Page 56 of My Family

Jack blinks. Then his mouth starts to move.

"You're right," he says, nodding with mock gravity. "Aspire is basically a resort. The communal showers? Spa experience. The gray sweats? Athleisure chic. The mystery meat on Tuesdays? That's called molecular gastronomy, Harry. We've been living in luxury, and we didn't even know it."

Liam's lips twitch. Jack's not done. He's found the thread now. "And the beds? Memory foam, if the memory is pain. The walls? Minimalist concrete, very Scandinavian. Griff's morning roll calls? That's just a wellness check-in with military flair. We should be grateful."

"The hole is basically a sensory deprivation tank," Liam adds. "People pay thousands for that."

"Exactly!" Jack slaps the counter. "We're getting a premium rehabilitation experience, and we don't even tip."

Harry rolls his eyes. "You're all idiots," he says. We all laugh.

We pack. Harry gave us the clothes that the staff bought for us, and even the sunglasses Liam was wearing at the pool. He gives us some Nike bags as well, one for each of us, so we have somewhere to put everything. I'm so impressed I don't have words.

"Thank you, Harry," I say. He rolls his eyes again, with no patience.

"Shut up," he says. But I know he appreciates it, so I say it anyway.

"I mean it, thanks for this week, for everything," I keep going.

"Yes, man! It was probably the best week of my life," Liam says.

"Who would've thought Harry Westfield was so cool," Jack adds, grinning. Harry is now as red as a pepper.

"Fuck you all," he says. It's his love language.

"Where's your dad?" Liam asks. "So we can say goodbye."

"He had a board meeting," Harry says, and he seems upset. It's the same story all around: we're all lonely kids, no matter how poor or how rich.

The drive back is sad. It always is. Nobody speaks much. Jack leans his head against the window and closes his eyes. Harry stares at his phone for the last minutes. Liam sits beside me, his knee against mine, his head on my shoulder. I have my hand on his thigh and I'm also watching the view change outside.

We see Aspire and collectively groan. It's not bad there. It's home. It's just… I wish the circumstances were different.

Gerald pulls the car to a stop in the parking lot. The engine idles. Nobody moves. There are more kids coming back and Griff is right by the door, welcoming everybody.

There's no use stalling anymore, so we all get out.

"Thanks, Gerald. See you at Christmas," Harry says. Gerald nods. We all thank him as well.

We walk up to Griff, and he smiles with those green eyes.

"Welcome back," he says.

I nod. Jack playfully salutes as usual. Harry walks past without a word. Liam pauses in front of Griff, smiling, looks up at him with those blue eyes, and says, "Missed us?"

Griff's eyebrow rises a fraction. "Like a headache," he says, but it's full of affection.

Liam grins and we follow inside.

Miles is waiting when we get back to the room. He's sitting on the edge of his bunk, reading, but he's different. He's… smiling?

"How was it?" he asks.

Three words. Voluntary. Looking at us. Liam cocks his head sideways, the way he does when he's confused. Such a puppy. Harry, predictably, doesn't notice anything because Harry is already reclaiming his bunk with his usual bad mood.

"Good," I say, watching him. "Really good. You okay?"

Miles nods, and he's still smiling. "I'm fine, thank you. I had a good time," he says.