"There," Richelle said, laying my Dutch braid over my shoulder.
Gabby sat on the end of the bed, her light blonde hair in French braids that draped over her shoulders.
Richelle had even let me attempt to do her hair. (I failed.) I had tried braids, but her hair barely touches her shoulders, so that didn't exactly work out, so she got pigtails and was not extremely happy with them.
Just for fun, I had tried to do Gabby's makeup. Purple eyeshadow above and around her eye. She looked like she'd been in a fistfight with someone. Richelle had done my makeup, although she hadn't done it terribly.
Sierra had once told me that I would probably start wearing makeup in seventh grade, because 'that's when she started.' First of all, we're the same age. Second, Richelle was in high school and still didn't wear makeup.
"Come on, Richelle!" I pleaded, holding a brush full of blush in my left hand menacingly.
"No," Richelle frowned at me. "Makeup sucks."
"It's not that bad," Gabby said, a tube of lipstick in her right hand.
"I said no," Richelle protested.
"Too bad," I stuck the brush in her face.
She coughed and waved a hand in front of her face. "Really, Sadie?" She arched an eyebrow at me. She rolled her eyes at me.
"Here," Gabby said, smearing lipstick across Richelle's cheek.
Richelle frowned at her. "Why me? Why not Sadie?" She reached over and smeared blue eyeshadow on my nose.
"Hey!" I protested. "You're the one who said no makeup!"
"Too bad!" Gabby laughed, swearing lipstick on my cheek.
Richelle snorted. "Your face though."
"Hey!" I said, self-consciously bringing my hands to my face. I felt my left cheek and rubbed it profusely. "Is it gone?"
"No," Richelle's lips twitched. "But you did an amazing job at smearing it. It's actually quite funny."
"You should talk," I replied. "You have blush-" I made a circle around my head with my index finger. "Right around here."
Richelle rolled her eyes. "Ha. Ha."
"You both look like clowns," Gabby said, smirking at us.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "You did not. You did not just say that."
"Oh, but I did," Gabby said. She stuck her tongue out at Richelle, who leaned forward and grabbed her, tickling aggressively.
"Hey!" Gabby's voice was lost in the laughter. "St-Sto-Stop!"
"What was that?" Richelle asked as she tickled.
"Stop it!"
"What? Couldn't hear you!"
Then she tumbled off the bed. Richelle leaned over the side of her bed, both feet (even the cast) in the air, her chin resting on her hands. "Why'd you fall off?"
Ally kept trying to get me to hang out with her all day. I swear I was about to scream.
My best friend Jazmine snorted. "What's with you and the popular girl?"
I shrug. "Don't ask me. We were put in a science group together and now she thinks we're like this." I held my index and middle fingers together. I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."
Jaz snorted. "That's funny. Glad I don't have to put up with it."
"Oh, no you get to endure the torture with me," I said. "Mrs. Adkinson put us in the same science group."
Jazmine gagged. "You're kidding. I'm subjected to the torture?"
I nodded. "C'mon. It'll be fun."
"Whatever," Jazmine gave me one last glare before walking into Room 402, Science.
We walked into our Science class and Mrs. Adkinson glanced up at us. "Hello, Miss Jazmine and Miss Sadie. Miss Jazmine, I assume you know your group?"
Jazmine nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"Perfect," Mrs. Adkinson gave us a nod. "We're just going to work in our groups today. We'll do more tomorrow."
I glanced at Jazmine and waggled an eyebrow.
She sighed and followed me to our usual corner.
"Hi!" Ally gave Jazmine a huge grin.
"Hi Ally," Jazmine said, her tone flat.
"Wow," Ally said, giggling. "You got my name right!"
"Yep," Jazmine said, sitting down at the desk beside me and shooting me an annoyed look.
"No duh," Sierra said. "You're super popular. It's not that hard to see."
"Well, I wouldn't say super popular," Ally giggled.
"I would," Sierra replied blatantly.
I glanced at Jazmine uncomfortably. It's comforting to know she looks as awkward as I feel.
"I don't know," Ally shrugged. "I suppose I just have a lot of friends."
Sierra arched an eyebrow. "That's literally the definition of popular."
"Do you guys think the same?" Ally looked at Jaz and me.
I glanced at Jaz and shrugged.
