

DASHELL & ERIN PARKINSON
[size=7pt]"Hey Dash?" Silence. A bounce of the ball. "Yeah?" A pause. Another bounce. "I—I wanted to ask if you could take me to the music store. I mean, if it isn't a bother or—" Erin was interrupted by a grinning Dash. "You kidding, Smalles?," he said. "Of course I'll take you!." The boy discarded the basketball he had been dribbling by throwing it at the nearest bush, as if it didn't matter at all anymore, then turned to face his sister. His brown eyes were sparkling and eager, like a puppy who had just been offered a treat. Shaking her head, Erin had to smile. The two stood on the small basketball court in the Parkinson's backyard. The grey concrete under foot was smooth, newly finished, and the white court lines had been freshly painted. Erin studied the point where the grey court met lush green grass, and bit her lip, refusing to look at Dashell even though she could feel his eyes on her. God, she hated asking for favors. She hated charity and needing help, but seeing as she didn't have a car yet, and needed to go to the music store...well, there was no other way. Nodding, she turned and called over her shoulder, "Let's go then."
They piled into the car, Dash in the drivers seat of the black Honda and Erin in the passengers seat. Fastening her seatbelt, Erin took a moment to marvel, once again, at how nice the interior of the vehicle was. Plush black leather seats, a built in speaker system and radio, spotless black carpet, tinted windows; gosh, it made her wish she had a car. But seeing as she was a year younger then her brother, 15 years old to be exact, and wasn't yet old enough, she would have to wait. "To the music store! But first, how 'bout some rocking tunes, huh Smalles?." Giving a chuckle, Dash turned on the radio and blasted "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts before puts his keys in the ignition. Then they were off. Erin laughed as Dash sang at the top of his lungs, his voice purposely girly and screechy. Her brother could always make her laugh—espically when she didn't want to—and was probably the goofiest person she knew. He wasn't afraid to make a fool of himself and had twice the amount of confidence she did.
When they arrived at the music store, Dashell parked the car in a parking space and then pulled the keys out of the ignition. Erin climbed out of the vehicle and closed the passenger door behind her, waiting for Dash to lock the Honda before heading into the store. She didn't like leaving her brother—both for her sake and his. He had always helped her with her issues, ever since she was 10 and the Parkinsons had adopted her. Erin had come from a bad family. Admittedly, she had been abused by both her parents before they died in a shooting, and had cousins that would tease her and beat the crap out of her as well. Because of it she had trust issues, depression, and a whole bunch of other things caused by the trauma and whatnot. But the Parkinson's had helped her overcome her past, they still were, and Dash, being the awesome step-brother he was, had welcomed her instead of shying away from her. He was probably the biggest reason she could now at least talk to people. But Dashell had his own problems. Sometimes he got carried away, or did foolish things, or didn't use his head. He was like a large, innocent, naive baby, and needed a guide hand—someone to remind him of what was the right thing to do.
Maybe it was weird that Erin wouldn't even go into the store without him, but the two were just that close, even if they had only been siblings for four years. Finally, after fumbling with the keys, Dash locked the car and walked with Erin into the store. As the entered the building, cool air conditioning washed over the two, and both sighed in relief. It was hot outside; it was summer outside. "Hey, look at this piano D—" Thwack. Erin was going to say, in her soft voice, her step-brothers name, but bumped into someone instead. She had been looking at Dashell instead of where she was going, and apparently had walked into someone admiring the piano as well. Rubbing her head where it had collided with the other person, she finally looked up at them. It was a boy. A cute boy. Her throat closed up, and for a moment all she could do was stare. Her eyes drifted to a girl who stood a little ways away, apparently leafing through CD's, and then focused her gaze once more on the boy. "I-I I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" she asked, frowning.
Then Dash and the girl started towards them. "Hey, you alright, Er?" Dash asked her, concerned. She nodded absent-mindedly, still staring at the boy. Oh god. She had to stop staring. Then the girl was there, behind the boy, and she glanced up at her. Dash did the same, and for a moment he felt weird. A strange tingling. But he shook it off.
[ sorry it's crappy, I didn't know how to start xD ][/size]