- 2.
I kept my distance from Jake. I finally had a
second shot, so I wasn’t going to waste it on
these people. If I just focused on school, I could get out of this house. I wouldn’t have to
be in the way of their perfect family.
<
I was in my room, hitting the books, when
someone knocked on the door. It was Jake,
his voice lowered and full of false bravado.
“Danny, don’t think you’re safe hiding in your
room. Your parents are gonna be mine sooner
or later. Just wait, I’ll run you outta here.”
I ignored his rant. I was done fighting him.
After a bit, I heard Jake sobbing outside my
door.
“Sis, is Danny still mad at me? I brought him a drink, and he told me to get lost.”
“I shouldn’t have touched that figurine… I know I don’t belong here. Maybe I should go back to the orphanage. You’ve all been so great to me, I’ll pay you back, I promise. I just
<
hope Danny can forgive me after I’m gone.”
Mom rushed over to comfort him. “It’s not
your fault, sweetie. Danny’s just a bit spoiled.”
My sister, Sarah, chimed in. “Danny’s got a temper. I’ll give him an earful for you. You’re part of this family now, don’t say those things, it hurts our feelings.”
I got tired of the noise and yanked my door open. “Can you people stop with the drama outside my door? It’s disgusting.”
Jake acted all panicky and apologized. “I’m sorry, Danny, I didn’t mean to. I’ll pack my things and go back to the orphanage, please don’t be mad at me. It’s all my fault.”
Sarah frowned leakin
く
Sarah frowned, looking right at me. “Danny,
your temper’s just getting worse. It’s just a
figurine, why make such a big deal out of it?”
Mom turned her gaze on me. “Okay Danny,
calm down, you need to learn how to take a
breath, and besides, you were the one who
dropped it, don’t blame it on Jake.”
I gripped the doorknob tight. “I said, he
dropped it! Not me!”
Dad came up the stairs, shouting at me.
“Danny, stop blaming everything on Jake!
You gotta own up to your mistakes, what
would Jake get from lying? And he’s your
little brother now, so you’d better get used to
it! Don’t you dare give him the stink eye.”
“I wasn’t going to pursue it for your sake but
く
I looked at my parents standing on the other
side, Sarah holding Jake and whispering to
him. It was like they were a family, and I was
just some outsider. How messed up was that?
My parents didn’t trust their own kid, but they
trusted some stranger. Not only that but they
were demanding that I apologize to the guy
who set me up. And even Sarah, who’d
always been on my side, was now part of the
‘Jake fan club.
I saw Jake’s lips turn up a little, and I didn’t
want to hear my Dad’s rants. I slammed the
door shut, ignoring my dad, who was yelling
at me.
I leaned against the door, trying to calm
myself, still hearing them comforting Jake. It
was like last time all over again. Even if I tried
to be reasonable, they still thought I was
く
picking on him. If he cried, it became my
fault. How ridiculous!
