Page 7 of Shadow and Skulls

“I win!” Carson cheers as he reaches the bottom step a second before us.

Mom is settled on Dad’s lap. She sits forward to scold us. “How many times do I have to tell the three of you not to run down the stairs?”

“I wasn’t running.” I tuck myself between the boys, the three of us still wrestling with each other for space.

“Traitor,” Cole says, now fighting with Carson over the popcorn bowl. I pull it from them, setting it on my lap.

“You’re going to get hurt someday, and then you’ll wish you would have listened,” my mom grumbles.

“Boys, listen to your mother.”

“Boys? What about Kelsie?”

“She wasn’t running,” my dad agrees, pulling my mom around the waist to get her to relax against him.

The twins eventually decide on an action movie. As it plays, I wish more than anything we could stay like this forever.

Chapter Two

Kelsie

Istand outside the building, waiting for Jason to pull up. My little side kick, Charlotte, is beside me chatting my ear off.

“I love having Katie for a mommy.” She hugs herself happily.

“Yeah, it’s really great,” I say absently, my gaze focused on Jason’s car as he parks. He has someone with him.

My friend, Lexi, gets out of the passenger side, juggling her books. Jason wraps his arm around her as they head toward us.

I wish I could say something … feel something … move …

Charlotte tugs at my hand. “Kelsie, are you okay?”

I pull my eyes away from the duo. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get you to your room.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrow when Jason and Lexi walk past us. They ignore me entirely. I grab Charlotte’s little hand and follow them inside.

“I didn’t know Jason liked mean girls,” Charlotte says, skipping happily beside me.

Lexi stops abruptly, and Jason’s arm falls off her shoulder. “What did you say, you little freak?”

Charlotte just laughs. She tugs at my hand and guides us around the pair.

“You’re not a freak,” I whisper as we hurry down the hall.

“I know that, but Jasonisan asshole.”

“Charlotte,” I scold gently. “That’s not a nice word.”

“Nice people deserve nice words. Not nice people deserve not nice words.” She hugs me around the waist and then rushes into her room.

Dropping my head, I turn and hurry toward my first period class. The entire room quiets when I enter. I ignore everyone, focusing on my laptop. As soon as I’m logged in, I message Jason.

Me: I’m sorry about last night.

I risk a look over my shoulder, finding him staring at me. His friend Matt sits down behind him, leaning forward to look over his shoulder at my message. I spin around, nervously waiting for his reply.

Jason: You need to see a therapist.

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