Page 19 of Mark Us Little Bear
“What happened that your family was in a rush in the middle of the night?” It looked like an emergency.
“My brother didn’t feel well, we took him to the hospital. He had a fever and trouble breathing.” Traces of concern color her voice but she masks it by maintaining her usual steal expression.
“Is he okay now?” I keep my tone light.
“Yeah. Mom stayed with him and Dad brought me home to sleep for a few hours and get ready for school.”
“But you barely slept,” I voice my thoughts.
“It’s fine. I’ll sleep in class.” She looks away for a moment and the energy shifts. “I see you’re wearing all black again.” Her eyes study me from head to toe, checking every inch. “Meh. I like the new girl’s sense of style.”
I eye her. “Black attire is classy and the new girl is into fashion.”
“I can tell.” Her snarky comments slowly seep into our conversation.
“I see you didn’t drop the attitude.”
“Nope! Just your taste in fashion.” She points to the floor and covers her mouth, “Oops!”
I subtly scrunch up my face.
The way she peers at me with those innocent eyes and her scrutinizing gaze that comes right after—good thing we reached the ground level.
“Well, Piper,” my voice is full of sarcasm as I make the P pop, “You’re sunshine and rainbows as usual.”
“Bradley you’re…” She mimics me with wickedness in her eyes. “The reaper incarnate as usual.” That little girl is roasting my ass nonstop.
Her eyes slide to the side and she merrily exits the elevator as footsteps emerge from the lobby.
“Ronnie!” her voice changes drastically from a condescending prick to a little schoolgirl with a crush. But of course, who can stay immune to Ronnie’s undeniable charm?
I exhale with a snarl.
Ronnie paces the lobby with his helmet in hand. “Hey, Piper.” He greets her back. “Have a good day in school.”
Giving him a fist bump, she replies, “Thanks.” In hurried steps, she exits the door and strides down the street, her tight brownish curls bouncing against her shoulders.
“She hates me with passion,” I turn my attention to him and vocalize my thoughts.
“She doesn’t hate you. She likes the back-and-forth conversations with you. It matches her personality. She enjoys it and you allow it to continue.”
“What are you saying?”
“She likes you.” He doesn’t blink.
“What are you saying?” I repeat it more strictly this time, jerking my upper body forward.
“She sees you as a friend. Probably more than I am. We never had that kind of friendship. We’re more laid back. But you bring those colors out of her.”
“Hmm,” I hum, contemplating. “Do you think she feels lonely, a little left out because her parents are always with her little brother?”
“Maybe. I lived here for seven years and Piper was always like this. Cynical. Bubbly. Moody. A Loner. But always loved to dress up.”
“I’ve never seen her bring friends over, like four months and not even one friend stepped through this hall.”
“Why don’t you ask her next time?” he encourages, checking his phone for the time.
“I don’t know… she ran toward you, maybe you should.”
