Sunshine (15 page)

Chapter 15
Early Winter
“Now I'm alone, alone and cold under painted skies.”-The Cure

My alarm doesn’t go off, but I wake up anyway. It’s so cold in my room that I have no choice but to go upstairs where Stevie and Jade are already up with their winter coats on over their pajamas.
“Why is it so cold?” I ask as I get a cup of coffee, hoping that will help.
“I don’t know,” Jade says, hugging himself. “If I knew it was going to be this cold this early, I would have had the heater looked at.”
Stevie has his eyes glued to the weather channel as he hugs himself in his puffy winter coat.
“So the heater…”
“It’s broken,” Jade answers.
I’m not going to get any warmer standing in the heater-less living room, so I head back upstairs to get dressed. I set my laptop on the kitchen counter and let Rancid’s “Ruby SoHo” wake me up. I throw on the thickest pair of black pants I can find and a long sleeved grey and white striped sweater that Stevie got me for Christmas last year. I go into the bathroom to wash my face with the warmest water I can get away with without actually burning my face, and then I walk back into my room to shove on my combat boots. They’re the warmest pair of shoes I own. And by far the most awesome.
The song suddenly changes to The Misfits’ “I Turned Into A Martian.”
As I tie one of my shoes, I hop back into the kitchen. I try to act like I’m not mad when I see Myles sitting at the counter wearing a dopey ass smile like he’s the most hilarious person on earth. I stomp my other foot into my boot and begin to tie that one.
“Should I even ask?” My voice is angry. I can’t help it.
He laughs and points through the open door to my room where the window is open. I roll my eyes so he can see that I am not amused. I’m not afraid to shut the window, it being 5:30 in the morning, so I do. Then I sit down at the kitchen table, propping a mirror up against my school books so I can do my makeup.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, not moving from where he is at the counter. He sounds hurt.
I sigh. “I just don’t like people sneaking up on me.” I try to sound nice when I say it. I think I succeed. “And you can’t just open windows. I
am
allergic to the sun and everything.” This sounds less nice, but I did try.
Myles’ face looks like I took a rock and threw it at him, cracking his smile into pieces. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” he says. “I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry.”
Well I didn’t want to make him feel bad; I just wanted to let him know. I wave a hand as I turn my attention back to my make up bag. “It’s okay. You could just call or something,” I say. “Or, you know, use the front door at least.” I smile to show him I'm not as mad.
“So I didn’t scare you?” he asks.
No. Is that weird? And if that’s weird, then what’s weirder: not being scared because he’s a blood sucking creature in my room or that he's a guy showing up at my house unannounced?
I shake my head because that’s too much to think about this early in the morning. I change the subject. “You like The Misfits?” I ask.
That smile twitches at his face when he nods as the loud drums continue on my laptop.
“So why are you here so early?” I ask just as I’m finishing with my eyeliner.
“I was bored.” He shrugs. “Why are you awake this early?”
“I couldn’t sleep.” I zip up my makeup bag and go back to the counter to check my e-mail.
“So, how are you?” he asks. It’s been a few days since my mini-snap-freak-out-scene. Silly me to think that he would just forget about it.
“Better.” It isn’t a lie, but I still don’t want to talk about this. I pretend to be more preoccupied with my e-mail. He doesn’t say anything else, and neither do I.
Because I have an e-mail from my mother:

Sophie,
I was wondering if you and your boyfriend would like to come over Sunday for dinner. I really want to put things behind us. Please call me after you read this.

Love Mom.

