Page 53 of Ash Fall

I glance around the edge of the shed and see Luna helping Elenor unload another bin while Torrin and Mars work near the trailer. Kara stands at the barn entrance saying something to Reid that has him flipping her off while Gage shakes his head at both of them.

All of them are my family so I try and explain it to her.

"These people have been there for me more than our parents ever were."

Briar's expression closes down instantly, but I keep going.

"Reid has been my best friend almost my entire life, you know that - and Kara is part of that package. Gage, Torrin, Luna, Elenor, even Mars, they're family. Real family. The kind we were never taught anything about growing up."

"We have a family."

"No, we have a last name."

My sister flinches and I hate doing that to her, but lying would be worse.

"We were raised to think money made people important. The right school, the right clothes, the right address, the right fucking fork at dinner. Mother could tell you within thirty seconds what someone's net worth was, who their grandparents were, and whether being seen with them would improve her social standing. But Briar, she couldn't tell you what her own kids were afraid of or what they needed."

Briar looks down with a frown.

"That isn't family. These people?" I point around the corner. "They'll crawl through hell for each other. I know because half of them literally just did. They don't give a shit what somebody's bank balance is, what brand is stitched inside their jacket, or whether their name gets them a reservation at a restaurant. They care about who shows up when everything goes bad."

Her lips press together.

"And everything has gone very fucking bad."

"Oh, r-ee-al-y? I hadn't noticed," she bites back sarcastically.

I almost smile, but the defensive snap brings me back to the point.

"I know this is a huge adjustment. I know you're scared even though you're doing a fairly good impression of Mother every time you don't know what else to do."

"I am nothing like her."

"Then prove it."

Her eyes narrow.

"The world isn't the same anymore, Briar. Nobody at that mine is going to care that you went to school in Switzerland. Prada isn't getting you extra food. Father's name isn't getting you a better room. If you treat people like they're beneath you because they didn't grow up with what we did, sooner or later they're going to stop giving a shit about you."

Her head jerks back. "I don't treat everyone like they're beneath me."

I just look at her.

"Oh, fuck off."

"Strong counterargument."

She spins away from me and takes two furious steps before turning back. "Fine. Kara is a bitch, and that crazy old woman is completely unhinged. Are those the wonderful people I'm supposed to admire?"

Whatever patience I had left is nearly gone.

"Don't be a child."

"I'm fifteen!"

"Exactly, not five. This isn't school, and you’re not the Queen B here. You never will be, so drop that shit now."

Her expression turns furious, but I hold up a finger before she can launch whatever insult she has loaded and ready to fire.