Page 84 of Sweetheart

When Aurora looked to me, I nodded. "Sunlight coming out of someone's face would only work if they were a mutant—and even then, I'm not sure it would feel good."

"Okay," she said, "so my metaphors aren't the best."

I couldn't stop myself from adding, "It was actuallya simile because you didn't use like or as. But carry on."

"Anyway," Aurora said, "it's still true.You don't usually smile like that."

I gave her a shrug. "It's probably because we're about to play, andmusic is my first love."

"You love something," Charlotte muttered, but I pretended not to hear.

"Has anyone heard from Viola?" Aurora said, and I frowned.

"I haven't," I said.

"The last I heard she was on her way," Charlotte said.

"Well, she betterhurry," Freya said after checking the time on her phone. "We're on in five minutes, and the birthday girl's momplus the scary-hot dude in the leather jacket who I think is her big brother has already looked this way a few times."

"Viola's not usually late," I said. "And when she is going to be, she always lets one of us know."

Aurora bit her lip then said, "Should we be worried? Because I'm kind of worried."

"I'll call her," I said, but as I went to reach for my phone, our cousin rushed in, wearing a pink dress and looking frazzled.

"I'm here, I'm here," she said, sounding out of breath. "Sorry guys. Thanks for notstarting without me."

"No problem." I leaned forward to smooth back the strands of hair flying about her face. "What happened? Aurora was worried."

"And the rest of you weren't?"

"Hey," Freya said, "I was."

Viola gave her a smile. "No, you weren't."

"Well, I was getting there. I would've had to sightread the cello parts if you didn't show."

Charlotte chuckled, but I just shook my head.

"I mean, we all know I could do it but still."

"Nice, Frey," I said.

"What did I say?"

Viola patted her on the shoulder. "It's cool. We all know the cello is the more difficult and therefore superior instrument, so I understand." I think all four of us rolled our eyes at that. Aurora was playing the viola tonight, buteveryone knew violin was the best. "And to answeryour question, Scar, I'm late because I saw a dog on the side of the road.I couldn't leave the bigguy out there. It's supposed to rain this week, you know?"

I did.

But my cousin Viola loved animals. It was one of the main reasons sheworked at a local animal shelter and had put so much energy therefor the past several years. She took her job seriously, and I knew that rain orshine, Viola would've dropped everything to help an animal in need.It was just her nature.

"So anyway," she added, "I stopped, took him to the shelter, and got him settled in. I think I'll call him Batman. He had the cutest ears."

"What happened to your neck?" Charlotte asked, pointing to a red mark on Viola's skin. "Did the dog nip you?"

Her hand flew to her neck, and aflush spread on her cheeks. "Ah no, he didn't."

"You said Batmanwas big," Aurora said. "Weren't you scared to try and get him in the car?"

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