Page 24 of The Pinkie Pact

"Are you guys done philosophizing?" Kara asked. "I'm starving."

Kieran and I both laughed at the same time. This day was strange, like beyond strange, and I couldn't even begin to wrap my head around it.

Sunset Chat

Sky

"Come on," Kara said. "If we walk fast enough, we can eat our gyros and check out the sunset."

After paying the guy in the food truck, we carried our bags and drinks toward the Lincoln Memorial, the lowering sun already putting on a spectacular show of pinks and oranges splashing against the horizon.

Once we finally reached the memorial, we climbed all the steps, dodging tourists, locals, and students. But to my surprise, we bypassed Old Abe, and I only had a quick glimpse of him before Kara and Kieran led us to the back of the enormous monument. No one else was around, but the scenery was stunning, especially with the Potomac stretching out beyond us.

They both took a seat between the gigantic white pillars, their feet dangling over the edge. Kara patted the space between her and Kieran, and I sat down.

Some sort of magic descended on us between the food and the beauty in front of our eyes. We didn't speak, just ate. I didn't realize how hungry I was, and our food was gone in about five minutes.

"Seriously one of the best meals I've ever had," I said, wiping my hands on a napkin.

"Wasn't it, though?" Kara agreed. "And not a vegetable in sight."

We all laughed as Kara gathered up some of the trash.

"Please tell me she eats the occasional piece of fruit or vegetable," Kieran said, looking at me.

"Don't worry. I'm on it."

"Good." He smiled as Kara rolled her eyes at him.

"She eats them," I clarified, "but I have to listen to her complain about it the whole damn time."

Grinning, he shook his head. "Some things never change. I remember having to sit around the dinner table, waiting for Princess Kara to eat her vegetables so we could all have dessert."

I laughed, but that didn't really seem fair. "Why shouldyouhave to wait too?"

His eyes widened. "That was always my question too. Why should we be lumped together like that? They should have just givenmethe dessert."

Kara scowled. "That's not the way I remember it."

"Really? How exactly do you remember it?" Kieran asked.

"You didn't like your vegetables then either."

"I know. But I ate them anyway."

"Well, maybe I'm the rebel in the family," Kara said.

"You think so?"

She shot him a glare at his sarcastic tone, and I worried that we were going down a dark road again with these two.

"Well, you know what, Kier? Sometimes, it's good to go up against the man, go against the establishment."

"I agree," he said, surprising me. "But not when you could just eat the stupid vegetables so I could have some ice cream."

They both laughed, and I shook my head at their weird relationship. They seemed like they hated each other, but deep down, I sensed that they were tight, that they were actually fiercely protective of each other. I couldn't relate at all, but maybe I just had to wait a bit until my brothers were older and not dickwad teenage boys.

"So what was it like growing up with a senator mom?" I asked, genuinely curious.

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