Crap. She always does this. She’ll fight with one of us, not talk to us, then make up for it by doing something like this. The last time this happened, she flipped out on Jade for signing the release forms for my wings to be tattooed on my back when I was fifteen. A week later she made him dinner. Where they fought some more. We call them Dinners Of Doom. You’re screwed whether you go or not.
“What is it?” Myles asks, most likely noticing my wide mouth expression.
“Uhm,” is all I can say. Then I try again. “My mom wants me to call her,” I barely say.
“Well, that’s great,” he says optimistically.
I glare at him over my screen.
“Or not?”
“I guess I should get this over with.” Mom will most likely be awake because she has to drive Leena to school and it takes her two hours to get ready to drive two blocks.
I sit on the counter near the sink and Myles hops up next to me although not
right
next to me, and I appreciate it. He swings his feet over the side. I stare at the phone, contemplating on whether I should actually call her, or act like I never got the e-mail at all.
My fingers dial her number before my mind can stop them. Mom picks up after two rings.
“Hello?”
“Hi Mom,” I squeak.
“Sophie?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
She doesn’t say anything back. This is going well.
“I just got your e-mail,” I offer after an immeasurable silence.
My free hand clamps around the edge of the counter.
“So are you coming Sunday?” She doesn’t sound critical, but strangely hopeful.
“Uhm. Sure.”
“And your boyfriend, too?”
Now I’m thrown off. “Boyfriend?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Myles cover his mouth with his hand so he won’t laugh. Damn super human hearing.
“Oh, what’s his name, Kyle?” Mom continues on.
“Myles?” I ask.
“Oh that’s it. Is he coming too?”
“Uhm, Myles isn’t my boyfriend.”
“Well, whatever he is, is he coming or not? I need to know how many places to set,” she still sounds nicer than she’s ever sounded while speaking to me.
“I don’t know, maybe.” I glance at Myles, who is already nodding that yes, he wants to come.
“Okay, we’ll see you both at seven then,” she answers for me.
“Oh, ok,” I say, defeated.
We hang up and I copy Myles’ swinging-legs-over-the-counter-thing.
“So?” he finally asks.
“My mom wants us over on Sunday night.”
“Us?” he plays dumb.
“I know you heard it, you ass,” I say, “You hear the part where she thinks you’re my boyfriend?” I laugh.
Myles laughs for a millisecond and then he’s serious for some reason.
“What?” I ask.
“Is it that funny?” he asks in a voice that sounds like I just kicked him in the stomach.
Uh oh, this isn’t cool. “Yeah,” I say. “It’s hilarious.” I’m referring to the fact that me being with
anybody
is ridiculous.
Myles looks sad. “Am I that bad?” he asks with a slight smile. He’s trying to play along, but I can tell I’ve hurt his feelings. If it were anyone else, I would say
oh grow a pair, you baby
or something, but I feel bad. It must be hard being so different and trying to fit in with me of all people.
“No,” I say very evenly so he doesn’t get any ideas.
“You just want everyone else to think it’s funny.”
Wow, he’s good.
I nod.
“Like your mother.”
I smile.
“And Boo, and Trei, And Stevie, and Jade…and me,” he continues. He’s smiling more, although I’m not sure if he really thinks it’s funny. I don’t really care.
“Exactly,” I say nonchalantly. I get up to put my coffee mug in the sink.
“That’s fine.” Myles shrugs. It sounds like he means it.
Good. Now that we have all of
that
cleared up, I look at my watch. “Do you want a ride?”
“Don’t you have to drive Trei and Boo to school?”
“Yeeeaaah.” I honestly just remembered. “But I have more than two extra seats.”
“I know that, but what will they think?”
“Well, Trei won’t really think about it at all. And Boo…well, no one knows what that boy thinks on any given day.”
He shrugs like that’s not enough of an answer.
“I’ll tell them your car broke down,” I offer. “Or do you want to
run
to school?”
He acts like he doesn’t hear me. “You can tell them what you want. I’ll ride with you. As long as it’s okay with you.”
“It is,” I say through my teeth, growing more impatient.
Like I’d offer him a ride and then turn around and say no two seconds later.
“So what should I wear Sunday?” Myles asks in a mock-enthusiastic voice as we both get in the car.
“Whatever you want.” I start the engine. “I personally will be wearing a suit made out of human skin to make me feel more comfortable.”
“I want to know.” I watch his eyes flicker light blue in my rearview mirror.
“Well, I told you what I’ll be wearing…just go by that.”
“C’mon, Sophie.” He nudges the back of my seat playfully. “I want my future mother in law to be impressed,” he says like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
“Seriously, Myles. Just wear whatever you want, she won’t be looking at you anyway. She never really
looks
at anyone.” It’s meant to sound like I’m still joking around with him, but it comes out like I’m pissed off.
Myles crosses his arms over his chest. “You’re cranky,” he decides. And it sounds like a fact rather than a question.
“I’m cold,” I correct He Who Thinks He Knows It All as I crank up the heat.
We get to Boo and Trei’s house early. Trei comes out first, cheery as usual. “Boo’s still getting dressed. We’ll be out in a minute.”
I laugh. “No rush.”
We watch her go back into the house.
“Okay,” Myles says suddenly. “So there was a reason why I wanted to ride with you today.
I turn in my seat. “Oh was there?” I lighten up. Barely.
Myles runs a hand through his hair. “You’ll just have to wait until they get in the car,” he teases.
“My
God
!” Boo says a minute later as he opens the door. “It’s colder than a witch’s tit out there.” He slams into the seat next to Myles. Trei shakes her head back and forth disapprovingly, getting into the passenger side next to me.
I throw the car into reverse.
“No offense, Sunshine,” Boo says to me. I think he means to call me a witch or something. Lame.
“Boo, you’re so lovely in the morning. I think you should be on a Foldgers’ commercial,” I say.
“Hi, Myles,” Trei says, ignoring us.
“Oh, hey Myles,” Boo says like he didn’t realize he was sitting next to him.
“Hi,” Myles laughs.
“So why is
Sophie
driving you today?” he asks in an accusing tone. I’m about to answer for him, but I don’t have to.
“I asked Sophie to drive me. I had news for you guys that couldn’t wait,” he explains.
“Yeah, and you’re keeping me in suspense here,” I interrupt.
“Okay,” he says. “What would you say if you could play somewhere regularly and get paid to do so?”
Trei turns to me, smiling. “Where?” she directs toward Myles.
“A club.”
“Right. Because you know someone who would want to hear us play,” I say skeptically, turning into the school parking lot.
“Well, I kind of do.” Myles flashes a smile at me in the rearview.
I’m about to say something else, but Trei cuts me off. “Oh my goodness!” she squeals.
“Who?” Boo asks in the same excited tone.
“A friend of mine owns a club in New York.”
“And how do you know this person?” I ask.
“We’ve been friends a long time,” Myles answers as I find a parking spot. “I told him how good you guys are and he wants you to audition over Christmas break.”
We begin to get out of the car. Boo slams his door, I’m guessing in excitement. “Christmas break? That’s close.”
“Yes.”
“Our band,” I ask; it can’t be that simple.
We’re all quiet for a second, taking it in.
“So what do you say?” Myles finally asks.
“Uhm. We say yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!” Boo says.
Though I’m still skeptical about it, I can’t hide my excitement either. “Hell yes!”
“Oh my gosh yes!” Trei agrees. “We haven’t played anywhere since the Halloween dance.”
We’re at our lockers now; Boo ramming his text books into mine. “That reminds me,” he says, closing the metal door on some papers that are simply not going to stay inside. “Are you guys going to the Winter Formal?”
The way he asks sounds like he means Myles and I together. Not individually and ending up in the same place. “Come on, Sophie, lighten up,” Boo says, noticing my expression.
I glare at him some more.
Myles talks to Trei like I’m not even there. “Why is she so mad?”
I don’t give Trei a chance to answer. “I don’t go to dances.” I shrug. Totally normal. Then I walk away as fast as I can.
Myles catches up to me before lunch. I’m prepared for him to ask about why I don’t go to dances, when I obviously do—I played at one—but he doesn’t. “So are you excited about the audition?” he asks as we enter the cafeteria and sit down.
Boo and Trei aren’t here yet, so I dive into the questions myself. “Who is this friend and why have I not heard of him before?”
He smiles like he knew I wouldn’t just be satisfied with good news. “His name is Evan, and you haven’t heard of him because he’s never come up before.”
“So. He’s like you?” I have to ask. How else would someone trying to pass off as a teenager know someone who owns a club?
He nods, then looks around to make sure no one’s listening, I guess. “There are humans and vampires there, but Boo and Trei don’t need to be filled in to play there.”
I sigh. I don’t want this thing to be overly complicated before we even get to audition. I look on the bright side. “New York, huh?”
“New York.”
And we both smile, satisfied with something normal and exciting to talk about for the rest of the period.

