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  “Working until 2 A.M. How a recovering alcoholic can tend bar I’l never figure out,” Alex said as he pushed his seat forward to grab the bags and totes from the extended cab section. “Whose room are we gonna paint first?” he asked, unlocking the back door.

  “You’ve been in hel longer, so yours first.” I grabbed the rest of the bags.

  “It real y hasn’t been that bad. We stay out of each other’s way. He’l probably do the same with you.” We walked through the smal stark white kitchen to the stairs and up to our rooms. Since Alex’s was the most organized, we dumped the stuff in there and sorted our storage units. I took my things to my room and began helping him move furniture across the hal to the guest room. We decided he would sleep in the guest room as his room dried overnight. We took down the blinds, opened the windows, taped off the old wood trim, and began painting. Joking and laughing, we finished in a few hours. It was a total transformation.

  “Kinda feels like home,” Alex smirked as he picked up the pan and left the room.

  “Kinda feels like prison,” I whispered under my breath. He didn’t hear me.

  We then went to my room, and he helped me unpack. We organized and loaded totes. I re-organized my drawers.

  “We could paint your room tonight, too.” Alex plopped on my bed after everything was organized and put away.

  “Where would I sleep? You’ve already got the guest room,” I sighed, real y wanting to paint my room and take it away from Oliver, to make it mine.

  “You can have the guest room; I’l pul my mattress in the middle of my floor and sleep there,” he offered.

  “Alexander the Great, so noble.” I smiled.

  “My lady, I aim to please.” He mock bowed from where he sat. Like that, it was decided, so we did it. We did the same process like we were old pros who had been painting rooms for years. Three wal s soon were gray, and the wal around the double windows we painted green.

  We went downstairs and ate a late dinner of delivery pizza. Al felt right with the world, or as right as it could be. We watched the Reality TV

  channel. Alex turned down the volume and gave me his own commentary. We laughed. I had real y missed laughing; I had real y missed him. Our texting and phone conversations hadn’t been enough for me. Final y, after the pizza was gone and the shows became more serious cop programs, we turned off the TV.

  I decided to drag my mattress into my room, too, and we went to bed. I didn’t hear Oliver come in, but I did hear my bedroom door open and saw a light across my wal s; then the door closed again. I heard Alex’s door open and shut, and then I heard Oliver’s bedroom door slam shut. I wasn’t sure if he was angry because I was actual y here or because we’d messed up three of his bedrooms. I didn’t real y care to find out right then. I put my earphones back in and went back to sleep. Eventual y.

  Chapter 2

  Wide Awake, But Wishing I Was Still Dreaming

  Gianna

  I woke up at the crack of dawn, literal y, because my room faced east and my blinds were in the guest room. I lay there for a long time, staring at my pretty gray wal s and soaking in my surroundings. Once I heard someone moving around, I decided to risk it and get up. I quietly descended the stairs as the TV came on. There in the too-bright living room was my messy haired brother eating a big bowl of cereal. He was watching Cartoon Network, the constant child in him showing through. The Frosted Flakes and milk sat on the coffee table just waiting for me to partake.

  “Is it OK that we eat in here? Shouldn’t we eat in the dining room? I looked at the table guiltily.

  “Nah, as long as we don’t spil and clean up after ourselves, Oliver doesn’t care. He’s actual y pretty laid back. Like I said, we stay out of his way, he stays out of ours.” Alex took a big bite of his cereal. I went into the kitchen and got a bowl and spoon. When I returned, he was refil ing his bowl.

  “Are you ready for school tomorrow?” He asked in between bites.

  “Ugh, don’t remind me. I’m so not looking forward to that. How about you? Are you stil pissed that you don’t get to graduate with your friends?” Alex had a few choice words for Oliver for dragging us back here before he left three weeks ago. He simply shrugged.

  “I’ve made friends, so it’s not as bad; some of the guys are pretty cool. I like the footbal team although they need work. I’m just glad they let me join.

  The coach didn’t have to; the roster was picked last year, you know.”

