“Why not?” Koi snickered. “They still need babysitters?”
“Only when it’s the two of them. You’ve met Marisol; she’s a bitch.”
I rolled my eyes. Fabian had started cussing whenever adults weren’t around. He thought it made him so cool.
“She picks on Domino. So, we can’t leave them alone.”
“I pick on my sister,” Dennis said. I looked down at my slippers. He didn’t understand just how cruel Marisol could be. It wasn’t just teasing. I’d been pushed down the stairs, choked, embarrassed, and so much more. Marisol treated me like I was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. I knew because she told me.
“I don’t want to talk about my sisters, man. It’s all so dumb. Marisol is just… mean. She knows exactly what to say and do to hurt people and, I mean, you’ve seen Domino.” He grew quiet. “She’s...”
I flushed and wiggled my toes.Suddenly, I wasn’t interested in a cookie anymore.
“So, who cares?” Swayze leaned against the counter. “She’s got a short leg. The shoes aren’t even that bad.”
“Yeah, but Marisol makes her feel bad about it,” Fabian explained.
“Probably because she knows all the guys at school—” Koi nudged his buddies, and they all laughed.
Fabian flipped them off. “I don’t need to hear that shit, guys.” He pointed a finger at them. “Stay away from her.”
Koi put his hands up. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. She’s in middle school, dude.”
“Fair enough. But if she wasn’t, I’d?—”
My heart racing, I pushed the door open, saving Fabian from throwing a punch at Koi. The room was instantly silent as I came in, nervous and unsteady on my feet.
“Hey, Domino,” Swayze said.
“Hi. Lolita said there were cookies?” My voice shook as I pretended I hadn’t eavesdropped. What had Koi been about to say? Did I want to know? Or would it be hurtful?
Dennis slid the mountain of cookies my way. “You want milk too?” he offered. I sat on a stool and nodded.
A moment later, I was surrounded by my brother and his friends, and we all had cookies and milk together.
They asked me what I’d been doing tonight, and how school was. They were polite and a little too friendly. I tried to remain calm, despite my heart hammering loud and fast in my ears. I knew they were only being kind because of my brother, but it was still nice to not feel as if I was going to be verbally attacked at any minute.
“I like your slippers,” Swayze said, pointing to the green fuzzy things on my feet. “Are those custom-made too?”
“I have shoes for every occasion.” I beamed.
“Even dancing?” Swayze asked.
I took in the look on his face. It was more than just polite. There was something behind his pretty blue eyes. Was that... interest?
The kitchen door flung open just then and Marisol marched in with a parade of her friends. They were laughing and chatting loudly but stopped the instant they set their eyes on us.
Her eyes lowered into slits as she stared at me. It wasn’t until then that I realized Swayze had put his hand on my knee.
Rule 11 - Koi
Watch who’s watching you.
My headphones blared Chevelle as I attempted to drown out the world and do the mind-numbingly tedious work that was getting the park ready to open. We’d been at it for a week, cleaning up leaves, grime, and animal shit. Today was our last day before opening, and I was ready to get the show on the road. I was testing the coasters.It was a pointless job. Even if I did report something, chances were high there would be no professional to come look at the ride. They’d wait until an accident happened and then close it for a week. I knew because that was what happened when the metal piece impaled Swayze’s kidney. The Cyclone was up and running in seven days, minus that one specific piece they’d removed from his stomach.
I walked down the line, checking seatbelts and making sure no bolts were on the floor. This was our last summer here before we finally got real jobs and stopped fucking around. Before we’d gotten here, I’d been looking forward to five months of pure debauchery. Now, since she’d returned, I dreaded every minute I was awake.
