Page 11 of Entwined Hearts

I sense this won’t go away unless I give them something. “I…did some acting when I was a baby,” I say reluctantly.

“You mean like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen?” Sabrina asks, her eyes wide.

To my dismay, Colby wears an amused look.

“No, not like that,” I say as what feels like worms take over my stomach.

“We’ll be in good hands with Laura,” Colby says.

“Absolutely,” I say, grateful for this lifeline. “She’s terrific. I’m also really excited to work with a female photographer.” I look around, wondering how the group will take this. My goal with this project is to show that girls can do anything. Marisa’s “girl power” decree isn’t far off. If only she knew I’ve been working toward this goal since I was fifteen.

Nobody seems too startled by this, so I add, “With Laura behind the lens, this film takes on a little more meaning.”There, I think.I put it out there.

“All the more reason to fully commit,” Jake says, looking straight at Colby. “Are you capable of that?” Jake’s eyes flick to Sabrina, then back to Colby.

Colby eyes him coolly. A long moment passes. It feels like my insides are slowly getting squeezed.

“Maybe your doubt is your own,” Colby says, watching me for a moment before reconnecting his gaze with Jake’s.

“What the fuck?” Jake says. Even from three feet away, I can feel his fury.

My brain tries to grasp a solution, but it’s like the gears are jammed.

“Hey, now,” Marisa says, alarmed.

Jake fires off another retort, but I’m not there anymore. The smell of dry, mineral-scented earth has taken over my nostrils. My throat suddenly feels parched.

The sun bakes the top of my head. We’ve been walking all day, and I’m thirsty. The men argue continuously, their foreign language a mystery, but they clearly can’t decide what to do with us. Jake and I try to communicate, but every time they catch us, they explode in anger, their black eyes full of spite, though I have no idea what we’ve done to cause this. The air bakes my mouth, and it’s like I can’t get a breath. What if we walk all night? What if they try to hurt me?

“Anya!” someone barks.

I pull my arms in to protect myself, and I hear someone crying. It’s so bright, like the sun is exploding. There’s more shouting. I pull in tighter, expecting one to hit me or push me down at any minute.

“Anya,” a soft voice says. “It’s okay.”

I’m confused because I don’t know who’s saying it. Not Jake. Not the men. As my brain tries to understand it, a strange tugging sensation behind my navel makes me rock on my feet, as if I might roll right off my toes and fly.

The mineral scent of the desert fades.

Colors flash by me. Slowly, I realize where I am.

When I blink, the details come into focus: the patio table, Kabir’s backyard, Colby’s calm face.

I look away. The rest are ogling me.

“I’m sorry,” I say, working a deep breath into my lungs. My stomach feels like I’ve just done a hundred crunches. I’m shaking, though I’m trying hard to get it to stop.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Marisa says. She wraps an arm around my shoulders and tries to pull me to her. But everything still feels so raw that I’m stiff. Thankfully, Marisa doesn’t seem to notice.

“Yeah, no biggie,” Jo adds, though I can tell she’s shaken up.

I wonder how long it lasted. My cheeks feel wet, so I must have cried. I wipe them with the side of my wrist.

“I think I’ll get a glass of water,” I say, then hurry from the table.

Four

Anya

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