Prologue:
'Becca looked up at him, her face twisted into a pleading expression.
Ty laughed. "Okay, okay, 'Becca, I'll take you down to the store with me." He raised his voice. "Mom! I'm taking 'Becca down to the corner store." He called out. "But first I think we should brush your hair."
'Becca giggled, quietly, her big brown eyes wide, her soft pale brown hair mussed. She was very slender, thin, with very straight, very fine, short hair. Her mouth was very thin and nose very small, her wide brown eyes were her selling feature.
Ty was much of the same, with the same large brown eyes. His hair was darker, more of a deep chestnut than a dark golden oak. It was fairly long for a guy, spiked wildly. He wore a red band around his head to keep it out of his face. He was really lean, his arms just starting to show developing muscle. His baggy blue pants hung off him, and were tied with a thin black belt. His karate belt, to be precise. His loose white muscle shirt clung to him, partially defining his build. It was his look.
He ran a brush through 'Becca's hair, and slipped on his sneakers. "You ready?"
She nodded. She didn't talk much. The teachers at school worried about her. His mother worried about her. She had been such an unhealthy baby. He could still picture her, five years ago, when he was only eleven, blue and barely clinging to life inside an incubator.
She looked unhealthily thin, and she was too quiet. She had not said a word in two years, and nothing could coax her to. The counselor said nothing was wrong, she'd talk when she wanted to . . . Therapy wouldn't help. They didn't have that kind of money, anyway. Still, her silence was nerve-wracking. He put a sweater on her, and then a coat. It was pretty warm for March but with 'Becca you couldn't be too careful.
"Okay, Ty, be careful with her." His mom looked tired. She was very thin, too, with grey in her hair and a wasted look to her face. Her carefully applied concealer could not hide the black under her eyes.
"You know I will." Ty laughed again. He slipped his hand into 'Becca's and left. His mom had looked worse every day since his dad died. Then six months later, a month too early, 'Becca had come along and almost died. His mom worked very hard, but he knew that life was getting to her. She drank more now, and slept more. She never went on cleaning sprees anymore, and the only time she took any care of herself was when she was leaving the house. He often heard her crying in her sleep. . .
"Enough doom and gloom." He said more to himself than 'Becca. "I'll tell you what, little 'Becca, I got paid yesterday. You can have anything you want. Whatever your heart desires."
'Becca brightened. She held out her arms to be carried.
"Hey, Ty!"
He turned around. It was Matt. "Hey, Matt, long time no see."
Matt laughed. He ran a hand through his short spiked blond hair. "Yeah. Since soccer season ended, all you seem to do is work. Hi 'Becca."
'Becca smiled, a sunny lopsided smile. She always liked to feel included.
"Yeah, well, I've kept busy, how's everyone?"
"Just about the same as before. Max got gold in her gymnastics meet, not surprising for the Black Kat. Me and Lore went and were amazed by the ways that girl can bend. Jem's glued to the computer, we've seen almost as much of him as we've seen of you. I think he's trying to hack into government files just for the challenge. Oh, and Lore practically put a girl in traction during a wrestling match. Can you believe the girl tried to bite her?" Matt paused for a breath. "I think I've covered everything. The gang misses you, Ty. They want to know when they are going to see you again. Right now, everyone's meeting at the mall. Want to join us?"
"I guess I have been too busy. But I've got 'Becca right now."
Matt smiled winningly at 'Becca. "I think 'Becca could come. She deserves a treat, don't you, sweetheart?"
'Becca nodded, with a solemn seriousness that was too old for her face, and Ty sighed. "I'll call my mom from the pay phone. I left my bus pass at home. Oh well, it's a good thing 'Becca rides free."
"No cash?"
"Just a little change, and my interac card."
Ty's mom was less than pleased but agreed. 'Becca just didn't get out enough. A treat would do her good.
"That wasn't too hard, now, was it? Let's hurry and catch the bus." Matt took off. Ty was fairly fast but Matt was faster. Matt could outrun anything. He waited for three minutes, while Ty, with 'Becca on his back caught up.
Matt was leanly on the bus stop, his arms crossed, the wind running through his hair. "What took you so long." Matt was wearing a dark forest green t-shirt with Celtic designs and rolled up sleeves and loose blue jeans. His eyes laughed, a mocking shade of green. "I should give you a head start next time."
Ty gasped for breath. "You do that and I'll be the one waiting by the pole."