Chapter 5 Track 04: Grade 8

"Is July up?" Kirsten asked as she unpacked the food she brought from the diner.

"Yeah, she's just taking a shower," Sarah says, helping with the food.

"Morning..." Sebastian mumbles as he sluggishly enters the kitchen.

"Morning." Kirsten and Sarah greet in unison.

Sebastian stops at the kitchen entrance hearing Kirsten's voice. "Kirsten, you're here again."

Ever since Tuesday, the three women had been joined on the hip running errands, doing D.I.Y. projects that, surprisingly, were successful despite all the talking, laughing, and ice cream breaks.

July has had plumbers and carpenters over just as she told Sebastian, and she was like a tornado giving out instructions. July seemed to know what she was talking about too. If it weren't for the dark basement and Grandma Em storming in when she saw her up on the roof with the carpenter, who also got an earful from the old lady, she'd probably do all of the fixes its jobs by herself; and Sebastian has to admit, she is pretty impressive.

Kirsten laughs, "Real subtle, grouch."

"Will this be a regular thing?" He asks, taking out the pitcher of lemonade.

"Maybe."

"Does your husband know that you're here? Cause I have no plans of dealing with a moping Moe on Monday."

"Let him mope," Kirsten smirked, "he manages the diner better that way."

"True." Sebastian sat down as Kirsten set a plate in front of him. "So what are you ladies planning today?"

"We just finished shopping for the last items to finish July's project," Sarah says, "it's all going to be delivered tomorrow. So today, I'd be going out with Gina. They got home last night."

"And you're already meeting her?" Sebastian raised a brow.

"Yeah, well, her mother's planning to catch a weekend at their beach house, so she wants one sane day before she's locked down with her family."

"Crap, tomorrow's Friday. I can't make it in the morning." Kirsten whined, "It's market day."

"It's fine. We'll manage." Sarah smiled, "Maybe we can meet afterward."

"I'll bring food." Kirsten shook her head, "I swear unless I forced her to, all July would eat are those leaves."

"She does love her salads." Sarah laughs.

Sebastian smiled, amused that he wasn't the only one to notice that small fact about July.

"What in god's name is this?" After spitting out what he drank on the sink, Sebastian snaps and checks at the half-full glass he held, then the pitcher.

"Oh, that's probably the water July made for detoxing."

"Detoxing?"

"Yeah, the lemon and cucumber thing, you serve it at the restaurant." Sarah waves a hand as if not caring. "It's pretty cool."

"It's disgusting. That's what it is." Spilling the water down the sink and looking for regular water.

Sebastian had always thought July was just one of those girls who like to be a size or two smaller than the next girl, but the detoxing drink seemed to be stirring him down another path, the path of a health buff.

"Anyway, make sure she doesn't overwork herself, alright? I'll try my best to be here to clean that room."

"I will." Sarah nods. Already halfway through her meal, her phone rings. "Oh, it's time for my meds. I should go."

"Alright," Kirsten smiled, "Get some rest as well. I know you've been distracting yourself with Gina still in cheer camp."

"It's fun, so I don't mind." Sarah smiled, "I'll see you guys later."

Sebastian and Kirsten watched her jog out the door with her fries and burger.

"She looks better than the last time I saw her," Kirsten says.

"She's been getting a lot of exercise." Sebastian nods, taking another bite of his club sandwich.

"She and July have been doing a lot around here." Kirsten walks to the microwave to heat July's food, "Unfortunately, not out of people's radar. I heard the latest. The plumbers and carpenters had been annoyed to death with all that's been going around."

"You've talked to them?"

"I saw Keith the other day, the carpenter. I used to go to school with him. He likes July. He said she was nice and sweet but not in any way that people are talking about. They're saying that she's paying in kind for their services."

"Idiots." Sebastian murmured, "Does July know?"

"No, quite frankly, I don't know how to tell her." Kirsten sighed. "What do you think we should do? After she fixed things here, she'd have more time to go to town."

"She'd be fine."

"How, tell me." Kirsten crossed her arms over her chest, annoyed with how flippant the young man seemed.

Sebastian had no plans of admitting that he liked the English girl's presence in the house. Not only was she easy on the eyes, but she was also beautiful to watch when she was lost in whatever she was busy with. For a couple of days, she showed how passionate she could be, the sparkle in her eyes when they finish a project or the thinking face July puts on when they are in what she calls a conundrum.

She and Sarah had put so much life in the house that it felt natural, like she had always been there, but not really.

"You saw her the first time she went to the diner. She can handle herself."

Kirsten stared at Sebastian, who just continued with his breakfast-no sense of care in his tone or movements.

July was right. If it were a different person who tried to rent the place, they would have left the moment Sebastian barged into the door. But July is different. It's not just because she had paid in advance. There's more to it. She shares the love of the house with the siblings. She's as passionate about restoring it as Sarah is. Indeed, Sebastian sees that, right?

"Sebastian, what do you think of July?"

"She's ok, I guess."

"She's your housemate." Kirsten says, "I think you can give me more than she's ok, I guess."

"Well, she is ok." He shook his head, "You and Sarah probably know her more now, with all the time you've spent together."

"We're not the ones she shares a home with, though."

"Kirs, I'm not one to ask about personal things."

