Butterfly Crackers

 Wren sits expectedly on the wooden swing on the front porch. It’s an unusually warm day for mid March, 70°F, sunny clear skies. The world is starting to wake up after a long winter’s slumber. A flock of robins congregate in the front lawn eating the spring season’s first offerings. Wren’s sporting her orange knitted crop top with brown straps, a patchwork pair of jean shorts, and her old reliable boots, dark grey with flowers scattered about. She sits, watching the passing cars with anticipation, looking for a bright lime green Subaru to drive in.  Her bestest friend is coming to the Blog By Dolls household to live with her, like they always dreamed of.

Yasmine had sent in a request to join and listed Wren as a point of reference. Needless to say Wren was a wonderful reference and Yasmine passed everything she needed to and will be coming to live in the BBD house! Now to wait for Yasmine to pull up. Wren sways back and forth on the swing as her sister’s red GMC SUV pulls into the long driveway. Lark, being Wren’s older sister, also grew up with Yasmine and  of course had to come see her. Lark hops out of the car, walking to the back, letting her freckled black and white border collie out.

“Hey Sebby!” Wren jumps out of the swing to meet the wiggly pup. He plasters himself to the ground then rolls over onto his back once Wren crouches down to pet him. 

“Hey to you too.” Lark stands next to her pup.

“Hi.” Wren glances at her sister then back at the black and white fluffy dog. She runs her fingers along his soft freckled snout.

“I’m so glad Yasmine is moving here!” Lark snaps her fingers, and Sebastian jumps up to be by her side as she walks to the front porch. 

“Hey I was petting him!” Wren rebukes.

“Let me sit down,” Lark rolls her eyes, “Me and this heat are not getting along.”

“I don’t know if I would call this heat.” Wren states, following her sister to the wooden swing.

Lark sighs as she sits down, “A couple years ago I would’ve agreed but man, does my body hate temperatures.”

Wren feels a twinge of uncertainty and worry, what her sister must feel constantly with no answers to why she feels the symptoms she does, “Are you any closer to knowing what this is?”

Lark shakes her head, “Nope.

~Years ago~

 Early teen Wren, Lark, and Yasmine are outside the Solace’s house in their small backyard, enjoying an early summer’s afternoon.

“We should have a picnic!” Lark says, a brown bully mix dog at her side.

“Oh yeah! I’ll get the picnic basket!” Wren rushes inside.

“I’ll get us some drinks. Yasmine, you want anything?”

“Just a water.” Yasmine smiles.

“Alright! Be right back!” Lark runs off into the house, the dog on her heels, practically glued to her side.

The Solace sisters come back out with a blanket, the picnic set, and three glasses of water, plus a jug of lemonade mix.

Lark sets out the blanket as Wren mixes up two glasses of lemonade. She looks over at Yasmine who’s picking at her face, “Hey, my mom says you shouldn’t do that.”

Yasmine groans, “I know, I’ve just got so much acne all over my face, it’s so annoying!”

“I bet, but my mom says picking at it makes it worse.” Wren cautions her.

“My doctor says it’s because of my anxiety,” Yasmine rolls her eyes, “Says I’m ‘too stressed’ or whatever, told me to relax.”

“Well a picnic is relaxing,” Wren notes, “Maybe it’ll help.”

Yasmine shrugs, “Maybe.”

“I don’t blame you for being stressed, middle school is a lot.” Wren says before walking over to the picnic blanket.

Lark’s set out an array of crackers, chips, cookies, and a bowl of shredded cheese, “Help yourselves!”

Yasmine grabs a handful of her favorite crackers, they’re shaped like butterflies, the Solaces always make sure to have some on hand for her. Lark grabs some doritos, while Wren takes some oreos.

 Lark passes a cookie to Yasmine, “Here you go.” She smiles at her.

“Thanks.” Yasmine pops the cream sandwich cookie into her mouth.

“Did you hear,” Wren says in between bites, “That Miss Curtis said they’re pushing sex ed closer to the beginning of the year?”

“Now why would they do that? I liked it in the middle of the school year.” Yasmine states.

“In my eighth grade sex ed class-“ Lark starts.

“Do I want to hear this?” Yasmine interrupts.

Lark nods, “it’s funny!”

“Alright, go on.”

“So my teacher was grouping people up using them as hypotheticals of so-and-so had an std and had sex with so-and-so, but she ended up using two kids that had rumors going around that they had had sex together. Everyone started cracking up and the teacher was clueless. The kids' faces were bright red.”

“That wasn’t funny. Gross kinda.” Yasmine rebukes.

“You know what is funny?” Wren says.

“What?” Lark raises her eyebrow at her sister.

