"He broke up with a girl recently. I guess she wasn't right for him and she wanted to get very serious."
"Uh huh, I see," Raven commented, raising her eyebrows and darkening her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean? Raven?"
"Well, sometimes boys are more passionate or nicer when they're on the rebound, Brooke. They're suffering from broken hearts and along you come to help mend them," she explained.
"He wasn't suffering from a broken heart. If anything, the girl was," I insisted. She nodded, still skeptical. "We talked about that a little and then we went out to this flatbed."
"This what?"
"It's a kind of truck," I explained.
"Oh." She smothered a smile with the back of her hand
"Are you just going to laugh at me or really listen?"
"All right. Sorry. What happened?"
"We kissed and . . ."
"And?"
"Kissed and kissed and stopped just before it was too late," I said. I looked down when she was silent. "I really didn't want to stop."
"Really? This is special." She was pensive a moment and then she leaned forward to touch my shoulder. "What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. What can I do? I promised I'd write him from wherever we land and he promised to come see me," I said.
She sat back, thought a moment and nodded with a small smile.
"You know, I think he just might visit. He really sounds like someone special. I'm sorry I was so suspicious--I just didn't want you to fall into the same trap I did."
I saw in her face that she meant it and I thanked her. We hugged and I went to brush my teeth and get ready for bed.
Later, in the dark, just before I turned over, Raven called to me.
"What?"
"It's nice, Brooke. It's nice to have someone to be in your dreams."
"What if it is never anything but dreams, Raven?"
She thought a moment.
"It will be more for you, Brooke. I just know it will."
"How do you know?"
"How do I know? I know because I'm jealous," she said with a voice filled with regret. I wondered how long it would take her to get over giving Taylor that very special part of her.
"Good night, Raven. Thanks."
"You don't need to thank me. You're my sister, Brooke."
"Forever and ever."
"The Orphanteers . ."