2.

Four years later

"You ready, baby?" Jane asked, standing by Kárri's bedroom door with a proud yet saddened look on her face.

Kárri and her mom were close and it sure was a difficult moment leaving home for college, but she convinced herself that she's an adult now. She wanted to jump onto the new stage of her life fully and without the safety net that her parents provide for them.

She finished zipping up the suitcase and hauled it off her bed before rolling it on the carpet, stepping towards her mom. "I think it's a bit too late to change my mind. Plus, the ticket is an Express. I can't get a refund," she chuckled.

Her mom nodded, fixing a strand of light brown hair behind Kárri's ear in a tender gesture before something caught her eye. She gasped as she turned Kárri's head to the side, who tried to cover it with her hand but Jane smacked it away, causing Kárri to suck her teeth because she was going to be scolded.

"Is this a new tattoo?!"

"Uh, maybe," she said, not making eye contact. "Mama, you only said no to piercings. You didn't even say anything about getting tattoos."

"Because it was already implied," Jane reasoned as she had a proper look. The tat started on her back of her neck and curved to the right along her shoulder bone and read: Крв је гушћа. Вода је дубља. 'The blood is thicker. The water is deeper.'

"I mean, I guess I like it," Jane said, finding the intricate details beautiful. But she knew admitting it would only provoke further behaviour of this nature. So she bit her smile but the way Kárri's eyes lit up made her chuckle nonetheless.

"It's a beaut, right?" Kárri exclaimed, turning to the mirror and admiring it. "I got it when we went on the exchange program to Serbia in July."

The horror on her mom's face was priceless. "You had this for a whole month without me noticing?"

"What are my girls doing?" her dad walked in, followed by her brother, Llewellyn.

"Mom's just finding out about my tattoo," Kárri gleamed. Kiano's smile widened. He loved it as much as she did. Matter of fact, she texted him the picture to ask how it would look like and he gave her the thumbs up.

"Sick!" Llewellyn pulled his jacket off to show Jane a matching one. However, the disapproving look on Jane's face made him change his mind. He didn't want to be caught in this crossfire.

"You didn't know?" Kiano fake gasped, winking at Kárri. Because he was the chilled one between the two, Kárri and Lle usually approached him with all their ideas. That was because they knew that even if he said no, he would back them up eventually.

"I know you, Kiano! You encouraged her," Jane scolded, crossing her arms to show her distaste in their latest impalpable deed.

"I did not," he tried to deny, but the way he looked at her confirmed it all. She sighed, wondering why she even tried to be upset at him. Turning to Lle, she snapped her fingers, "Show me yours."

"Uh, what? I don't-" he shook his head, trying to back away.

"Oh, you definitely busted," Kárri laughed, enjoying her innocent little brother being interrogated. Kiano and Kárri stood aside as Jane pulled off Lle's basketball jacket and vest and gasped, even louder than she did at discovering Kárri's tat.

"My baby," she whined, turning him around to study all the tattoos that were inked on his right breast.

"There's more on his back," Kiano outted him, earning a high-five from Kárri.

"Laser, right now!" Jane exclaimed, pulling Lle by his ear out of the room as he groaned and complained the entire way out.

"She's not really gonna remove them, right?" she asked, genuinely concerned for her brother.

"Nah, she's just in shock. Once she calms down she'll get over it," he reassured her.

Jane sometimes treated Lle like he was 5 even though he's graduating high school at the end of the year. Plus, he stands a great chance at being chosen as Valedictorian. She must say, it does feel good to pass down the title.

***

"Always brush your teeth at night."

"Yes, mom."

"And keep your room locked, okay?"

"Yes, dad."

"And avoid picking fights with anybody."

"Yes, mom."

"But don't hesitate to kick someone's ass if they mess with you."

"You got it, bro."

"My baby is all grown now," Jane frowned, taking a step back to take one more look at Kárri. She felt Kiano's arm wrap around her shoulder and held her close.

"What time is your train landing?" Lle suddenly spoke as he looked around for it.