“When the choir teacher heard someone curse and yelled ‘Ah my virgin ears!’”

Yasmine starts laughing, “that was funny!”

Lark nods, “yeah you win.” She tosses a goldfish cracker at her sister who catches it in her mouth.

“Score!” Wren cheers.

Yasmine quickly stands up, “I don’t feel too good.” She rushes inside.

Wren looks over at her older sister, “What do we do?”

Lark stands up, brushing lawn clippings off her legs, “I’ve got it Wren, you stay here.”

Wren nods as Lark jogs off to find Yasmine.

The three have the house to themselves today, with both the Solace parents at work, so Lark’s the oldest and thus in charge. She looks around the house to find Yasmine hunched over the bathroom trash can, throwing up.

“Yasmine, you alright?”

“Uh, no?”

“Well,” Lark kneels down next to her, “I can see that.” She grabs a washcloth from the cabinet and runs it under cold water, “here you can use this to wipe your face off.”

“Thanks,” Yasmine takes it from Lark, “sorry.”

“It’s alright. It happens.”

“A lot.”

“A lot?” Lark questions.

Yasmine nods, “I just can’t seem to keep all my food down.”

“Have you gone to the doctor about this?”

Yasmine nods again, “they said I have an eating disorder or whatever, they think I’m doing it to be skinny.”

Lark looks over Yasmine, now that she mentions it, Lark notices that Yasmine has definitely lost some weight recently.

Yasmine leans back up against the bathroom cabinet, sighing, “I hate throwing up. It’s gross.”

“I have to agree with ya on that.” Lark rubs her shoulder, “So you aren’t making yourself throw up?”

Yasmine shakes her head, “why would I do that? I just told you I hate it and it’s gross.”

“Just making sure.”

“My doctors think I’m making myself do it, they won’t listen to me.”

“Maybe you should find another doctor?”

“Mama says it’s not that easy, something about insurance covering it or something, I don't know.”

They sit in the silence for a moment. 

“This ain’t normal Yasmine.” Lark admits.

“I know.”

“We should get you back home.”

“But we were having a picnic!” Yasmine retorts.

“We’ll have a picnic again once you’re feeling better,” Lark promises, “But right now you should go home and rest.”

“Okay. Can I just sit here a little longer?”

“Of course. Do you want some water?”

Yasmine nods.

Lark walks off to the kitchen, grabbing a glass and starts to fill it up when the patio door creaks open.

“Is she alright?” Wren asks, slowly closing the door.

“Her stomach just got upset. I’m going to give her some water then walk with her back home.”

Wren walks over to the bathroom, Yasmine still wrapped around the small plastic trash bin, back up against the wooden cabinet.

“Did the sex talk make you hurl?” Wren asks.

Yasmine cracks a smile, “No it wasn’t that.”

Wren slides down the wall to sit next to her, “Glad it wasn’t our topic of conversation then.” Wren leans her head on Yasmine’s shoulder.

Yasmine sighs, “I just haven’t been feeling good lately.”

“Are you okay?”

“My doctors say I am. They keep brushing it off saying it’s just me being a teenager.”

“Do all teenagers feel sick?” Wren questions.

Lark leans against the doorway, “No.” She shakes her head then hands Yasmine the glass of water.

“So you think her doctors are lying to her?” Wren asks.

“I don’t know about that,” Lark admits, “I just don’t know any teenagers who went through this, and I go to school with almost a thousand teenagers.”

“That’s a lot.” Yasmine says.

“You feeling better enough to walk home?”

Yasmine nods, “Yeah.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Lark walks with Yasmine on the street, a couple houses down.

“Thank you Lark.” Yasmine gives her a hug before opening the door.

“Of course, feel better Yas.”

Yasmine’s mom opens the door before Yasmine can, “Back so soon?”

“Hi Ms Williams, Yasmine wasn’t feeling too good so I decided to bring her back home.”

Yasmine’s mom hugs her daughter, “Well thank you Lark.”

“Anytime Ms Williams. Feel better Yasmine.” Lark waves as Ms Williams shuts the door.

Lark heads home, trying to think of what to do with the rest of the day now that Yasmine had to go home early.

“Movies?” She wonders to herself.

Once Lark gets back home she brings all the picnic snacks inside and puts a disk into the dvd player.

“I’m going to go clean up the bathroom, you can start the movie without me. I’ll join you in a bit.”

After tossing the trash bag full of throw up into the dumpster next to the house, thoroughly coating the entire bathroom in spray lysol, and of course washing her hands vigorously, Lark joins Wren on the couch. The DVD player is still sitting on the main menu, not playing the movie yet. Wren is curled up on the couch under a blanket staring at her phone.

