Page 158 of Invisible String
Eleven-and-a-half years old.
Sol has been sleeping with me in my bed for the past three weeks. She says she feels safe, and I’ll admit, so do I. The bus ride is bumpy on the way home. Sol is sitting next to me like she always does. She’s made friends with some of the girls, but she said she didn’t like them much because they have a crush on me. She said it in front of Drake, and he just grinned at me. He called me clueless when she left to go clothes shopping with Mrs. Sara. I still don’t think she has a crush on me.
“Max.” Her voice is soft, like a summer breeze.
“Yeah, sunshine?” I glance up from the comic book I’m reading. Her brown eyes twinkle like stars. The other morning, when she woke, she looked so pretty. The sun shone from the window on her. I had said, “Good morning, sunshine,” and she gave me the biggest smile. It fits her name. Sol in English is sun.
“I was wondering.” She pulls out a clear gloss and spreads it on her lips, and I can’t help but stare at them.
I shake my head.
“School ends in six weeks or seven. There’s going to be a school dance for the fifth grade. Do you think we should go?”
My brows furrow at the idea of so many people watching you on the dance floor, and I don’t enjoy being in crowds. “No, it’s okay. I’ll stay home.”
“Max, we have to go together.”
“I don’t like people watching me and touching me. You know that.” I go back to peer at the pictures in the book.
“Oh, come on, Maxie. It will be fun. It’s going to be only you and me. No one will touch you.”
I sigh. “I don’t know how to dance.” I don’t look at her. I’m too embarrassed, and I’m not sure if other kids are listening. The bus ride is loud, with kids screaming, laughing, and flying paper airplanes around.
“Max, I can teach you.” She takes the book from my hand.
God, girls are so bossy.
Sol rolls her eyes. “I know how to dance. Remember, I told you I had dance classes, and my parents taught me? We would dance in the kitchen all the time. I would stand on my dad’s toes, and he would guide me.” Her smile meets her eyes; I can’t take that from her. If it makes her happy, then I’ll do it.
I nod. “Okay. Fine, we can go, and you teach me in our room.” Small arms encircle me in an embrace. To my surprise, she kisses my cheek. Unconsciously, I turn my head toward her, and her glossed lips graze mine. I push back, startled. Both of our eyes are wide as saucers.
“What a sicko, you kiss your sister!” A kid in my class makes gagging noises.
Anger fuels me.
“She’s not my sister,” I yell. For the rest of the ride home, I’m quiet. The strange flutter in my stomach is still there and in my chest.
Later that night, Sol took my hand and led me to the center of the bedroom, a smile playing on her lips. The soft glow of the table lamp cast a warm light over us as she turned the radio dial,finding a gentle melody that filled the room at a whisper. We kicked off our shoes, our feet sliding comfortably into our socks, and began to move across the wooden floor. Our laughter echoed softly as I clumsily followed her lead, stepping on her toes more than once. Each misstep was met with her light-hearted giggle, making the night feel like a secret shared between us.
Every night we danced, leading up to the day of the dance. That night, Mrs. Sara got called into work and said maybe Jason could take us. I’d rather stay home than be in a car with him.
Jason handed the keys to Drake and told him to take us and not tell Mrs. Sara. Drake didn’t have his license, but Mrs. Sara had him in driving school, and he only had his permit. We picked up Drake’s girlfriend on the way.
Sol is wearing a pretty blue dress and heels. She looks nice. My heart keeps beating faster and faster. I blow air in frustration. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. We have been hanging out all the time for months now, and I keep feeling strange around her. My gaze goes to Drake. He rests his hand on his girlfriend’s shoulder. She is moving to the music in place. The lights of the party light up the school gym.
Drake eyes me as I rock my heels. He tells his girlfriend something, then calls me over to him. Sol is standing, talking to some girls. “Are you okay?” Drake asks.
“I’m nervous,” I admit. Drake is one of the very few I trust. He’s been nothing but nice to me since I came into the home. He protects me like a big brother.
“Why? Is it because you’re surrounded by people? Or is it her?”
“Both.” Ever since her lips grazed mine, and I tasted her lip gloss, I wonder what it would be like to kiss her.
“You like her?”
“More, I think. Sometimes I want to kiss her.” My gaze follows Sol, drinking punch and eating pretzels.
He grins. “It’s okay to like her, to have a crush on her. She’s your best friend. You both needed this friendship.”
