Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

MARGO

Twenty minutes later

My mind is still spinning from my encounter with Daniel. He's an immature boy who needs a lesson in social basics. What would've happened if I wasn't there? And what'll happen the next time he loses his temper? What if no one is there to stop him?

I shake the thoughts out of my head.

The closer I get to the cafeteria, the louder it gets. So many conversations are melting together I can't make out any of them word for word.

Before I step in, I straighten my posture, pinch my cheeks, and put on a smile. Anything to make myself look better than I feel.

I spot Annie in the center of the cafeteria, head in a book. I've tried convincing her to sit with my friends, but she never wants to. It's usually just the two of us with the occasional exception of Cameryn. She joins us at least twice a week.

Annie and I may be twins, but we're nothing alike. I'm the friendly, bubbly one who likes bright colors and bold clothes, and she's the shy, book-loving one who would rather go back to being in lockdown than go to a party.

I pull her book down as I sit across from her.

"Hey," she says.

"Hi," I reply with the biggest smile I can.

She's barely touched her lunch, which isn't new. I pluck one of the grapes off her tray and pop it into my mouth.

I wait for her to scold me, but instead her eyes lock on something past me.

"What are you looking at?"

Her gaze flies back down to her book. "Nothing."

My sister never does anything without a reason. She's a calculated person, but I give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Are you going to eat that?" I ask, pointing to her mac and cheese.

"I already did," she says.

I pull the tray closer to me. "A whole two bites."

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice her looking past me again. This time, I turn to follow her gaze. My eyes land on none other than Daniel in his dark T-shirt and jeans sitting alone a couple tables over. His dirty-blond hair falls into his eyes.

I grimace, twisting back to face her. "You've got to be kidding me."

She blushes, and her eyes falter. "He's cute."

"Have you lost your mind? He looks like he eats puppies."

She leans back with a funny expression. "He does not. He's a vegetarian."

I take in a breath and let it out slowly. "Please don't tell me the reason you know that is because you've been staring at him like this every day at lunch. "

"I don't stare. I observe," she mumbles, pushing her glasses farther up the bridge of her nose.

"What else have you observed? How many times he's been sent to detention? How many times he's skipped school?"

Annie rolls her eyes. "That's only happened a few times."

I stare her dead in the eyes. "It's barely the second week of school, Annie. The second. I literally just saw him in the hallway getting into a fight with Josh. He's bad news."

"But he . . ."

"But he what? Has cute eyes? Does he smell nice—"

"He reads."

My jaw drops. I'm pretty sure at least half the boys around us fit that criteria. I think she needs to raise her bar a little higher. "You can't be serious. That's it?"

"You wouldn't understand. It was a Jules Verne book. A classic. He might look intimidating, but it's an act. It's got to be. Bad boys don't read Jules Verne, Margo. I'm telling you, he's secretly a cinnamon roll."

I turn to get another look. He's standing up, stuffing his things into his bag and leaving. He crumples up a wrapper and tosses it onto the ground.

"Would a cinnamon roll litter?" I ask.

"It was probably an accident."

"Do you hear yourself right now?" I say as he kicks it under the table. "There's no way you didn't see that."

She covers her eyes. "I saw nothing."

I sigh.

Geoffrey slides in next to me at the table. "Hey, Margo," he says.

Annie returns to her book.

"Hey," I reply. "What's up?"

"I need your help. "

"Of course you do," Annie mumbles.

"I busted my shoes," he says, lifting his foot slightly. "They're limited edition and my favorite, but they are sold out. I can't find another pair anywhere, but I figured if anyone could find another pair, it would be you."

It might be hard to find the exact sneakers, but I'm not one to back down from a challenge. "I'll look into it."

"You're the best!" he says, jumping back up. "I'll bring you some of those cookies you like."

Annie raises her gaze back to me. " I'll look into it? "

"What? I will. I bet I can find a pair in no time. Besides, I like the cookies from his mom's bakery."

"He just wants an excuse to talk to you."

I sigh. "If that were true, he'd still be here." I take another bite of mac and cheese and wait for the outside doors to open. Once they are, I stand. "Come on." I tug on Annie's arm. "Let's go get some fresh air."

She groans. "Do I have to?"

"You need the vitamin D."

She tucks her book under her arm and follows me as I put her tray away.

I find Annie in the halls as soon as the final bell rings, and I loop my arm in hers. "Miss me?"

She nudges me. "You don't give me a chance to. You know, one of these days, someone is going to catch you texting during class."

I smile. "I like to live on the edge."

She laughs. I like it when she laughs. She's so serious all the time, but every once in a while, I can get her to loosen up .

"You couldn't reach the edge with a ten-foot pole," she says.

"Margo!" Cameryn calls from across the hallway. She comes running, backpack bouncing behind her. She grabs my arm. "There's a sale at the mall. We have to go."