  “Yeah, but I bet once they saw you play, they didn’t have a choice.” I laughed. He nodded his head in agreement. He knew he was a good player. He had led our old school to state championships two years in a row.

  “Wel , at least you’l have Abby; she stopped by last week thinking you were in town,” he said. I thought about Abby, my best friend from preschool and kindergarten, and my pen pal from over the years. Our moms had made sure we stayed connected over the years. She was a bright light in a gloomy storm.

  “I can’t wait to see her,” I said. He smiled, at his memories I assumed. She and I got into a lot of mischief together, and he was usual y blamed for it.

  He was a good sport, and I think deep down our mom knew it was Abby and me.

  “Did you get your school supplies yet?”

  “Yeah, I went last week. Did Mitchel take you before you left?”

  “Yeah, and we got you a few new clothes too,” I added casual y as I watched him out of the corner of my eye. I knew once our money ran out we were fending for ourselves. By the looks of Oliver’s truck and the furniture in the house, we wouldn’t have much of a clothing al owance.

  “Why didn’t you tel me last night?” He jumped up, almost knocking over the cereal box.

  “Let’s clean up this mess and try not to wake up sleeping beauty first.” I motioned upstairs. It only took a moment to clean up, and then we went to my room. I took the last suitcase out of my closet, the only one I hadn’t unpacked and had made sure to put away before he saw it. I unzipped it on my bed and showed him the new jeans, gym shorts, cargo shorts, tank tops, tshirts and polo shirts that were completely his style. There was a theme to the new clothes, black and navy. Alex and I had agreed to incorporate black into our wardrobe to mourn our mom. However long it took, we’d have on something that was black. Mitchel and I also bought him a few pair of sneakers and running shoes. He was very pleased. We quietly put our rooms back together, and by the time we finished, it was time to eat lunch. I made us lunch meat sandwiches and found chips to add.

  We were sitting at the dining room table when Oliver final y graced us with his presence. As he descended the stairs, I held my breath, waiting for his first words to me in almost ten years.

  “Good morning, Lexie; good morning, Gia. I take it you’re settling in comfortably.” His Italian accent was thicker than I remembered. I stiffened at the nickname that I’d only heard our mother cal Alex for years. Alex wasn’t as affected by it; I wondered how comfortable he was with Oliver. Oliver’s formerly jet black hair now was speckled with gray. Long lines in his forehead and frown lines along his lips lined his face. His stubble looked like it hadn’t been shaved in a few days. I couldn’t believe how old he looked. He walked straight to the coffee machine and set it up to brew his coffee

  “Yes, I’m settling in fine. I hope you don’t mind that we painted our rooms.” I felt as though I need to take responsibility for that, especial y since Alex hadn’t painted until the night I arrived.

  “Wel , I think it was the splash of color that this old house needed; if you get the urge, feel free kids. This is your home now. Lexie, did you get Bessie running?” Alex raised his eyebrows at me as if to say I told you so.

  “Yeah, Oliver, she’l run probably another 200 miles before she blows her radiator. It was a quick fix. We should go to the junk yard soon though.”

  “Good, good. I was worried about how you kids were going to get to school.” He didn’t even look up as he said it. I looked at Alex, confused. Alex in turn, looked at Oliver wi
th shock.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Wel , of course you have to fil the tank, I’m not made out of money, unlike Michael. But I wil help with the repairs on her.” He reached into the cabinet and took down a coffee mug.

  “His name is Mitchel ,” I said solemnly. Oliver always seemed to ruin a good moment.

  “Yes, that is his name,” was al he said as he poured his coffee and went back upstairs. Alex shrugged, but I didn’t know how I felt, except for sad. I was very sad that he was undermining our lives, our happy lives that he had ripped apart yet again.

  “At least I won’t be a senior walking to school, or worse, riding the bus,” Alex stated, sounding relieved.

  “But you heard him. We have to keep the gas tank fil ed.” I wondered how we would do that once the money Mitchel had given us ran out.

  “I’l get a part time job.”

  “Yeah, along with practice, and homework, and prepping for col ege. Just add that to the list of things to keep you busy.”

  “And out of this house,” he added cheerful y.