“Hey,” Lark sits down next to her, “you wanna watch a movie?”

Wren doesn’t look up from her phone, “no.”

“Alright, we don’t have to.”

“Lark?”

“Yeah?”

Wren turns to face her sister, her eyes wet with tears, “I don’t have a good feeling about this…”

“About what?” Lark scoots closer.

“Yasmine. I don’t think she’s okay.”

Lark wraps her arms around her little sister, “I’m sure she’ll be alright. Sometimes people’s stomachs get upset.”

“But this is different isn’t it?”

Lark sighs, “I don’t know Wren. Can we talk about it when Mom and Dad get home?”

Wren nods, grabbing the remote to play the movie.

Of course both their parents get home later than they usually do. Their mom, Christine, is first to pull in the driveway.

“Alright girls, I picked up dinner on the way home. A rotisserie chicken. Can you get the table cleared and ready?” Their mom asks as she walks through the door.

Lark nods, “Wren fell asleep, I’ll let her sleep a little longer.”

“What a nice sister.” Christine smiles, “Did Yasmine go home already? I thought she was going to stay for dinner?” 

“Yeah her stomach got upset, she threw up in the bathroom. Don’t worry, I cleaned it up. I walked her home a few hours ago.”

Christine hugs Lark, “You’re such a responsible young lady. I’m proud of you.”

“Wren’s worried about her.”

“How so?” Her mom sits down at the table, motioning for Lark to do the same.

“She said she’s got a bad feeling about it.” She sits next to her mom, “That it’s different than just a stomach bug or something.”

“That girl does have a strong intuition.” Christine adds.

“I’m worried about her too.” Lark admits, “not sure exactly why, but I am.”

“I’ll talk to her mom, sweetie. You don’t have to worry.” She kisses Lark on top of her head then brings her in for a hug. “You did some very adult things today, I’m proud of you for how you handled this. And you calmed your sister down enough to take a nap.”

Christine grabs her phone to talk to Yasmine’s mom while Lark sets the table for dinner.

Lark can pick up bits and pieces of her mom and Ms William’s conversation.

“...I know Chandra… I just think a second opinion would be helpful… I’m sorry, I know…”

Lark tries to tune out the conversation, if her mom learns anything important, she’ll let Lark know. She grabs a couple napkins from the stack, putting one at each plate.

“If it is anything bad, you know we’re here for you.” Christine says into the phone.

Ms Williams must not have a good feeling about this either. Lark assumes. She looks across the kitchen to check that her little sister is still sleeping, and she is. Her breath steady, moving the bright pink blanket layed on top of her. Wren is rarely wrong about these gut feelings she gets. Lark has learned to take them seriously as they’ve grown up. Wren seems to know things before everyone else, before anyone could even guess what would happen. She can see it in Wren’s face when something is bothering her, it's a certain way her eyebrows scrunch, she can’t exactly explain it, but she knows it when she sees it. Lark wonders how long Wren’s been concerned about her friend, just waiting for something to give her a reason to bring it up. Wren twitches in her sleep then lets out a sigh, but quickly settles back into a slow steady breath. 

Christine walks over to Lark, tapping her on the shoulder to let her know she’s there, “Hey,” she sighs, “I know I already told you, but I’m quite proud of you for everything you did today sweetie.”

Lark nods politely, “Thanks. What did Ms. Williams have to say?”

“That she has also been worrying but figured it was just her being a paranoid parent. She said she wanted to trust the doctors, that they were right, that she didn’t need a second opinion because she was overthinking and overanalyzing. You helped her realize maybe she’s not overthinking.” Her mom sighs, “She’s going to see how soon she can get Yasmine seen by some other doctors, and see what they have to say.”

Lark stares down at the ground, “Do you think the first doctors were lying?”

“No, I’m not sure if they did their due diligence, but I don’t think they were blatantly lying.”

“Yasmine kept saying they weren’t listening to her, that they were brushing her off. Do you think it’s because she’s black?”

Christine takes a deep breath, then shrugs, “I don't know sweetie, it very well could be. Could also be that she’s young.”

Lark looks at the table all nicely set and ready for dinner, “We should probably eat before the chicken gets cold.”

Christine nods, “I’m always here to talk if you need me,” she kisses Lark on the forehead.

“Thanks Mom.”

A few days later the summer sun is beating down on Wren and Lark as they play in the backyard.

“Okay so i think…” Lark studies her sister’s movements, “Are you a giraffe?” she points at Wren’s outstretched arm as if it was a giraffe’s tall neck.

“Yes!” Wren jumps, “Your turn!”

