“Don’t worry about it. You think Lacey doesn’t have a job to do? Her daughter is going out on a date and she’s nervous.”
“We’re not going to do anything.”
“I know that.” She didn’t. She knew a lot about Anthony but not necessarily all the good parts.
“Daisy, your date is here,” Whizz said.
“I can’t do this.”
“You can.”
“Why did I ask him out on a date?”
“I don’t know. You wanted to?”
Daisy pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
“Breathe. It’s a date. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“You’re going to be here when I get back?”
“Count on it.”
“Good. Okay. Good.” Daisy looked toward the door and whimpered. “I guess we better get this show on the road.”
Tabitha giggled and followed her friend downstairs to where Anthony stood by the door, waiting. Whizz was there, arms folded, all of his ink on display. She tried to contain her amusement.
“Before midnight, clear?” Whizz said.
“Clear.”
“Good. No funny business.”
“Dad, you know him. Stop.”
“And if you so much as touch her, I will break every single bone in your body.”
“Dad, please stop.”
“Have fun,” Tabitha said.
Anthony actually smiled at Daisy. A real, lips lifted, showing teeth and not in a crazy serial killer way, smile.
She watched her friend tense up and then slowly relax.
They left after Daisy kissed her dad’s cheek.
“She’s all grown up. Why do they have to be so grown up?” Lacey hugged tight to Whizz’s side. “I remember when I was enough of a date for Daisy and she’d just color and we’d eat meatballs and spaghetti.”
“Do you mean you ordered them in?”
“Stop it,” Lacey said.
“You want to come down?” Whizz asked, looking up at her.
“Nah, I’m going to go and study. Is that okay?”
“It’s not a problem at all. We’re down here if you need us.”
Tabitha nodded and turned on her heel, heading back up into the bedroom. She didn’t close the door. Pulling out her cell phone, she used the video app on her phone to call Simon.
“Hey,” he said.
“Are you outside?” Tabitha asked, hearing the wind.
“Yep. I decided I needed to freeze my butt off. What about you?”
“I’m in Daisy’s room. They went on their first official date today and get this, Anthony smiled.”
“Get the fuck out. You’re lying.”
“Am not. It was an honest-to-god smile.”
“Creepy?”
“No. I did wonder if he’d been practicing in the mirror.”
“We’re mean, aren’t we?”
“The worst. So how are you?”
“You know, the same. Missing you.”
“Your mom was getting some tests, right?
“They’re going to do some more tests. She needs more chemo as well, just to be on the safe side. It sucks. It’s draining her a lot more now.”
“I’m sorry.”
“How are things back there for you?” he asked.
“Odd. It’s strange but good. I like being home.” She nibbled on her lip.
“I get it,” he said.
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
Silence.
Tabitha licked her lips. “I do miss you as well.”
“I know. Look, I’ve got to go. Dad’s calling me.” She heard his name being shouted in the distance.
“Okay, well, I’ll be here if you need me. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t. Love you.”
He’d already hung up by the time she went to say bye. Pressing her lips together, she turned the app off and leaned back against the bed. This was hard. Guilt filled her as she did love being home, but there was a giant hole.
Simon would never come to live here, not for any reason.
She reached for the necklace she always wore. This has been a gift from Simon so long ago. It meant a great deal to her.
“I got you something,” Simon said.
She giggled at the same time she squeezed out her hair. “You don’t have to get me anything, Simon. I’m fine.” She pulled out the band keeping her other bunch of hair up, and then gave that a squeeze. The kids had totally lost this time with the water fight, but that was fine. They’d win one soon. No one beat The Skulls’ kids. That was what they were. She glanced across the play area and saw Anthony brushing out Daisy’s hair. Her best friend was trying to reach for the brush, but Anthony kept it out of reach.
“I wanted to give you something so that every time you saw it, you’d remember me.”
“I’m not going to forget you. We talk all the time.” She rested her damp head on his shoulder.
“Please, take it.” He held out a box that she saw had been hand-created with a card. Taking it, she opened the lid as she knew he wanted her to do this. She saw a silver chain, and there in the center was the insignia of Chaos Bleeds. “I know you’re part of The Skulls, but you’re always going to be my girl.”
She stared at the necklace. It was delicate, and as she lifted it over her head to rest on her chest, she looked at it. He was right. It did remind her of him. “It’s really pretty.”
“Do you think you could wear that for me all the time?”
“Yeah. My dad will pitch a fit, but I love it.” The Skulls was the only club she was ever going to be part of, and she knew there was going to come a time when she’d have to make a choice. The Skulls were her family. Simon took the box and then her hand.
“We’re only here for a couple of days.”
She rested her chin on his shoulder.
“It’s hard leaving,” he said.
They were nearly twelve years old now, and she knew that he loved her without a doubt. Whenever he did come to visit, he’d always get moody because he’d have to leave her again.
“We’ll write all the time like always. I love reading what you’re doing, and I do think it’s great that you kick ass with bullies.” She stared down at their hands and snuggled against him. “You’re going to be my big bear.”
He turned and stroked a curl behind her ear. This time, he lingered, caressing her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. I just like being with you.”
She laughed. “I’d drive you crazy in school. Daisy’s always having to remind me to keep my head down and focus. I’m always looking out the window, thinking of other things. School is so boring. Now they’re talking about what you want to be when you grow up. I don’t know. Older, I guess.”
“I’m going to take my dad’s place. Chaos Bleeds is going to need a hero someday.” Simon pushed his chest out. “That’s going to be me. Total badass.”
She couldn’t stop laughing. Pulling out of his hold, she stared at him, popping the gum she’d been chewing. “You’re not a badass.”