Tracy was scared.
Don’t be crazy! her mind snapped. It’s just a house. Go up and knock on the door.
She took in a deep breath and made her way to the front door. She pulled back her fist to knock when another thought hit her.
What if one of my parents open the door?
Don’t think about that! her mind yelled. Knock on the door and hope for your sister. You’ve come too far to chicken out now.
Before another thought could enter her mind, Tracy knocked on the door.
Slowly, it opened. A slim girl with blond hair and green eyes appeared behind it. Tracy’s breath hitched. “Hallie?” she asked softly.
Her sister pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. “It’s me, Tracy,” she whispered.
And then they were in each others arms. The embrace that had taken fifteen years to achieve seemed to take another fifteen years. Tracy held back tears, gripping her sister tighter.
“Oh, Tracy,” Hallie whispered. “Your hair . . .”
She smiled. “I told you I dyed it.”
Hallie slowly pulled away, running her fingers through her sister’s hair. “I can’t believe you’re finally here,” she said, eyes glistening from unshed tears. “I’m so sorry I snapped at you earlier -”
“Forgotten,” Tracy said quickly. “It’s all forgotten. I’m just so glad we’re finally together!”
“So she just - left?” Zac asked skeptically.
“Yeah,” Tay replied, sinking back into the couch cushions. “She didn’t tell me where she was going or anything. I can only guess she went to find her sister. I mean, that’s why she’s here in Tulsa.”
Isaac pressed his lips together. “You sure you didn’t say anything to her?” he asked openly.
Tay shot his older brother a death glare. “I’m sure, Ike. She just left.”
Ike held his hands up innocently. “Okay, okay, I believe you,” he said quietly. “I’m just trying to figure this out.”
“Maybe there’s nothing to figure out,” Tay snapped, sitting bolt upright and shoving his face up into his older brother’s. “Maybe she just left and that’s the end of it. Maybe it’s better that she’s gone -”
“Snap out of it, Tay!” Zac yelled. He looked up at his brother with wide brown eyes.
Taylor looked down at him and quickly leaned back from Isaac. “I’m sorry, Zackey,” he said, looking down into his hands. “It’s just, I’m -”
“It’s okay,” Zac said softly.
Tay forced a smile for him. Sighing, he sank back down into the couch. “I guess that’s it then. I doubt we’ll ever see Missy Sheffield again.”
Next Chapter
The Index
The Window Seat