"You don't have to ask the personal things," Kirsten had both her hands on her hips, a stance that Sebastian was familiar with but rarely was at the receiving end. "She lives with you, and you know nothing about her?"

She knows my dad. He wanted to yell at his boss. He was sure that that would get the woman to stop nosing around. She was his mother's best friend, after all.

"I know she doesn't need shit like lemonade and cucumber in her water; she's crazy serious about fixing up this place that she had gone beyond her duty as a tenant. I know she doesn't deserve the gossip, but what can I do?" Sebastian mumbles, "She said she just had business here and will leave after. What's the point of treating her like she will stay here forever?"

Kirsten sighed, flipping her hair and smiling at Sebastian.

"Sebastian, sweetheart, it's not about being friends in a short time or forever or knowing the most intimate information about her. It's just being a decent host."

Sebastian stared at the woman beside him.

"She doesn't need the cold shoulder from you too."

"I'm not-"

"Don't let her hear you talk like you did, 'cause I assure you it will hurt her." She says, "She sees this as her home away from home, and whether you like it or not, you're part of that. She's taking care of something that matters to you. The least you can do is make her feel at home."

That said, Kirsten leaves the kitchen to check on July.

"And put on a shirt. As much as ladies love the view, you are in the dining room to eat actual food, not each other."

"Kirsten." Sebastian groaned, giving her a disapproving look that the woman had escaped from.

"In entertainment, singer-songwriter Storm was M.I.A., again, at the Annual Music Gala last Saturday, making it her third great music event she missed this year. The two-time Grammy Award winner was said to have gone off the grid for an upcoming album while some speculate a man behind her sudden disappearance from the limelight...."

The news played in the background as Sebastian handed over the change to his last customer before his break.

"Nooooo." Gina, a high school cheerleader, groaned as she watched the news.

"What's wrong?" Sebastian frowned, wondering if he made a mistake.

"Oh, no, not you, Sebastian; you're perfect as always."

Gina Howard, a familiar face at the local café since she was thirteen, five years later, still comes by for her morning hot chocolate and cupcake before school.

Coming from the wealthier side of town, the new cheer captain for Haywood High School, Gina is a girl with dreams of becoming a writer and one of the few teenagers that Sebastian can tolerate.

With her back, Sebastian was hoping that Sarah would spend less time with his housemate, not that he didn't prefer his sister to be at home, but he should put a gap between the two, a vast continental-size gap. To ask for an ocean-like space between them would mean July had to go home, which seemed impossible.

Besides, after the revelation the other night, he had reasons for making her stay. He practically lost a day's rest thinking of what she needed with him and Sarah.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and chuckled, "What is it, G?"

"Storm." She points at the television.

Several photos of a girl in full makeup, wearing what seems to be her signature look of a band tee, torn pants, and boots. Her silver pixie-cut hair completed her naughty face.

"Ok?"

"She's one of the best female singers in the industry, and she has been on hiatus for, like, a year already." The teen explained.

"I'm guessing you're a fan?"

"Number one!" she says in a sing-song voice.

You should tell your friend about her. Sebastian jokes as he finishes making her order.

"You think I haven't? Your sister is adamant about being part of Swift's squad," She says with a tone of giving up, "Storm had written songs for other artists before she made a name for herself as a singer...."

Sebastian nods, drowning out the teenage girl's rant about her idol. He couldn't care less about a diva; in her opinion, being idolized is a privilege, not just a perk of being famous.

"Do you want to hear one of her songs?"

"No, thanks," Sebastian says, handing over her drink. "I'm still on the clock. Maybe some other time?"

This time, Gina rolled her eyes, "If you become famous, you have to collaborate with her."

Sebastian laughs, "Anything you say, G."

"I'll love you forever and ever and ever and ever...."

"As if you don't already." Sebastian teased her.

"You may have been the best babysitter in the world," Gina says flatly. "But you deserve more than that, Sebastian; just saying."

"Yeah, yeah, you and half of the town." He sighed.

Gina seeing the defeated look on her favorite adult, dropped her change into the tip box and whispered, "Anyway, I heard from the Green-Valley-sisterhood-of-mother-hens that you, my good sir, are living with an English class."

Sebastian laughs, hearing another of her wordplays and her attempt at an English accent. "Your mother is a member of that sisterhood, you know."

"Please don't remind me." She groaned.

Sebastian grins at the thought of Gina meeting July, seeing she wants to be a writer. It would be nice for July to give her an idea about the industry, and with Sarah and July hitting it off well, he's sure Gina would love the English lass too.

"I am." He nods, "She and Sarah had been hanging out at home the last couple of days, she likes her, and I'm guessing you would too."

"Doesn't she work?"

"Yeah, at home." He confirms.

Since their introduction last Tuesday, Sarah, July, and Kirsten have been busy making changes in the house. It was small, though, like how July built a footrest of some sort for the living room, which was pretty impressive.

They've bought new linens for every bedroom, a pillow for all the rooms in the house, dozens of fluffy towels, and things that Sebastian had never seen but are supposedly essential for the kitchen and bathrooms.

It wasn't like he didn't like it, though, cause he did. The house now looked much better than when they lived there as kids.

Though he felt like he could swim in what seemed like hundreds of new throw pillows in the living room, going home to July and Sarah laughing in the living room or the kitchen was nice.