"It's not a bad thing," I said. "Just means you're well-liked."
"Right," Ally muttered, staring at her lap. "I mean, I'm not actually that popular. But can we work on the report?"
"Right," Jazmine said, seemingly eager to get away from the topic Sierra had brought up.
What was with Sierra and provoking people?
Jazmine glanced behind her at the board. "So what are we doing it on?"
"Sibling dynamics," I said, pulling the folder from my backpack and handing it to her.
"Ah," Jazmine nodded. "Thanks." She took the folder and examined it. "I mean, I have two older brothers who smell like feet. Obviously, a token that this will go amazingly."
Ally giggled.
I snorted. "I've met your brothers. They're not a token that'll go amazingly."
Jazmine shrugged. "I can't exactly object."
"Ha," Ally said. "I mean, my brother's pretty annoying too."
"What did he do?" Sierra asked. It was almost as if she was trying to challenge Ally.
"Um, the other day we were playing a game, and he got on my account and kept changing my avatar," Ally said. "It was really annoying. I couldn't play with Amonie because I had to keep changing my avatar back. He even thought it was funny!" Ally sighed. "Siblings are annoying."
I sucked in a breath. That was it? Gabby had gotten mad at me and pushed the Christmas tree on me before because I had tried to prevent her from decorating the Christmas tree one year. Richelle had pretended I didn't exist for an entire week once because I had dropped her new box set of books in a puddle. Even Eva had thrown my homework in the toilet because I had cracked her phone.
And Ally's worse was her brother changing her avatar?
"Do you guys want to have a sleepover?" Sierra asked as we walked out of the middle school. "We could do it at my house."
I glanced at Jaz, who shrugged. "I mean, I'm cool if you're cool."
I lifted a shoulder. "Yeah, I'm cool. I just need to text my parents." I dug my brand-new iPhone out of my backpack and unlocked it, sending off a quick text to my parents.
Me: How is she?
Dad: She's okay, considering everything.
Me: Oh. So I was wondering if I could maybe spend the night with Sierra and Jazmine?
Mom: Whose house?
Me: Sierra's.
Mom: Alright, can you take Gabby with you? I'll pick her up later, but we need to get Richelle settled and make sure she has all of her meds and things.
Me: Yeah, I'll ask Sierra.
I glanced up from my phone. "Can Gabby come? For a little while?"
Sierra shrugged. "Sure. I mean, she could hang with Cynthia and Cecilia."
I nodded. "Perfect." I sent off the quick text and asked them to have Richelle text me when she felt like it.
"Jaz?" I asked. "What about your parents?"
Jazmine shrugged, typing on her phone. "Apparently my mom already knows Sierra's, so it looks like we're all good."
"Sadie," Gabby said, jogging over to me. "Is Mom picking us up or...?"
"Sierra's taking us," I said. "I'm going to spend the night and Mom will pick you up. Sound good?"
Gabby shrugged. "Sure, I guess. I don't really care. And Richelle?"
"Mom and Dad said she was pretty good, considering," I said. "But hopefully she'll text me whenever she feels like it."
Gabby nodded slowly, taking this in. "Okay, got it."
"Oh my God," Jazmine said suddenly.
"What?" Sierra blinked.
"You have a Hummer!" Jazmine's eyes went wide.
"Yeah," Sierra shrugged.
"She's always wanted to ride in a Hummer," I said.
Jazmine nodded. "Yuh-huh. This is amazing."
Jazmine climbed in the backseat, her face shining.
"You got it, Gabby?" I asked, glancing down at my little sister.
She waved away my hand. "I got it."
I raised my hands in surrender. "Yes ma'am." I glanced at Jaz and she shrugged.
My phone dinged. Richelle.
Richelle: All the doctors said it went well, but it doesn't particularly feel like it.
Me: ???
Richelle: I've got a hole in my chest. Sound good to you, Sades?
Me: ...not really
Richelle: Well, that's what I mean.
Me: Yowza. Missed you.
Richelle: I just saw you this morning.
Me: I don't care.
Richelle: I feel like crap.
Me: I'm sorry.
Richelle: Ehhhhh I guess it comes with having osteosarcoma. This stinks. I always hated hospitals.
Me: Better be getting used to them.
Richelle: I've gotta. I'm going to be spending a lot of time in and around them.
