Page 6 of Bordeaux Bombshell
The language may have been complicated, but my life in France was simple.
Nothing has been simple since I came back.
Nate
ages 10 and 13
Sweatdrippeddownmyback beneath my shirt, leaving me gross and sticky after hours working in the sun. I was finally done breaking up the compost pile, a punishment for being late with my English project last week, and all I wanted was to go inside and cool off in the air conditioning. The end of eighth grade couldn’t come fast enough for me. Summer vacation was so close I could taste it.
I’d promised Kel we could play Tony Hawk as soon as I was done, but I probably needed to take ten minutes to shower and change first. Even I could smell myself.
After rounding the top of the hill, I dropped the rake and pruning shears beside the shed, then stripped off my work glovesand added them to the top of the pile. I had just turned to follow the path to the house when a muffled sniffle caught my attention.
I knew that sniffle.
“I know you’re there, Sydney.”
“Go away.” Her words were broken up by a hiccup and a sniffle, but fierce all the same. Typical.
Peering around the shed, I found almost exactly what I expected—Kel’s little sister curled up in the small gap between the side of the shed and a large oak, backed by enough bushes to be sheltered on three sides. If she wasn’t shadowing me and Kel, it was the next most likely place she could be found on the Ridge.
Tears and dirt streaked her cheeks, and bits of leaf and twig were stuck to her shirt and pants. There was even some caught in the braid draped over one shoulder. Despite the tears, she glared at me, jaw set in a stubborn line.
“Come on, Syd. What’s wrong now?” I probably should’ve tried to sound a little less exasperated with her, but it was hot, and I was tired and starving.
“Nothing. Go away.” She turned her face away, staring intently at the tree trunk. She held her body rigid, arms wrapped around her knobby knees. The only signs she was upset were the occasional big sniff and swipe under her eyes with the back of her dirty hand.
I stood over her for a long moment, debating if I should really leave her alone out here like she wanted, or if that would be a dick move. Pausing to consider whether something was a dick move was a relatively new concept when it came to Sydney. Usually, she occupied the same space in my mind as an annoying gnat, but since I’d started paying attention to the girls at school, I’d come to the startling realization that Sydney was a girl too. And might be less annoying if I were less of a dick to her.
When a fat tear rolled down her cheek, I found myself folding my legs awkwardly into the space beside her. “Did Kel do something?” I paused and thought for a second. “It’s okay with me if you play my PlayStation when I’m not there.”
Considering I’d only gotten it last Christmas, that felt like a huge concession on my part. Mentally, I gave myself a pat on the back for being so nice to my best friend’s kid sister.
“I don’t want to play your stupid video games.” She tightened her grip on her knees, then relaxed in defeat. “There’re some girls up at the tasting room. I tried to play with them, but they just wanted to sit there reading dumb books. I even offered to show them the snake shed I found this morning, but they were too scared.”
“Well, they’re just dumb girls, then. Who wants to play with someone who’s scared of dried skin?” I shook my head and patted her knee. “Can I see it?” I added, hoping it would cheer her up enough to come out of her hiding spot.
Sydney bit her bottom lip, and that was when it became clear there might’ve been more to the story. “I threw it away already. It wasn’t that cool, I just thoughttheymight think it was.”
She jumped up, crawling over me before pausing, fists on hips and legs spread. “I heard one of them whisper to the other that I’mdirty! And that they didn’t want to play with a dirty girl!”
I rocked back, looking up at the defiant ten-year-old in front of me, then laughed. “Hellcat, youaredirty.” I waved a hand toward the stains on her knees, the dust on her clothes, and the bits of stuff covering her body. Probably worse now than it was before, but I didn’t point that out.
“But—” Her face fell, sending a wave of regret through me. Dammit, I’d been a dick, but I couldn’t help it. Shewasfilthy. Sighing, I was struck with a desire to make her feel better. That was new. But I did a mental shrug and went with the impulse.
Clumps of dirt fell off me as I pushed to my feet and offered her a hand. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m also dirty. I was going to go shower, then hang out with Kel. Do you want to borrow some of my clothes and playTony Hawkwith us?”
Sydney hesitated, biting her lips and swaying from side to side. The longer she hesitated, the more I could feel the sweat drying on my skin, itchy and uncomfortable. I was about to say forget it and leave her there when she grabbed my hand.
Something warm and strange ran down my spine at the contact, but I ignored it. Pulling her toward the house, I mentally cataloged which of my clean shirts I wouldn’t mind letting her borrow.
Sydney
Atruce?Hewantsatruce? Is that not what we’ve had since he came back?
Maggie: Mutually assured destruction is not the same as a truce.
I love my almost sister-in-law, but I hate it when she’s right. I throw my phone down and flop back on the bed. Turning my face, I scream into the pillow, releasing a hair of the rage that never seems to go away these days.
