The next day, Michael told me that he was planning on heading back down to the boardwalk tonight, and that our mom wanted me to go with him to make sure that he wasn't going to get into any trouble. He wasn't much of a troublemaker back in Phoenix, and the worst he did was smoke a cigarette or two. I didn't understand just what she was afraid of him doing, but regardless, I had no choice but to go with him.
I figured I could find some part time work on the boardwalk too, so I caved in to my mother's requests. A knock had sounded at my door and I looked up from my book to see it was Michael. "We're leaving around eight, Soph, be ready, ok?" He told me, his face giving no indication that he was any form of happy and I nodded.
Peering over at my clock, I saw it read about seven-ten and I groaned, picking myself up from my bed and dragging myself over to my closet to pick out something to wear. I settled on a white Def Leppard shirt that was cut off at my mid-section, adding a pair of black high-waisted shorts and pairing them with the same worn converse.
I brushed through my hair, pulling it up into a high ponytail, leaving my bangs out. I grabbed my bag, putting in a few pens for filling out applications and some of the money my mother had given me yesterday that I had left over. I slung it over my shoulder and padded my way downstairs and met our mother at the door.
"Be safe you two," she said, giving us both a hug before we filed out the door and hopped on the back of Michael's bike. It had gotten a little easier to ride with him, but when my mother wasn't around it made me nervous, only because he drove a little more recklessly. He took turns too fast, and he never stopped all the way when it came to a stop sign.
"Don't worry," I told him, once we got there and got off the bike. "I'll keep my distance, we can just meet somewhere at a specific time when it's time to go." I told him, keeping my head down as I began to walk away but he caught my arm. "Hey, hey," Michael said with a sigh, "no, I'm actually glad you came, I need some little sister fashion advice anyways." He said, throwing his arm carelessly around my shoulders while we walked down the boardwalk. I couldn't help but grin, because he was right, my brothers would be helpless as far as clothing if they didn't have me.
We walked for a little until he found a small little stand with leather jackets. I raised a brow, "leather, really?" I inquired and he shrugged, "it'd never hurt to try." He mumbled, asking the lady who ran it if he could try a few on. After maybe four of five bad choices, he finally got one on that looked good. It was simple, and a dark, jet black that complimented his blue eyes that I wished I had.
"That's it! That's the one!" I said, excitement clouding over me. I jumped up and down, "you have to get it, Michael, that's perfect." I told him, and he smiled, pulling out a ten from his pocket, the designated price, and handed it to her. "It really is a good choice," the lady said, taking his money and putting it in her pocket. "Thank you," Michael said before we headed off to wherever he was dragging me next.
"Wait, wait, Michael, I'm gonna go see if I can fill out an application." I said, tearing myself from his side and practically skipping to the music shop with a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window. I entered, walking right up to the counter and asking for an application. It took me roughly seven minutes to fill out, with all the usual information on it. When I finished, I turned it in and thanked the kind woman at the counter, Sharon, and exited the store.
But, thanks to my brother getting carried away, I was alone when I stepped outside. Great.
"Wonderful, Michael, you can't even comprehend the word 'wait.'" I grumbled before setting off on a lookout for him. I searched everywhere, up and down the boardwalk, down by the beach, by the rides, in every store, and nothing. Nada. Zip. Finally, thirty minutes had passed by and I still had no sight of him. I sat down on a bench and groaned, resting my face in my hands, my elbows propped up on my knees.
A tap on my shoulder had caused me to look up, and when I did I was met with the face of Laddie. I furrowed my brows, "Laddie, what are you doing here? Did you lose your brother again?" I asked, sitting up straight and he shook his head. "No, did you?" He inquired and I was a little taken aback. I sighed, "kind of." I confessed and he smiled, taking my hands and standing me up. "I know where he is, come on!" Laddie exclaimed, pulling me along with him down the boardwalk.
Well, if that didn't turn the tables. Last night I was helping a little lost boy find his big brother, and now said little lost boy was helping me find mine. I felt like I was in an episode of Twilight Zone, especially since he maneuvered through the crowds like it was nothing, and he seemed like he knew this place like the back of his hand. I was confused, "Laddie, where are we going?" I had asked him multiple times, but he didn't respond, only further lead me through the crowds.
Finally, a few minutes later we were met with the same boys Dwayne was with. I had only just recently noticed that under his leather jacket he wore no shirt. I peeled my eyes away from his torso and up to his face, to which he wore a cocky smirk. And he was looking directly at me - which meant he caught me staring. Great. Awesome. Stellar job, Sophie.
"Well, well, well, looks like someone couldn't stay away." One had commented, with pale, flawless skin and big, doe-like blue-green eyes. His hair was curly, and longer than any of the others' in the group. "David, she lost her brother." Laddie stated to the one with the mullet, pushing some hair away from his eyes and the one with the Twisted Sister knock-off hairstyle laughed.
"How ironic." David commented, looking to me before his eyes snapped over to my left. I looked over my shoulder, seeing Michael walking with some girl. I felt my hands curl up into a fist, and I looked back to the four boys, "if you'll excuse me." I muttered with as nice of a tone as I could manage before storming over to where Michael stood with the girl by his bike; which he had moved.
It took everything in me not to punch him the minute I was within range. "What the hell, Michael?!" I yelled, pushing him back into his bike. "I told you to wait, that's all I did, it didn't take me ten minutes to fill out that application and you just left me there!" I growled, and Michael rubbed his shoulder where I had pushed him. "Chill out, ok? Star and I just went for a walk. It's not like I left you here alone while I left the boardwalk entirely." He defended.
I turned to the girl next to me, a beautiful, radiant brunette with dark eyes and a slim nose. "Star?" I asked and she nodded, "Sophie, Michael's little sister." I greeted, holding out my hand. She smiled a little, shaking it and her bangles rattled. "Nice to meet you." We said in unison. I put my attention back to my idiot brother, who was getting seated on his bike. "So you are leaving me?" I huffed and he rolled his eyes, "Star and I are just going to get something to eat. I'll be right back, ok?" He said it like it was nothing. Which really pissed me off even more.
Star took Michael's hand and began to get on his bike, when the roar of engines surrounded us. I looked around, seeing it was the four I had just left, Laddie on the back of Dwayne's motorcycle which had stopped just behind me. "Where are you going, Star?" David had asked. It was obvious Michael was treading on charted territory, and I shot him a look that said 'it's over, let her go.'
"For a ride, this is Michael." Star wore an annoyed expression, and began to get on the back of Michael's bike again when David called her. "Star?" She sighed in defeat, and I furrowed my brows. She acted like a dog, crawling back to David and getting on the back of his bike. David eyed Michael like a vulture did his next meal. "You know where Hudson's Bluff is, overlooking the point?" He asked and Michael shook his head. "I can't beat your bike."
"You don't have to beat me, Michael, you just have to try and keep up."