  “Maybe I’l get a job, too.” I giggled envious of his genius.

  “Hey, you can’t steal my gig.” He cleared his plate in the trash and put it in the sink.

  “We can share the wealth of ideas. Don’t forget that; feel free to share.” He took my plate and dumped it.

  “Hey, I wasn’t done with that!” I mock-pouted.

  “It’s our final day of freedom and Bessie has a good two hundred miles to go before she needs another repair. Wanna go to Treasure Island? Or we can go over to Clearwater. Let’s do something.” Alex quickly washed up our plates and cups.

  “I need a shower first, but let’s go to Treasure Island. I went to the pier yesterday, but I’d like to feel the gulf. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the ocean water.”

  “Get a move on because I need one, too, and might have to beat you there; we only have one bathroom you know.” That was al it took, and we were racing up the stairs tripping each other. I was in my room first. I tore under my bed for my tote that had jean shorts in it; then I found a black tank top in the other one. I grabbed undies from my dresser, and I was running for the bath at the end of the hal . I knew this was tricky because it was closer to his bedroom. But I heard him stil rummaging through his drawers. I made it to the door and promptly banged my head against it. It was locked.

  Alex came and stood in the doorway with his arm above his head leaning on the door jam.

  “Um, yeah. Did I forget to mention? Oliver’s in there now and I cal dibs.” Damn it! Dibs. He had me now! I glared at him. He must have known before he went into his room.

  “Dibs doesn’t matter if I’m here when he comes out,” I laughed in my evilest laugh, though it was pretty pathetic.

  “You’re such a brat.” He gave me a cheesy grin and went back into his room.

  “And you love me anyway!” I cal ed after him. Just then the door opened as Oliver stepped out. I startled him.

  “I’ve got to get used to a ful house again, I guess,” he mumbled under his breath. I stepped back out of his way to let him pass and took my turn in the bathroom. I came back to my room and took out my make-up case. I put on eye shadow, mascara, lip gloss, and blush. I surveyed my face. It was my mother’s face. As a little girl I’d looked at pictures of her when she was my age. I had her almond eyes, so dark brown that they looked black; olive skin that was sun kissed now, from a summer in Indiana; and an oval face. It was my face, but it was hers also. I even had her hourglass figure shape. I felt guilty for looking so much like her. There was a knock at my door and Alex entered.

  “You ready?” He was wearing a plain navy t-shirt and khaki cargo shorts with boat shoes.

  “Yeah, I’m ready.” I slipped on my sandals, and we were heading down the stairs. Alex watched my confused expression; I expected Oliver to be sitting on the couch but he wasn’t.

  “He said he had some errands to run. He took Bessie, so wherever we go we need to walk.”

  “So much for Treasure Island,” I huffed.

  “Let’s go toward the Pier instead.”

  After an afternoon of walking down the beach col ecting broken shel s and looking for dolphins, we watched the sun inch closer to the horizon. Once it sank out of sight, we began our trek back home. As we rounded the path to the pier, we came upon a large group of kids. I walked close behind Alex. We walked past them, and I kept my eyes on the ground, but I felt their curious eyes on me.

  “Alex, dude, where are you going?” A big beefy blond guy was addressing him. “And who’s your chick? She’s hot!” My face burned. Alex paused, and I hid behind him looking away.

  “Chiz, this is my sister; show some respect! We’re just heading home. What are you guys getting into?” The tension of his first statement gone from his voice, Alex was always so cool and col ected.

  “Sister, huh?” I felt his eyes boring a hole through me. “We’re just heading up this way for some late evening surfing and a bonfire. You should join us.”

  “I’m not sure. Gia?”

  Before I could even answer, I heard, “Yeah, Gianna, you should come.” I looked to find the other voice. Travis stepped forward next to Chiz. Alex shrugged at me like it was my decision. I shrugged back. So it was decided; we were lemmings. We turned and fol owed the group.

  Some girls laid a few blankets out, and I sat by Alex. Other girls sat on the other side of him, and he entertained his subjects. I interjected occasional y just to remind him that I was listening to the crap he was spitting to the girls. I had one of my ear buds in with the music to keep me company. What I was real y trying to do was keep from watching Travis surf in the distance. I was failing miserably.

