Claire Stein’s life was over at thirteen. Or at least that’s what she thought as she watched her mother drive away with Claire’s older sister Robin for the last time.
What the heck was she going to do now? She wiped the tears that blurred her vision of the empty street outside her childhood home in Castle Rock, Colorado. The home where her parents had raised her and Robin since birth. The only home she and Robin had ever known. What was her sister going to do in California without her?
Robin was the only ally Claire had ever had in life.
“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me Claire-bear,” her father said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She jerked away and turned on him. “This is all your fault,” she screamed. Even as the words left her, she knew they weren’t true. After all, it wasn’t her father’s fault her mother had fallen for some yoga instructor online and had decided to divorce the bear of a man who stood looking down at Claire now with nothing but concern and love in his eyes. But Claire’s teenage hormones had been at full alert since she’d had her first period three months before, so she stomped her foot and glared up at the gentle giant. “If you’d cared more about making your wife happy than working all the time, maybe Mom wouldn’t have left you. Then the stupid judge wouldn’t have sent Robin away to live with that whore.”
“Be careful.” Her father’s soothing voice cracked a little. “She’s still your mother.”
“No, she isn’t,” Claire screamed. “I hate her. I hate you. I hate Robin for leaving. I hate….” A sound close to that of a wild bobcat caught in a trap escaped her lungs. She threw up her hands, turned, and bolted, running as fast as she could. She heard her father calling after her, but she didn’t stop or even slow down.
She was thankful she’d spent the last two years in track and had several blue ribbons hanging on her walls to prove that she could outrun anyone in town.
Since her logical mind wasn’t working properly, she ran to the one place anyone who knew her would look. It was stupid of her, and years later she would be thankful for that stupidity. But for now, she rushed up the dirt road behind her home until she reached the summit.
There were many hills in this part of Colorado, but only one the town was named after. Claire had always imagined that when the first settlers came to the area, the rock had been a symbol of a new hope and a new home. Now, the thing was ugly and covered with cell and radio towers.
If she wanted to, she could climb to the top of the jutted-out rock. She and Robin had done it a dozen or more times. But for now, she settled in the dry dirt that surrounded the red stone and pulled her knees up to her chest and cried.
“Wow, what’s all that for?” a boy’s voice said from directly behind her.
Jumping a little, she glanced behind her and saw Justin Cardone hanging on the rock cliff a few feet above her head. Justin was a year above her in school.
As far as looks went, he’d won the lottery. He was tall, at least six-two, and had dark olive skin thanks to his Italian heritage. That jet black hair of his was something she’d dreamed of having herself. Or at least running her fingers through.
Claire had been stuck with wiry blonde locks that curled in all the wrong places. Her sister Robin had won that lottery in her family, with her longer honey colored hair that would do anything her sister wanted it to.
She hadn’t expected Justin to be up on the hill, as he usually spent his summers helping his parents out at their restaurant in town, A Taste of Italy. The glossy pictures of Italy on the wall of the restaurant were the reason Italy was top of her list to visit after she graduated.
She had been so focused on her anger when she’d rushed up there that she hadn’t even seen him hanging there. She knew that he and his father often came up here to go climbing, like a lot of other locals in town.
She’d known the Cardones her entire life. Nicky, Justin’s sister, was in a couple of her classes. The family lived less than a mile from her home. Actually, when they’d been younger, she, Robin, Nicky, and Justin had been very close friends. Justin was probably the closest thing to a best friend that Claire had ever had. She hoped that wasn’t going to change now that Robin was gone.
“Go away.” She buried her face in her hands again, but she was so concerned about what he thought of her, her tears instantly dried up.
She heard a few pebbles being dislodged as he either continued climbing up the rock face or moved back down towards her. Either way, she wanted him to just leave her alone so she could wallow in her own pity.
She wanted to peek and see what he’d done, but before she could, she heard his voice right next to her.
“Is it about your sister moving?” Justin asked.
She wiped her eyes and then glared at him and said, “Leave me alone.”
Justin smiled and wrapped an arm around her. “Claire, how long have we been neighbors?” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “No, don’t answer that.” He held up his other hand. “I’ll enlighten you. Our entire freaking lives.” He chuckled. “We both know that our parents used to bathe us together.” He bumped his knee against hers.
“Go away,” she said again, only this time there was no conviction in her tone.
“Did Robin and your mom leave already?” Justin asked.
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I hate them all.”
“Why on earth would you want that sort of negative energy to follow them to California? Not to mention the hurt and guilt your dad must be feeling. Not only for losing his wife to some… leotard-wearing California pansy…”
Claire smiled and even chuckled.
“But for losing a daughter too,” Justin finished.
Just hearing those words made her insides sink in despair. Justin was right. This wasn’t her father’s fault. He was a victim just like she and Robin were. It wasn’t Robin’s fault the judge had split them up. If she could, she would have followed her older sister anywhere.
Sure, they sometimes fought, but they were going to conquer the world together. Robin was going to be a famous movie star, and Claire was going to make her look good while doing it.
“You’re really good at talking and stuff,” she said, nudging Justin’s knee back. “You should be a shrink or something.”
Justin laughed at that. “Yeah, right, just call me Doctor Justin. I’ll solve all your problems.”