Chapter Eight
"Kalial!"
Kalial's heart froze at the sound of Tierra's voice. Cinqwing and Mcwooden had gone to the water park that day and Kalial had risen from sunning herself with Trowa, Kaelyn and Relena to get something to drink. She was at the concession stand when Tierra approached.
"There you are, come on, I need you," she said without saying hello or asking how she was after yelling at her the other night at dinner. No apology escaped her lips.
"You need me...," Kalial stated cautiously, warily. "What's wrong, Tierra?"
"Nothing," Tierra snapped, hands on her hips. "You just need to come to my room and give me backup music. Tonight at around eight. Just be there."
"Oh, I see." Kalial didn't look at her sister, turning away to receive her drink from the cashier and thanking him. Taking a slow sip, she faced Tierra again. "I...I'm sorry, Tierra...but I can't."
"What?" Tierra's voice was low, dangerous. "What do you mean, you can't?"
"I already have other plans. I said that I would be there and I mean to go. I...I can't be there for you tonight."
Dark eyes glared furiously at her as Tierra failed to comprehend her sister's refusal. "Whatever," she scoffed. "As if you really have plans with anybody. Just be at my room at eight. I swear, you can be so difficult."
Tierra turned and walked away, swishing her hips as she strolled off, confident that all eyes were on her. Kalial did not watch her leave, her own eyes staring down at her hands, watching them gradually blur. Her open palms, turned skyward, became wet with slow tears as the painful and finally unavoidable realization that Tierra was selfish and ungrateful washed over her. The hard part was understanding why. A gentle hand landed on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't cry."
Kalial sniffed loudly, reaching for a napkin holder. "I'm sorry, Trowa. It's just so...hard."
"To understand?" He smirked slightly. "We weren't meant to understand everything in this world. I thought you were smart enough to know that." He was only teasing, she heard it, but Kalial also thought that there was some truth to his words. "So your sister does not understanding the meaning of the words blood or kin or even love perhaps. Maybe...maybe it is best. Maybe it is better that you do not care."
"Trowa!" Kalial was shocked at that. "How can you say that? She is my-"
"Sister, yes, we know. We all know." Green eyes rolled slightly. "However, you know that her treatment of you is nowhere near sisterly. I know. I have a sister as well." Trowa turned to look at her as he leaned against the concession stand counter. He watched her profile silently, seeing the distress on her face and the torn look in her eyes. It was clear what he was saying was painful to hear, but it couldn't be helped. Truths hurt sometimes. "You will be fine," he told her quietly. "One way or another...you will be fine. Come. Let's go back to the others."