Lark ponders for a moment, then she gets down on her hands and knees and gives her best pouty face.

“Oh that one’s easy,” Wren remarks, “You’re Boulder!”

Lark nods as their dog comes bounding over at the sound of his name, his tounge flapping in the wind, “You hot too bubba?”

“Maybe we should spray whoever wins with the hose, we’re both too good at this game.” Wren suggests.

“Or…” Lark grabs the hose off the ground, turning it on and spraying the sky, “We spray everybody!”

Boulder leaps in the air trying to catch the water droplets as they rain down on the girls. The sisters twirl around, soaking in the cold water, cooling off just a bit.

The patio door swings open, it’s their mom, “Now don’t go wasting all the water girls!” she calls out.

Lark nods, turning the hose off for a brief moment.

Their dad pokes his head out the door, “We’re going out for a bit, you two better not get into too much trouble while we’re gone.”

“I make no promises!” Wren yells as she steals the hose from Lark and turns it back on, spraying her sister.

“Hey!” Lark chases her around the yard, laughing as their parents leave the house.

Wren pauses when she sees them walk past the car. Lark nearly runs into her.

“They’re walking.” Wren observes.

“It’s a nice day out,” Lark says, ‘Maybe they wanted to get their steps in.” she suggests.

Wren shakes her head, looking up at her sister. 

Lark notices the way her brow is furrowed, Wren knows something is up.

Wren turns the hose off and sits on the ground.

“What is it?”

“It’s Yasmine, something is wrong with Yasmine.” Wren sighs, “I don’t know what, but it’s not good.”

Lark stares at her little sister, not understanding how Wren knows this, but knows well enough that she’s probably right. Lark joins her on the grass, leaning against her, “I’m sure everything will be alright Wrenie.”

Wren sighs, “I hope so…”

Lark walks over to the side of the house, turning off the spigot. She heads back over to her sister, “Let's go inside, change into some dry clothes.”

Wren nods, hugging her sister, “I don’t want anything to be wrong with her…” she remarks.

Lark sits down next to her, “Of course not, I understand that.”

“I just…” she starts, “I know something is wrong, I feel it deep in my soul.”

Lark sighs, then wraps her sister in a hug, “I hope she’s alright.”

“Me too.”

They head inside and change into some dry comfy clothes. Lark puts a movie on, not one either of them really cares about, just something to keep them occupied. A little while later their parents come back home.

Wren takes one look at their somber expressions and buries her head in the corner of the couch, “I don’t know if I wanna know.” She mutters into the cushion.

Their dad clears his throat, “Hey girls, we need to tell you something.” He pulls out a chair from the table, sitting down on it. 

“What’s up?” Lark asks, getting off the couch to join  him.

“We just learned something and we need to share it with you two.”

Wren is still curled up on the couch, looking over at her parents, “I don’t wanna get up.”

Christine sighs, walking over to her daughter. She sits down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, “Wren honey…”

Lark joins her mom and sister on the couch, “can’t we talk over here?”

“I guess.” Her mom shrugs.

Wren sighs as she sits up, leaning against her mom.

“So,” Jaden starts as he walks over to his family, “You know how when Yasmine was over here she threw up?”

Wren nods.

“Yeah.” Lark confirms.

“Well you were right to be concerned,” Christine looks at Jaden.

He nods, “Thanks to both of you being worried about her, Yasmine’s parents took her to a different doctor and got a second opinion.”

“The doctors agreed with you that this wasn’t normal.” Christine adds.

“So they listened to Yasmine?” Wren asks.

Christine nods, “Yes, these doctors didn’t brush her off like it was nothing.”

“They ran tests and things to see if they could find out what was causing Yasmine to feel bad.” Jaden continues, “and they found out what is making her feel bad”

Christine sighs, “Yasmine has a rare type of cancer.”

“Really?” Lark gasps.

Christine nods, “Yes but they’re hoping that they caught it soon enough to be able to treat it and make sure Yasmine gets better.”

“Do you have any questions?” Jaden asks the girls.

“So they don’t know if she’ll get better?” Wren asks.

“They don’t know for sure, but they’re going to try to help her.” Christine squeezes Wren, “I’m sorry sweetheart. I know she’s your best friend.”

~Current Day~

As the lime green crosstrek pulls into the driveway it takes everything in Wren to not sprint over. Yasmine’s been busy these past few years, traveling, seeing the world, so they haven’t seen each other in a while. She waits for Yasmine to park and get out, then she rushes over to her. She envelops her in a huge hug, the two practically melting into each other.

“Jazzy!” Wren squeals, “oh my god I’ve missed you so much!”

“I’ve missed you too girl!” Yasmine smiles.

