Page 1 of Blurry Little Lines

Prologue

Max

8yearsold.

“Hurry up, you turtle.” My best friend’s older sister tugs my arm, pulling me into her family’s hotel elevator. “For someone taller than me, you’d think your legs would move faster.” She huffs, typing in the code to her penthouse floor, and crossing her arms.

“Jeez, Kelsie. You’re so bossy.” My eyes roll, wishing I had gone to tennis camp today with her brother, Adam, instead. “It’s a stupid dinner party, and the adults won’t even notice we’re late.”

“Max, my mom expects me back in time.” She uses her responsible adult tone. “We are lucky she allowed the limo driver to take us to a movie by ourselves.”

With my mom and dad’s recent divorce, things are no longer the same at home. The Wheatons are a close, happy family, so if that means I tag along to boring fancy dinner parties, then I will. It beats a quiet house with my dad talking about how much money my mother likes to spend.

“Max.” Kelsie’s voice wavers as she snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Do you know what’s going on?”

I blink up at the round orange numbers on top of the elevator door and realize we should be many floors higher with the amount of thinking I just did. How long have we been hovering on the seventh floor? As quickly as I feel my heart drop with panic, I run a hand through my hair and take a deep breath. I’m eight. I can be a strong man for Kelsie.

“Are you sure you typed in the right code for your floor?” I double check. “Youwerein such a hurry.”

“I know the code, moron.” Her little fingers shake as she types it in once more. Still, we don’t move. “This has never happened before!” Her lips roll in a tight line as her shoulders rise with a deep breath.

“Well, at least the elevator hasn’t fallen from a broken cable,” I tease, expecting her to shove me like usual. “That sounds a lot more fun than going to a dinner party.” An evil glare shoots my way. “It could be like the Tower of Terror ride at Disneyland we went on last week.”

“Max Dawson! Stop the superfluous talking.” Her arms wrap around her body as she backs into the corner.

“Just because our private school teaches us stupid fancy words, doesn’t mean we need to use them all the time.” Kelsie’s vocabulary drives me nuts. We aren’t in school right now, so why use them?

“Someone, help!” Her broken voice hits me in the stomach and right then, I know she is actually mortified.There I go with a stupid big word.

“We will be fine, half pint.” I use the nickname to help her relax, because having her think ofLittle House on the Prairieshould bring a smile to her face like it always does. “I’ll protect you.” I pull her into my arms, knowing I am the only one who can keep her safe. She tenses and her heartbeat goes wild as she presses against my chest.

“I’m too young to die.” Kelsie’s voice is squeaky like a mouse. Her hands cling around my waist as her little body shakes. “And now we are super late.” Tears fall onto my arm, tickling my skin, but I don’t dare move and make her feel unsafe.

“You’re not going to die, Kelsie. You can blame me for us being late.” I hit the little bell button on the elevator, but it does nothing.

“Hit the wordhelp,smarty pants.” Kelsie wipes her big brown eyes and the elevator jolts, startling us both.

I talk to the voice coming through the speaker, since Kelsie is crying too much to give any information. The person on the other end explains to us that help is on the way. Kelsie’s grip on my waist is starting to hurt, but I won’t complain. Instinctively, I rub her back and hold her head of brown curls. She may be older, but she is tiny compared to me and the rest of her family. I have never seen Kelsie act this scared. For a nine-year-old, she seems to have life figured out and doesn’t let things get in her way. Kelsie takes this elevator every day and the one time she does it alone with me, this happens.

“You’re going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.” I hold her tight and sift through my brain on what her parents do to comfort her. I lean down and place a kiss on the top of her head. I don’t love her or anything, but I feel her take a deep breath, relaxing into me. A small smile of victory spreads across my face at being able to calm her.

“Promise?” her shaky voice whispers. “Any time I need you, you’ll be there for me?”

“I promise I will be here for the rest of your life, Kels.” I feel pride wash over me with my declaration. “I can protect you through anything and everything that the world does to upset you.”

“You’re my best friend, Max. I hope you never choose anyone over me.” Kelsie pulls back as the elevator finally begins to go down. “I promise I won't be bossy anymore.”

“Promise me you’ll be whoever you want to be, half pint.” I smile as the doors open to her parents waiting in the lobby with the firemen.

“Mom! Pa!” Kelsie runs into her dad’s arms. I don’t think she has ever called her dad,dad.

I don’t get how a rich little girl is obsessed with Little House on the Prairie when she has more than most kids could dream of. But, whatever.

“Max!” Helen, Kelsie’s mom, wraps me in a hug. “Are you all right, dear?” She places both hands on my shoulders, bending down to my level with eyes full of concern and warmth.

Something I’ve never seen in my own mother’s.

“Yeah, I’m good. I protected Kelsie.” I nod.