I winked at her. ‘Thanks. I owe you one.’
I heard Rue cackling at the TV from the other room.
‘Sit down.’ Dad pushed his reading glasses up his nose, like he meant business.
I’d barely sat down before he started talking.
‘Family comes first, Margot. You know that. Rue’s birthday? You know how much she’s been looking forward to having everyone together.’
He was right. She’d been talking about it for weeks.
‘Sorry. I forgot.’ I shrugged, trying to channel Ari, trying to push back at the injustice. I was eighteen, for God’s sake.
‘You do a lot offorgettingthese days. And I dread to think what you’re going to get in your A levels. Honestly, Margot, you need to start taking your life seriously.’
I picked up a piece of kitchen roll and started shredding it on the table. ‘I was just with my friends.’ And that seemed to piss off Dad even more.
‘Do you think these are the kind of friends you should have? Ones that are going to drag you down? This isn’t you, Margot.’ Dad shook his head.
And then I snapped. ‘How would you know who I am?’
‘Margot,’ said Mum.
‘I’m serious! Ever since I quit swimming, all you fucking care about is work, and Rue and Wren.’
‘Margot! Language!’ Dad’s voice boomed and Rue stopped laughing from next door.
‘You thinktheydon’t swear?’ I pointed towards the living room. ‘Rue’s eight and is never done calling me a bitch.’
Dad slammed his fist on the table and Mum shot him a look. ‘This isn’t about them! This is about you! It’s your future, Margot, and you’re going to ruin it –’
‘Margot?’ Mum cut in.
I looked at Mum, who was staring at me. At my nose. ‘What?’
Dad followed her gaze. ‘What is it?’ Dad asked her, completely oblivious to the sparkling stud, just like he had been to the multiple ear piercings over the last year.
Mum pointed at her own nose, and I watched his expression darken even more as the penny dropped.
‘What is that in your face?’ he said, seething.
Shit.
Before I could say anything, Dad stood up. ‘Just get out of my sight, Margot. Go to your room. I don’t want to see you again until tomorrow. I need to speak to your mother. And I’ve locked that window, so don’t even bother trying to get out that way.’
‘Fine!’
I stormed out of the kitchen and slammed the door behind me. My parents were ridiculous. I stomped my way up the stairs, lay down on my bed, shoved my head into my pillow and screamed. Then I pulled it away because it hurt my nose. And when I turned over, I saw Wren staring at me from the doorway, wearing the pink onesie that she got changed into every day after school. She was nine, but everyone treated her like she was younger because, unlike the holy terror that was Rue, she was so sweet. And I guess she leaned into it.I probably would too if I were her. Her blonde hair hadn’t darkened, not like mine and Rue’s had. Ours was still light, but not the white blonde of Wren’s curls.
‘Are you OK, Gogo?’ I bit my lip, trying to calm down before I spoke to her. That was Dad’s stupid kid nickname for me, and it made my skin crawl every time he used it now. But Wren, Wren could use it.
‘I’ll be fine, just a bit mad.’
‘At Mum and Dad?’ She looked like she was going to cry.
‘You know how you get mad at Rue sometimes?’ I said, pulling myself up and patting the bed beside me. She walked over and curled up next to me.
‘Yeah.’
