CHAPTER 7

Our new home was still a million miles away from the Bahamas but far quite a mile from our old place. One week was enough to change everything and start a new life.
The website was permanently down and gone. I had changed my phone, email, and contact numbers and made cautious care that there was nothing left to trace back to me. After searching for available apartments online and settling on one, I had withdrawn all the money I've had up in my savings account for two years now and the amount almost caused me a cry of joy. This was going to be enough to last me and my sister a few months, coupled with the half payment I had gotten from Kelly and all of my dress-up dresses I had sold off.
At least, before I hopefully get a legit job this time around.
JoJo didn't seem to buy the idea at first until I had given her the reason that moving to a new place was going to help me start a new life and be a better sister. And then, she didn't mind anymore. I mean, why would she, when I deposited the payment for our fairly used car that we would take turns driving. Hers, to and from school and mine when I get a job.
For the first time in my life, the yearn for me and JoJo's security gave me a feel of fresh air that I had never breathed before. I was going to start anew. This is my chance and I am not going to mess it up this time.
By the time we finished setting up our studio apartment which was a lot bigger and nicer than our old one. JoJo had called it our little Pinterest home and I couldn't agree less. It was small, simple, and perfect.
When it was evening, we had taken a crisp cold walk downtown, kicking our feet into the paving paths of wet roads that smelled of clean soil after rain and we had stopped to get some chicken kebabs at an Asian restaurant. For a minute, I forgot the fact that we were two lost girls who had escaped from the orphanage home, struggled to navigate our way through child welfare and unsmiling fat nosed neighbors and had to figure everything out all by ourselves. For the first time since last week, I felt safe and free.
He will never catch me.
•••
'Kenzie. Wake up." JoJo's voice drawled me from my sleep to reality. 'Kenzie." She shakes me fully awake and I cursed inaudibly under my breath. I stopped as soon as I tried to open my eyes. Was I dreaming all these while? What if I opened my eyes and saw that everything that ever happened- the nice apartment, our new car, the chicken kabab and the taste of freedom was all a dream and had never happened?
'JoJo." I kept my eyes closed still. 'Where are we?"
'Uh...in our apartment, of course." She sounded confused.
'What did we do together last night?" I could hear myself sounding crazy and mental but I didn't care.
JoJo laughed awkwardly at my question.
'What the fuck, Kenzie…"
'Stop cursing and answer the question." I hissed and I imagined her rolling her eyes at me.
'Fine. We went downtown and explored our new environment."
My heart began to melt. New environment.
'Then we stopped at a restaurant for Asian foods and tried their chicken kebab. Which I am beginning to think has gotten you mental."
A smile began to break from my face but I froze almost immediately.
Hold up. That wasn't enough. What if it was only a coincidence?
'JoJo..."
'Come on, Kenzie, I didn't wake you up for this. I need the car keys to drive to school. I'm running late."
My eyes snapped open this time and my lips broadened into a large smile, the largest I had smiled since years. We have a nice apartment, live in a great neighborhood, had chicken kebab for dinner and…there is a new car too.
I didn't know when my subconscious self squealed in delight and hopped on my sister's body in a rough hug, causing us to topple over the floor while I still hugged myself tightly above her.
'Kenzie." She was laughing now. 'You are going to suffocate me."
'I love you, girl!" We rolled over the floor and JoJo takes advantage of the opportunity to get herself off the floor. Still laughing from my strangeness, she dusted invincible specks of dress off her blue denims and turtle neck top, while I remained lying, face up on the floor laughing a laugh that only me could understand. The things we once wanted now faded into new hope.
This is real.
This was not a dream. It was never a dream. Everything is real. The apartment, the car, the new life. I was going to get a job and JoJo would not have to worry about helping anymore and instead, focus her time on her studies. And who knows? Someday, I might get back into college to continue from where I stopped.
This is real. Everything is real.
'Now, before you spend your entire morning in celebration, hand over the car keys. School is calling."
'Aye aye, captain." I got off the floors and walked over to the dresser.
'What are your plans for today? Yesterday, you talked about going job hunting."
I nodded as I rummaged through the drawers, frowning at myself for my carelessness at handling the car keys. When I couldn't find it in there, I squatted and looked beneath the bed.
'Yes. I pray I get a good one."
'Try to top that with a boyfriend this time, would you?"
I ignored her and continued searching.
'I mean, I've been waiting my whole life for you to bring a guy home before I get into my own relationship. You are keeping me single!"
I make an irritated noise at her words. I couldn't imagine JoJo with a boy. Heck, that would be too awkward to stand.
'Found it." JoJo said and I looked up to her wide smiles and I couldn't help smiling back at her. It had been so long since I saw a smile like that on her face. A smile that had no worries hidden beneath them. A smile befitting of a sixteen years old.
'You left it in the cereal bowl." She pointed at the bowl on the dresser. 'You should be more cautious of your things." She said with a tease and advanced towards the door. 'Good luck with your job hunting, Kenzie." She smiled again before walking out and shutting the door behind her.
I scoffed out a laugh and as I tried to get up my feet from the ground, the door opened again halfway and JoJo poked her head through it.
'Kenzie…"
'Yea?" I frowned slightly. 'Did you forget something?"
'Yes."
I rolled my eyes as she stands rooted to her spot. 'Then come get it, duh…"
Her next actions froze me to my spot as she rushes into the room and throws her arms around me, pressing me to her tenderness, her lavender cologne soothing my head.
'I am so proud of you, Kenzie. Thank you for everything. Thank you for taking care of me."
I try to laugh it off but even the laugh was an awkward one.
'I ran off with you from the orphanage. Of course, I should look after my sister. You are my responsibility."
'I love you, Kenzie."
I smiled a little between my glassy eyes and emotional heart.
When was the last time I heard those three special words from her? The year I took her to Disneyland for her birthday when she clocked thirteen? Or was it the day I had gotten her dream sneakers when she was fourteen? I couldn't remember but one thing I was sure of was that those three words were the best presents anyone could give me.
A sense of quiet peaceful comfort washed through me.
'I love you too."
To new beginnings.