Page 63 of Paint the Town, Dove
“Don’t let that get to your head,” she pointed.
“That was hardly a compliment,” Emory jibed, winking at me. “Give him some credit.”
I glanced at Scarlett who looked clearly uncomfortable. Did she know how to compliment anyone? Did she ever even receive one? I couldn’t think about that, didn’t want to think about that. She was a composition of good things.
Even if I was the only person who could see that, I hoped that would be enough.
“Emory,” I cleared my throat, changing the subject. “Scarlett wouldn’t shut up about you.”
She bowed. “Talk of the town, they say!”
I laughed. “Tell me about you.”
“Do you really care?” she blushed. “Or are you just trying to be nice?”
“Careful now, you’re starting to sound like this one,” I pointed at Scarlett.
She rolled her eyes but they held amusement. “Emory’s my new best friend.”
“Didn’t realize the spot was open.”
“I held auditions and she applied.”
“Did I?” Emory asked at the same time as I said, “Did she?”
We all burst out laughing and ended up spending the entire day at the park, Scar and Emory laying on their sides gossiping about a teacher they hate (I actually loved him last year, Mr. Cosk gave me an A in Science), while I strummed Harley until the sun set over the neighbourhood.
“I don’t want to go home,” Emory whispered.
Scarlett, lying on her back, said, “Same.”
“Me too,” I added.
We didn’t look at each other, didn’t move, just stared up at the sky. Clustered, a unit, wishful – hoping that the very stars we looked at would somehow guide us to a different life – a promise that one day, we’d be okay.
But all three of us knew why we didn’t want to go home.
…
[There was no home to go back to.]
Chapter Nineteen
Ryden
“Drowned out the noise for once – the wind can’t help you – no home, no love, no home to go back to –”
Arc & Sheild Records:‘The Wind Can’t Help You”
Composition By: Ryden Spectre
“Ready?” Tav called from the empty front row.
Beside him sat Mallory, next to her, Morty.
A couple rows behind was Scarlett, legs propped over the chair in front of her.
I grinned to myself, strapping Harley over my shoulder.Ah, Dove.Always a recluse,I thought.Some things never change.