"Sarah has been talking about her since Tuesday night." Gina mumbled, "I swear, it's like she discovered Taylor Swift all over again."

Sebastian laughs, "You might catch them today. Sarah said they had nothing to do. She has a spare key for the house; feel free to drop by. July would probably like a new face."

"I thought you said she works at home?"

Sebastian shrugged, "That's what she says, but she's been busy playing fix-it-Felix. The past few days, I haven't seen her work."

"Are you sure she has worked? Have you even checked if she made actual payments or if she's an ex-convict?"

"I don't think an ex-con could just grab a flight out of her country, G." Sebastian chuckles, wiping the countertop.

"Well, what else do you know about her?"

"Her name is July Bennett." He grins.

"Do you, at least, know why she's here?"

Looking for my dad, he wanted to say.

With his speculations of why she was looking for them down the drain, he was just as lost as when he found out about her intention of coming to town.

"She said she's looking for a new perspective." He shrugged.

"I pity the fool who dares to live with you, namely this lass." Gina gave him a flat look, "If she gets abducted, I'll tell the police not to bother asking you since you don't know anything about her."

You can ask her. I've seen that she seems to be on a hiatus too."

"Everyone seems to be in that kind of thing nowadays." The teenager sighed, "Maybe I'd go for a gap year."

"No." Sebastian leaned over the counter, "You deserve better, and that's out of this old town."

"Hypocrite."

"Exactly, don't be like me." He says, "Unless you have a good reason."

Their little conversation was cut short when a group of men entered for the brunch hour.

"Well, the town drunk are rushing in." she whispered, making him laugh again, "I'd leave them to your capable, capable hands. Sarah and I would be hanging out unless my mom had a say. If she does, then I'll see you next week."

"Alright, don't get in trouble."

She placed a hand over her chest and gave him another of her award-winning performance. "When have we ever been in trouble?"

"That I don't know of. I have a rough estimate. Now, the ones I do know are one time too many."

Gina laughs and turns to leave, saying, "It's good to be home."

July sneezed for the third time in ten minutes and sat in the living room, reading her emails and looking for any deadlines. She was yet to get any work done since she arrived. She had yet to find what she needed to get any writing done.

She checked the tags on the new pillows making sure it was hypoallergenic like she asked, and it was. She tucked it back against the sofa and guessed it was the wind from the open window.

Aside from busying herself around the house, she had been looking for inspiration for her writing, aside from Sebastian's alarm that made her smile every morning and even hums a few times while working. Still, she doubts that he would appreciate it hearing her sing it.

She opens another email from her father updating her on what was happening at the headquarters, who had finished their sessions, and who would be releasing their projects soon.

Remembering the first time she did release her project, writing back then was so easy. She had a bucketful of stories to tell and emotions that needed to be removed, thus the release of Pandora. She didn't expect success in it, nor was it her goal. She just needed out, and who would have known it would make her rich too?

She moved the laptop to the coffee table and lay on the sofa.

This house was what she wanted to write about. She tried to fill it with light and color, of life and music.

She smiles, thinking about the stories she heard about Sebastian playing the piano and guitar, she had heard Sarah play, and she is better than many. The thought of Sebastian made her curious and frustrated.

"This isn't helping anyone." She mumbles, bringing her laptop along with her. She stormed to her room.

Setting her laptop on her bed, she hooked it up to the machines she had discretely set up against the wall beside the door so it wasn't visible outside. She then grabbed her guitar and turned on all the gadgets she needed to progress her work.

Having a free day from fixing the house, she felt it was time to write something. It's been weeks since she had picked up her guitar and made any recording after all.

She started to strum a song she had grown accustomed to using as her warm-up song. Seeing everything she needed was working as indicated on her laptop. She began by pressing record.

Sarah ran into her brother's newly refurbished house, she was supposed to hang out with her best friend, Gina Howard, who had just got back from cheer camp, but the popular girl had to cancel their meet-up when Gina's mom wanted her to stay home and pack for their trip tomorrow. Mrs. Howard's impulsive character, especially her daughter and Sarah, wasn't new to anybody in town.

Regardless, she had another girl to talk with about clothes and boys. She was excited to show July the photo of a dress she wanted to make for herself, and she was sure that July could give her a few ideas on how to make it better or at least a bit original for her.

Since their dinner at the beginning of the week, she had spent much time with the new girl. July was precisely the woman she wanted to be in a few years. Brave and sure of herself, she knew what she wanted and took it, or in their case, she built it.

The D.I.Y. footrest she made for the living room exemplifies that.

Though she understood why her brother didn't want her at their home, she was sure he was beginning to accept the idea that there was a new addition to their small family. If he weren't, she'd make sure he does soon.

Upon opening the front door, she hears music playing. It had been a while since the house was filled with melody, and from the vibration of the floor, the happiness of the upbeat song playing from upstairs.

She listened to the familiar song. She was sure she had heard it from Gina. She'd sung the damn song in her car and the school hallway thousands of times. Sarah could sing it in her sleep too. Gina had been telling her that she'd like the artist, but at that time, she was stubborn in keeping her Swift fan title that she didn't have time to listen to the entire song unless Gina was belting it out beside her.

