Bianca 1988
I open my eyes when I hear the sounds of cups clinking coming closer. Slowly I sit in Steph's bed and watch as she sets a breakfast tray on the nightstand.
"Morning," she smiles softly at me. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's okay," I don't look her in the eye. "I was already waking up."
"Here, I got you some breakfast," she shows me the plates of food. "I made chocolate chip pancakes."
My bottom lip trembles, and I cover my face with my hands. Steph sits on the bed and wraps her arms around me, squeezing tightly.
"It's okay," she soothes quietly. "It'll be okay."
I'd cried most of the night, and Steph stayed with me, comforting me the whole time.
I felt stupid for crying over pancakes, but my mom and I had this weird, fun habit of having chocolate chip pancakes every Saturday. We started the tradition after we went to a diner that sold them for breakfast, and we wanted to make them at home.
Saturday was usually the only day mom had free time, so we got up early, made a big American breakfast, and then went grocery shopping. It might not seem like much, but it was the only time I had her to myself.
Even when my father returned, we did it, except he joined in, and I could pretend we were a normal family.
Burying my head into Steph's shoulder, I can't help crying harder. I'd shown up at her house at two in the morning, and luckily she'd been up. I think I scared her half to death, and her dad let me stay.
That had been two days ago, and I still cried every time I thought about her.
I'd considered calling her to tell her I was alright, but every time I picked up the phone, I just put it back on the receiver. What would I say to her?
My reason for leaving hadn't suddenly changed. If I went back, things would probably be worse than they had been before.
Had mom called my dad? She was the only one who knew where he went. She never trusted me with that information, but I knew my dad shared where he was going with her before he left.
"I know they're probably not as good as your mom's, but here, you need to eat," Steph finally says once I calm down. "Come on, you've hardly stomached anything."
It was true. I had a hard time focusing on anything; food was the last thing I wanted.
"Thank you," I mumble quietly and force myself to take the offered bite on the fork.
Stephanie had been so good to me, I felt awful for imposing myself like I had, but I didn't have anywhere else to go.
Steph doesn't move until I've eaten all the pancakes, and the only thing left is a few drops of syrup.
"How about I run you a bath?" She offered me a cup of cranberry juice. "It'll help you relax."
"Okay," I don't argue. I don't have the energy to try right now.
"I'll come to get you in a minute," Steph gets up, taking the tray away and leaving me alone in the room. I lay back down in her bed and curl up into the pillow. I miss my mom. I can't pretend I don't, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do now.
There's a chance she can find me through magic, but I don't know how soon that will take effect. What happens if she shows up here? Or worse, she calls the police?
I was only seventeen, a runaway. They would send me straight back to my mother.
My hand instinctively goes to my neck, tracing the necklace my father gave me last year. A birthday present he'd brought me from Germany.
He said it would keep me safe as long as I wore it.
The symbol of a rabbit on the pendant with my name inscribed on the other side. Tiny diamond chips circled the rabbit in a constellation I didn't recognize.
Dad said it represented balance in the universe. Because of all the creatures you can think of, a rabbit is destructive and a symbol of life.
The metal sparks across my fingertips, and I stop. It had never done that before. It hurts the way it does when someone shocks you.
Weird.
I don't sense magic coming off it. Phuro didn't say it was that sort of amulet either. So had it done it for a reason, or was I imagining things?
Unclasping the chain, I turn the metal in my hand, staring at it more carefully. I've done this a million times. I loved staring at the jeweled rabbit. When you shined it in the light, it looked like the bunny was hopping along.
It was supposed to be white, the clear diamonds giving it that illusion, but now the gems look smoky, changing the rabbit's color to a dark gray, but that's not the strangest thing.
There were tiny gleaming red jewels on the rabbit's body now. It made it look like it was bleeding. The poor animal had an expression of fear on it.
This wasn't right. How has it changed?
"Bianca?" I jump, dropping the necklace on the ground, when I hear Steph say my name. "What is it?"
"Oh, nothing," I shake my head, reaching down and grabbing it again. "I was staring at my bunny."
Steph gives me a warm smile and comes over to sit beside me.
"Let me see," she took the gold chain from me. I try to stop her, but she holds it up in the air and stares at the rabbit.
It was white again, and the red jewels were gone.
"You know, I can see why your dad nicknamed you bunny," Steph muses. Handing the necklace back to me. "You remind me of one sometimes."
"How?" I frown at her comment.
"You can be shy and skittish, but when people get to know you. They find out you're silly, high-spirited, and affectionate." She nudges me. "Come on, rabbit, your bath is ready."
"Okay," I nod and follow her out of her bedroom. The house was silent, and I guess her dad was at work.
Stephanie's mother died when she was born, and her two older brothers were in college.
"Here," Steph grabs the necklace again. "I'll put it in my dad's safe for now. That way, it'll be safe."
"You don't need to do that," I bit my lip. But, even with everything going on, I don't feel right not wearing it.
My dad did what any absent parent did. He tried to make it up to me with presents, but I had taken one look at the necklace and fallen in love with it. It was small, and I was sure it looked more expensive than it was, but it was more than the jewelry itself.
Phuro pretended he hadn't brought me any gifts that time. I'd almost believed him too, but then he made a big show of unpacking his suitcases and pulling out several presents under his clothes. Then he acted like he was missing something and had me help him look for a tiny green box that was nowhere to be found.
Finally, he pulled it out of his pocket and showed me the pendant.
It proved something to me. My father still knew me even though we rarely saw each other. He knew I loved gold and diamonds and that I loved white rabbits.
"Just until after your bath," She smiles. "Okay?"
"Yeah, sure," I nod slowly. It made sense to keep it safe. Especially since it was the only thing my phuro gave me that I'd brought.
Stephanie takes me to the bathroom, where there's a steaming bath waiting for me with the smell of roses and vanilla.
"How about we go to the mall after you're done?" Steph offers.
"No, I don't feel comfortable going out just yet," I start unbuttoning my shirt.
"No one knows you're here," Steph shrugs. "And you'll need some new clothes."
No, what I was going to need was a job.
"I'll let you think about it," she touches my arm. "I promise, everything will be alright. I'm going to take care of you."
A part of me feels uncomfortable with the offer, but on the other side of my thoughts, I'm grateful that I don't need to worry about anything.
At least for another day.
"I'll come to check on you," Steph lets me know before walking out of the bathroom.
I strip everything off and climb into the water. It's almost too hot, but I don't try to get out. I didn't know what I would do next or how far I was willing to take this, but the water made my body relax, and the scent soothed my nerves.
Letting all my sadness and pain wash away with the water, the last thing I allow to cross my mind before I give in to the warmth is the blood on the rabbit.
What did that mean?