Skylee Richardson glared at her brother as he motioned for her to get on the plane before him. She grudgingly walked on and took the nearest seat by the window and put her messenger bag in the next seat. Kevin hesitated before he sat directly across from her, studying her face.
*****
*****
" Skylee, listen, do this for Mom, please? All this was hard enough on her without your rash behavior," Skylee ignored him and pulled on her headphones, letting the music soothe the guilt she was feeling as the plane soon took off and made it's way from Seattle to Florida...
" What's her story?" AJ asked Howie, glancing at the frowning brunette with blazing green eyes.
"...Off limits, Bone, she's Kevin's sister," AJ looked at Howie curiously.
" Kevin's sister? Why is she coming with us?...Besides...What makes you think I'd go for her?"
" She's female, AJ. Of course you'd go for her," AJ stole another look at Skylee then turned back in his seat.
" What's her name?"
" Don't know, something real...nature-y,"
" Who are you guys talking about?" Nick asked, turning back and facing them.
" Kev's sister," Howie explained.
" Oh, Skylee?"
" Is that her name?" Howie asked, kinda to himself.
" How do you know her?" AJ asked.
" I've known her for about two years now,"
" I didn't ask how long, Carter, I asked how?"
" She visited Florida a few times, we exchanged numbers,"
" Why am I not buying this?...Why aren't you sitting next to her then?"
" Cause she obviously doesn't want anyone next to her. She's going through a tough time right now, her father passed away a few months ago,"
" No shit, Nick. Kevin's dad. I already knew that,"
" You looked like you didn't link the two, McLean,"
" How old is she?"
" You're being an asshole. Figure it out yourself," Nick snapped, turning back around...
Skylee turned down her discman as the plane landed.
" Sky,Come on," Kevin said a few minutes later as everyone else got off. She purposely took her time, slipping back on her shoes and standing up.
" We're staying at my place for a few days, then starting the tour on Friday," He explained to her, walking close behind as the guards gathered around them. Skylee could her the screams of the teenyboppers before they even got off the plane. She winced and turned her discman back up, unimpressed. She sullenly followed Kevin and glanced at one of his group members who was looking at her curiously. She turned her gaze away, studying each one in turn. Besides Nick, she didn't know any of the others. Nick caught her eye and gave her a smile. She forced one upon her face and inhaled deeply, trying to say goodbye to the ghosts of Seattle that had followed her here. Yeah, she would have been willing to make a new start if her Mom and Kevin had asked her to but instead, they just forced her to follow her brother around the country like a lost puppy. Feeling another wave of resentment at her Mom, she felt herself glaring again at Kevin. He just stared at her, wanting to say something but not wanting to make a scene, which was what happened almost always with Skylee.
" OK, guys, we have a rehearsal tomorrow at nine at the Compound," Mark, their manager said as they stood in the back VIP rooms, waiting for the limos to pull up to the exit.
" Guys, this is Skylee, my sister. She's gonna be coming with us on tour. Sky, this is everyone," She deliberately stared at each for a sec before she replied coldly,
" I'm charmed," An uncomfortable silence fell in the room.
" Skylee, Come on, give this a chance. You never know..." Kevin paused, aware of the raw anger glittering in her eyes.
" You forced me to come with you, Kevin. You can't force me to 'give it a try,'" She said in a decidedly calm voice,which was the exact opposite reaction Kevin was anticipating.
" The limos are here," AJ said, breaking the air of tension when he saw the headlights bouncing on the wall as it halted to a stop. They all piled into the limo and Skylee looked around.
" Why's everyone in one limo?" She asked Nick, who had taken the seat beside her, quietly.
" We're going straight to dinner," He replied.
" Great," She murmured, just wanting to go home.
" What time is it?"
" Um, 7:45," He said, glancing at his watch.
" Tired?" Nick asked.
" Not really,"
" What have you been up to recently?"
" Nothing much, took a year off school before college,"
" Going next year?"
" Probably,"
" I'm digging the Goth look, Sky, I really am, but I think ya looked better in...colors..."
" That's interesting," She replied, obviously not wanting to talk about it. Nick studied her face.
" What happened?" He asked.
" What? What happened with what?"
" With this. Why are you here? You didn't specify much in your last e-mail,"
" Kevin and my Mom said it'd be better if I came to stay with him for awhile,"
" Why didn't you just stay with Harry?" He asked, referring to her other brother who lived in New York.
" I wanted to. Mom said I had to come here before I did anything else,"
" So, when are you planning on moving out?"
" I don't know yet. Things are pretty shitty at my Mom's. I can't say a word to her without an argument," Nick looked at the other side of the limo as there was a break in everyone else's conversation. AJ was sulking, looking out the window. They reached the casual waterfront seafood place and were led to the tables set up outside.
" So, Skylee. You're out of highschool?" Howie asked her after they ordered.
" Yeah, I'm nineteen," She said, not wanting to get close to these people who didn't know her at all.
" What college are you planning on going to?"
" NYU..." She glanced at Kevin, knowing what he was going to say.
" You're not going there, Skylee," He said firmly, looking out at the water.
" Oh, yeah. Sorry, Kev," She said sarcastically.
" You can pick your own lobster," Howie said loudly. Everyone turned and stared at him.
" You know, to eat?" He said defensively.
" I'm gonna check that out," Kevin said, Howie and Brian following him, since they all ordered lobster.
" Skylee, huh? Interesting name," AJ said, looking at her. She met his eyes, trying to decide whether or not he was making fun of it.
" Yeah?" She said, unruffled. AJ sighed inwardly. Obviously this girl didn't want to make an effort of a friendship.
" You look like a smoker, um-?"
" AJ,"
" Right. Well, you don't happen to have a lighter with you?"
" Do you smoke?"
" Why else would I need a lighter?"
" Smokers usually carry their own,"
" Yeah, well mine ran out of fluid,"
" Really?" Skylee sighed and looked at Nick.
" You don't happen to have a lighter, do you, Nick? I'm not in the mood to play twenty questions with Mr. Hotshot over there,"
" Nope, sorry, hun," AJ pulled his out of his pocket and silently slid it across the table to her.
" Ah, so you do have one. Thanks," She said in a mock pleasant voice as she stood up, walking over to the railing by the water. Nick looked at AJ and chortled.
" What?" AJ demanded.
" That was real suave, McLean," Nick nodded, still smirking.
" How did you get to be so close to someone like that? I mean, you're a typical preppie. What's she doin' with you?"
" People change, AJ,"
" Not people like her,"
" Yeah? And how would you know? All you're looking for is a good screw," Nick said heatedly.
" Hey, you're way outta line,"
" I don't give a shit. You don't even know her and you're gonna go on with ' people like her' this and 'people like her' that. She's going through some tough shit right now. She doesn't need you to screw with her mind, AJ. If you're looking for a one night stand, go to those pathetic bars you hang out in," AJ looked at Nick, his face turning a deep shade of red. He abruptly stood up and walked over to where Skylee was.
" Done with my lighter?" He asked in a hard voice. She handed it to him wordlessly and he walked further down towards the other side of the railing and lit up a cigarette...
