I shrug. He’s right. It isn’t my business.
“Come on, Ava,” Drake says. “I found a way out.”
“I’m listening to music with Ryder,” she says. “Give me a second.”
Drake frowns. “He’s going to start asking you to show him around.”
“Nope.” She closes her eyes and sways when the chorus picks up again. “Ryder’s been here before. He doesn’t like it upstairs, just like us.”
“He’s lying.”
“No I’m not,” I say.
“No he’s not,” Ava adds at the same time. “Besides, I’m the one who found him out here all alone.”
Drake looks at me like he doesn’t believe her. “Why are you out here alone?”
I hurry and explain the same thing I did to his sister, then laugh a little when Ava squeals as the song shifts to the theme song ofPhantom of the Opera.
“Ilovethis one. I like the drums.”
Me too! I can pick out things I like about each song like this girl does. Mom cries over some songs because she says they touch her heart, but how can music touch a heart when it’s buried in bones?
This girl seems to get the connection to the sounds and how it’s just awesome.
I offer the other earbud to her because to get the full impact of this song, you need both. I start to pick up the corndogs, and glance at Drake. “Why are you trying to leave?”
“Because they’re just going to get rid of us anyway,” he snaps. “Or use us. I don’t know, but something is going to happen. It’s why they bought all that stuff. They want us to feel comfortable. I’m not letting them trick us. We’re out of here.”
I laugh. Not to be mean, but it’s ridiculous the way he’s talking about Jack and Marianne. “They’re not going to trick you. I’ve known them since I was three. Jack is cool. He helps my step—” I clear my throat, a little grin in the corner of my mouth. “He always helps mydadfix our fences. And Marianne buys the best birthday presents ever. They’re really nice.”
Drake studies me like I’m a big, fat liar. “They’re rich people who picked two kids who aren’t babies. Everyone wants babies.”
“Maybe they don’t.”
“They’re showing us off to look like they’re good people then.”
“My mom said Marianne planned this party because she wants you guys to make friends.”
“Drake thinks they’re going to sell us or something,” Ava says. “I’m not so sure.”
“Why are you out here?” Drake asks again.
I roll my eyes. “I told you. I don’t like when everything gets crazy like it did inside.”
“All those kids are here to play with all the stuff.” Finally, Drake sits in a huff. “They’ll want to be friends with us because of the stuff. I’ve seen it a million times.”
I snort a laugh. He acts like he’s a thousand years old.
“But Ryder won’t,” Ava says, handing me back the earbud now that the song is over. “He doesn’t care about all that stuff, right Ryder?”
“I like stuff,” I say. “But I don’t really hang out with anyone up there.”
The twins go quiet until Drake points at my shirt. “You like baseball?”
I glance down at the fiery ball shooting across my red T-shirt and nod. “Yeah, I play.”
The smallest of smiles twists in the corner of his mouth. “I like baseball too. But I’m better at basketball.”