She hurriedly ran up the stairs, wanting to ask for a copy of the song from July. Seeing she liked this version better, she was sure that Gina would agree, despite it not being Storm, her idol.

But nothing could have prepared her for the sight that welcomed her as her eyes widened seeing July with her hair up, headphones on, strumming away and singing with her all her heart, a smile gracing her lips as she practically danced in place as if it wasn't for the acoustic guitar being hooked up to a machine of some sort.

She then realized that as much as she hung out in the house, she had never really been in July's room, which was permanently closed. Now she knew why.

She hears July stifle a laugh tapping her guitar as she sings.

Sometimes, I want somebody to hold

Someone to give me a jacket when it's cold

Got that young love even when we're old

Yeah, sometimes I want someone to grab my hand

Pick me up, pull me close, be my man

I will love you till the end

Sarah was lost in the rawness of her voice, which produced almost magical soft music. The sound was smooth and rough even as she belted her high notes.

Was there even such a thing? She wondered.

With the English woman's eyes closed, she didn't see the teenager standing just outside her bedroom door, with her dropped jaw and wide eyes, until she slipped off her headset and pressed the stop button on her laptop, excited to hear a new acoustic version of her song.

"Oh, my god...."

July jumped in surprise and turned to see Sarah hugging a magazine against her chest, which was long forgotten if her staring indicated that the teenager made a discovery.

"Sarah, I thought you were going out with your friends." July quickly says, slipping the guitar strap off her shoulder.

"I know who you are..."

"Sarah, you can't-"

"You're the answer to my prayers." The teenager cut her off again.

"What?"

"You are the answer to my prayers!" she squeals, "Once Sebastian hears you play like that, I'm sure he'd be inspired to play again."

July gave her a nervous chuckle before saying, "No thanks."

"Why not? Aren't you interested to hear him play? You said over dinner that you were."

July groaned, remembering what she said the other night, and would be lying if she said it's not like that anymore. From what she learned so far, Sebastian Michelson has quite a style in guitar, one she is very interested in.

"It's not like that, Sarah." She says, "Your brother has a reason for not playing. I won't force him to do that, much more manipulate him into it."

"Please! I'm sure that hearing your voice would make him grab his guitar and play along!"

"Then just wait for it to happen," July says, stepping out of her room and hearing the young woman sigh behind her. "And you can't tell him that I play either, 'cause really, I don't want him to think that you are up to something and I'm helping you out."

"What?" Sarah gave the woman an innocent look, to which July responded with arms crossing over her chest and a face that dared Sarah to lie.

"Ok, fine! I won't," Sarah snaps, "but I want a copy if you record that version. My best friend is a fan of Storm, and she'd go crazy if she heard your version."

July stopped and turned to her.

Does she think it was a cover of the original? She wondered.

"She keeps telling me no one can beat Storm. Of course, I'd say Swift could, but to each their own." Sarah mutters, "But if she hears a writer can belt it like that, she'll forget Storm instantly."

July gives a slow nod, "Ok..?"

I'm not as good in records, July tells herself, continuing their trip downstairs.

"You do know Storm, right?" Sarah raised a brow, "She's pretty good, her voice is so much different from Swift's, but I like a little change in my playlist, and it would be so cool if I made my friends listen to your version and say she's the woman who lives with my brother, you know?"

July laughed and went to the bottom of the stairs and straight to the kitchen.

"No copies, sorry." She says, "I wasn't recording."

"Why do you have all that equipment if you weren't recording?"

"Well," she says, grabbing water from the fridge, "I'm researching music."

"Does this have something to do with whatever you're writing?"

"Yes." It wasn't a lie. It did have to do with what she was writing. "Anyway, I thought you were meeting your friend."

"Oh, yeah, she had to cancel. Her mom's making her pack for a weekend at their beach house." She grins, "It's kinda nice, right?"

"What is?"

"To say that," she sat on the stool and made a face, "I'm tired of being here. Let's spend the weekend in our beach house."

July laughs, grabbing a piece of orange, "It does, I guess, but I prefer the public beach."

"Why?"

"Cause it's livelier." She says, "You meet people and make new memories having people in the background, not an empty lump of sand and cold seawater."

"I guess." Sarah giggles, "Maybe perfect to look for your no one?"

July rolled her eyes as she laughed with the teenager.

Sebastian walked to the kitchen as soon as he returned from the café. Looking around, he assumed that the house was empty and July had probably left to shop again, and the silence was enough proof of that.

So much for a rest day, he thought.

He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and water from the fridge. That's when he heard the sound of someone shoveling in the backyard. Looking out the window, he sees July pouring soil inside a huge seedbox lining the fence, and from the looks of her sweaty shirt, she has been at it for quite some time. Her messy curls piled up on her head. Short loose strands adorned the side of her face. Even with the sweat, she is beautiful, making her skin shine against the sun.

He smirked, seeing her kneel to go through the soil. Taking another glass of water, he quietly made his way out of the porch to her.

The nearer he got, he could hear her humming a familiar song until she started to sing the lyrics.

"Should I, should I? Maybe I'll get drunk again... I'll be drunk again, I'll be drunk again... To feel a little love...."

Sebastian stopped in his tracks, it was one thing to hear her sing his song, but her voice was a whole different agenda, unorthodox and beautiful. Somehow it fit her like an angel's singing voice.

