But again, I decide to just let it go. I don’t want any more conflict this weekend than I already have and I would do pretty much anything to see Seren smile.
“Well,” I start as I place my headgear down on the seat of my bike. “You know that service is spotty up here. So I guess I just ask that you stick with someone you know at all times.”
“I’ve got it, Traceykins. I spoke to Liv before we came up. We’re going to share a cabin together.”
I cringe at that wretched nickname. But I fall distracted at the mention of Liv once more. It’s been days since I’ve seen her and just like an addict, I’m having withdrawals. And while I want my sister surrounded by people she knows, I want Olivia to myself.
I’ve had my eye on Olivia since I saw the girl show up to our house on a fucking skateboard. We’ve been secretly seeing each other for about a year now and that was nearly two years ago. I am just a little older, so of course I didn’t know if I could ever let my obsession with her be known, but one day I said fuck it and I’ve never regretted it.
“Right. And which cabin is that?” I ask, trying to sound more like a big brother looking out for his sister rather than someone who is interested in the location of where they’re staying for a different reason entirely.
“Yeah, I’m not telling you that,” Seren starts as she pulls a sarcastic grin on her face. “The last thing I need is for my brother to walk in on me and Olivia doing things that girls do in the dark.” She swipes at my shoulder before taking a few steps away.
I know she’s joking. God, I hope she’s fucking joking.
“Seren.” My tone is a warning. If only she knew just how close Olivia and I actually are.
“Just saying.” She holds up her palms. “So, I guess this is it?” She looks up at me, and I can’t help but notice that the battle arises behind her eyes again. The one she’s trying to hide away.
“Are you going to be okay?” I ask, knowing that I want to get more out of her. I want to help her in any way I can but if she won’t let me in, then there’s nothing I can do.
“I’ll be fine. Please, don’t worry about me.” She waves me off before starting to walk away.
I hook my helmet under my arm after adjusting my backpack but before I can start my own journey to my cabin, Seren turns to face me once more.
“Trace?” The tone of her voice sounds a little dejected. I can’t quite place it as I look at her, waiting for what she wants to say.
She runs up to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I’m taken aback for a beat, but then I return her hug. She lets go, after damn near squeezing the air out of me, and I watch her as she awkwardly looks down at her feet.
“I just wanted to thank you . . . for everything,” she says in a quiet tone.
“For everything?” I ask, wondering why the hell she’s being so weird.
“I just want you to know how grateful I am for you and that I love you.” She keeps her head down, but I swear I hear her sniffle.
“I love you too, Ser, but . . . are you crying?” I ask, trying to pull her face up to look at me, but she swipes at me and pulls on that infamous smile of hers.
“No, it’s just really cold,” she says playfully before taking a few steps backward.
I don’t know if I should be worried or smile back at her. My sister has always been an effervescent soul. But sometimes she’s too wrapped up in her own world, not caring what others think of her while also worried about being judged, and emotions seem to affect her in ways she refuses to acknowledge. It’s how I know she’s hiding something. But I don’t push her on it.
“We’ll catch up later?” I ask, giving her my big brotherbe carefultone.
She smirks. But it’s not a happy one. “Yeah. Later.”
Then she turns on her heel, snow crunching under her shoes, and she walks away…
Little did I know, that was going to be the last time I ever saw my sister.
I look back down at the journal, tracing my finger along the edges of the torn page, I wish I knew what the other half of it said. I wish I knew how she finished off this journal entry, maybe then I'd have more information. And more eagerly, I wish I knew who fucking had it, because it looks as if it had been ripped form the book in anger.
I turn my head and clamp the diary shut when I hear footsteps approaching, gripping the gun tucked into my hoodie for good measure. But I relax when I see Evrin and Sage approaching.
“Took you two long enough,” I snap, watching the both of them stroll up with ruffled hair and dirt scratches on their skin and clothes.
"Sorry, T. Evrin, here, took his sweet ass time getting to our meeting spot,” Sage says as Evrin rolls his eyes.
“So, what’s the report?” I ask quietly. Both of the boys step up next to me as we look forward to the house I have eyes on.
