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“Well, to him, it is. You know he never made it to the major leagues after college. When one of his boys has a promising career, like Jaron, he takes pride in that. He’s excited to share his success with you. Can you fake a little bit of enthusiasm?”
“What about me, Mom? When do I get fake enthusiasm for anything I’m interested in? If I don’t like the same things you and Dad do, then they aren’t important.”
“That’s not true…”
“I made the Academic Decathlon team today,” I blurt out. “Not that anyone in this family actually cares.” I storm out of the kitchen and walk straight through the dining room. Mom calls after me, but I don’t stop. I open the front door and walk out, slamming it behind me. I pull out my phone and call Stephanie. I walk down the street while I listen to it ring.
I’m not sure where I’m going. I just know my legs need to keep moving. I get Stephanie’s voicemail and shove my phone into my back pocket. My entire body trembles with the rage boiling inside. I’ve never spoken back to Mom like that before. Ever. I usually just nod to whatever she says and then trap my real feelings inside. But I can’t take it anymore. I was excited to come home and tell her I’d made the team. Then when I walked in the door, she showed me more prom dresses online. Didn’t even ask how it went or anything. Then I thought it would come up at dinner. I thought maybe, just maybe, they’d allow me to have just a sliver of the spotlight that’s usually reserved for my perfect younger brother. I should have known she’d forget all about it.
I shove my hands in my pockets and keep moving forward. It’s cooler outside tonight and looks like it might rain. I should have grabbed a jacket. I begin shivering. I can hear footsteps behind me on the sidewalk. They begin moving faster and my breath catches. I pick up my pace, without looking back.Great, I finally talk back to my mom and now I’m going to be murdered for it.
“Emma, wait.”
I recognize the voice and relax with relief. I stop and let Austin catch up to me. “You look cold,” he says. He shrugs off his jacket and puts it on my shoulders. “Where’s the fire?” he asks, his eyes smiling.
My emotions are caught in my throat. I don’t want to cry, so I hold onto them and say nothing. I just turn and keep walking.
“Are you okay?” He asks, his voice softer now.
I shake my head. The heavy clouds split open and drops begin to fall. I turn away from him as the rain splashes on my face.
Austin grabs my arm, preventing me from walking away again.
“Come on,” he says, tugging on my sleeve. “Let’s go for a drive.”
I follow Austin back to his house and we climb in his car. He drives down the road and I watch as the trees race past the windows. I close my eyes and put my head against the cold glass.
Austin clears his throat. “What did your mom say about making the team?” he asks.
“Absolutely nothing,” I say, laughing bitterly. “After all that sweet talking, from your end, she completely forgot about it.”
Austin reaches a hand over and cautiously places it on my leg. He pats my knee a couple times. I can feel his fingers trembling through my leggings.
“I’m sorry, Em,” he says. “That sucks.”
Austin turns and pulls into the Starbucks parking lot. “You need a drink,” he says.
“Coffee is the last thing I need right now,” I say.
“They have more than coffee here,” he says. “Come on, let’s go.”
I look down at my bare feet, damp hair, and baggy jacket.
“I don’t think I can go anywhere right now,” I say, pointing to my bare toes.
Austin looks down. “Hmmmm.” Then his eyes light up and he smiles. “Oh, I know.”
Before I can ask, he jumps out of the car and comes over to my door. Opening it, he turns around and squats in front of me.
“Hop on,” he says.
“You’re not giving me a piggyback ride,” I say, laughing.
“Oh yes, I am,” he says. “Now come on, jump on.”
“Austin…”
“Either you jump on, or I’ll carry you in like a sack of potatoes over my shoulder. You tell me which one will be less embarrassing?”
