I smiled at my own apartment.
At least I wasn’t a cuckoo anymore.
Life got a lot simpler after that.
Eat, sleep, study.
I started seeing a pattern.
<
I saw Brittany one afternoon.
I saw her riding a motorcycle, leading a big
group of people through the streets.
She pulled up to the side of me.
Before I could speak, she took off her helmet
and stared. “Sarah, long time no see.”
“Yeah,” I said.
She flipped her hair and said “I bet your parents haven’t called you, have they?”
I shook my head.
“Want to know why they haven’t called you?”
she asked.
I shook my head.
“I want them to call, but every time they reach
<
for their phone, I cry,” she began. “They have to
put me first!”
“Also, they resent you.”
I frowned.
“You refuse to bond with your parents. They are
going to resent that.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“I thought you were going to take my spot. I
was so scared. But you just gave it away.
Thanks, Sarah.”
I wanted to laugh.
Chapter 2
“Brittany, are you even listening?”
“Gotta run,” I said, grabbing my messenger bag
and heading for my apartment.
く
One of the biker dudes leaned in and asked
Brittany, “Who’s that, anyway?”
“Who cares? Just my folks‘ little charity case.”
Brittany couldn’t care less.
The biker dude whistled. “Careful, Brittany,
don’t let Mr. and Mrs. Thompson hear you say
that!”
“Whatever.” Brittany spun her bike around and
took off.
She obviously didn’t respect Mom and Dad. Or
even like them.
I smiled a little.
Poor Mom and Dad. What a mess they’d made.
11
The summer after my freshman year, I went
back home for a visit.
Total ghost town.
The pool guy told me the family had gone to
the beach for vacation.
They’d left yesterday.
“Didn’t they tell you, miss?” The pool guy
seemed genuinely surprised that I didn’t know.
I didn’t answer. I just turned and left.
Halfway to my apartment, I got a text from
Mom.
“Honey, we’re going to the beach for a couple
of weeks. Your sister’s been begging us! Wanna
come with us?”
I just stared at the message, feeling totally
pissed.
<
They were probably already at the beach, and
now they were inviting me?
I thought for a second and texted back, “Yeah,
I’m in.”
It took a while, but she finally texted back.
“Oh, Sarah, honey, could you hurry home? Your
dad, that silly goose, messed up the tickets. We
need to leave ASAP!”
Half an hour?
The Thompson’s lived clear on the east side of
town, and Northwood High was on the west
side. Even in a cab it would take almost an
hour.
My mom was so clever. She’d just covered her
ass.
“Can’t make it. You auvs go on ahead.”
く
I had to laugh.
But what was so funny?
I had no idea.
12
I wasn’t about to let summer vacation go to
waste.
Since I was focused on getting into a good college, I started prepping early. I hired a tutor
and spent pretty much the whole summer studying.
When I needed a break, I’d check my phone,
scroll through social media.
And wouldn’t you know it, there were always
updates from my family.
Like from Mom.
く
She’d post these photo dumps. One picture of
her and Dad, one blurry shot of Mark from
behind, and the other seven were all Brittany.
Brittany surfing. Brittany flying in a helicopter.
Brittany riding a jet ski. Brittany lounging on a
yacht…
So glamorous. So perfect.
Unlike me, the frumpy bookworm in my old
uniform.
Of course, I wasn’t jealous.
I didn’t want to be that girl.
Instead, I liked every post.
Whoever posted, I liked.
Bless you all, be happy and stay safe.
