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“What’s bullshit, Olive?” I ask more gently than my previous tone.
“You having to deal with this is bullshit. I mean, have you always felt this way? This trapped and burdened and—“
“Olive,” I grab her shoulder and stop us just before we’ve reached the stairs. “This life is all I’ve ever known. You’ve gotten to live, and I’ve watched you grow and make mistakes. It’s been so wonderful to see you make mistakes. I never could, never can.” Tears well in her eyes that make me feel worse than I already do that she’s seeing the world through my lens.
“You are the bravest person I know.” She whispers and pulls me into a hug. I hold her close, trying to take the pain of this reality away from her and bring it back to me. I can carry it for myself. Don’t need anyone else to feel sorry for me, or know just how rough it’s been being raised by masculine men in a world expecting me to be the epitome of femininity and poise.
“It’ll be okay. Really.” I mumble into her fuzzy sweater and she sniffs.
“I should be comforting you. Not the other way around.” She pulls back, and I wipe a tear off her cheek with the back of my finger.
“You’re my little sister. I’ll always be there for you.”
“I’m not little anymore, Espie. I’m here for you too.” She squeezes my hand and I offer a smile that doesn’t meet my eyes as I nod.
“Then we’re in this together.” I sigh.
“Together.” She agrees, and we head down the steps towards Barth, who is on a security post by one of the five front doors in the rotunda.
“Hello ladies.” He seems a little annoyed. Probably got chewed out by Adrik for giving away his daddy drama.
“Hi, Barth.” Olive twists a finger around her short brown hair mindlessly, and he watches.
“What do you want?” He finally asks.
“Oh, just some food would be nice.” She grins, doe-eyes fluttering about, and he rolls his eyes.
“The chefs haven’t arrived yet. Too much snow has already piled up.”
“So, how are we going to eat?”
“I don’t know. We have the supplies, already hired shoppers to get everything. But I guess we just have to wing it? Do any of your guys know how to cook?”
I laugh. “No.”
“Well, then it’s hard to say when we’ll be able to eat a proper meal. You can head down to the nearest kitchen and see if we’ve got snacks?” He shrugs.
“You wouldn’t go out and get food for us?” Olive flirtatiously blinks, and I try not to laugh at his guffaw that someone as gorgeous as Olive is flirting with him.
“I— well… The storm is picking up, and I can’t leave my post…”
She sighs in a higher pitch than normal, and he tilts his head in consideration.
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do. Just, don’t tell anyone. Especially not Adrik.” She shakes her head, lips pouting.
“Of course not.” She assures him very seriously, and he takes one last look at her before heading towards the garage. After he disappears, I swat a hand to her stomach.
“Ouch!” She over dramatizes.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Be all flirty and stuff?”
“Oh, please. It’s the only way to get what you want.”
“There are many other ways to get what you want that don’t include flirting.”
