Owen

Once we get home, I get all the groceries from the car. "A perk of being invisible is I don't have to help you unload all this crap," Lainey says after I grab the last bag.

She shuts my truck and follows me to the house and a smirk spreads across my face, "You just enjoy watching me carry all these heavy bags." I draw out the last two words, so Lainey knows what I am saying.

Lainey snorts, "Not much to look at when your little arms are straining under the weight of a gallon of milk."

I roll my eyes and Lainey opens the front door, a retort is on the tip of my tongue till I hear the yelling coming from inside.

~~~~

Lainey

Owen doesn't even have a chance to say hello when we walk in. Neither his mom nor his sister noticed him.

"It's not fair, all the girls get to!" Sadie says coldly.

To what she's referring to I have no idea. We missed that part of the argument.

Owen sets the bags he's holding on the counter, "What's not fair?"

"She's mad I won't let her dye her hair," Owens's mom snaps.

Sadie gives her mother a cold look, "I want to get highlights not dye it."

As Sadie and her mom have a stare Owen looks at me with a look that screams help.

I laugh and something warms in my chest. He wants me to tell him what the highlights are. Something about that seems so sweet and cute.

I quickly shove those feelings away, "Highlights are where they lighten certain pieces of your hair to make it appear lighter and some say it gives their hair more body."

Owen nods, "Sade, if mom said no, then it's no."

Sadie turns to Owen, "The only reason she is saying no is because of how much it costs."

Owens's face darkens as Sadie continues, "She won't have to pay for it, I saved up the money."

"It's not about the money, you are too young to dye your hair," Ally throws back.

"Drop it," Owens says, with a cold glare toward Sadie.

Sadie chooses to ignore Owen, "I never get to do anything girls my age do, just let me do this one thing."

"Why do you need highlights, your hair looks fine," Owen says dryly.

Sadie's eyes burn with rage, "I want to feel better about myself."  She shakes her head, "It doesn't matter, I saved the money, and I am getting them."

Owens's eyes flare, matching Sadie's anger, "The hell you aren't. I can think of five different ways we could use that money."

"I never get to do anything," The anger leaves her eyes and the pain creeps in. "I just want to do something for myself."

Owens's laugh sounds dry and humorless, "And I want a million dollars." He throws his hands up, "Hell, I would love to go to the store and not have to shop on a fucking budget so tight we have to buy crap toilet paper just to make ends meet."

Owens's mother doesn't say anything but pinches the top of her nose. Sadie however backs away. "You're not my father, Owen."

Owen stares her down with a look I have never seen before, "No I'm not, because our piece of shit father left us high and dry without any money."

Sadie's face pales, "You can be such a dick sometimes."

"Saide, we don't use that kind of language," Owens's mom yells.

But the only response Sadie gives is slamming her door.

Ally sighs, "Just let her get the damn highlights."

Owen slams a cabinet, "And let's let her waste money on something stupid."

"She's going through teenage things maybe this will help her," Ally argues.

"I didn't get to go through 'teenage things' when I was her age. At her age, my paychecks went to buying her damn insulin." Owen snaps.

Ally throws a spoon into the sink, "You don't have to be so damn crappy about it."

Owen stares at his mother with a look of shock, "Sadie needs to get out of Wonderland and live in the real world."

Before his mom can respond he turns on his heel and walks to his room.

I didn't miss the words he wanted to say, I don't think his mom did either.

He wanted to say that you and Saddie need to get out of Wonderland and live in the real world.

Ally takes a paper and writes down a quick note, she grabs her car keys and leaves without so much as a goodbye.

Suddenly I feel horrible, I feel like I just listened to a private conversation.

A conversation I have no business getting in the middle of.

Shacking those thoughts away I make a quick dinner.

~~~~

I gently knock on Owens's door, "What do you want?" He asks.

I push open his door, "I made dinner."

He silently takes the plate from my hands, and I take a seat at his desk.

"I know it's none of my business but-" I start to say, but Owen cuts me a glare, "Then keep it to yourself," He snaps, interrupting me.

I ignore him and continue, "You should talk with Sadie, there may be a reason she wants the highlights, explain to her why you don't want her to get them."

Owens's throat bobs as he swallows, "How did you burn dino nuggets?

I glare at him, and a soft smile graces his lips, "She doesn't understand, and it pisses me off." He shrugs his shoulders, "I guess I could have been nicer."

I scoff, "I guess you could tell her that."

Owen shoves the last nugget in his mouth and flips me off as he stands up.

As he stands a notebook falls on the bed. A notebook he was writing in when I came in.

Once I hear Maize's door open, I quickly move to Owens's bed.

I know, I know, I should not be looking in his notebook, but I'm nosey. And it's not like it says Owen's diary or does not read on the front.

After I convince myself that I am not invading Owens's privacy, I flip open the first page.

On the first page is a drawing of a dead tree. The next pages are similar drawings and doodles that are very good. Like almost too good to be called doodles.

About eight pages in there are doddles of clouds, but it also has words written all over the page. There is a sentence in the middle that says, it hurts like...

And the rest of the words are descriptions of how whatever was hurting him, was hurting him.

That was a mouthful.

The next page is doodles of lightning bolts and the middle of the page is the words, evil girl in bold letters. Like the other page around it is descriptions. But this page's descriptions are longer and not really descriptions.

The one that stands out the most is, why is she so mean, why does the pain she brings me excite me? What did I do to start this war and what will I do if it ends?

I chill runs down my spine, I have a really weird feeling this is about me.

"You know curiosity killed the cat," Owen draws from the doorway, I jump, and the book falls out of my hands.

Owen tsks as he picks it up off the floor, "Little Lainey, I should have known you would read my notebook."

The color drains from my face as he sits down beside me, "I am sorry I shouldn't have snooped."

When Owens's eyes meet mine I feel color return to my face, mischief practically dances in his eyes, "So how much did you read?"

I smile, "Not much"

He nods and I take a quiet breath, "Do you write music?"

Owens lets out a breath, "Yes and no." His eyes slowly meet mine, "I write to help me deal with my feelings and problems. Sometimes I write down exactly what I am feeling or anything related to it. Other times I write down lyrics."

"Can you show me one of your songs?" I ask.

The light fades from Owens's eyes, "No."

One day, one day I am going to hear him play the guitar and hear his music.

Even if he is terrible.