She probably heard his alarm enough times to catch the tune and some of the lines.

"Please don't tell me you're building us a pool..." He stood outside the box and smirked, "A very, very shallow pool."

July looks over her shoulder with a smile. "Is that what you want?"

"With the frequent raining, it's the last thing we need." He grins. "What are you up to?"

"Seedbox."

"I can see that."

"I'm planning to grow some vegetables." She says, continues digging, "Fewer maintenance ones, so it would survive if I ever become busy or leave the house."

Remembering what Kirsten said earlier, he looks at the wood and tools lying on the ground.

"Did you go to town for all these?"

"Oh, no, Keith dropped it off for me." She excitedly says, "He even picked up the soil."

"Oh..." Sebastian guessed he did like her enough to keep her out of range from the gossip, "So what are we thinking of growing?"

"Lettuce, tomato, some carrots, maybe?"

"Going to throw in cheese and croutons in there as well?" He jokes.

"For your information," July smiles, "lettuce tastes better when fresh. And it's not just going to be for salads. I know that's what you're thinking; I'm also planning to grow some herbs and maybe strawberries."

"Aren't those, like, seasonal plants?"

"I think you can get some that can survive different weather."

"I hope it can survive heavy rain and sudden heat waves."

July laughs, "We'll see."

"Speaking of water and heat, I brought you water. You look parched out here."

"Oh, yes, please." July walked toward him but then raised her soil-dirty hands and made a face, "Do you mind helping me out?"

"Oh, Uhm, sure."

Sebastian raises the glass to her lips and tips it back. He watched her throat bobbed with each gulp. A trickle of water escaped at the edge of her lips and down her chin past her neck and lower. Sebastian had to swallow the lump in his throat, not to mention stop himself from getting a different kind of bump getting a glimpse down her shirt.

But it wasn't the generous mounds that caught his attention. It was the scar that went from the middle of her chest down halfway to her stomach, it's probably not that recognizable to someone who isn't staring, but it's there.

July dipped, pushed the glass back, and smiled, "That was good."

Sebastian stepped away, "Thought you needed it. Have you eaten?"

"Crap, it's already past 3, isn't it?"

"You missed lunch?"

"Yes."

Sebastian chuckled, "C'mon."

"Where to?"

"Grandma's, she always has food lying around."

"Sebastian, I'm a grown woman who can cook."

"The same grown woman who forgot lunch. You need to eat, preferably now. So, come on, I'll help you out with the rest of this..." he looks around, "garden mania of yours."

July laughs, "I'll take you up on that."

"And lunch," he added, "C'mon."

July carefully made her way out of the gigantic seedbox and walked with Sebastian across the street.

"I'm guessing Sarah and Gina saw you were getting dirty, so they left."

"Oh, no, you're sister's home." she says, "She left for lunch. Her friend had to cancel, though, something to do with her mom making her pack."

Sebastian laughs, "She did say that might happen."

"I'm kind of excited to meet this girl," July admitted, "Sarah has been talking about her non-stop."

"You'd like her." That was all he could say as he opened the door for her.

Sebastian glanced her way, thinking of what Kirsten said earlier. July is one of them now. The gossip made that official, like hazing in a frat house. She didn't deserve it, and like him, she escaped from the town's bull by staying at home, and they shared the same place she had turned into a haven for both of them.

Lunch at his grandmother's is the least he can do for the girl, or at least get the guilt off after Gina accused him of not knowing anything about his tenant. Sebastian had never been so relieved to be home. Half a day with Harry and a sulking Moe was too much even for him. In his opinion, it was their fault that Kirsten left early and dumped the lunch rush on them. He was thankful that someone in town was kind enough to help July.

They could take them in as their guest, he thought to himself.

Dragging his feet up the front steps of his grandmother's house, he had the night off and decided to get his clothes packed and moved to avoid any more knickers-drier incidents.

The thought got him laughing, which he was getting annoyed with.

Even then, she was out with his godmother, Kirsten, buying stuff for the house, which annoyed him for some reason that he didn't know. He's sure they have useable utensils and kitchen tools; they can use his mother's plates as decoration.

He slipped his shoes off before stepping through the door, remembering the last time he forgot; his grandmother ran after him up to the corner, shouting lord knows what.

"Grandma, Sarah, I'm home!"

"Last time I checked, you live across the street." He heard his sister snap.

Sarah Michelson is the miniature version of his grandmother; if any, she's a whole level higher than the spitfire older Michelson.

After having experience liver failure at the age of 7, she had been in and out of the hospital more times than an average 80-year-old. But despite all the moments at the I.C.U. and the emergency room, the blonde girl had risen above the doctor's expectations, and her body accepted the treatment enough to stop her weekly dialysis.

Sebastian couldn't be more proud of her for keeping an everyday life while suffering from her sickness; she kept her grades up with the help of her teachers whenever she needed to rush to the hospital.

Of course, there was a time when bullies ganged up on her; a few girls even blamed her for why Sebastian stayed in Green Valley, but Sarah knew better. She knew what her brother lost when he chose to stay with her, and she couldn't be happier.

Call her selfish and wicked, but it was her brother's decision, and she was happy with it; there were very few things in her life that made her happy, and when something came along, she accepted and sent her thanks to God, or whoever divine being was smiling down at her.

