Page 7 of Lost Track

“Face tattoos and matching vintage tees?” Sabine faced Piper again and cocked an eyebrow. “Because I know a guy who can hook you up with both.”

Piper’s dark laugh made Sabine smile.

“Can you imagine? Hannah would lose her absolute sh—crap. No.” The thirteen-year-old sighed. “The music thing. I don’t have that.”

Sabine nodded. She understood that a little. It must be hard to be surrounded by music and a musician’s life (they were in a recording studio for crying out loud), and not lean that direction.

“We all have gifts. None of them are more or less important than the others.”

Piper forced a half smile. “You really think that?”

“I really do.”

And she did. People were awesome in their uniqueness.

As long as they used their powers for good and not evil anyway.

“And what’s my special gift?” Piper crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well, just going on the short time that I’ve known you, I’d guess that one of your gifts is athletics?”

Since that was the reason Sabine had been brought in to tutor Piper in the first place.

“Har har,” Piper deadpanned. But she uncrossed her arms and refocused on her essay. A little less melancholy on her beautiful face.

Sabine watched her work for a moment. She could partially imagine what Piper’s life was like as the younger sister of the world’s most (in)famous pop star and having to live most of her current life in a protected bubble.

It couldn’t be easy.

But when Sabine considered all the details surrounding Piper’s circumstances, Piper was doing incredibly well.

Sabine flinched when the alarm on her watch buzzed.

Crap. Time to go.

She began to pack her things.

“I have to go. I want you to finish this essay the best you can—”

“Without you here?” Piper’s voice was laced with annoyed panic.

“You’ll do great,” Sabine reassured her, holding her gaze as she spoke. “Send it to me and I’ll go over it tonight before I go to bed. Then we can touch it up tomorrow.”

Piper rolled her eyes but didn’t produce any new grumblings.

Sabine zipped her backpack closed and shrugged on her coat.

“Where to now?” Shawn called across the lounge.

“That’s classified,” she replied, and Shawn grinned.

She accidentally (really!) looked directly at Sunshine and he happened to be looking at her. Their eyes connected. He smiled, making the rose tattoo near the corner of his eye crinkle.

Hm. Well, maybe he wasn’t one of those who minded being acknowledged.

She sent a low wave across the room and hurried from the lounge.

It was Kara’s birthday. And even though her best friend had said she didn’t want to do anything for her birthday, Sabine had still ordered two Marilyn’s—red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and edible glitter—from Kara’s favorite gluten free bakery. They were gorgeous and so rich that they were very much a special occasion dessert.

---