Delia's Crossing (Delia 1)

“You will, probably. You’ve got the tutor living here, with you night and day,” Jesse said. He sounded a little jealous.

“Exactly.”

Jesse looked at his watch. “I’ve got to get going, Edward. My uncle Joe is coming over for dinner tonight and bringing his newest possible long-term relationship.”

“Where did he find this one?” Edward asked.

“She just walked into his travel agency, and he booked her a trip she never forgot. He was her personal guide, if you know what I mean.”

They laughed again.

“I’ll sneak the tequila out,” Jesse said, and put it into his bookbag. Then he paused and reached for Edward’s hand. “See you,” he said.

“When?” Edward asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Cut school, and spend the afternoon with me tomorrow,” Edward told him.

“What? I don’t know if your mother will appreciate that.”

“She won’t be around, I’m sure. Just do it. I’m feeling much better.”

Jesse looked at me. Edward sensed it.

“She’s all right. She’s not going to go blab to my mother. Don’t worry. Just get your rear end over here.”

“I’ll try.”

“Try hard,” Edward said, still holding on to his hand.

Jesse glanced at me again. I pretended interest in Edward’s books and turned away. I didn’t want to see them do anything else, anyway. I thought they kissed, and then Jesse walked past me.

“See you, Delia,” he said, and unlocked the door. Just as he stepped out, we heard Sophia in the hallway.

“You moving in already, Jesse?” she asked him as she stepped up.

“I don’t think I could live under the same roof with you, Sophia.”

“I wonder why not,” she said, laughing at him. She saw me standing in the doorway and pushed past him to enter. Jesse looked back, shook his head, and continued down the hallway.

“Hello, idiot,” Sophia said to her brother.

“I wonder who that is,” Edward said. He pretended to sniff the air. “Smells like my rotten sister.”

“Funny, funny. I brought you something,” she told him, and went to the bed to reach for his hand. Then she dipped into her purse and pulled out what looked like two joints. “Don’t light up until I tell you,” she warned, and looked back at me. “You keep your mouth shut, Delia. It’s good for him. It will take away discomfort.”

Edward stuffed the joints under his pillow.

“You look like hell, Edward,” Sophia told him.

I closed the door softly but didn’t approach them.

“Thanks,” Edward said. “Actually, with my eyes bandaged, you never looked better.”

“Ha ha. You’ll probably have scars.”

“Thanks again, Sophia. You know how to make someone feel good.”