I wonder what JC's doing right now . . . I was laying on Claire's back porch, "tanning" in the Texas sun. Okay, I wasn't exactly tanning, I was under the overhang. So sue me!
"You okay?" I opened my eyes to see Claire standing next to me. I nodded. "How long have you been out here?"
"About fifteen minutes," I said. I looked at my watch and groaned. It was only 5:30am. “The early bird catches the worm,” my father had always said. He’d practically lived off that phrase. I hope that damn bird chokes on that worm.
"You usually don't get up this early," she joked. "You're the one who we always had to wake up at noon." I giggled, accepting the cup of coffee she hadned me as she sat down in the chair next to me.
"I know," I sighed. "It's just that I have to many things on my mind. It distracts me from sleep."
"I meant to ask you about that," she said. "If you need to ask me anything, or bounce any ideas off me, or just vent, I'm here."
“I know,” I sighed. “It’s just that I don’t know what to say. I figured I could come here, relax, sort out my thoughts, and get an unbiased opinion from you. I just feel like I can only accomplish the last one. Relaxing has been somewhat accomplished, but sorting out my feelings . . . I dunno. My head feels like it’s about to explode. I mean, I want JC, I want my friends, but I want to try and work things out with my ‘new’ family and . . .” I sighed. “I just don’t have a clue of what to do.”
I just wish I could help her out, I thought, sitting down on the couch on my living room. Alex was outside, just sitting there. She’d asked to be alone. I don’t blame her! Who could? Look at what she’s been through. Wait, I can help her out . . . Suddenly, an idea came to me. Picking up her cellphone, I searched through the phone numbers Alex ahd installed I it. Finally, I found the one I wanted. Pressing seed dial, I put the phone to me ear.When someone picked up, I snapped to attention.
“Hi,” I said. “This is Alex’s friend Claire. I know where she is, so listen up.”