A Hidden Picture

Thirty eight

~ Annalise

I pull my hoodie over my head before slinging my backpack over my shoulder and heading out my room.

Dad gets up from the couch when he sees me walking over.

"Bye mija," he tells me softly before giving me a hug.

His scent has always reminded me of pine trees.

"Bye pa," I respond.

When we separate he gives me a warm smile, the lines of age becoming a little more apparent around his eyes.

Ma is at work so she's not here.

Vera stands by the door wearing a causal pair of jeans, old sneakers, and a baggy shirt.

She stands there as I walk over.

We both look at eachother, not moving.

I'm the first one to open my arms.

She immediately hugs her arms around my waist and lets her head fall to my shoulder. I close my eyes and ignore the smell of weed seeped into her clothes.

"I love you," I whisper. I don't say those words a lot. But I think she needs to hear them.

She mumbles some words and I pull away.

I nod at her and she bites the side of her cheek.

"Don't do anything dumb!," Pa yells as I walk out the door.

"I won't," I yell back.

Ro's car sits outside.

I walk over, not looking behind me once.

~

"Okay so they live in upstate New York and the ride is how long?," I ask Reed.

Ro is driving the car while Blake sits in the passenger seat.

In the second row sits Jesse, whose dead asleep. Along with his little brother Jordon and Landon next to him.

Reed, Gracie, and I sit in the last row. I'm squished between them.

"Four hours," Reed says.

I blow out a breath. Damn okay. That's not too bad.

"Anise! Do you like my shirt? It's Wanda!," Gracie pipes up next to me.

My mouth drops open and I gasp. "I love it."

She grins and nods. Her cheeks blushing.

I chuckle and when I look back forward I glance to Reed.

He stares down to me with a tiny smile on his face.

"Why are you staring at me? Huh? Creep," I edge him on with a playful grin.

His smile widens. "Oh so I can't look at my girlfriend?," he mutters.

"Whose that?" My eyes widen, faking surprise and looking around.

He lifts his hand and ruffles my hair.

I slap it away and try to flatten the strands. "Hmm I wonder who," he whispers.

I smirk and shake my head before looking back forward. I sneak my hand into his lap. He hugs our hands together. Our fingers intertwining.

All the windows are down, letting the cool wind blow into the car and the sun in.

Landon, Jordon, Blake, and Ro sing along to These Are The Days which blasts on the radio.

Jesse is still asleep against the door, using his hoodie as a pillow.