"Come on Dixon… pleeease, pretty please trade me…these nails," holding her hands up in Dixon's face for him to examine, "were just painted, by moi, and cannot take the harshness that is dishwater" Annie said finishing off with her fool proof pout.
"Fine but you owe me BIG…cause dishes two nights in a row just ain't right" Dixon said with a smile. "Oh and the trash is over there, in that white thing with the pedal on the bottom, it's tricky to get on your first time sis but I believe in you."
"Oh is that what that things for…hmmm good to know" Annie said sarcastically, giving her now laughing brother a shove on her way by.
Lifting the trash into the bin outside Annie began to wonder if the trade off was really all that good, looking down at her perfectly painted purple nails she knew the answer…YES. Turning around towards the gate something caught Annie's eyes…wait make that someone. Peering inside the car window Annie took in the sight of Silver curled up in a very uncomfortable looking ball in the driver's seat covered in a light blanket. What the Hell was she doing out here, sleeping in her car.
Rapping lightly on the window Annie tried to wake her without completely scaring the girl to death. After a few seconds bleary blue eyes came into focus meeting curious brown ones. Hopping up on the hood of the car Annie motioned for Silver to join her.
Shaking her head lightly up and down Silver slowly sat up, completely dreading the conversation she knew was about to take place. Vulnerability was so not her style, that's why she lied. She lied to her Mother by omission, she lied to Kelly to protect her from the truth…to protect her from having to re-live what she went through with their Mother, she lied to the other kids at school cause it was easier and way less gossip worthy than telling the truth.
But Annie, Annie was different, a good kind of different. She was honest, open, forgiving…Silver had experienced all of these qualities first hand from Annie. That's why she knew no lies were going to be falling from her lips here and now and that scared her a little bit more than she'd ever admit.
Hopping up onto the hood, blanket wrapped loosely around her shoulders, Silver settled in next to Annie completely avoiding any eye contact. They sat in complete silence both looking up at the stars.
"She drinks Annie, she drinks a lot. The days I come home and it's quiet are the worst cause she's passed out. I can take the nights where she's yelling and screaming at me cause I know she's alive. It's that silence that makes my insides clench. Walking in finding the empty vodka bottles, cause she doesn't bother to hide them from me anymore, going from room to room trying to find where she's passed out, shaking her to make sure she's alive, to hear her voice. The last night I spent there she had this look in her eyes Annie, it was this scary cold look, and I knew…I knew it wasn't just alcohol anymore, I knew she was using Coke again. I-I-I ca-ca-can't d-do it anymore…I j-j-just….." The tears fell now, she couldn't stop them, didn't try.
Annie's warm arms came around her instantly, just holding her, rubbing her back, soothingly stroking her hair…comforting. It was what she needed, someone to be there for her. Snuggling closer Silver cried, letting out everything that she'd been holding inside. She didn't know how long they sat there, minutes or hours, time just seemed irrelevant.
Slowly pulling Silver away from her Annie looked her directly in the eyes, the sight ripping away at her insides. Silver was so strong, so tough, so intimidating but right now looking at her tear streaked face, bright blue eyes brimming with more unshed tears Annie realized she was just a girl, a lonely scared girl who needed someone. Swiping at a rolling tear with the pad of her thumb Annie grasped Silver's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Pulling her close again Annie leaned in and whispered something to Silver that was going to change her life…in a big way.
"I'm here. Always."