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I smile an extra-toothy grin and bat my lashes. I love when he praises me. Jake never called me a good girl—I was a fat girl, an annoying girl, a selfish girl, and a drama queen—but never a good girl.

“I wanna talk to my mom. Coming?” I ask.

Attie nods, and we walk together down the hall. Instead of crossing the threshold, I ask Attie to kick it in.

“She’s already shaken up. What’s a little more?” I say wickedly.

He holds his arm out in front of me and slowly moves me backward so he has enough space without elbowing me in the face. He reels back and kicks his leg out, his boot colliding with the door. It flies open and smashes into the wall. My mother lets out a scream as she jerks in her spot on the bed.

The door stays lodged in the opposite wall, and my mother quickly puts out the cigarette she’s shakily holding in the ashtray on her bedside table. Her eyes scan the room for something—anything—only to see nothing at all. We’re not visible to her. Yet.

“Who’s there?” she calls out, afraid.

Cash bitches from the living room, “Shut the hell up in there! I can’t hear my show!”

My mother holds her hand to her mouth as a physical reminder. She whimpers, and I can’t stand to see her like this. For someone who thought I was too emotional, she sure seems pretty emotional herself. I mentally note that it was never about me and had everything to do with her. But why?

I approach her, standing mere centimeters away from her face. She shivers before plugging her nose.

“Cash, did you turn the air conditioner all the way up? Also, what is that smell?” she yells out to him, confused.

“What the fuck did I just say, Kristine? Shut. Up. And stop acting so foolish. You and I both know that the A/C’s been broken since last summer. As for the smell, try taking a shower, ya skank.”

My mom buries her face in her pillow and screeches. I roll my eyes. Who’s dramatic now?

I continue standing in front of her, and when she’s done, I press my nose against hers and reveal myself.

“Boo!”

My mother shrieks, bug-eyed and all. Her skin turns sheet-white, and she falls over like a frightened goat.

“Oops.” I look over at Attie with mischief in my eyes and an evil smirk across my face.

“It was impossible to know her automatic reflex would be to faint. However, I’m not disappointed. Ten-out-of-ten-reaction.” I say with spite.

Attie and I chuckle together at the expense of my mother.

Cash doesn’t even come to check on her. I peer around the door, and I can see the back of his head‌ down the hallway.

“What now?” I hadn’t been prepared for this part.

Attie shrugs. “What do you want to happen? I’m not steering the boat this time. It’s all you. This is your moment, Lyr.”

I whisper-yell, “What happened to the plan?”

What the hell is he doing?

“There is no plan, Lyr. This needs to be you. You’ve got this.”

“Fine,” I say, feeling angry and betrayed once again.

“I need her to wake up, but first, I think we should bind her. That way, if Cash comes running in, we only have to deal with one of them.”

“Agreed.” He sways in place while he thinks. I can see the wheels spinning in his mind. Attie always makes a face when he’s lost in thought. He almost looks constipated. It’s kind of comical.

“Are you shitting your pants over there or what?” I joke.

Attie waves me off.