Tradition Comes Third

Lock and Key

"Do you want to sleep for a bit and then I'll wake you up?" I asked her.

"No," she said. "Your Dad almost caught you. I don't want to risk it again."

I nodded my head and pushed myself off of the bed. I saw the paper sitting on my desk. I picked it up to see a sketch of a cheetah prowling through the grass.

"This is really good, Ava," I said.

"I hope so," she said. "It's my one talent."

I set it back down and opened up the curtain. The moon was bright in the sky, and it would be hours before the sun starts to rise. I went over to my closet and reached for the box on the top shelf. I pulled it down to see that it was a game of Monopoly.

"Here's a way to stay awake," I said.

I sat down on the ground and opened up the box. Ava jumped up off of the bed and sat down across from me. Her lips were lifted into a smile.

"Get ready to get your ass kicked," Ava said.

"Hey, no swearing," I said wryly.

Ava started giggling and taking pieces out of the box. I saw my backpack sitting beside my desk. I got up and opened it up. I always got hungry during study hall, and I had to bring food that I could eat without the librarian noticing. I pulled out a bag of dry Cheerios and brought it over to the board.

I sat down and we ate as we played. There was a few pieces left when we heard the lock move. I pushed it under the bed before Taylor walked in. He gave us a weird look when he saw us, and then quickly left. He visited us a few more times during the night.

The sun had begun to peer through the curtains the lock started to turn again. I was shocked to see that it was Leah. She had her glasses resting on the top of her head, and her blonde hair tucked behind her ears. She had a tight tank top on, and I could see that her belly was slightly rounded. She had on a plaid shirt over top and pulled it tight over her chest before yawning.

"Breakfast is ready," she told us. "Ava, come with me and I'll give you something to change into."

Ava stood up from the ground and looked at herself. Her white jeans were streaked in dirt, and she still had my hoodie on.

"I'll help you with your back too," Leah said.

Ava walked toward her, and Leah smiled. I watched them walk down the hall. I quickly changed into a new set of clothes, and slipped on a sweater and zipped it up. I went down the hall and heard voices speaking softly. The bathroom door was open a crack, and I couldn't stop myself from pushing it open further.

Ava was sitting on the edge of the bathtub. She had a towel wrapped round her naked body, and the wounds on her back were exposed. She had taken the bun out of her hair, and her hair was hiding her face. Leah was rubbing a cream over the welts on Ava's skin, and applying a dressing.

"Hunter," Leah said. "Can I help you with something?"

Leah looked up, and pulled her hair away from her face. I took a step back and shook my head.

"No," I said. "No. I'm okay."

"We'll be down in a few minutes," Leah said. "Go down and get some breakfast before it gets cold."

I turned around and headed down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mom was in the kitchen with Dad and Emme. She was emptying a pan of scrambled eggs into a bowl. They all turned to stare at me when they heard me enter.

"Good morning," Dad said. "You hungry yet?"

I saw a plate of meat sitting on the counter. I swallowed past the lump that formed in my throat.

"No, I'm not," I said.

"At least get a glass of juice for you and Ava," Mom said to me.

Dad shot Mom a look, and I could see her coil away in fear. He said nothing though, so I rushed over to the fridge and pulled out the container of orange juice. I reached up to the cupboard, and I saw a book sitting on the counter. I picked it up, and flipped it over to see what it was.

"Mom, what's my yearbook doing on the counter?" I asked.

"I was showing your Dad some photos," she said. "I was showing him that science fair that you were in last year."

"What did you tell my school, anyways?" I asked. "They must be wondering where I am."

"I told them that you have the Shingles and you won't be able to attend class for quite sometime."

"Mom, I have to be going to school. If I don't go to class then my grades will tank, and I'll never get into university."

"There are more important things than university, Hunter," Dad said.

We all turned when we heard footsteps echo as they walked into the kitchen. Leah ran up to the counter and started helping Mom with breakfast. Ava had on a pair of large sweatpants that were rolled up, and a large hoodie.

"Get upstairs, you two," Dad told us. "We'll be up to check on you soon."

"Can we stay down in the living room?" I asked.

"No, not yet," he said. "Spend the day in your room, and don't fall asleep."

I grabbed the two glasses of orange juice, and Ava's arm. I pulled her up with me to my room. I could hear Dad's voice before I shut my door.

"Julie, go get those large plastic sheets," he said. "We don't want to stain your rug."