“No, no, no!” she sobbed, close to screaming. “It’s you!” She shook his jacket, pulling him forward. “Don’t leave! Stay here with me! Please!”
Nick stuck his head out again, went to say something else, but stopped when he took notice of the scene. “Shit.” He blew out a puff of cold air and rolled up the window.
Elliott patted his little sister on the head, bringer her closer. She kept a death grip on his jacket, her knuckles turning white, while the rest of her trembled. She had rushed out without a coat, without anything but her dance clothes: a thin, long-sleeve top, a frilly bottom, stockings, and ballet slippers.
One thing in her favor, though—she was damn good at holding on, despite the chill.
Snow came down in earnest now, sticking to grass and cement. The wind picked up speed, and for a moment, they seemed lost in the embrace. I didn’t realize Elliott had turned his gaze on me until I felt the weight of his stare. His eyes were wide, and his hands came up behind her back in a “help me” gesture.
I shrugged, settling my hands deeper into my jacket. I doubted Scarlett had even noticed me. Hidden deep in the shadows, I had become just another part of the night.
Scarlett pushed back from his chest, keeping a tight grip on his collar. “Listen to me, Elliott.” She shook him a bit. “You have to listen to me! You have to stay here with me until mom picks me up.” She spoke the words, but then to drive them home, she reluctantly removed her hand from him and signed the words over again. Then she stuck to him again, afraid to let go. Her fear was palpable.
You have to tell me why, he signed. This time Elliott took his sister by the shoulder and moved her so he could look her in the eye.
She sniffled, looking away from him. “I…can’t.” Fat tears streamed down her face. An insane urge to wipe them before they could freeze to her skin took over. She almost seemed too delicate for the weather. I tamed the urge down, keeping my hands solid in the pockets of the leather jacket.
Elliott pulled Scarlett in and hugged her hard. He kissed the top of her head. He said something in her ear. Then he released her before rushing into his car and locking the doors.
Scarlett seemed dazed, a bit confused as she stood there, eyes fixed on his car. The music bumped even harder. The tailpipe sent out streams of smoke.
She blinked a few times and I felt the air around us shift.
“No!” she screeched, torn from the shock. She looked from left to right, searching for what seemed like salvation, and took off after the car, pounding on the windows, screaming her brother’s name.
Elliott’s taillights glowed crimson before he took off, ignoring the frantic pleas of his sister. She scooped up a mound of dirt and rocks and snow and hurled it at his retreating vehicle, hitting the back windows in a cracking spray of debris.
For such a graceful being, she had a hell of a good aim.
She stood close to the street for a moment before she shook her head and came to stand on the sidewalk, staring down the street, probably hoping he’d come back. She kept whispering “no,” over and over.
I removed my jacket, holding it out to her. “Scarlett.”
She didn’t jump or flinch or even acknowledge me.
I took a step closer but kept in the shadows. For some reason, I didn’t want her to see me, only to know I was there.
“Scarlett,” I said a bit louder.
This time her eyes flew in my direction. She put her right hand over her heart, her entire body shaking with cold and what I assumed to be adrenaline. “He’s gone,” she whispered.
“Here.” I pushed the jacket closer to her. “Your lips are almost the same color as your—” I motioned to her outfit, not knowing what to call it. Somehow “frilly clothes” seemed fucking stupid to say aloud.
“Who are you?” she asked in a small voice.
“A friend of Elliott’s.”
“A good friend?”
“Yeah, since we were kids. He’s like my brother.”
Her eyes narrowed, making her fragile stature seem fierce. Her eyebrows, those eyes, were more intense than I was prepared for. “Then you should’ve stopped him!”
I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to stop him from, but judging by the way her body shook, and the color of her skin, she seemed to be experiencing hypothermia. “Take my jacket and then I’ll tell you why I didn’t stop him.”
She snatched my jacket, angrily shoving her arms through the holes, zipping it up to her neck with frustration. The black leather swallowed her fluff. “There.” She stuck her chin up. The blue piece of silk tied around her bun flittered in the wind, almost coming loose and taking flight.
A smile almost came to my lips, but given the circumstances, I kept my features hard.
