Page 69 of Of Flesh & Bone

"I think you should tell him.I hated saying goodbye to him and I've only had to do it once.I can't imagine what it's like to live like the two of you do."

Vaughn chuckles as she says, "Yeah we definitely haven't been able to be all folded up inside each other's ass cracks like you and Adam."

I throw a pillow at her, and she holds her hands up in defense.

"What's going on there?You should've seen him the day he came looking for you.He was crazed."

"Yeah...he didn't get much better by the time he found me.I told you he carried me out of there like a screaming toddler, didn't I?"

Vaughn starts laughing at the memory.

"Yes.I could picture it.Hilarious.I bet that was like something from your actual nightmares."

"All I was really thinking about at the time was how mad I was at the nerve of this asshat.I mean, who could've guessed they were siblings?"

We both burst into laughter.

"So, what about your night last night?"

Rubbing my face with both hands, I prepare myself for what's to come.I tell her the events of the night, from what I remember to what Adam filled in for me.I tell her about today and leaving my hoodie at Adam's, his demand that I stay home, and the nonchalant statement about us getting our own place.

"Wow.Shit, Eve.That's a LOT of rug to pull out from underneath a person all at one time."

"Yeah.I thought the same thing.I've been thinking about the comment that he made about Nathan all day.I want to ask you something and I want you to be brutally honest in your answer, Okay?"

"Yeah, you know it's the only way that I know how to be."

I smile at the sister to my soul because that's true.She only knows one way to give it and that's straight.

"Do you think that I've gotten any better in the time that you've known me?"

My friend has a soft smile on her face.She doesn't say a word and just looks back at me for a while.

"I won't pretend to know anything about what you go through.I obviously don't struggle with the same affliction, so I never know what to say or how things should be going with your treatment.I have wondered though, because no, I haven't seen any change."

The admission stings even though I expected it.

"You still wear the hoodie to classes.Until now, you've never met new people.You never go out.You don't seem to be pushing your comfort limits, but like I said, I don't know how it works, and I never want to make you feel pressured."

"Yeah.Adam said something similar.He has no qualms about calling me out.I think last night scared him though.He told me I didn't have to go to the banquet.Actually, he basically told me I'm not going.He was pushing me before and pissing me off but now that he's not, I can see he was trying to help me.Trying to get me out of my comfort zone and help me get better but now that I've cracked, he's trying to coddle me, which is way worse."

"First of all, you didn't crack.I think Cotton's right.You had a trauma response.We have no idea what's happened to you.Honestly, I'm surprised that Nathan hasn't used his hypnosis skills to pull some of those memories out of you."

Apprehensively, I say, "I want to show you something.I don't want you to freak out and if I see pity on your face...just know that it'll destroy me."

She narrows her eyes and speaks slowly."You're freaking me out here, Eve.What is it?"

"Just keep in mind that I don't remember it, okay?I have no idea how it happened."

"Just show me already, DAMN!"

I slowly turn away from Vaughn and lift the back of my shirt over my head.There's a sharp intake of breath just before I feel the lightest of touches on my back just between my shoulder blades.I keep still letting her take it in.Letting her touch me.Letting her heal.Finally, praying that I don't see pity in her eyes, I turn.There she is.My sister.The look in her eyes is one that I've never seen on her beautiful face before but it's a look that I understand instantly.

Rage.

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