Girls as young as ten years old were taking birth control to delay getting their periods. When it came to the sugar pill, they threw the packets out and started a fresh one. Being on continuous birth control wasn’t exactly healthy, but it was better than beingdead.
She nodded. “But the doctor said it only delays the period for like six months. Eventually it’llcome.”
I bobbed my head. I knew all too well that ultimately she would have to fight for her life in the Dream Wars every night, but any delay was worth the risk. Tatum had become like a little sister to me, and I couldn’t imagine her, all of twelve or thirteen years old, having to fight in the Dream Wars. Having to fear, kill, and lose her childlikeinnocence.
“Well, we’ll deal with that when we have to.” What would I do when that day came? Fire her? Because she obviously couldn’t be my waker anymore. Keep in touch through email and hope she survived her training at the academy?No. I couldn’t. As much as I didn’t want to form attachments to people for fear of losing them, I’d already grown to loveTatum.
We followed the smell of coffee into the kitchen, where Mr. Hansen was cooking up a storm. He pointed to an array of steaming food. “Lentil loaf, fresh fruit, coconut yogurt, andcoffee.”
Tatum grabbed a cantaloupe cube and popped it into her mouth. “Isn’t it crazy that I’ve involuntarily become a vegan? Like, my mom and dad talk about this thing called bacon, but I’ve never had it. Was itreallythatgreat?”
Nox entered into the doorway then, and I smirked knowing a bacon-loving montage was on itsway.
“My dearest Tatum. Once one smells and tastes the crisp, salty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness that is bacon, one is never thesame.”
Tatum laughed, handing him a cup of black coffee. She knew what he liked from her weeks of crushing on him. “You talk like Shakespeare sometimes.” She popped another piece of fruit into hermouth.
Nox grinned. He only smiled for children or the elderly, one of those closet good guys. Emo pyromaniac on the outside, teddy bear inside. I’d marry him if he wasn’t like my brother. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he assuredher.
Tatum raised her glass of orange juice. “As one should,” she said in her best Noximpersonation.
We all laughed then, even Mr. Hansen who’d been listening as he grilled someasparagus.
I heard the distinct clip-clop of Maxine’s high heels coming down the hallway and then entering the kitchen. She had her red hair pinned up in a mess of glossy curls, full makeup, and was wearing a red dress so tight that it looked like a second skin. She was ravishing as always. It was a little after 4:00 a.m. and she was going out. Typical Maxine. Seize theday.
“Hot date?” Iasked.
Maxine was of the mindset that she could die tomorrow, which she could, so she wanted to live it up today. She did bungee jumping, took cooking classes, got random tattoos, dated frequently and whatever else was on her bucket list. Most people would say she was too wild, too reckless, or slut-shame her for it, but I envied her. I respected what it took to just live with no inhibitions. With Maxine, what you saw was what yougot.
She took a huge gulp of coffee. “Yep. Griffin is taking me to a cool new bar at the zoo. They have like two animals left, so we’re going to see them before they… ya know.” She looked at Tatum. She tried not to be too doom and gloom around thekid.
Nox had been peering at her from over his cup, his chocolate eyes intent on the beauty queen. I’d noticed he’d been looking at her differently these past few months and wondered if something was brewingthere.
“What kind of name is Griffin?” heasked.
Maxine rolled her eyes. “What kind of name isNox?”
The edges of his lips curled. Those two fought like cats and dogs, and I’d always wondered if one day it would turn intomore.
Tatum sighed. “When will I get boobs like yours?” She pointed at Maxine’s amplechest.
Mr. Hansen went a bit rigid at the statement, and I laughed again. It felt good to laugh. I didn’t do enough ofit.
Maxine pushed her elbows together, making her cleavage pop. “Soon. And if you don’t, Auntie Maxine will buy you a nice pair for your eighteenthbirthday.”
Tatum’s eyes widened and a slow grin crawled across herface.
“Maxine!” Iscoffed.
She shrugged, grabbing a bagel. “You only live once, Kitty.” She winked, then turned on her heels andleft.
I glowered over my mug of liquid gold. “I’m never getting drunk in front of you guys again!” I regretted telling them my full legal name. Kitty was a family name. Dammit, I was so paying Maxine back forthat.
That time both Tatum and Nox laughed, but there was another laugh, one I’d never heard before and yet knew who it belonged to at the sametime.
Damien stepped into the room, hair wet, wearing low-slung sweat pants and no shirt, smile still on hisface.
Geez, put a shirt on already. You’re buff, we getit.
