- PART ONE -

"Whatcha doing?"

Katie looked up from her book, holding the urge to roll her eyes. "What do you want, Jules?"

"Hey don't be rude. I'm just passing by." Julia went in and began fumbling with everything her finger can get through. Katie eyed her carefully. She already knew there was always something under Julia's sleeves whenever she randomly barged into her room.

"Sooooo," Jules began. "How's your job?"

"I dunno. News report here, news report there. It's been like that for a while now. Nothing really happened much."

"Dad said you went to Mexico the other day?"

"Uh huh. Me and my crew spent four days there, for a cover on drug dealer case. Although I haven't gone abroad recently. The farthest thing there is in my schedule is Missouri."

"Sounds awesome to travel here and there every day."

"Not for holiday though." Katie shrugged. "So, how's your new job?"

"Hm, it's been great so far. I'm currently assigned to a new sector group. The client we got is pretty big. It's nerve-racking but still excited."

"Glad to hear. I hope you don't take too much with the job. I heard audit stuff can be an overkill."

"It's beginning to show actually, looking at how many papers and extra-hour to complete." Jules was already sprawled on the other side of the bed, playing with Rubik's cube. "There's one time where I had this major fever because I lost track of time and forgot to eat properly. Do you remember that?"

"I remember. Mom called me, all panicky. She said something about you not answering the phone and then telling me that you were having headache and nausea all the time. She was so worried." Katie told her. "I hope you don't need to do all that trouble. I'd hate to babysit you again."

"The babysit wasn't so bad. In the end we went shopping. That was a cure on its own."

"Whatever."

The two sisters didn't talk much. They just laid there on each other, minding their own business. One was busy reading her book, the other was busy struggling to solve the cube puzzle. Although only five minutes later, Julia gave up and rolled over to face her.

Julia started. "You know, Danny is coming for dinner tomorrow. He said he'd bring a wine. Dad doesn't know yet but it's dad's favorite."

"I'll take it as Chimney Rock? Damn! That's a way to win future dad-in-law's heart."

"Shut up. Nothing like that. Anyway, I was just telling you this because, well, I don't want him stuck between the parent most of the time. You know how mom start topic. With her it's gonna be like, puberty stories and baby talks."

Katie couldn't hold a snorted laugh. "She is the worst."

"Right? That's what I meant. So yeah, I kind of hope you can join dinner with us."

"Dude, he will be fine. It's not the first time he met mom and dad. Relax."

"Yet mom couldn't never stop. Come on, Sis. Help me out. Only you can tame that old woman."

Katie glanced around quickly, before finally gave in. "I do have appointment tomorrow but I think I'll manage… late."

"Yes! You're the best sister ever!" Katie yelped when she suddenly being attacked with hugs and kisses from the giddy young woman by her side.

"Stop! Stop! You made a crease on my book!"

"Oh sorry. I'm just too happy." Jules let go of her hold. "Hey can I have this Rubik? I wanna learn to solve it so I can impress Danny more."

"Tch. Whatever."

If you compare Katie to Julia, you might've notice they were the opposite end of a stick. Each had their own shape and size, but if placed on the right point, they became complete and well-balanced. It was always like that for them ever since their teenage years. With Katie taking the role of older, wiser, more composed sister, and Julia being the reckless, out of the line, and slightly annoying little sister. Different personalities, different likes and tastes. But as soon as they were together, their bond became strong.

It was worth mentioning that it wasn't always like that at the beginning of their relationship. Julia was only nine when fifteen-year-old Katie was adopted as the new addition to their small family. The first few months, Julia saw her only as an option her parents made. She barely knew her, barely made an effort to even associate with her. The only conversation they had at the time were hello, dinner's ready, and thank you. But mostly none.

Katie's perspective was no different. The first few months living in the house, she felt nothing but a mission to stay decent for the next three years, perhaps collecting money along the way, before she could legally leave the family and be on her own way. At that time, she didn't care about this foster couple who she could call mom and dad, and their daughter she could call sister. To Katie, it was never a connection and more like a survival.

To Katie, it was always about survival.

Everything changed one day when Katie and Julia found themselves spending the beautiful afternoon at the small park near the house. Katie was by the swing, casually reading a novel. And Julia was playing with several of her friends. Suddenly Katie heard a loud bark and couple of shouting from the crowd of people. Katie looked up to see a loose Shepherd was chasing people away. A second later, the dog was after Julia. Instinctively Katie screamed to Julia to run for her direction, as she also ran towards her. Everything happened so fast, that Katie didn't remember a thing.

