Chapter Ten

Main Page

*****
	Skylee looked up absently as Nick slid into the booth
seat in front of her the next night.
“ What’s the matter?” He asked, his eyes penetrating into
hers.  She shook her head and shrugged.
“ Nothing out of the ordinary,” She replied, not in the mood
to be on the road, traveling through places she was
unfamiliar with.
“ Wanna get it off your chest?”
“ No, thanks,” She forced a smile and continued looking out
the window.
“ Sky, where were you last night?” Kevin asked, striding
into the main area of the bus.
“ I was at the hotel,”
“ I called your room, no one answered,”
“ That’s cause I was at Nick’s, We were watching a movie,”
She said irritably.
“ Are you-”
“ She’s not lying, I ran into her on the way back,” AJ spoke
up, tearing his gaze away from the tv to look at Kevin.
“ OK, Just checking,” Kevin said, settling on one of the
unoccupied chairs.
“ It’d be nice if you actually believed me once in awhile,”
Sky snapped.
“ Yeah?  You lost my trust a long time ago, earn it back and
we’ll see,”
“ It’s not like I went and screwed some random guy every
night, Kevin,”
“ I don’t know that and neither does Mom,”
“ I didn’t do anything that bad,” Skylee said, on the verge
of tears of hurt and frustration.
“ Skylee, I wish you wouldn’t talk to me in that tone of
voice,” Kevin said patiently,determined not to let her win.
“ Well, I wish I wasn’t here in this goddamn hellhole!” She
stated fiercely, raising her voice and standing up.
“ Skylee-” Sky stormed out and Kevin watched after her, an
unreadable look on his face.  There was a minute of silence
before AJ spoke up.
“ Wasn’t that kinda tugging the bull’s tail, Kev?” He asked
hesitantly.
“ Tugging the bull’s tail?” Nick snorted.
“ What do you mean, AJ?” Kevin asked, his patience running
thin.
“ I mean, she was already pretty out of it, you just pushed
her,” Kevin stared at AJ but AJ kept his gaze.
“ Are you saying it wasn’t her fault?”
“ Yeah, kinda.  You could have given her the benefit of the
doubt there,” AJ replied pointedly.
“ AJ, she’s my sister and my responsibility, I’d appreciate
it if you stayed out of it,” Kevin said irritably.
“ Yeah, but-” 
“ AJ, I said drop it,” Kevin snapped, standing up and
walking swiftly to the entertainment room.  Nick looked at
AJ who had sighed and returned an absent gaze back to the
TV.
“ I think you should just let him handle it, Bone,” Nick
said, mildly.
“ Yeah, Nick?  Is that really what you think?  Cause I
really don’t give a shit either way,” AJ grumbled.
“ God, what is your problem, AJ?  Why are you so pissed off
at me?  I didn’t do shit,” Nick asked angrily.  AJ ignored
him and flipped the channel.  Nick stood up and walked out,
following Sky and Kev’s league.  AJ sighed warily and turned
off the TV.  He shut his eyes and rested his head back.
“ You know, you have a thing with animals, don’t you?”  AJ
heard Skylee say sarcastically.
“ Great.  This is terrific.  Why are you angry at me now?”
He asked uninterestedly, not moving out of his position.
“ Well, gee, Skylee, don’t keep me in suspense,” He said,
finally opening his eyes when she didn’t answer.  He looked
up only to meet her cold and angry eyes.
“ I don’t know what you don’t understand, McLean.  I’ve
asked you many times to just stay the fuck out of my life,”
She said in a piercing tone.  AJ stared at her, feeling
slowly torn up inside.
“ I was just trying to help, Skylee,” He said quietly,
shaking his head in an unbelieving manner.
“ What don’t you get? I don’t need your help!” She said,
nearly yelling.
“ Lower your voice because I for one am not Kevin or your
Mom, I don’t need to put up with your bullshit,” AJ stated
sharply.
“ What do you know what my Mom would have done? Do you even
know me?” She snapped bitterly.
“ You’re right, I don’t know you and you obviously have made
it clear that you want it to stay that way,” 
“ All you assholes are the same!” Skylee muttered.
“ Oh, really?  What do you know about me, Skylee?  Or anyone
else here?” AJ shot back, his tone matching her angry one.
“ Nothing, that’s what!  I try to help and you bite my head
off,” He yelled, finally losing it.
“ Don’t yell at me!” She shouted back, glaring at him.
“ Well, someone needs to-”
“ Oh, sure, you’d know-”
“ Listen, don’t fuck with me, I am fed up with your shit,”
He said, trying to restrain his temper, knowing he’d say
something he’d regret.  Kevin walked in the room and looked
at the two of them as their silence left a suffocating
thickness.
“ What’s going on?” Kevin demanded, having enough of
arguments for one night.
“ Nothing-” They both chorused angrily.
“ What do you mean nothing? Why are you two yelling?” 
Silence.  AJ finally stood up and walked slowly to the bunk
area after shooting Skylee another glare.
“ Skylee, I don’t understand you-”
“ I doubt you ever will,” She cut him off bitterly, plopping
down on one of the seats and putting on her headphones. 
Kevin looked at the sister who had become a stranger and
felt a wave of uncertainty.  Maybe she was better off at
Harry’s.  She always would be better off with Harry was his
last bitter thought before walking back to the entertainment
room...