Counting Paths

Chapter 18.

I get up and turn so I'm sitting on my ass again. I rub the sleep out of my eye, then drag my hand down the length of my face. "Give me thirty minutes to get-" She squeals happily, and hugs me. "Shush!" I growl at her. "Don't ever make that sound again when I just woke up."

"Sorry," she says into my arm.

"You know, there's a movie theater here, right?" I remind her.

"Yeah, but I want pretzels! I love their mini pretzels. And I want a slushy and popcorn."

"Fine," I sigh. It's not like I can say no to her anyway.

Almost an hour later...
I purposely park on the other end of the parking lot. It's a habit I developed when I was younger so on nice days like today, because Sterling was right about that, I can enjoy the weather more. And a few more steps never bothered anyone. It doesn't seem to bother Sterling either. After I put the car in park and turn it off, she releases a huff of relief and smiles, climbing out.

"My driving's not that bad," I rush out before she closes the car door. I hear her laugh as I get out.

I want to ask her how she's doing more than anything.

We cross the parking lot and, approaching the multiple entrances to the movie theater, I notice a group of boys hanging around the posters. Almost instantly, Sterling catches their attention.

I look her over again. She's wearing a black, long sleeve crop top with gray cargo pants that hang low on her waist and exposes her boxer briefs. The bruises on her back are still there and they are still dark, but she used makeup to cover them up. I don't ask where she learned that from.

I just realize how...developed Sterling is for a thirteen-year-old girl.

I cut my gaze to the group of boys and scowl at them. They feel the weight of my death stare and shy away, but...I see they all must be in their early twenties. "What the hell are you staring at?!" I snap at them.

"Roland," she whispers, grabbing my arm with both hands.

"Let's just go inside."

# # #

I found out the hard way that Sterling is a punk. She covered her eyes whenever she thought something scary was about to happen, jumped and screamed at every jump scare, even the little ones, and stayed curled up at my side. I'm just lucky we went to the fancy movie theater with the bigger recliner seats that have liftable armrests otherwise she would've jumped on my head like a freaking cartoon. After the movie, she made me order more pretzels before we left, we went across the street and got frozen yogurt. Then she googled the nearest park and we climbed into the car.

I want to ask her how she's doing more than anything.

"Uh, Sterling..." I put the car in park. "This is a dog park."

"Please?" She pouts. I sigh and begin to unbuckle my seatbelt. "Yay, thank you!"

The park is gated in two sections, one for small dogs and the other for much larger dogs. Sterling decides to play with the larger dogs. I find an empty bench, take a seat, and try to rub some of the tension out of my hands. I'm rigid because Sterling likes to act perfectly fine around dogs she doesn't know, dogs that could bite off her hand if they truly wanted to.

She plays with a light brown husky for a while. I relax a little when I see the dog is just as playful as she is. But then a pit bull hiding in the corner steals her attention.

Without even asking me, she leaves the husky alone and begins to stroll over to the pit bull.

"Sterling!" I jump up and rush over to her. "Don't. Play with the golden retriever if you're bored with the husky."