School flies by. Before I know it, I’m waiting for Boo and Trei in the parking lot at the end of the day. It’s still freezing out, and it looks like rain. I sit on the hood of my car to watch for them with my arms across my chest. There are smokers lighting up, the underclassmen waiting for their rides, and I see some girls huddled near Barbie’s Mercedes. I turn my attention back to the door of the school for any sign of my friends.
Imagine my shock when I see Barbie walking toward me. It’s stupid, but I actually try to ignore her. I take out my English book and start reading it like she isn’t even there, praying she doesn’t really want to talk to me.
“Sophie Jean,” she says in that unmistakable bitchy voice of hers. Only there’s something different about it this time, and I can’t put my finger on it.
“What do you want?” I ask.
I’m ready for her to mention the bookstore, make fun of me, whatever. But when I look up, her face is red and her eyes are puffy like she’s been crying. “Look, I’m just going to flat out ask you. I didn’t want to come over here and actually
talk
to you, but I have no other choice,” she says it in her trade mark Barbie tone, yet it comes out weak and hollow.
“What?”
She sighs. “Look, you went out with Jack for longer than I've been going out with him,” she begins.
I get up. I’m not about to sit out in the freezing cold to listen to this. “Look, Barbie, he’s your problem now,” I try to say without feeling bad. I kind of succeed for a second.
“Sophie, please,” she’s almost begging as I unlock my door.
“What the hell do you want from me?”
“I want to know if he ever hit you.” And then she starts crying.
My knees buckle, so I sit inside my car, the door still open. Boo, Trei, and Myles are coming out of the building and getting closer. Did Jack hit Barbie? Or worse? Barbie’s one of the meanest people to ever walk the Earth. She would probably sell her own parents’ souls to the Devil himself if he offered cash. But no one—not even Barbie—deserves what I got from Jack.
I don’t answer.
“Well?” she spits out, though it doesn’t sound harmful through the tears.
I glance around. Myles is within earshot now, or…thought shot. I can’t be sure. Barbie sighs angrily and begins to walk away. As happy as I am to see her leave, I can’t stop myself.
“Barbie,” I barely call out to her.
She turns around to look at me.
“Be careful.”