Chapter 2
“Whats your name?”
The chocolate brown eyes blinked away tears. “Mi name is Aiko.”
“That’s a pretty name.” My voice became high in the way adults speak to children.
“Gracias.” She grinned a perfect row of white baby teeth.
“¿Tu..uh..tu hablas espanol?” My mind shuffled through my school lessons.
A giggle rewarded me. “Sí, miss.” Another giggle. They sounded like very bubbly hiccups.
“Me llamo es-” I began.
“No! No ‘es’, just ‘me llamo’.” Her voice took on a scolding tone as she corrected my grammar.
I bit my lip to keep a chuckle from spilling, straining my cheek muscles. “Okay, let me try again.” I cleared my throat dramatically, winking at Aiko. “Me llamo Arya.”
“Perfect!” Her tiny fingers clapped, making tiny echoes against the damp walls. I laughed and clapped with her, louder and louder until our palms were red and cheeks blushed with childish joy.
The click of the door snapped our necks towards the entrance, and Aiko jumped into my lap. We both were trembling, and our shakes melted together until I could almost pretend it was the room shaking and not us. He tossed in another child. But this time he paused and he smiled; I knew there would be more. I didn’t stop Aiko from sticking her tongue out at him.
The new girl wasn’t as young as Aiko. She looked starved of sun and soap. I could see the lightest creases dusted with dirt, invisible if washed- laugh lines.
“My name Aiko!” The doll-like little girl crawled over to her.
Foggy grey eyes narrowed warily. “Who’re you people?”
“Your new roommates.” She reminded me of my attitude-filled little brother. “My name is Arya.”
“Harley.”
She clearly wasn’t as talkative as Aiko. I stared at the door, hoping the girls would settle. I had layed out another tarp beneath us in a corner, though I doubt comfort was on their minds.
Almost a half an hour later, Aiko fell asleep with her head in my lap. I stroked her hair, hoping the soothing gesture would give her rainbow dreams.
“Ara?”
“Arya.”
“Arya…nice name.”
“Not as rock awesome, biker cool as Harley.”
She smirked. “True.” Aiko shifted in my lap, twisting until her body was curled, her forehead pressing into my stomach, and her nose tickling my side. Harley squinted. “Is she your sister?”
I gave a whispered chuckle. “No, Davidson.”
“Don’t call me that.” Her grey eyes seemed more blue grey now, and less foggy.
“I’m American, Persian- Iranian in descent.”
Harley motioned to Aiko.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. She speaks Spanish though, so that’s like a hundred countries.”
“Actually around twenty-two to twenty-five.”
“Don’t be a smartypants, Quinn.”
“Don’t call me that.” Her eyes sparkled like silver gems. I knew she was enjoying the names.
“How old are you?”
“Nope.” She shook her head and leaned back against the wall grease.
“What?! Why not?” I protested. “And wipe the wall before you lean on it, it’s filthy.”
“Thanks.” She wiped quickly with her sleeve. “And I don’t want to tell you because than you’ll treat me like a child.”
“How do you know?”
“Experience.”
“C’mon.” I wiggled my eyebrows. “You know you want to.”
Silence. Harley pursed her lips.
“Look if you’re young enough, I’m going to treat you like a child.” Harley narrowed her eyes. “But! Pay attention to the ‘but’! But I am not going to patronize you.”
She huffed. “You first then.”
“Childish”, I teased. “I’m fifteen.”
“Awesome!” She was as sarcastic as my little brother too. “I’m five years younger.”
“I’m six. I’m going to be seven in April!”
My heart leaped five feet in the air.
“Aiko!” Harley had her hand on her chest. “You scared the begeezus out of me!”
“¿Que es begeezus?”
“Nevermind, Aiko.” Harley tussled the little girl’s hair and laughed. I smiled too, because only then did she look ten years old.
–
See you in another day,
SA