By Junior year, she was as normal as any 17-year-old girl in Green Valley High, watching football games and cheering on their team. Sebastian was thankful enough that she hadn't discovered boys or dating. Either that or she didn't find it necessary- yet.

Then again, the same could be said about Sebastian, having a few dates when he was younger until he had to watch over his sister. To go exclusive with anyone wasn't on his priority list; if it was, he was pretty sure it wouldn't be from a girl in this town.

"Sarah, are we still on this?"

"Of course we are! We were supposed to move back there together!"

"I know," Sebastian walked around the sofa, "I can't do anything about it! Grandma made a valid point that the rent would help us a lot, and she'd leave sooner or later, then you can move in on your birthday."

She may have been younger when their parents left, but she remembers moments that mattered, mostly with their dad, since their mother spent all her time at work, or a least that's what she said.

Sarah had accepted that she was the town charity case, or at least the topic of their pity parties, and had enough of it. She is well and getting better. I'll prove to the townspeople that Sebastian's sacrifice isn't a waste.

She could be the one to take his place. If only she were just as talented and brilliant as her older brother.

"I want to go home." her eyes burned with the tears she held back while Sebastian's heart broke.

They may not be part of the typical American dream family, but they were a damn better family than most, and that was saying a lot about having a grandmother like theirs.

"We are home." Sebastian knelt before her, "We're together, aren't we?"

Sarah wiped away her tears and chuckled, "That was so corny."

"Who says I can't be corny for my baby sister?" Sarah gave him a look, "Well, if it makes you feel better, I want her to leave and not so that you could move back in."

"Why?" She shook her head.

Why, indeed, Sebastian asks himself.

He tries to explain whatever reason he had to kick out the woman, but he keeps remembering the events of the day, like how she handled the gawking at the diner, which took some guts, something only locals had.

"She comes on too strong, too sure of herself."

"Why is that so bad?" Sarah asks, "I would like to be like that, be mysterious and all."

"She's not that mysterious."

"Please!" Sarah gave a sarcastic laugh. "A girl from a foreign country arrives in a small town on a bus with just a backpack in the middle of a storm; she's like freakin' Dorothy in Oz. Gina even called me from Cheer Camp to ask who the hell is the girl her mom is talking about who tripped on her underwear and tore her shirt."

"What?" Sebastian shook his head, "July helped me out and washed my shirt, her underwear got mixed in, and she turned my shirt pink. She offered to get me a new shirt, though."

"My point is she gets attention, and she's new; she's mysterious."

"I don't think it's the good kind of attention, though."

"I don't care; I don't want to be the girl with a malfunctioning kidney anymore." She grumbled, "I want to be the girl who survived kidney failure."

Sebastian wrapped her in his arms and sat beside her on the sofa. It was rare for his sister to sound so weak; it was next to never; usually, it happens after being rushed to the hospital, but random breakdowns aren't her thing.

"I know that grandma knows that, George and Gina know that, the people you love and care for you know that, shouldn't that be what matters?"

"I guess." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Besides," he whispers, "no one ever wants to be a character in Mrs. Howard's stories."

Sarah laughs and wipes away her tears, leaning on Sebastian's hold.

"Mrs. Howard has more potential of being a writer than Gina." Sebastian secretly agrees. "Gina wants to stay longer at the camp just to escape her."

It was Sebastian's turn to bark a laugh. A teen from Green Valley talks about nothing but getting out of town, away from the gossip and meddlesome adults.

"Grandma says she's a nice girl, July." Sarah smiled, "You know how she is when her intuition works."

"Like her intuition with Dad?"

At the mention of their dad, Sarah gave him a sad look and nodded. "I'd like to meet her."

"I don't know," Sarah frowns, giving him puppy dog eyes, "maybe we can invite her for dinner; I have the night off."

"That would be great," she sits up, "I can make bake mac; you think she'd like that?"

"She'd like whatever you prepare her." He kisses her on the forehead.

"Can I invite her now?"

"She's out at the moment; maybe later." Sebastian stands, happy to have settled it with his sister. "Anyway, I need to pack my stuff."

"Wait, Sebastian!" She looks up at her brother with big brown eyes, "Since you're moving back there, can I turn your room into a library?"

Sebastian gave her a look and slowly smiled, "You were never mad, were you? You were practically praying for me to leave so that you could keep my room for yourself."

"No, you idiot!" She hits him with a pillow, laughing. "I just ran out of space, and your room is perfect, connected to mine and all."

Sebastian laughed and ruffled her hair, "Ok, ok, we'll fix it on Sunday, yeah? Maybe put bookshelves and stuff."

"Thank you! Thank you!" She says, hugging him again.

"Anything for you." He smiled, "Anyway, I need to get packing and hopefully a nap."

"Sebastian, why don't you cut back from your jobs?" She says slowly. "You did say it's better now with July's rent and all."

Sebastian gave her a sad smile, "We'll see, sunshine, we'll see."

A couple of hours later, Sebastian woke up surrounded by his bags. He sat up and realized he was still at his grandmother's house; guessing he must have fallen asleep halfway packing, he turned off the radio, his playlist ending some time ago.

Stepping out of his room, he was greeted by singing and laughter from the kitchen.

The sight of three women cooking, two dancing along to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off.

