Chapter 4

Around 4 that afternoon, Charli called my phone and told me she was headed that way to pick me up and take me home. I kissed Angel on the cheek and cleaned off the bed where she and I had been cross-stitching, something the little girl had picked up in the foster home, simple as her designs were. She enjoyed doing it so we usually spent an our or so out of our afternoon doing that or some other craft. I started to get off of the bed but was halted in the process by two small hands pulling me back.

"Nu-uh. Not yet. Nosey kisses!" She proceeded to pull down my head and give me Eskimo kisses. I gave her a big hug, careful to be gentle.

"You like giving nosey kisses, don't you?"

She bobbed her head, "But I don't kiss boys on the lipses. They gots germs. And you only do that when you get old and marriaged. Jew'lz, will I never kiss a boy on the lips cause since I won't be old enough to get marriaged?"

I bent down so my face was level with her, "Maybe someday but only if it's the right guy. If he gives you butterflies in your stomach, makes your knees feel weak, dizzy, and 'like you've been knocked in the head with a sledgehammer' then you've probably found the right guy."

She started giggling, "Oh Jew'lz, the right guy sounds like the way treatment makes me feel." She fell over on the bed laughing and as horrible as it really was, I laughed with her. I knew her girlish laughter would stay with me for the rest of the day.

"You'll feel all those things but you'll also feel happy all the time. And have a wonderful feeling of peace knowing that whatever comes to you in life you can make it through together." I glanced down at my watch and realized my sister was probably out in the parking lot waiting for me. "I'm sorry sweetie, but I have to go. I have to take my little brothers to the park. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okidoki. Same time, Same place. I'll be seein' ya Toots!" She grinned and turned on the TV.

I shook my head, laughing. She had picked up the line from some old musical we had watched one day, and she hadn't dropped it. Most likely because she knew that it made me laugh.

I got in the car, immediately buckling up. "How'd the practice go?"

"Oh, it was great. Best first practice I have ever had. And I met a lot of girls. I think I just might like this place!"

I could tell she was happy and that in itself made me happy. I silently prayed that we wouldn't move again, not until we graduated at the very least.

We were quiet for the rest of the short right home, neither of us really having the energy to make conversation. It wasn't awkward, just a comfortable silence while listening to music in the background.

After taking my brothers to the park, helping fix supper, and cleaning the disaster otherwise known as out tiny living room and kitchen, I finally had time to go to the room I shared with Charli and Meg for some silence. I called my friend Zara and told her to get online, the best way for us to talk since she got in trouble with her mom for calling long distance so much.

Zara: What it is, love?
Jewelz: Ha, what are you? A mix of ghetto and southern belle?
Zara: Could be. How's the Angel?
Jewelz: Marvelous! She didn't feel sick at all today. And when I came in this afternoon to see her there was a random dressed up lady in there
Zara: Suspense, darling. It's killing me…
Jewelz: Sorry my mom came in to ask me a question.
Zara: Whatever! Out with it. Haha
Jewelz: She was with Make-A-Wish. Remember how I told you I had submitted a request for Angel?
Zara: yup, sure do. But you never did tell me what she wished for…
Jewelz: I didn't tell anyone. She didn't even know I had submitted it. I didn't want her to be disappointed, or anyone else for that matter.
Zara: That's understandable… are you avoiding the subject? The wish…
Jewelz: oh! Yeah, she made a wish to meet one of her favorite celebrities… And not only does she get to meet him, we found out today she gets to spend the entire weekend with him. She is going to have the perfect weekend.
Zara: Aw, that is so great! Whooooo? Whooooo?
Zara: Definitely sounded like an owl, but ya know me.
Jewelz: You know that dude on High School Musical
Zara: Holy Cheeznips! Our cutie patootie gets to spend a weekend with Zac Efron?
Jewelz: Do I even want to know why you know his name?
Zara: Well…. Um, you see. What had happ'n was…
Jewelz: hahaha, Z you don't even have any younger siblings.
Zara: I can't help it. I'm a closet obsessee. If that is even a word…
Jewelz: Yeah, it's going to be kind of weird though… this lady told me that I have to go with them the whole weekend.
Zara: weird? Wrong word. I believe you meant wonderful!
Jewelz: Too bad you can't come here and pretend to me be for 3 days.
Zara: Angel would so let the cat out of the bag.
Jewelz: haha this is true.
Zara: Totally O/T but Jewelz, did Kyle call you?
Jewelz: Um, Z, why would he call me? It's Wednesday… And he and I only talk on Sunday.
Zara: Oh, well, just forget I said anything.
Jewelz: What are you not telling me?
Zara: What are you not telling me?? Why do you only talk to the guy you dated for 3 years once a week? Shady, Shady.
Jewelz: It's not shady. I didn't want to make him put up with a long distant relationship. Jewelz: Besides, it's not like we SERIOUSLY dated for three years. We really only dated for one, cause 9th grade is when my parents let us start dating outside of a group and our families once a month. haha
Zara: Whatev, he is so yours and everyone knows it
Jewelz: why are you speaking present tense?
Zara: typo?
Zara: Either way, he liked you from the time he moved here in 3rd grade. By the time 7th grade hit, ya'll start going on dates even if they were group dates.
Jewelz: True.
Zara: I know, right! Jk. Kyle, was mad gone over you the moment you carried his books because his backpack broke and he already had his hands full with that stupid volcano science project
Jewelz: haha why do you remember these things?
Zara: Cause I am special?
Jewelz: Ed
Zara: If I'm ed, then you're… nevermind, can't think of a good one. HA
Jewelz: So why would he be calling me mid-week?
Zara: Maybe a bad case of I-wish-it-was-the-weekend blue??
Jewelz: funny…
Zara: I think he needs to tell you himself…
Jewelz: GRRR party pooper.
Zara: Always!
Zara: I gotta run. Mom. Blah!
Jewelz: Bye Zara Marinara
Zara: Bye Jul