Julia did, however. As soon as she saw Katie, Julia made a sprint to her, eyes crying so hard, afraid of the dog on her tail. Julia barely escaped the dog's teeth, until Katie threw her book to it for a diversion. The next thing happened, the dog leaped towards, biting her on the arm. Katie's arm. Julia found herself crushed under Katie's shielding body, as she wrestled out of the vicious bite, punching the dog with her shoe.

By the time Katie reached the hospital, Julia was weeping and begging to God not to take her sister away. At the same time, Katie silently prayed that her sister was not hurt by the incident.

Now moving forward, the story was a walking joke between them. To the point of having a matching flower tattoo exactly on the left arm when Katie decided to have the wound covered. But that beautiful day, it was a moment where they acknowledged each other as a family.

It was a moment where Katie knew she would never have to worry of being alone again.

…

A sudden clinking sound of spatula and frying pan woke Katie from a deep sleep. She slowly sat down on the couch, rubbing her eyes open. There were unclear voices of two people talking in the background, but she already had a guess.

Casually Katie walked up to the kitchen area. "What's cooking?"

"Wakie-wakie my sunshiiiine~ now move your ass." Sarah pushed her to the side to reach the cabinet.

Michelle beamed. "Why are you always awake when the food is almost ready?"

"I dunno. It smells good, though. What's for breakfast, girls?"

"We have a brief report with the Input division at nine-thirty, and a meeting with the Editorial at eleven. After that we will have another meeting with the field crew at two. Oh, and BLT for breakfast at now. Here ya' go." Michelle slid a plate of sandwiches to Katie.

Katie snickered. "I like that when you say 'we' you mean you two. I, on the other hand, am going back to bed."

"Haven't got enough with your sleep huh, Aurora? Fine. Go to bed or whatever I don't care."

"Michelle are you done now? We gotta hurry. We're almost late." Sarah called out from the other corner of the room. "Pack up."

Michelle glanced at her hand watch and frowned. "I don't understand the hurry of that girl. We still have like two hours. The ride to the office is like twenty minutes, top speed."

"It's because she drives like a real sloth."

"Katie I heard that! Michelle!"

"Coming!" Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her bags and left the kitchen. "Katie, I left you some coffee in the pot."

"Lovely!" Katie called out.

Katie met Michelle and Sarah on the job. Sarah had the same internship application and since then they had been working together. Michelle came into the view after she was transferred from Connecticut and assigned into their regional department. For many years they worked as a team, with Michelle being the lead reporter, Sarah rolling for the tech-girl, and Katie as the field supervisor.

Funny enough, the three co-workers didn't live together. Sarah lived with her sister in Manhattan and Michelle had her own apartment in Queens. Yet they always came up with an idea of sleepovers in Katie's apartment. It became their habitat lately. Katie didn't mind much. Sarah cooked while Michelle cleaned. There was a mutual interest in their stays. Probably because Katie was the closest to their office.

Mostly because Katie was always alone, all the time. It began as a pity company. It was hard dealing with a great loss; after so many years of sharing a personal space with a significance only to come back home without anyone else to talk to. The apartment felt empty and miserable. During those times it was much appreciated to have true friends to comfort and care for you. To be close to you. A shoulder to cry on. Or just a regular target to make a fun of.

Although Katie hated to admit those two bulbs could be too bright for her room sometimes. After all she still needed her zen-time, which now was the perfect time to do.

Katie's eyes darted to a set of palette and acrylic paint and an unfinished canvas on the wooden stand.

It was considered a hobby she had since young age. She started draw on a notebook with only pencil and eraser to work with. It was crooked animal drawings at first. Then a couple of scenery of alpine forest and lake near her house. It was the only thing that kept her sane through all those years living inside a fighting pit. Whenever her biological father finished beating her down, Katie would run to the bedroom and locked the door. She then opened her book and began drawing, without even looking back.

Katie was only eight when her father whipped her with leather belt on her arm after she accidentally knocked his bottle of whiskey off the table. It was so hard against her fragile skin, the blood started to show. Again, she ran and locked the bedroom. Feeling the blood slowly sliding down, Katie wiped it with her finger and colored with it. Conveniently, she was drawing a rose.

Fortunately, now, she already bought a collection of paint tubes with almost every color. Taking a brush and the palette on each hand, Katie dipped the brush on the color red and made its way across the canvas.

If she remembered correctly, the sky was red.

…