“You ready to go?”

“Yep,” Cherys replied and bounded up to me, pulling me into a hug.

Together, we headed out to my car and drove the familiar path to our destination.

Once there, Cherys wrapped her arms around me and lay her head on my shoulder, Looking down at the headstone. "I have a confession, sis.

I've been flirting with your boyfriend.”

Confusion came over my face as I turned my head to Look at Cherys, but she just kept her attention on Ellie‘s grave.

“So... I just wanted to run it by you. Make sure everything is OK. I'm going to keep flirting with him, teasing him. Maybe... if he's really Lucky, we might even have sex. Would that be okay? If it's not, strike me down with

Lightning or something..."

We both waited in the silent air. I was practically holding my breath.

I hadn't had sex in a long, long time and I found myself actually praying that nothing would happen so Cherys could seduce me.

"No?" Cherys said, looking around for Lightning bolts.

“Okay. I'm not saying I WILL fuck him. Just wanted to make sure it would be okay if I did. Love you, Ellie."

FALL (October 2005)

My keys jingled as I slipped them into my jeans while walking out of the bedroom. I waved to the girls, who were busying themselves in the kitchen together.

“Laters..."

Danielle's ‘mom’ face came down on me.

“And where do you think YOU'RE going?”

I stopped, confusion spreading across my face. She hadn't taken that tone with me in quite some time and I was instantly trying to figure out what I did wrong. "Uh... out?"

“Out where? It's a Friday night. What, you got a date?" From the way

Danielle's eyes rolled it was clear that she thought that possibility to be remote at best.

“No, I'm having dinner with Kevin and Jen," I admitted quickly before my ego realized I'd been insulted. "But... I COULD have had a date..."

Cherys glanced over at us, chuckling to herself at the sibling standoff. Danielle looked hurt and said in a small voice, “I'd thought you would stay and have dinner with us..."

Danielle was impossible to resist when she pulled the whole hurt-little-girl act, complete with puppy-dog eyes. She knew my protective/family instinct would immediately come out.

“Okay, I'LL stay and keep my big sis company." And with that, I pulled out my cell phone and turned, holding down the speed dial to Kevin and

Jen's apartment.