Bored of being in this store smelling like a garden, I try to get Tally to leave. She seems too interested in the shop. She's happy, so I leave it alone. I just tell her that I will be back in an hour. Jared and I leave the store to walk down the street to the local arcade.

"What's your deal?" Jared questions.

"There's just something about that lady. I don't know how I know, but she's hiding something, and I just don't want Tally to get hurt," I answer.

"You're just overprotective." Jared says and it's the last thing I hear before my mind wanders back to the shop and the lady there.

After spending a few dollars on an old pinball machine, I decide it's best to leave before I sink more of my money into it. The arcade is dead anyway. Looking at Jared, I know he has the same idea. Waiting outside with a potential breeze is better than standing around in a partially air-conditioned room with stagnant air.

Heading back down toward the healing shop, we wait outside. I  lean against the wall between the shop and a now empty business. Seems to me like it was some type of fancy, fashion shop. I'm surprised it didn't last with people like Amber living in and around this town, but why do I care about that?

The streets always seem to be deserted, the only shoppers are people traveling by foot. Will this town ever recover? After Akkelmann Industries shut down and the invasion of big-chain discount stores, offering cheaper prices to people now on a tighter budget, the little town of Applewine, Tennessee, has never been the same.

Someone taps my shoulder, and I turn to see Jared standing next to me.

"What's wrong, D?" Jared asks.

Crossing my arms, I start. "I don't like that shop owner." I narrow my eyes at the shop door. "She's hiding something. I can just feel it, but I don't know how."

"Maybe you're worried about what might happen to Tally."

"Why would I worry about that?"

"Because you care."

"Of course, I care. She's one of my best friends, and someone I've known since I was five."

Jared smiles. "It's more than that, and the quicker you admit it the better. I mean shit remember the first time we met."

"Hey, you! What are you doing to my girl?" I call out to a guy with his hands on Tally.

"Nothin'. Someone had her pinned in the corner. If it's your job to protect her, you suck."

Tally's hand grips his forearm, and I bite back a retort.

That cute giggle leaves her throat, and I wish it was me causing her to laugh.

"Help me up big guy." Tally asks the stranger.

He bends down and helps her up.

"Okay you two." Tally points at both me and this new guy. "No fighting between potential friends. Jared, this is Danny. Danny, this is Jared. Jared just moved to our wonderful town."

I am dragged out of my memory by the sound of the door to the shop jerking open, and Tally running out. She doesn't even look back, even to see if I'm there waiting for her. This is unusual for her, since we do everything together.

My muscles tense, and I don't like what I'm seeing; she was fine when she went in. Something has happened.

I run up and reach for the shop door.

"Do you really want to do that?" Jared asks, but I've already cracked the door open.

"Did you see Tally?"

"I've been standing right next to you," Jared responds.

"Then you can understand why I'm upset."

Storming into that shop, intent on finding out what has made Tally so upset, I charge to the counter.

Pointing at the old lady, I ask, "What did you do to Tally?"

"Whatever do you mean?" the sly lady replies to me, her gray eyes glinting with mischief.

Heat pulses through my body.  This woman is playing games with me, and I don't like it. "You know what I mean! What did you do to her?" I ask again.

"I did nothing but speak the truth. I told the truth, but she must be the one to tell you. It is not my place to tell her truth to someone I don't know."

"Look here! That is my best friend that just left. I want to know why she left here upset."

"Like I said, not my story to tell you. She will tell you when she's ready."

At this point, I realize talking with her was going to be pointless. "I'm not going to get anywhere with you, am I?"

Her eyebrow lifts. "Is that a rhetorical question?"

Who is this lady? Why is she so smug about what's going on, and what she told Tally? "Fine, I'm leaving. But don't you go hurting Tally again. You hear me?"

"Sure...sure...run along, you might catch up to her, if you're fast enough." She chuckles.

I walk back outside.

"I heard enough. Do you want me to go with you?" Jared says.

I look up the street that will lead me to home and Tally. "No, I'm not sure what's going on, but I have a feeling Tally isn't going to want an audience."

Jared pats me on the shoulder. "Go home and see if you can help. Call me if you or Tally need me," Jared tells me before turning and walking away.

As I run to our house, shouting is heard even before I get to the front door. Striding in, Tally is leaning against the dining room wall, while her mom and dad sit at the table.

The tension in the room is palpable.

Tally's dad is getting ready to say something, but stops when he sees me.

"You might as well talk in front of Danny, he'll find out about it later anyway " she mutters, a look of unease on her face. 

"Ok. Sit down, Daniel," Tally's dad says.

"So, you were sworn to secrecy?" Tally laughs, and I can understand her response.  How is Tally wrapped up in something so secret?

My mouth falls open as Tally's dad begins to explain how Tally came to their home, and why they adopted her. Her siblings have no idea she is adopted, and who knows if her parents, her adoptive parents, want to keep it that way. Why didn't they tell her before now? What was the purpose in hiding the truth?

My stomach flutters, and I'm shocked by this new information. I have no idea how to back Tally up.

Tally bolts for the stairs, and I'm determined to offer my support. Running up the stairs, she has already shut and locked her door. I try to get her to let me in, but she isn't budging.

Her sobbing starts, and all I can do is sit outside her door and try to get her to let me in. Tears run down my face at the pain I know she is feeling. My birth parents didn't want me either.

Not until I met Tally on the playground at the age of five did someone love me unconditionally.

"Hey Tally, remember the time I dumped sand all over you, and you just stood up, shook the sand off, and asked if I needed help building my fortress?"

I get no response.

"Or the time you told me street luging was a terrible idea, and I shouldn't try it? I made it back home, and you tended to my road rash riddled arms and legs. You then went and made us a banana split and watched Point Break with me? You never once said, 'I told you so,' and when I told you about my next adventure, you just told me to stay safe, alive and come back in one piece?"

Hearing a small laugh, I think I might have broken through.

"Tally, let me in so we can talk?"

Silence.

"Please."

Silence.

I get more comfortable, leaning against the wall, and continue my thoughts.

"I remember that your parents became suspicious when I was spending as much time with you all as possible. Your parents asked me if my parents knew where I was, and I would lie. I was so embarrassed my own parents didn't care where I was. As the years went on they continued to ask me. Eventually I would just look at the ground and shrug, trying to hide the small tear that always escaped."

Silence

Tally's dad pops his head around the corner, but I wave him off. I can't even get Tally to come to the door.

"Then your parents got tired of my parents attitude, so they just had me move into the room with Spencer."

I laugh at that memory.

"Your brother didn't like that one bit. I invaded his privacy. He got used to my adorable self when I spent more time with you in your room than his - leaving him plenty of privacy."

Silence.

I guess I'll just have to wait this out.

The James family became the only family I truly know, and I am thankful every day for them.

Now I am completely surprised by this new information.

"I understand, Tally. I understand." I whisper through the door.

_____________________________________

[Author's Note] Applewine, Tennessee, is a fictitious town in East Tennessee.