Forbidden Love

2

Luna

"I'm not going."

"Kalani and Olivia are already there. I just need you to drop me off." JJ begs me even though she knows I can't right now. Her eyes are pleading, and her hands are folded to her chin. "Or you can just let me take the car." Ah. There it is.

"Why not ask Corey or Joseph?"

"Because Corey is working, and Sebastian picked Joseph up earlier. They're playing video games or something. I don't know and I don't care." My sister groans loudly. "Just let me take the car. I'll be quick."

"Will you be drinking?" I ask plainly. She gives me a look and I shrug. "Then no. Just ask Kalani or Olivia to pick you up."

"I told you, they're already there."

"Then walk, I don't know. Get out before you wake Mom."

JJ rolls her eyes and walks out. As soon as we get the money, we're definitely buying another car. Sharing one car between four kids hasn't worked as well as my dad thought it would. JJ crashed the car last month and has been on a driving ban ever since. We didn't say how long the ban would last—hopefully forever. She's the worst driver I know.

My mom stirs from her bed next to me, so I tuck her in and whisper a quiet apology for being loud with JJ.

School starts tomorrow—on Monday—and the Lawrence boys decided to throw a party. I could name a billion reasons why that's a stupid idea. Everyone's going to be tired, cranky, and hungover for the first day. But I won't even begin to try to understand the minds of teenagers.

I spend the next half an hour reading to Mom. She loves it when I read to her. I think it makes her feel like a child again. And when you're a child you don't have to worry about anything, your parents are there to comfort you. At least that's supposed to be the case.

My dad walks in shortly after and gives me a smile. "I'm home early. You're off the clock." He jokes and gives me a kiss on the head.

I place the book on the counter and give Mom a kiss goodnight. "Do you need time to relax? I can stay with her."

"I'll be okay. I'm going straight to bed." He starts undoing his tie. "You can head out to the party everyone's so worried about."

I almost laugh. "How do you know about the party?"

"Everyone at work is talking about how their kids are going to that back-to-school party. Thought it'd be fun for you."

I shrug. "I guess."

"Give Juliana a kiss for me."

"I will." I start walking out. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, don't stay out too late." He gives me a tired smile and I close their door behind me. He's always tired when he gets home from work, so he doesn't have much time for anything else. I don't blame him. He works two jobs and still makes some time for us on occasion.

I head upstairs to JJ's room. "We're leaving in two minutes. Get ready." I walk out before the smell sticks to my clothes. Seriously, she should put a candle or something. In my room, I grab a book and head downstairs to wait for JJ. I glance at myself in the hall mirror and take a mental note to stay in the car. I look a mess with grey sweatpants, a white tank top, and a failed attempt at a messy bun—it's not cute in the slightest, no matter how many girls on social media make it look like it is.

When my sister finally drags herself downstairs, I laugh. Her short dark hair sticks out like she's been attacked, and her black and red cropped shirt is stained above her baggy jeans. Her winged eyeliner makes her eyes pop, and I feel a twinge of jealousy at how effortlessly beautiful she looks—even with a mess of hair. "You're going like that? It's a party. Wear a dress or something."

"It's not a ball, Luna. I haven't worn a dress since I was five. Plus," She looks in the hall mirror like I did and gives me a sly smile. "I'm only there for one thing."

It isn't until we're in the car and driving do I realize what she meant. "You're going to see Mason, aren't you?"

She doesn't say anything, and I let out an exasperated breath. Juliana and her crush on Mason are going to be the death of me.

"Mom wouldn't like him." I say quickly hoping to strike a nerve in her. Partly because I'm annoyed that I have to drive her, but mostly because her crush needs to end.

"I think she would. But it doesn't really matter. Mom's not here, is she?" She says it so easily and carelessly that it makes me flinch.

"She is here. Right at home." I remind her.

"Her mind isn't." She mutters. I roll my eyes. I hate when she gets like this. When she gets defensive over some guy who could care less about her.

I ignore her the rest of the way to the Lawrence's, which is packed with cars and forces me to have to park a bit down the street. I almost pick a spot behind a pink Range Rover until I realize it's Julia's. Quickly swerving away, I choose to park about seven cars down behind a black mustang. This town is full of rich kids that it makes our car look depressing. We got it for sale about a year ago when our neighbor a few houses down the street died. He was seventy-five and a smoker—meaning the car doesn't smell all that pleasant. Even after the four of us washed it mercilessly.

"I'll pick you up in an hour." I tell JJ.

"Give me an hour and a half." She says slamming the door shut behind her. She gives me a small wave and heads down the sidewalk. Immediately, she spots and walks up to Mason. He's a senior—blond hair, blue eyes, the basic surfer look that most girls fall for. I shake my head and pull out my book. There's no way I'm leaving JJ here all alone even if she did make me upset by talking about Mom like that.

I push my thoughts of her away before I get annoyed further and crack open my book. I don't get to read for long because two girls stumble up to the window. They look distracted on their phones as they knock. Preparing myself, I slowly lower the window and give them a smile.

"Can I help you?"

The taller girl scratches her head. "Do you know where the party—" She pauses when she sees me. Her face turning into horror and disgust. "Um, never mind."

She grips her friend's wrist, and they walk away at a much faster pace. I sigh. Just another day in Rose Thorn.

It started in middle school. People started averting their eyes whenever a Stone would walk in the room. They would whisper and laugh and pick at our weaknesses. I thought it would go away in high school, and it somewhat did. I mean, they still whisper and tease, but the childish pranks stopped. We're more invisible now than anything else. I don't mind the invisibility.

My siblings went on with their life, Joseph joined the student council—per his best friend, Sebastian's request, JJ found a group that she hangs out with, and Corey...well he doesn't like people much, so he doesn't seem phased by the claws of high school drama. It can be uncomfortable, especially at lunch or assemblies.

But uncomfortable is all I've ever known.

I turn my gaze back to my book. My distraction from the life here in this vile town.