Wren’s hands are on Yasmine’s shoulders holding her back so she can get a good look at her, “you look so good, so… healthy.”

“I know! I’ve been working on it.” She strikes a pose.

Wren grins, ear to ear at the sight of her friend. 

Crap. She thinks to herself.

“I’mma go grab my stuff, I’ll be back.”

“Alright.” Wren hurries back over to the porch, “Come here.” She grabs her sister’s arm and leads her over to the side of the house.

“What in the world-“ Lark starts.

“I may have made a fatal miscalculation.”

Lark raises an eyebrow, “how so?”

“After we hugged and I looked down at her it took every tiny muscle in my body to not grab her face and kiss her.”

Lark lets out a snort, “Yeah huge miscalculation on your part.”

Wren sighs, “I didn’t know till just then!”

Lark shushes her, “Keep it down.” 

She’s right, at this point Saige is outside talking to Yasmine, so Lark and Wren can keep talking but they should still keep their voices down.

“You’re telling me not once have you ever thought, ‘hmm I like girls, you know who’s a girl? My best friend.’ What kind of lesbian are you?”

Wren’s cheeks turn pink, “what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Is she even sapphic?”

Wren shrugs, “I think she had bigger fish to fry.”

Lark rolls her eyes, “So what? You’re going to go up to the room that you now share, close the door and say ‘I wanna suck your face?’”

Wren’s cheeks somehow blush even more, “shut up.”

“It’s an important question! You two live together now.”

“I know!” Wren whisper-yells. She pulls out her phone, “You’re not helping.” She starts texting Maisie.

“You have fun with your gay panic, I’m going to go say hi.”

“Don’t tell her.” Wren points a finger at her sister.

Lark drags her finger along her lips, zipping them up, “sealed.” 

Wren nods as her sister walks towards Yasmine’s car.

“Lark!” Yasmine hugs her as she walks over.

“Yasmine!”

“You live here too?”

Lark shakes her head, “no, but I’m here often. Ya know my sister lives here?”

Yasmine rolls her eyes, “Really? I didn’t know that!” She jokes.

Lark laughs, leaning on the open hatch of the car.

Yasmine sits down on the floor of her car, “wanna join me?”

Lark nods, “thanks.”

Sebastian galivants over towards the two.

“Who’s this cutie?” Yasmine asks.

“This is Sebastian, my bestest boy.” Lark pats him on the head.

“Well aren’t you cute!” Yasmine offers her hand for him to sniff.

While Yasmine is petting her dog, Lark looks over at her sister, now on the porch talking to some other household members. 

Yasmine notices where she’s looking, “Wren’s really grown into herself, I mean she’s always been confident. But adult Wren sure is something.”

Lark shoots a glance at Yasmine, raising an eyebrow.

“You and that eyebrow!” Yasmine laughs, then looks back across the yard to Wren.

“I learned how to raise it and haven’t stopped.” Lark adds, but Yasmine is paying her no mind. Lark rolls her eyes and taps Yasmine’s shoulder.

“Huh?” Yasmine looks over at her.

“Go on.”

“Wait are you…” Yasmine trails off.

“You think I’m stupid?” Lark laughs, “I can tell that you like her.”

“I…” Yasmine stumbles over her words, “I literally just saw her for the first time in years.” She shrugs, “I shouldn’t…”

Lark shakes her head, “Do it girl.”

“Are you sure? I don’t wanna screw things up before I’ve even moved in.”

“It’d be easier to leave if you don’t unpack.” Lark jokes, “I’m playing, go.”

Yasmine hops off the car and begins to walk over to Wren then turns to Lark “You can stop me.”

“I ain’t going to.”

Yasmine nods, a smile taking over her face as she turns around and walks towards Wren.

“Hey.” Yasmine smiles.

Wren jumps, “Ah sorry I’m not used to you being here.”

“Well I like it here.”

Wren lets out a laugh, “you haven’t even been inside yet.”

“I don’t need to go inside to know I like it here, next to you.”

Wren’s jaw drops ever so slightly, unable to speak but her face says it all. Is this actually happening?

“I, uh…” Yasmine starts to stumble over her words. She rocks back and forth on the heels of her feet, “I just…” she looks deeply in Wren’s blueish grey eyes, they’re sparkling, but Yasmine is at a loss for words. She doesn’t know what to say. Luckily for her she doesn’t have to, because Wren stops her from speaking by wrapping her arms around her and pulling her in for a kiss. Yasmine instantly softens, feeling Wren’s lips curve into a smile against her own. Wren slowly pulls herself off, “Is that what you were trying to say?”

Yasmine nods, catching her breath, “Yeah.”