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“Are we just going to sit here and stare at spaces until nightfall?” Mom asked while turning between Ella and me, frowning, “My God, we have been sitting here for the past ten minutes, yet nobody has said a single word.”
“I said hello to her,” I replied in defense.
“And what is good about your hello?” Ella countered as she scoffed and turned away.
“You see what I was talking about, Mom?” I asked, pointing at Ella.
“What is wrong with you two?” Mom cried, covering her face. “Why can’t you both talk like normal siblings? For Christ’s sake, Stop acting like children; we are all adults here.”
I sighed and wiped my face, too tired, and frustrated to speak or react. I reached back and rested on the soft leather couch while folding my hands.
“Do you both want to see me cry?” Mom continued.
“Of course not,” Ella muttered.
“Just stop being ridiculous, Mom. No one is crying, yet” I added.
“Then why do you both keep doing this? Don’t you know it’s hurting me?” Mom asked, looking at the both of us again.
“I am sorry, Mom,” Ella muttered while biting her fingers nervously.
“God, I don’t want your apology. I just want to see you two behave like adults. You are brother and sister and are acting like complete strangers. Can we not just say sorry and move on already? Is that too much to ask?”
The room fell silent as Mom’s gaze continued searching both of ours.
I sighed, sat up, and brought my hands together, ready to get this done with. “All right, Mom,” I turned toward Ella and sighed again, “I am sorry for anything that I did to you, either intentionally or not, but I am not sorry for sleeping with Lucy.”
Ella chuckled and turned toward Mom. “Did you hear that? He’s not even remorseful. God, Mason, you are incredible.”
I shrugged and rested my back on the couch again. “Yeah, and I stand by what I said because I really like her.”
Ella scoffed and turned toward me. “And when did this sudden likeness start to develop? Because I was here. Remember, I saw how you behaved around her, how you talked to her with so much contempt.”
“Originally, I was annoyed that you brought a stranger into my home. But, I quickly realized I was actually intrigued by her. She stood up to me and made me think. I was irritated at first, then realized I was trying to deny my feelings for her.” I shouted, “There, you have your answer. Are you happy now?”
Ella scoffed, and turned away, not believing what I just said.
“You know, the funny part is she’s been the one that was trying to force me to speak with you gently.”
Ella scoffed again and continued looking away, but I could see her resolve waning slightly.
“The day you struck me on the face when I tried being gentle with you . . .”
“You struck your brother?” Mom interrupted me as she turned to Ella, shocked, “Please tell me this must be some sort of joke.”
“Well, he certainly deserved it,” Ella said.
“What?” Mom cried as Ella covered her reddened face, “Why would you do such a thing? You two are acting like toddlers. Don’t you think it’s time to grow up?”
Ella raised her face and looked at Mom, her eyes red as if she wanted to cry. “I was just worried.”
“And did you think hitting him would solve your problem?” Mom asked, her frown deepening.
“I wasn’t intending to hit him, believe it or not. But it felt good to get a little of my anger out on him.”
“Yep.” I scoffed.
“Don’t try to make it look like my fault.” Ella snapped while wiping the tears from her eyes.