"What is Thor's god-given name is going on here?"

They all turned to him, and both girls' faces were red from laughing.

"Finally!" Sarah turns off the radio, "You are just in time; dinner will be done in...."

Sarah turned to July, who glanced at the timer on the table, "Fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes," Sarah repeats.

Sebastian seeing July in their kitchen with his sister was better than he assumed. It was weird how different she was, her wild hair beside Sarah's straight black hair, her sun-kissed skin against Sarah's almost pale ones, there was just too much difference, and yet she seemed to fit in perfectly.

"Ok." Sebastian looked between Sarah and July, "Sarah, honey, you know that when you invite someone for dinner, you don't make them cook their food, right?"

The women laughed, and July waved a hand, "It's fine. She saw the people from the phone company and let them in; I arrived before they left."

"Crap, I forgot."

"It's fine." July shook her head, "I wouldn't mind another night unplugged."

"People nowadays don't see the importance of time anymore." Grandma Em says, "Back in my day, when you say nine am, they are at the door at eight fifty-nine with one minute to explain their business, leaving a few seconds for us to decide if we should shoot 'em."

The young ones laugh.

"Anyway, I made bake mac, grandma made her garlic bread, and July is making a salad."

"Alright, I'll get the table ready; you ladies put your feet up and gossip or whatever."

"I'd take that foot-up offer." Grandma Em says and makes her way to the living room.

"We'll call you when the food's ready," July says, to which the older lady responds with a wave of her hand without even looking back.

"I liked it when we were rocking to Tay's music," Sarah says, sitting at the table.

"I like it better if you listen to other music." Sebastian starts to collect utensils and plates.

"I listen to other musicians."

"Not counting One Direction and Justin Bieber."

"I listen to your type of music, Jason Mraz and John Mayer. I just like the newer music, is all."

Sebastian sighed, "Where did I go wrong?"

"Hey, they are good too." Sarah pushed him playfully and turned to July. "A little help, July?"

"Music is a cohesive language," July says, busy with the lettuce. "Its diversity holds the unspoken truth of men, while its similarity unifies our differences."

The siblings stared at the woman who had now moved to slice cherry tomatoes in half.

"We can't trust her," Sarah says, shortening the silence. "You think we can influence her?"

"She might die after two of your song choices." Sebastian plays along.

July laughed, "So much for the land of the free."

"Well, what type of music do you listen to?" Sarah asks.

"A lot." She says, "I have an eclectic taste."

"Definitely cannot be trusted," Sebastian mumbles again.

"I listen to a little of everything, alright?" July explains, "Even 1D, we are from the same continent. I like Michael Bublé, and at the same time, I like Fall Out Boy. I listen to R. Kelly and Usher but have little patience with Kanye; I love Eminem, though; when I was younger, I listened to Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach."

"I bet you watched Glee." Sebastian guessed, giving her a look.

"For a while." She admitted, "They had a good repertoire at the beginning; I particularly enjoyed the Michael Jackson episode and the original songs."

"See? Glee is good!" Sarah tells her brother, who hates the show.

"As long as I don't hear Taylor Swift at home-"

"Except when I'm there."

"Except when Sarah's there, which I'm guessing would be every day now."

"Well, I'm glad my song list passed your taste, sir." July teased as she dropped the sliced tomatoes and diced cheese into the salad bowl.

"Do you know Sebastian plays guitar and piano?"

"Now?" July glanced at Sebastian, who was hiding his smile, blushing.

"And he can sing too. He's perfect, good enough to get into-"

"Sarah," Sebastian cuts off his sister and hands her the utensils, "more work-less talk."

Picking up what he meant, Sarah cleaned the utensils before using them.

"It's too bad you didn't give those drunk men a run for their money last night; I think you acquired selective hearing syndrome after one night of that."

Sebastian laughs, "Meh, you get used to it, I guess."

"What about you, July? What do you do for a living?" Sarah asks.

"Oh, well, I uh..." she clears her throat, "I write."

"Like novels?"

She thinks about it for a second and makes a face, "Stories of some sort, I guess."

Sarah leaned over and dropped her voice, "Is it under a pen name? That's why you don't want to tell us? Something like Fifty Shades."

July threw her head back, laughing, "I wish it's as popular as that, but no, just short stories."

"Gina would love to meet you." Sarah excitedly says, "She wants to be a writer."

Sebastian watched his sister animatedly talk about her best friend and spread out her arms to emphasize whatever she was saying. She had always been lively, even when stuck in the hospital bed. Countless times, Sebastian arrived at the hospital, finding a handful of the night nurse having breakfast in her room, catching up with the sassy teenage girl.

Then he glanced at July, who was happily listening to his sister, asking appropriate questions at the right moments, which made the younger woman more excited, and from the looks of it, July was genuinely interested in whatever Sarah was going on about, probably another fact about Taylor Swift.

He stopped playing the guitar and the piano, but he could never cut out music from his life; it was the only thing he was passionate about. Everything he learned from his dad and what he taught Sarah. She could play and read notes but was too lazy to get some hours to practice any piece, but she does love to sing along with the radio.

"Sebastian!"

"What?" he turned to the girls staring at him, "What?"

"We've been calling you the last ten seconds," Sarah laughs, "you're just standing there with a creepy smile."

"My smile is not creepy."

