9
Michael stood up when Ethan and my dad
walked in. He moved to stand slightly in front
of me, to my left.
Ethan probably hadn’t noticed, but even though we were on the same couch, we were both pretty slim, and Michael was still half a
person’s width away.
We weren’t even touching elbows.
Ethan leaned against the doorframe, took a deep breath, and asked, “Is that idiot telling
the truth?”
“You dumped soup on her for him?”
二
I almost laughed. Sarah had thrown herself at
Ethan repeatedly, and he still didn’t even
know her name.
“Yes.”
Ethan’s face turned red. He lunged at
Michael, grabbing his shirt.
“I knew you had a thing for Olivia.”
He swung at Michael.
J Ithan’s chirt
<
The Swiny at viollati.
Michael didn’t flinch. He grabbed Ethan’s shirt
back, “You and Olivia broke up.”
That hit a nerve.
They were about to brawl. I jumped in.
Okay, I took sides.
Michael was too frail for a fight, so I shoved
Ethan hard.
The ice pack slipped from my hand. Ethan
stepped on it, and went down.
L
Hard.
Mr. Cool, sprawled on the floor.
My heart skipped a beat. I rushed to help him.
“Are you okay…?”
He slapped my hand away.
He frowned at me, his eyes unreadable. Usually so quick to react, he just stared, then finally choked out, “You pushed me. For him?”
I sighed.
Ethan’s logic was unique. He was blaming me
Eτnan’s logic was unique. He was blaming me
for slipping on the ice.
Which, I had caused.
I checked him over, relieved he wasn’t broken.
I reached for him again, trying to explain.
“I didn’t… I just didn’t want you to fight.”
Ethan wasn’t listening.
He trashed my room.
Then stormed out, fuming.
I didn’t stop him. Michael tried to, but I held
<
him back.
I watched him go.
Watched him disappear down the hall.
Then, I sighed.
Michael came over, frowning. “He has a
terrible temper. It’s good you’re not together
anymore.”
I wanted to laugh, but my face felt stiff.
“It’s not just his temper. It’s… medical. He has bipolar disorder.”
L
That’s why his mom, tough as nails, always
backed down.
Michael was silent for a long moment. Then he started picking up the mess Ethan had
made.
The room was quiet.
Then, he asked, “Do you really think of me as
a brother?”
I froze, remembering my words to Ethan.
Michael was like a brother, even though we weren’t related.
- u.
I looked at him.
He was holding a small stuffed animal. He’d
won it for me at an arcade when we were
kids. We’d snuck out together.
He stood by the window, the light behind him,
his usual gentle smile on his face.
I knew Michael felt insecure, given his history.
So I didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
I picked up the other matching toy from the
floor. “Always.”
く
I picked up the other matching toy from the
floor. “Always.”
Michael smiled softly.
“Good.”
He didn’t say anything else, just kept
cleaning.
