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“Scarlett.” He grabbed my wrist.

I pulled my wrist out of his grip. “Don’t pretend you care when you don’t. Your silence all week has made that abundantly clear. And I get it. Of course you’re better friends with Jacob than me.” My stupid tears started to fall. I never even considered the fact that I’d lose anyone in this breakup. But surely Uncle Matt and Aunt Brooklyn hated me. And all of Jacob’s siblings. And Mr. Tanner and Mr. Nigel. And now Axel too. “So go take care of him. Not that he needs it. His heart isn’t the one that’s broken.”

“Scarlett!” he called after me, but I kept walking.

Screw him.

***

I had my popcorn and a fuzzy blanket, and I was wearing my flannel pajamas. At first I didn’t like them. But they’d become my favorite thing to wear around the house. They were comfy, warm, and it wasn’t like anyone was going to see me in them. I was single. And I had a feeling I was going to stay single for a long time. Maybe I’d just die in these flannel pajamas. Alone.

I turned on the first scary movie I found and nestled in for a long terrifying night.

My mom and dad were laughing as they walked into the living room. But my mom’s laughter caught in her throat when she saw me sitting on the couch. “Sweetie, it’s time to go. You need to get dressed.”

My mom was wearing a hoop skirt and a corset which pushed her breasts up in a way that would have gotten me in trouble. And my dad was wearing a vest and wool, knee-length jacket. The theme for the party this year was famous literature. And I had no idea what book they were portraying. Something Victorian I presumed.

“I like your costumes,” I said. “But I’m not coming.” I turned back to the TV. “I told you that.”

“But you said that a couple days ago. I was hoping you’d change your mind.”

“I haven’t.”

“Scarlett, you come every year. I don’t want you to regret not coming. Come on, it’s going to be fine. The three of us can hang out the whole time.”

I knew that wasn’t true. They’d start dancing. Leaving me alone. Probably to get yelled at by Uncle Matt or something. I paused the movie, because this seemed like it was about to be a whole thing. “The only thing I’m going to regret tonight is if I don’t finish this entire bowl of popcorn.”

My mom sighed and looked up at my dad.

“You’re sure you don’t want to come, pumpkin?” he asked.

“I’m sure.”

“You know what?” my dad said. “I’m not sure I want to go this year either.” He started to loosen his tie. “Let’s stay in and watch a movie with Scarlett.”

My mom sighed. “The two of you together is too much. James, you already let her stay home all week...”

“I went to school today,” I said.

My dad gave me a sad smile.

“I’m sorry, but enough is enough,” my mom said. “Scarlett, you can’t just hide out in the house forever because some boy...”

“It’s not just some boy. It’s Jacob.”

“I know. But it’s your first boyfriend. First boyfriends aren’t supposed to last forever. That’s why they’re called first for a reason.”

She’d already had this whole conversation with me. “Just because your first boyfriend sucked, doesn’t mean mine had to not work out too. I’m not you.”

“But first relationships are all about making mistakes...”

My dad cleared his throat. “Technically I was your first boyfriend, Penny.”

I stared back and forth between my mom and my dad. “Wait. Mom. You told me about your first kiss. Was that not your first boyfriend?”

My mom shrugged. “We never put a label on it.”

“So it was casual?”