"Yes, it is."

"We have similar smiles."

"No, we don't." Sarah asks July, "Do we have the same smile?"

July stepped back and raised her hands, "You deal with this the way you deal with things, don't drag me into it, little girl."

"You're no fun." Sarah stuck out her tongue at the new girl.

"If it would mean I don't get to choose aside, I'm fine with that." She picked up the salad bowl and handed it to Sarah, "You two bring all that out; I'll get the pasta."

"Yes, ma'am." Sarah says with a salute as she and Sebastian walk to the dining room, "Grandma's right; she is nice; I like her."

Surprisingly, Sebastian was relieved.

Dinner went better than expected, it seemed never-ending, and they didn't even have to pour any personal detail out; conversation kept flowing along with the laughter. Grandma Em even took out a bottle of red wine to celebrate July's safe arrival and officially welcomed her into town.

Being girls, they exchanged topics like the latest fashion, asking July what London was like and what was men there were like, that part Sebastian had to draw the line seeing as his little sister was more interested than the two older women.

With that, July and Sebastian left the two female Michelsons to deal with the dishes, much to July's disagreement, and they were still laughing when they reached their home.

He barely got anything about his housemate than when the day started; he needed that to change before the night ended or at least before they went separate ways.

"I'm so full." July groaned as she dragged her feet into the kitchen for a glass of water. "Your sister is amazing. Your grandmother mentioned she was sick."

"Yeah," Sebastian slipped his hand inside his pockets, "since we were young."

"Well, it doesn't show." July says, "She's a lively little thing, and I'm glad to have met her."

"She is." Sebastian leans over the island across from her. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Well, I was just wondering why you moved here?" He asked, "It's alright if you don't tell me; it's just, well, it makes me wonder, you know?"

July grins, "It's not like I'm keeping it a secret or anything; it's just no one asked me directly."

"People here do tend to speculate a lot."

"So I've noticed." July smiled, "Anyway, I'm looking for someone."

"Family?"

"Something like that."

Sebastian perked up, an idea coming to mind. Maybe if he finds whoever she's looking for, she'd leave, it sounded like a plot in a movie, but it's worth a shot.

Can I help? I have lived here all my life."

"I don't know," She scrunched up her nose, "someone told me a mention of his name at this town would get me kicked out."

"You're looking for a man?"

"I'm looking for his family." She corrected. "You and I were both pretty young when he left Green Valley, and honestly, I don't know anything about him besides his name, but I owe him a lot, and I want to know his family."

"Well, considering that I know pretty much everyone here and a few people a few towns over." Sebastian insisted. "I promise not to drive you out of town if you tell me."

"Ok," She covered her face and laughed, embarrassed, "I don't have the names of his kids, just his."

"That's fine."

"Bishop," Sebastian froze at the mention of the name, "Marcus Bishop."

"Bishop?" He cleared his throat, confused. "Why are you looking for them?"

July gave him a tight smile, "That part I want to keep to myself if you don't mind?"

"Oh, um." He nodded, "Ok."

He was lost for words; it had been long since he heard that name.

He wanted to know what she needed from the man that had disappeared from his life a little over a decade ago. Maybe she knows where he is and if he's living his dream as a musician like before he met his mother.

"Does it sound familiar?"

Yes.

"No." He shook his head, "Maybe I was too young, or maybe he's from the other side of town. I'll ask around, don't worry; I won't say you're looking for them."

"That would be great." She says, relieved. "Well, it's pretty late; I should get some rest. I have another day of cleaning to do. Your grandmother pointed out some areas that need fixing; I hope you don't mind if I hire people to do the work."

"I can do it-."

"No, I won't let you." She raised a hand, "You are busy as it is. Let me take care of the house, alright?"

"But-"

"No, you do what you must for Sarah; I'll do what I can to help, alright?"

Sebastian just nodded and watched her set her glass in the sink. He wanted her out of the house but needed her close after tonight.

He needed to know why she was looking for him and Sarah.

"Listen, July," July stops by the door, "I'm sorry about yesterday; I was rude. As you said, this is our home; I guess you threatened me. I know it's probably too late, but..." He scratched his head and smiled, "Welcome to the Michelson's house."

July smiled, "Thanks, I appreciate that, Sebastian."

"Good." He gave her a tight lip smile. "I guess you can ask me for help anytime, carrying your boxes or cleaning, even this quest for the Bishops."

"Right back at you, songbird."

"Is the nickname necessary?" He groaned; she had given him a nickname after Grandma Em told her stories of when he would play in the town hall for music night or any musical celebration the town prepared back then.

"Perks of living with you." She teased, making her way out of the kitchen.

"Oh, hey, last question." July looks over her shoulder. "You said someone told you that mentioning his name would get you kicked out of town."

"Yeah."

"Who told you that?"

"His wife." His grip on the edge of the wooden tabletop tightened. "I don't know why she would say that, but I feel there were some unresolved issues."

"You know his wife?"

"Yeah, she's in the same industry as I am," then she made a face, "Well, her husband is."

Sebastian was, once again, lost for words at hearing his mother was alive.

"Well, if that's all." She winked at him, "Good night, Sebastian."

"Good night, July." He stammered.

The moment she was out of his sight, Sebastian frowned in confusion.

So much for making her leave.