Page 78 of Avenged

“The sloth? Violet likes sloths?”

“Yep.”

“But Violet is the least sloth-like person I know.”

She smiled that big, glorious smile. “True. But like everything Vi does, she gorged on facts about them as soon as she knew how to navigate the internet. She says they are often misrepresented, blend into their surroundings, and can hold on even after death, so their strength is underestimated. That just because they seem slow and peaceful doesn’t mean they're weak or tame.”

It was a statement that reflected both the Banner females, really.

My stomach growled loud enough for her to hear, and she giggled. “I swear, you and Dawson eat so much I feel like you should just live at the grocery store.”

After retrieving the sloth from the worker, I led her toward the food vendors and one of the three stages with live bands. She used her coupon book to get us shrimp tacos and iced teas, and the only reason I let her was because I’d given her the damn book, so it was really like I was paying in a way she’d allow.

While we were eating, we watched a couple argue over the amount of alcohol the woman had drank already, and I could feel Jersey withdraw into her thoughts of her dad and the life they’d lived when he was a drunk. I didn’t want that for her.

“Well, that was entertaining,” I said.

“If I was working for the shelter, I’d have a card to give her.”

I turned my attention back to her. “Is that what you really want to do?”

She shrugged, twirling her straw in her drink. “I got my psychology degree. Eventually, I’ll go back and get my masters. Maybe a PhD.”

She said it like it was something she had to do rather than something she wanted to do.

“That wasn’t really what I asked,” I told her. “Why did you choose psychology?”

She did that thing where she thought about what she was going to say before she said it. She did it less these days with me than when I’d first arrived in her life, but she still did it a lot.

“When I enrolled in the online college, they sent me a list of careers which were growing in demand. I wanted to choose a degree where I’d easily find a job. One that would allow Violet and me to do more than just scrimp by.”

“So, it wasn’t what you wanted to do; it was what you thought you needed to do.”

She ignored my observation and, instead, said, “I wish someone had explained to me that I couldn’t really make a good income with a psychology degree until I went to graduate school. I would have been more sagacious in my choice.”

“That’s a big word,” I teased, and she flushed.

“It is. But I love the way certain words sound when you let them roll off your tongue. Say it. Sagacious.” She strung it out, and I watched her mouth move, wanting to make it move for other reasons, in other ways.

“You don’t use big words that often,” I commented.

“I say them a lot in my head. I used to say them a lot more aloud, but the counselor I saw after Mom died told me using smaller words would make me more approachable. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and she thought this would let others connect with me better.”

I stared at her in shock. “What bullshit!”

“Why would you say that?” she asked, mouth dropping open a little.

“You should never have to hide who you are. If you love all the big words, then use them. The people who love you won’t care, and the people who judge you for it aren’t anyone you should have in your life.” I meant it with every fiber of my being. I wanted to go find her counselor and kick her butt all around town. How could you tell a teenager to change to fit in? Didn’t they already have enough pressure to do just that? Didn’t they know it was the ones who stood out that changed the world?

She didn’t respond. She just watched the crowd dancing in front of the stage. I could tell her thoughts had traveled to more serious times again. I could feel the happiness of earlier sliding away, and I was determined to have her day full of only joy, so I changed the subject.

I asked, “Do you like to dance?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” Because I could imagine Jersey waving her arms and twirling her hips with a smile on her face. After all, I’d seen her do it with her sister the night Vi had told Jersey about the Comic Con tickets.

“Really. I haven’t danced…not since…” Then she just went quiet again.

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