  “Yeah, state champs two years in a row. I don’t know how they’re going to do it this year.” I laughed at his modesty. I’d lost track of Travis.

  “You’re gonna take us to the state championship this year.” Chiz and the other boys that had been surfing came and joined us at the blankets. Alex nodded his head “yes” and they did a knuckle bump secret handshake.

  The empty spot beside me was suddenly taken. His leg brushed up against mine as Travis shifted to get more comfortable. Though he was dressed, his leg was stil wet: it made me shiver. He handed me his hoodie without even looking at me. I put it on and sat looking straight ahead for a short while. Final y, I turned and looked at him. He was smiling his bril iant smile. He leaned back on his elbows as if he didn’t have a care in the world. I turned back to the conversation that was stil going on. They were now talking about plays and how to defeat their opponents. Boring.

  “Our last night on parole,” Travis leaned in and whispered in my ear. He was so close to me it sent chil s down my spine. “We might as wel be strategizing how we’re going to work the prison yard tomorrow.” I chuckled so quietly that only he heard it. He continued, “Though it wouldn’t be so bad, as long as they give us plastic spoons so we can make shivs.”

  “OK, that comment just got your shoelaces taken away.” I giggled softly again.

  “Aw, shoelaces are overrated. So what’s your story?” His question took me by surprise.

  “You didn’t get our story from Alex already?” I asked, not real y knowing what he was asking.

  “Yeah, yeah. From Indiana, he plays sports, doesn’t have a girl. So what’s your story?” He winked at me.

  “I’m from Indiana, I hang out, and I don’t have a girl either.” I winked back at him.

  “You’re gonna make me ask aren’t you?” He looked at his hand that was digging in the sand and then letting it fal slowly between his fingers.

  “So what’s your story?” I asked, taking the focus off me.

  “Lived here my whole life with my mom and my little sister, sports, and hanging out, I don’t have a girl either. I guess we have stuff in common.” He took the other ear bud and put it in his ear. He started moving his head with the music. “A lot of stuff in common.” He approved
.

  At some point the other kids managed to start the bonfire, and Alex gravitated away from us, so I no longer was sitting by him. Travis had taken over my phone and was now DJ-ing for the two of us. He would make a comment about my old school rap versus my punk rock and pop music. I would give him informative facts about the bands. We looked at my pictures, and I told him about my smal clique of friends back in Indiana. I was never as popular as Alex was. I was popular by association. I felt comfortable with Travis, but I was also unbelievably nervous. I’d never felt this way around anyone before. I wasn’t my normal witty self. I held back, and I regretted it immediately. As the night wound down, people began to leave. I took my phone from him to check the time; it was nine forty-five.

  “Can I see that again?” he whispered. I handed it over. He played with the menu on it and pul ed me close to him. With his hand resting against my hip, he told me to smile and held my phone at his arm’s length away from us to take our picture. He played with my phone a little more and handed it back to me. “I’m in your favorites, and I hope you don’t mind; I texted myself that picture. You’l be speed dial three in my phone, if you were wondering.” He leaned closer to me and grinned, “I’l see you tomorrow.” He stood and walked away. I sat there staring after him, dumbly unable to process what had just happened. He was leaving. That meant the night was over.

  Chiz gave us a ride home in his monster SUV with great big tires and a license plate that said “DA CHIZ.” He made me uncomfortable as he kept watching me in the rearview mirror. Alex didn’t seem to notice, which annoyed me; he was my protector.

  Bessie wasn’t in the drive, so we went in and got ready for bed. It looked like we weren’t the only ones trying to avoid something, or someone.

  Chapter 3

  Of All the Places in the World

  Travis

  I tossed and turned. I couldn’t believe my luck! She hadn’t been a tourist. She was Alex’s sister. I ran my mind over al our conversations, trying to get a handle on Gianna. Gia was what Alex cal ed her. His mom had died. I filed that under things not to bring up. His sister was a junior; she was funny.