Me: Yeah...I can't wait to see you
Richelle: See you then. Have fun at your sleepover
Me: Have fun at the hospital
Richelle: Well, you're just adorable.
Me: I know I am.
Richelle: I'm tired and I'm hurting, don't antagonize me.
Me: Why?
Richelle: Because I won't be in a good mood when I see you tomorrow.
Me: Fine. Bye.
We pulled into the driveway and Sierra led us to her room.
"Oh my god," Jazmine's eyes went wide as she ran her hand along Sierra's teal walls. "I love these colors. Your room is awesome. Man, you're practically spoiled."
"I'm not spoiled," Sierra said.
"My gosh," I said, running my hand over a computer. "This is amazing. What computer is this?"
Sierra shrugged.
"Man," I whispered. "A tablet too? Dang, girl."
"Yeah," Sierra shrugged, plugging her phone in.
"What phone is that?" Jazmine asked.
"Samsung s21," Sierra replied, lifting a shoulder.
"Dude," Jazmine whistled. "I have an iPhone 7."
Sierra shrugged. "I got most of my sister's stuff."
"My parents offered Richelle and me Eva's stuff," I said. "But she didn't want it, so all of her stuff that I don't have is in the attic because Richelle wouldn't let them get rid of any of it."
"Man, your bed is so squishy!" Jazmine grinned, bouncing back on Sierra's bed.
I sat down at Sierra's desk and swung around with my feet in the air. "I love your room!"
"Sierra?"
I looked up and caught Cecelia's brown eye.
"Get out," Sierra replied, real friendly-like.
"No seriously," Cynthia said, appearing beside Cecelia. "It's Gabby."
My brain jerked to attention at my little sister's name. "What happened?"
Cynthia motioned for me to follow her. I got to my feet and let her escort me to what I assumed was Cynthia and Cecelia's bedroom.
Gabby was sitting in the corner, a strand of blonde hair wrapped around her finger, whimpering. The tear stains on her cheeks were recent.
I glanced behind me, my eyebrows raised, and Jazmine ushered everyone out of the room.
I sank to the floor beside Gabby. "Hey."
"Hey," Gabby blubbered. She looked at her feet glumly.
"What's wrong?" I reach over and wipe off a tear with my thumb.
Gabby shrugged. "I don't know. I just..." She looked up at me, her eyes begging me to understand. And I did. It was something she couldn't put into words. So much feeling that you just can't describe it. Eva.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her there. "Can you talk to me?" I whispered in her ear.
Gabby shook her head and rested it on my chest. A warm feeling filled me inside. I loved being an older sister. I got to have moments like these. And as much as I hated watching my sister hurting, I loved being able to sit and hold her. I knew she wasn't a little kid, but you can't help moments like this. I could hear hushed voices outside. My mom must have arrived.
"I miss her," Gabby whispered after a few moments.
"I know," I said quietly. "I know."
"Hey."
I looked up to see Richelle peeking through a crack in the door. I could see the tip of one crutch poking through the door. Her brow was furrowed.
"What's going on?" she asked, working her way around obstacles. She leaned her crutches against the wall and carefully eased herself down to the floor. "Gabby?"
Gabby shook her head a little.
"What's wrong?" Richelle asked, putting her head close to mine.
"Eva," I whispered back. I expected her to break down too, but instead, she moved to the other side of Gabby, slipping her arms around her. I remember Eva's death left Richelle reeling. I could never figure out how she did it. They were so close. Having older twin sisters would probably make you feel left out, sure, but it seemed like Richelle and Eva went out of their way to make me feel included. That was the thing that hurt the most and yet, at the same time, was my fondest memory. I remember overhearing my parents once asking my sister how she did it.
And this is what she told them:
"I just had to find a reason to go on. It didn't have to be a good one or a noble one. It just had to get me through the day. Find a reason. Family is mine."
That had gutted me pretty bad. I wish I hadn't overheard that, and I hoped Richelle never found out that I had heard that. We were the reason that got her through the day.
"Oh Gabby," Richelle whispered, closing her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I know it hurts." Richelle took a shaky breath and let her head fall over Gabby's so that we formed somewhat of a little huddle of sisters. And we stayed there.
Just the three of us.
Just the three of us against the world.