INVISIBLE STRING

CHAPTER 1

"What?" I looked down at the book in my lap. "Why am I a monster? You are the one who jumped the fence!" I bit the inside of my cheek trying not to smile.

"You just folded the edge of the page," she paused and pointed at me accusingly "you break their spines, you are a sociopath." She pretended to shiver.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, "so what? It's normal, you annotate your books and I don't say anything."

"Because annotating is normal! And you know I love my glitter pens!" She said and she leaned on the fence.

I chuckled, "okay, okay" I covered my mouth until I finally stopped laughing. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't I visit my best friend?" She said rolling her eyes.

"We both know you can't, what do you want?" I narrowed my eyes playfully.

"How lowly do you think of me." She placed her hand on her chest mockingly, pretending to be offended. "You are so rude, Tini."

"Fine!" She sighed, "there is a party tonight, and I wanted you to go with me."

"Min-"

"I know you'll probably say no, but! I promise I'll stay with you the whole night. I won't drink. And! It would be nice if you got out of here for a day. You spend here every single summer day. You are sixteen! Have some fun!"

"Mina. You are rambling again." I said, chuckling at my crazy best friend.

Sarina went to every single party in Florida. It didn't matter if they were eighteen and she was only sixteen, she was everyone's friend. Everyone liked her and she could talk about anything with anyone. Sometimes I wished I was like that too. I wished I could be more social.

She sighed and patted my knee, as soon as I moved she sunk into the chair beside me. "Please come. You never go to any parties, they are really boring without you, tini. Just this once." She sat up and looked at me directly in the eyes. "Just this once, I promise that if you don't like it I'll never ask again." She held her pinky out.

"I don't know..." I said looking back at my book. My fingers traced the lines of the beautiful hardcover.

"Please." Sarina groaned. "Do it for me."

Deciding not to tease her about this, the look in her face told me she wasn't playing, she did want me there. "Fine. I'll go." I said and sighed. Relief filled her beautiful features. "But if I feel slightly uncomfortable, I'm leaving." I added.

Sarina nodded quickly. "Crystal clear." She said before taking hold of my wrist and pulling me up from the chair with her. "C'mon! Let's go get ready! This is so exciting!" She did a little scream and I chuckled at her excitement.

She slid the glass door and pulled me in, "hey Mrs. Milan!" Sarina greeted my mom excitedly.

"Hey... Sarina? What? I didn't see you come in" my mom said looking between sarina, the door, and me.

"Oh. I jumped the fence." Sarina said casually, with a shrug, god. She is insane.

"Sarina." My mom took a deep breath, clearly done with Sarina's antics. "There is a door for a reason."

"Yeah, I know. But I don't like to knock and you guys always close the door." Sarina tapped one finger in my wrist.

"So jumping a fence is better?" I arched a brow at her. Sarina snapped her head towards me. "Shush" she said, glaring at me.

"Bye bye, Mrs Milan! We are going to a party later!" Sarina said before pulling me up the stairs.

Before leaving I caught a glimpse of my mother's face. I could see shock and relief. "Sarina! I have feet! You don't need to drag me around!" I said pulling my hand away, ignoring the ache in my stomach from watching my mother's face. I knew she was worried. I felt like a horrible daughter for making her worry.