Four

All she could do is stare, those brown eyes at first couldn't believe what I was saying. How could my parents be dead? But she knew me, more than she could admit. We knew each other, and in a way some wouldn't understand. That is why our bond is unbreakable. A bond that would last forever. I finally began to calm down , my heart beating at a steady pace. We locked fingers, I could feel her small hands caressing my own. Bringing them towards her mouth, placing her soft lips against my knuckles; The small things she did. To think that, when those lips collided with my skin an explosion occurred. An explosion of relief, an explosion of relaxation. When the skin pealed away softly, her lips taking its leave from my flesh; so did my worries, so did my doubts. With the touch of her lips it all went away. With the feel of her touch, my body eases. Sort of melting away, like ice cream; on a summer day.

    I leaned my back awkwardly against the car door, hands still attached to Rachelle's. At this point my eyes were closed. I want to forget what just happened, forget what I just seen. And as I began to think about the death and the blood. My heart began to jog, the more vivid my thoughts became the more and more the pace increased. My heart wasn't jogging at all, but in a full sprint. A 100 yard dash I should say. I opened my eyes to see Rachelle staring at me, she's noticed my breathing as I hyperventilated.

        Deep breaths

I told myself.

At this moment I am safe.

But could I ever truly be safe?

Soon I will be wanted for murder.

Not to mention I still have a murderous twin out there some where.

Rachelle releases my hands while she reached in the back seat. Grabbing her rolling tray, she reached in her black tote removing a glass jar from the purse. As soon as she opened it the aroma went straight to my nose. A familiar scent that was also soothing, a scent of a flower; Herb. She reached in the black tote again pulling out a handful of packages. Cigar packages, the backwood packs began to fall out of her hand there were so many. Rachelle opened each pack scanning the contains of each package until she found the right backwood. Was I obsessed with this girl? I could watch her all day. I analyzed her body , from her French tip nails to her slim vanilla bean arms. Her hair, the curls jumped out at me. I reached to grabbed them, twirling each strand between my fingers.

There he is

Even that, brought a smile to my face.

I'm sorry I'm so lost of words

But if you've seen what I just witnessed

I don't know if there are words

Words to describe

What I just seen

The worry, didn't stray from her beautiful face. She stopped in mid motion as she trimmed down the backwood with her scissors. Before continuing the process, she added the green crumbs to the wood before twisting it. Maneuvering the tobacco leaf in between her hands, licking the sides so they'd stick. Before you know it, I could smell the burning of the leaf as the smoke began to fill up the Nissan. I couldn't help but cautiously monitor our surroundings. Every car I would see, expecting it to be the police. Every person I see walk in and out of the liquor store, Expecting it to be him.

Rachelle passes me the wood, the thick cigar smoking in between my fingers. I place my mouth on the end and pull. Watching the bright orange tip brighten and spark as the smoke filled my nostrils, I took in a deep breath feeling the strength of the tobacco kick at my chest. I exhaled, watching the cloud of smoke disappear into the windshield. My eyes began to lean, my heart began to slow. The smoke faded into my lungs, hitting my blood stream. Instant relaxation. Rachelle and I played catch with the backwood. Passing it back and forth until the smoke was no more. We both sat in the aftermath of the fire, inhaling the lingering herb that polluted the air.

    Rachelle turned the keys, bringing the car back to she quickly snatched the car in reverse before pulling out of the parking space and exiting the convenience store lot. Rachelle just started driving, making a few turns before we pulled into a driveway. She then opened the garage and pulled the car in. It was a narrow garage, but long it could at least fit 2 to 3 cars in it alone including the washer and dryer that was already there.

                     Your staying here tonight

               until we figure out our next move

Rachelle spoke as the garage began to come down. Her voice is different now, she wasn't asking me. It was a demand; her voice is different now, she wasn't asking me. And I would listen .

We?

Her fiery eyes shifted in my direction, giving me a look that only solidified her demand. I never been to her house before , it was foreign to me. A regular house but it was built too closely to the following structures , it was as if I could jump from window to window through each house to reach the end of the block. One tall tree overlooked the walkway to the front door, the garage begin to function as the door began to close.

My mom found a new boyfriend so she's never home

    Rachelle reaches and grabs for her purse while I exited  the car, the cold air lingered in the garage. I can feel the freeze creeping up my neck sending goosebumps all over my body. After the goosebumps, there were the shivers. Bone shaking shivers that were uncontrollable. Rachelle led the way through the dark house, passing through the small kitchen. There were some dishes placed in the sink, yet to be washed. Cereal on top of the refrigerator, even a small picture of Rachelle as little girl.

Those puffy cheeks

                           My little princess

    She quickly led me upstairs, shining her light at our feet for stability. Holding my hand tight as she guided me into her room. The rooms texture gave off a light presence. The walls were painted beige , reminding me of her skin. Plants laced the walls and windows, her cats darted across the room as the light illuminated her bedroom. Her room didn't seem to be dirty, but it technically wasn't clean either. Maybe a few things scattered around on the floor, probably from rushing this morning. She snatched the lingering items from the floor, throwing them in her laundry basket. As if I haven't already seen the aftermath

              Someone was late this morning

    Rachelle glances at me while she began to undress, the glance evolved into a glare as she began to yank her sweater off, then her UGGs. I placed myself on the bed, almost instantly sinking into the cushion. The softness of the mattress caressed my back, my body is so tense. I could feel the ache drift away as I began to relax. My eyes seemed to close again, but this time they were heavier. I struggled to lift them, hearing Rachelle shuffle in and out of her room. Coming from her connecting bathroom, I could hear the shower cut on as Rachelle exited the bathroom carrying one of her cats. Another jumped on the bed, crawling right in my lap. It began to lick my hands, which made me realize

I'm still covered in blood

I moved the black coated cat from my lap while I began to undress myself, the blood is dry now. Red smears on nearly every part of my body. Streaks on my face from wiping my running nose constantly, my arms covered in it. My mother's blood covered every part of my body, from my fingernails to my blood covered socks. I could feel the crunchy ness of the dried up blood in between my toes, it began to clot. I felt Rachelle's eyes as I removed my shirt, Leaving me in these blood stained boxers.

This is the first time we've ever seen one another so vulnerable. She stared at me, her eyes could tell it all. Rachelle never spoke, well rarely. Probably because she couldn't quite grasp what she wanted to say, so she decides to not say anything. She began to walk towards me, placing her cat on the floor as it scampered off . Her eyes never leaving my own.

She analyzed my body , looking for injuries. She sat her hands on my chest, sliding them down to my abs. I could feel her nails tickling my skin as she caressed my arms, until she eventually pulled my in for a hug. Her arms wrapped around my neck like a chain, squeezing my throat tightly. I could feel her body tremble as I pulled her in.

I inched my hands all over her body, holding her tighter so the trembling would stop. I felt her worry as her grip on my neck never loosened, As I caressed her petite body in my arms I could feel some delicacy. The beauty is not in the body itself, not in the image but the touch. I could feel the fragile essence in her body. The warmth of her skin seemed to radiate in my chest, her lips placed inside my neck. That delicate essence that lingered all over her body, at this moment I held a jewel.

A diamond, a ruby, a sapphire. I squeezed her tighter , her frame cradling inside my arms. The beauty exist within the delicacy. Because she is so fragile, so soft, so breakable is what creates the beauty. The mere thought of shattering is what gives us the feeling to protect, to hold. Rachelle felt like glass in my arms, I could keep squeezing until she shattered.