"Landing?" Kárri scoffed, pulling out her ticket and checking the time. "In about half an hour. Why? Want me out of your hair already?" She teased, pinching his cheeks and he groaned.

"Dude, I got a practice to get to," he rolled his eyes. Kiano and Jane stood back as they watched Lle and Kárri go back and forth, firing insults at one another.

"You won't even make the team!"

"'Cause I'm already on the team, genius!"

"Yeah, to distribute water bottles," she shot.

"See, this is why your ass is adopted," he shot back.

"Just one more year, babe," Kiano whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist, his eye still on the duo that was going back and forth at each other. He started walking backwards slowly, pulling Jane with him until his back rested against the wall.

He made sure they were a good amount of feet from the two while still at a safe distance to keep an eye on. "Then we'll have the place all to ourselves again."

Jane elbowed him softly, knowing exactly what he was referring to. "Stop, they might hear us."

"It's not like they don't know where those sounds at night come from. And no, they're too old to believe we're moving furniture around in the middle of the night," he whispered seductively, moving her hair aside as he kissed her neck. She giggled, slowly pulling out of his hold.

"There are people around," Jane said, her eyes scanning the place to see if anyone was watching them.

"I hate when the public is full of people," Kiano said, reaching for her hands. "I heard the bathrooms are pretty soundproof."

"No," she hissed, slapping his hands away but he pulled her against him. "I swear you get turned on in the most inappropriate places," she chuckled, letting his arms wrap around her again.

"No, I don't."

"Uh, yes, you do. Remember when we were at Cameron's wedding-"

"Shh, don't remind me," he shut her up by kissing her. "I'll wait till we get home," he promised her, recognizing the look of desire in her eyes.

"Are they seriously doing this here?" Lle sneered, pretending to be disgusted by their parents when the truth was that he knew they never hesitated to show their love for each other wherever they were. He greatly admired that and knew that their love was the standard he was accepting and nothing less.

"You'd think after all these years of getting on each other's nerves their love would dim just a tiny, tiny bit," Kárri smiled.

"But it has only managed to grow even more," Lle added, sighing in content.

"I want that too, you know?" she said, glancing at him.

"Same," he said after a moment. Immediately knowing what he's thinking, she decided to change his train of thought.

"Don't worry, you'll find a nice, young boy one day who will treat you like the king that you are," she patted his head. He immediately smacked her hand away, earning a laugh from her. "I'm not gay," she mimicked his voice, knowing what he was going to say. It was all a joke but at least she made him smile.

"Take care of them," she said more seriously as she rested her hand on his shoulder. "And always, always sleep with earplugs in," she added, making him laugh as they watched their parents live in their little world.

However, it wasn't long before the faint sound of the train approached and her anxiety fired up. Lle took her hand and felt it shaking. He firmly squeezed it.

"Don't think of the past, okay? It's not worth it," he spoke strongly. Afraid her words would fail her, she nodded and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and hugged her brother.

"I love you," she murmured, a tear escaping.

"I love you too." After a moment, they felt their parents' arms around them and Kárri took in this family moment before she was to leave. The train came to a stop and people started lining up with their stuff already.

"Take care of yourself. I mean it. And let me approve of any new body art you want to get, okay?" Kiano smiled, hugging her.

"This is why you're my favourite dad," she spoke into his chest, making him chuckle.

"And this is why you're my favourite daughter," he kissed her forehead and held out her suitcase and backpack for her.

"Call me when you've settled in," Jane said, giving her a gentle push toward the queue. Kárri looked at each person, not wanting to break down into tears as she watched her dad hold her emotional mom close and her brother standing there with a mixed look on his face.

She knew he always teased her about how he'd finally be an only child at home but she knew that that was just to cover up for how alone he'd be once she left. Sure their parents were there but she was his best friend. As was he hers.

As the queue moved forward and she was next to board the train, she lifted two fingers to her heart then kissed it, watching her brother instinctively do the same.

With newfound confidence, she leapt on and didn't look back.