TAKEN: From a Prisoner to a star

13

Solange walked into the room and I looked away from the man before me to my little sister clutching her book tight. Her nails ever so slightly dug into it's cover as the sides of it bended in her hands in front of her, she was wearing fluffy socks, denim jeans and a long sleeve white top with her hair in a pony tail.  I smiled at her hoping for something but nothing. No smile. Nothing. 

"This is Jay" I told her, she looked at him and he waved slightly. 

"Umm" He began before looking down at me and shrugging in confusion. 

"That's the part where you say Hello" I whispered to him, he nodded his head then looked back over to her and placed his hands in his pockets awkwardly and smiled again. 

"Uhhh Hi, I'm Jay- But you already knew that."  He paused for a moment and then seemed to get more comfortable before talking again, "Did you know that a rat can last longer without water than a camel" He informed her. What? I looked up at him as if to ask what the heck he was doing but Solange seemed interested enough to sit down on the opposite couch to ours and watch him with a calm expression. "and on average 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily, and that book your reading" He pointed toward her book causing her to look down at it then back up to him and smile, "Sherlock Holmes never actually said, Elementary my dear Watson" She nodded at him as if to continue and he sat down so the only thing between us was his bag. I can't lie, I was jealous. Jealous of the fact that she wouldn't even look at me without rolling her eyes in disgust and ignore every word that came out of my mouth but somehow she managed to be completely fine with Jay. She liked him more than me and I was her sister. "In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have ' the rule of thumb', oh and The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska" She smiled at him and chuckled ever so lightly as he spoke, he looked over to me and did and impressed face before brushing some dirt off his shoulder. Oh great, now he's getting cocky because she liked him. "I learned that all in a book, I could give it to you if you like, there's at least another 500 more facts you probably didn't know" He suggested. She nodded her head slowly and he smiled at her, "Well then, when I get back in a few months I'll be sure to bring you that book. I promise" His voice was soft, the way I liked it. Well, other then that sexy raspy morning voice but still. I liked it. "I don't break promises" He looked directly at me and I couldn't help but blush, gosh I'm so red it's embarrassing. "You wanna know something else?" He asked her, she nodded her head abruptly and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders while looking at her, " Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present" I couldn't help but feel as if he was directly  telling her to let go of the past instead of being this girl who didn't talk, maybe she would listen to him. Let go of the past and appreciate every day given to her because clearly she's holding a lot of anger and sadness inside her. 

"Wise words Mr Carter" My mother said as she stood leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed and a smile plastered on her face. 

"Oh, thank you Ma'am. I'll just clean this all up" He said referring to his bag on the couch as he stood up and Solange and I looked at my mom. 

"No honey It's okay, leave that" She walked into the room and smiled at Solange but instead of smiling back she just turened her head away and sighed. "Well I guess some proper introductions are in order." She took a seat on the couch and used her hands to smooth out her skirt, "Mathew get in here" She yelled toward the door, all of our eyes immediately moved toward the door as my dad strolled in with an unenthusiastic look on his face. 

"Hi daddy" I grinned up at him while he smiled down at me but then gave Jay a not so happy look. He then sat down on the couch next to my mom and we all looked around at each other for a while. My mother had her hair in large curls falling to her shoulders, her face made up beautifully and her smooth dress elegantly fell on her body showing off it's curves. Her heels were black pointed stilettos and she sat with one leg crossed behind the other. My father wasn't so beautifully dressed, his short beard had small tinges of grey while his stomach pressed against the fabric of his Blue top, his jeans were slightly baggy and his formal mens shoes were not shiny like they used to be but dirty and uncared for.