Page 56 of Before We Break

The pencil glides against the paper in a wide arc. Delicate strands of hair begin to form around a heart-shaped face, wisps of grey charcoal that glow a brilliant copper and gold in my mind.

A piercing cry rends the air. I toss my pencil and paper onto the desk and rush up the apartment stairs with a baseball bat in hand, taking the steps two at a time, desperate to get to her. When I reach the landing, Lexi is standing in my doorway, her face ashen.

“Go back inside and lock the door. Stay with Auggie. I’ve got her.”

She nods and steps back into my apartment, and I wait to hear the lock click.

Another scream travels through the paper-thin walls, and I rush into Clio’s apartment, prepared to fight like hell. But there’s no intruder to fight against—only a frantic Clio crying out in her sleep. Her face is tear-stained and pale as she writhes against the pillows.

“No. No. No,” she chants. “Stop. Please.”

Each word feels like a fist gripping my heart. Swallowing down the remnants of the abject terror that carried me here, I lean the bat against the wall and sit on the edge of her bed. As if it has a mind of its own, my hand cradles her cold, damp cheek. “I’m here. Open those pretty eyes for me, princess.”

Her eyes move beneath their lids, but she doesn’t wake up.

My thumb captures a tear, gliding gently down the slope of her face. “You’re alright, Clio. It’s just a bad dream. Come back to me.”

Her thick lashes flutter against her freckled cheeks until those familiar green pools I’d been sketching only moments ago come into focus. “Noah?” she says, her voice hoarse.

A deep sigh escapes me, and my hand drops away. “Hey.”

“What are you doing here?” She slips up the bed until she’s propped against the headboard.

“You were screaming so loud. I thought someone was attacking you.”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “No. Just my mind playing tricks on me again.”

“Wanna talk about it?” I don’t know what compels me to ask, but something tells me this isn’t new, and despite my best efforts to pretend otherwise, I care.

She shakes her head as she gazes down at her hands twisting in the sheets. “I’m ok.”

The words ring hollow, at best.

I should walk away. We’re not in public, so there’s no reason for me to be this close to her, yet I can’t seem to make myself leave. “I was gonna grab something to eat. Hungry?”

She shrugs. “I could eat.”

“How does frozen pizza sound?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Good. I’ll be back.”

This is a bad idea. I’m supposed to be keeping my distance, so why can’t I seem to leave well enough alone? It was just a nightmare, and Clio’s a big girl. She can take care of herself.

When I get to my apartment, Lexi is curled up in the corner of my sofa with a blanket wrapped tightly around her. “What happened? Is Mom ok?”

“She’s fine. It was just a nightmare.” I open the freezer and pull out the box of pizza. “Do you mind staying the night? I’m just gonna make sure she’s ok, but I’ll be home late, and you should get some sleep. That couch pulls out if you want.”

“Yeah. We’ll be fine here. Tell Mom I love her.”

“Thanks, Lex. I owe you.”

When I get back to Clio’s place, she’s curled up in the corner of her sofa on the opposite wall, a perfect mirror image of Lexi. I run my hand down my face to hide my amusement.

She eyes me curiously. “What?”

“Nothing.” I set the box on the counter and preheat the oven.