Chapter 6

6 years ago...

"Joriel, I'm begging you! Please let me go with you! I'll pay you-- how much do you want?" Derik cried as Joriel quickly pulled her suitcase down the hall.

"Hush, Derik! You're making a scene," Joriel hissed over her shoulder, "And I told you I knew where Luce was because Jennabel can't know yet. That doesn't mean I'm taking you there."

Joriel had left for Moonstar not long after informing Derik (smugly) that she would be seeing Luciandre. Derik went on a searching frenzy, but Joriel had cleverly hidden her own whereabouts.

Today was Andri's birthday and Derik's last chance of seeing Andri before waiting another year to pester Joriel and beg her to bring him along.

"I'll do anything! Joriel, please, let me see Andri. I have so much to tell him and I'm sure he has a lot to tell me too!" Derik's voice cracked, and Joriel slowed down a bit. Finally, she came to a stop.

"Look, Derik, I'm not a heartless person. I don't want to be what stands between you and Luce, but will you please think about it from my point of view? I had only told you where he was because you could tell Jennabel that you know where her brother is. I'm only being a student mentor right now-- I have two more years before I can be an official one. What I can tell you is that three years from now Luce will be graduating from military training. If you wait two years until I become an official mentor at Moonstar, I'll bring you along so you can enroll in training with Luce."

Derik was quiet for a moment as he thought about the offer. Two years seemed too long, but it was also the only way for him to meet with Andri.

"Fine. I'll wait two years, but no longer. Also... please give this to Andri," Derik held out a small, simply wrapped package, "It's his birthday present."

Joriel took the gift and nodded. Then, she left as Derik silently watched her go...

^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*

Andri furrowed his brows when he opened the gift. Inside held many fashionable dangling earrings, but none were a pair. He glanced questionably at Jori, who only shrugged.

"Derik said that this was your birthday present. Made since to give you single earrings since you only have one piercing though," she snickered. Andri rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but smile. It's been a while since he received a birthday gift-- he wasn't allowed contact with the outside world.

"I would've dropped by Adelliette at her piano contest, but the timing was too tight with my flight so I missed it, " Joriel said quietly. She knew Luce missed his sister dearly and has not been able to talk to her for a year already.

"It's okay. I have this," Andri grinned, holding up the earrings. Jori wanted to bring up Jennabel but had not wanted to disclose the fact that Jennabel was hospitalized.

After overdosing the first time, Taryn became tight about Prozac, but that did not stop her stepsister. She would fake swallowing, then save it up for a large dose. She overdosed again before Jori left, and it has been getting out of control.

For an 11-year-old, this was extremely dangerous. Jori wasn't sure how her stepdad was going to handle this, but she suspected something along the lines of rehab, and no more Prozac.

"Jori... how's my dad treating you?" Andri mumbled, embarrassed that Jori was technically now his older sister. He'd always been the eldest (well, in temperament); having an older sibling now was weird.

"Well, he certainly doesn't treat me the way he'd treat you. I'm not his real daughter, after all," Joriel wasn't bothered by this, since she'd never had a dad before anyways, "Besides, I don't even live in the same house as my family anymore."

Andri flushed, but forced out, "I'm your family." It was embarrassing to say something so sappy out loud, but he wanted to show that he was grateful for Jori.

"You're my older sister from now on," Andri insisted. Joriel grinned, 'seems like a trait in the family.'