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I have to try really hard not to let out the growl that wants to rip out of my throat at her begging me not to hurt her. Instead, I lean over and gently grab her face, tilting her head up to look in her shockingly green eyes. They’re the lightest color green I’ve ever seen, and not only is the girl’s face covered in freckles, her eyes are too. The pale green is somehow so bright, even in the dark, and has little light brown freckles in it that lead to a dark green ring around the outside. I’m speechless for a second before remembering she needs my help right now, not me staring into her eyes and making her uncomfortable.
I lean just a little closer and whisper, “Blake, I know you have no reason to trust me, but will you come with me for a minute? I want to show you something that might help you not feel so scared. It’s the same thing I do every time I get scared in a new place.”
She still looks scared, but she nods, so I take her hand and lead her out the window to the flat part of the roof above the porch. The one place I feel like I can breathe, hoping the stars and warm night air will help her feel it too.
* * *
Since that first night that Blake came to live with us, she and I have gone up to the roof together no less than three times a week. We used to go a lot more those first few weeks she was with us, but after a while she didn’t need it as often. It’s been almost a year now, and we’ve had a routine since that first week. We go to different schools since she’s in the sixth grade and I just started ninth, but we get out at almost the same time. So, every day on my way home from school, I walk the mile down the road to pick her up and we walk back to the house while she chats excitedly about her day.
You would think with her being three years younger than me, we wouldn’t have anything to talk about. Apparently, being verbally (and sometimes physically) abused by your foster parents really bonds you to a person, no matter how old they are. I can honestly say Blake is the best friend I’ve ever had, especially since Jamie was adopted earlier this year. So far, I’ve kept my silent promise to always keep her safe, keeping her from Phil and Dianne’s wrath. Lately, though, I’ve noticed Phil paying extra attention to Blake, and it’s making both of us uncomfortable. I keep her away from him as much as possible by never leaving her there alone, and even bringing her along with me to the rink when I go for free skate.
Tonight is another roof night. Blake and I are laying side by side on the same blanket we’ve been using for the last year. I’m pointing out constellations I’ve learned and have been trying to teach her. Tonight, I’m trying to point out the Orion constellation, but she’s just staring at me, so I look over at her and ask, “Whatcha thinkin’ about, Shortcake?”
She smiles at the nickname I gave her the first night I brought her out to the roof. From day one I’ve always just told her it’s because her red hair and freckles remind me of the cartoon character. But really, it’s because she smells exactly like strawberry shortcake. Not only is it my favorite food, but it’s also a smell that now feels like home. Strawberries will always remind me of my best friend in the world.
“Honestly, D? I’m wondering what my life would be like without you.”
I shoot up to my knees, staring at her in shock, as I choke out, “What?”
She looks at me like I’m crazy before rolling her eyes. “Hades Blaze Abbott, youknowthat’s not how I meant it. I just mean, I’m wonderin’ what my life would look like if you weren’t here to calm me down that first night. I don’t know if you know this, D, but you’re my best friend. My only real family. Every time I wake up crying from another nightmare, I can look over at your bed and know that I’m safe. I don’t know what I would do without you…” she trails off, getting choked up.
I lay back down and straighten my legs before pulling her to lean back against the roof with me, linking our pinkies together in the way that’s become our thing.
“Shortcake, I promise you’ll never have to find out what life without me is like. I will always be here for you, as long as you want me to be. And when I finally turn eighteen, we can run off and live our lives without anybody else to worry about. You know I’ll take care of both of us, even if it means getting three jobs so we can find a place as far away from here as possible.” She still looks unsure, so I go to reassure her again when my phone rings.
Surprised since it’s after nine p.m., I look at the caller ID to see my friend Rook calling. I wince and look over at Blake, who’s already closed her eyes and turned to face the sky. “Do you mind if I take this? It’s one of the guys from the rink.”
She just shakes her head with her eyes closed. “Go ahead. I’m not going anywhere,” she mumbles.
I haven’t told her much about these guys, just that I met them when they were in town for a hockey tournament a few months ago. The truth is, though, they’re my best friends outside of Blake, and we’ve decided to form a pack together when I turn eighteen and can get the hell out of this place. Normally they don’t call unless they’re in town and even then, they’d just send a text to our group chat. It’s giving me a gut feeling something is really wrong.
I quickly hit the button on my ancient flip phone to answer. “Hey man, what’s up?”
I can hear yelling on the other end of the phone, and the pit in my stomach grows. Rook says, “Hey D, listen we’re in town at the rink for another tourney and these assholes from the other team just picked a fight with the twins. It’s bad, and we could really use your help before somebody calls the cops. Can you get over here?” Rook, Achilles, and the twins Kaspian and Kairo, are all from one of the wealthiest towns in the country, Lockwood.
It’s basically nothing but mansions and castles and giant houses on the beach. Think old southern millions and then multiply it by a hundred and you’ve got Rook’s family. They’ve got more money than God. Not that you’d ever know it looking at them. The Beaumonts are some of the kindest, most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. The last time they were in town, they drove me home from the rink every night. They waited until I was safely inside to go back to their hotel downtown, which was twenty minutes in the opposite direction.
It’s because I owe these guys so much, I immediately respond, “Of course dude, I’ll be there in ten minutes. Can you guys hang in that long?”
He responds with a quick, “Yup, hurry,” before hanging up.
I turn to Blake to see she fell asleep while I was on the phone, so I carry her inside and tuck her in before whispering that I’ll see her later. She cracks one eye open just long enough to grab my hand and squeeze it.
Her voice is raspy with sleep when she says, “Love you, D. Be careful. Wake me up when you get back, okay?”
I squeeze back before kissing her forehead. “Sure thing, Shortcake. See you in a bit.”
Blake
Age Eleven
I wake up to sunlight streaming in through the still open window, way too bright for this early in the morning. D hasn’t woken me up yet, so I must have at least a little while before we have to get started on chores. I’m just falling back asleep when suddenly my blanket is ripped off of me, exposing my gangly limbs to the cool morning air where D’s tee I stole last month doesn’t cover them and my usual sleep shorts.
The shirt is huge on me, so it almost looks like I’m not wearing shorts, a fact I can tell my foster father appreciates as he leers down at me. His lingering looks are happening more often and they make me feel gross, like I need a really hot shower to wash off the ick. He grabs my elbow hard enough to bruise and huffs, “Your little devil friend ain’t around to help you anymore, slut. God only knows what you were offering him to keep you away from me all year, but I can take a guess. " His nasal voice as he runs his eyes up and down my exposed legs hurts my ears.
I snatch my blanket off the floor and wrap it around me as I ask, “What are you talking about, Phil? D was here last night. I need to get ready or we’re going to be late for school.”
I go to side step him to head to the bathroom when he grabs my shoulder and throws me back onto my bed. My hip hits the footboard, making me yelp as I go down.
