers glide through the crowd with practiced ease. A string orchestra plays from the far end of the room, the sounds of violins swelling into something hauntingly beautiful. The smell of cologne and something sweet mixes with the air.
Kaden stands beside me, a dark and dapper suit jacket covering his arms. He looks out of place among the socialites and businessmen with his mussed curls that can’t seem to stay out of his eyes.
He also looksverybored.
“This place is beautiful,” I whisper in awe as I turn in place. My dress is a soft, pale green, gentle on the eyes, layered with sheer white fabric that drapes gracefully over the skirt. The hem falls longer in the back, nearly brushing the floor, while delicate white flowers form the straps over my shoulders, giving the look an organic, earthy elegance. My hair is pinned back, half of it cascading over my shoulders like a quiet waterfall.
Kaden hums, uninterested. “It’s just like every other ballroom.”
I push his shoulder playfully. “You know I’ve never been to one before.”
The corner of his mouth twitches, but he doesn’t smile. He never does. “You haven’t been to a lot of places.”
“Rub it in, why don’t you?” I grumble under my breath.
One thing is for sure: we’ve grown a lot closer over the last two months. We go to the creek every day after school, and spend a lot of time together when he isn’t with his friends. He’s also become extremely comfortable with picking on me.