I notice Annie shrinking back.

"Really?" I ask.

Cameryn nods. "Fifty percent off fall clothes right now at Rave Boutique."

"No!" I say with a gasp.

Her smile widens. "Yes! I'm going to get that cute purse we saw last time. You know, the one with the checkered print. It would be absolutely perfect for my navy blue dress."

Annie is consumed by her phone, a coping mechanism for when she's uncomfortable. She's trying to look busy.

"Do you want to go?" I ask Annie.

Cameryn acknowledges Annie as if she just noticed her. "Of course, Annie is always welcome to join."

Annie's eyes raise but don't hold eye contact very long. "Uh . . . I have . . . I think I'm going to get a head start on my homework."

I focus on Cameryn again, preparing myself to break her heart. I need to spend time with Annie. "Don't kill me, but I think I'm going to head home too. I'll meet up with you this weekend, though. I promise."

She sighs. "You better. This is the second time this week you've stood me up."

"Don't worry. I'll make up for it later."

"I'm going to hold you to that."

"Make sure you send me a picture of the things you get."

"Be prepared for your phone to blow up," she says, running off again. "Bye! "

"Bye," I say, waving. "Sorry, I didn't—"

Annie isn't standing next to me anymore. She's halfway down the hall in the opposite direction.

I speed up to catch her. "Hey, wait up."

"Aren't you going shopping?"

I shake my head. "Nope. I'm going home too."

"But you love shopping."

"So? I wanted to hang out with you today. We can watch a movie after we finish our homework."

"It's okay. We can do that anytime. Go shopping. I know you want to."

She has no idea at this moment I want literally nothing more than to spend time with her. "I'll only go shopping if you do. Cameryn invited you too."

She gives me a look. "Only because you guilted her into it. She wouldn't have invited me if I wasn't standing right there."

"That's not true. Cameryn is really nice. I bet you'd like her if you spent more time with her."

"I'm good."

I scowl. I wish she would try a little harder to make friends. I want her to find someone other than me she can talk to and confide in. If she won't find that person, I will.

I link my arm with hers again. "Well, I'm not going shopping. I already told her I'd go this weekend, so you're stuck with me whether you like it or not."

She rolls her eyes and laughs, but I can tell she's happy I'm hanging out with her instead.

We head to her car, and I hop into the passenger seat. Annie turns on the car and it's immediately filled with music from Broken Sage. They're an indie pop band. Annie loves them—an unhealthy amount, one might argue—but she lights up whenever she starts singing along to their songs.

After the first song plays through, she sighs, resting her head back. "I still can't believe they're playing here and I can't go. What if they never play here again?"

"I'm sure they will," I say as a feeble attempt to comfort her.

"They better," she says. "Maybe I should start a petition."

I chuckle. "I'd like to see that."

She doesn't know it yet, but I'm in the process of getting two tickets. Cameryn gave me an inside scoop that her cousin bought tickets as a surprise for her boyfriend because he really liked the band, but he cheated on her. Cameryn gave me her number and now I'm just trying to negotiate the price with her. They're expensive, so I'm trying to talk her down a little by offering to trade something instead.

It doesn't take us long to drive home. When we pull in, one of the neighbor kids waves at us. There are so many of them I lose track of who is who. Mrs. Jackman always seems to be having another kid. She has five so far, and there's another on the way. It's always a little loud living next to them because the kids are outside all the time, but I like the noise.

We head inside to finish our homework, and Mama rushes up to us. She takes my bags. "How was your day? How are you feeling?"

I give a look letting her know she needs to tone it down. "It was good, but we're going to do our homework and then watch a movie."

"Do you need anything? Cocoa? Water?"

"Nothing for me," Annie says, walking down the hallway to our room .

"What are you doing?" I whisper to Mama. "Annie's right there."

She puts a hand on my forehead to check for a temperature. "So?"

"I thought you were going to act normal."

"This is normal." To be fair, it is, but I was hoping she'd try and be a little less suspicious.

I move her hand. "I promise I feel fine." I'm a little tired and sore, but for the most part I can ignore it.

She checks me all over. "Are you sure?"

I nod.

"Well, if you don't, let me know. I picked up your prescription this afternoon if you need it."

I hug her, squeezing her tight. "Thank you."

"Are you sure you don't want cocoa?"

I know she wants to feel useful. There isn't much she can do for me, so I smile. "You know what? That would be great."

Her eyes sparkle and I follow her into the kitchen where she starts heating the milk for the cocoa.

Next to me on the counter there's a stack of mail, and I lift it up to see if there's anything interesting. Normally, the majority of our mail is from credit card companies trying to get us to sign up for a new card. Sometimes we're blessed with coupons for the different fast food places in the area, which, if I'm honest, is the sole purpose I picked up the pile.

One letter sticks out. It's addressed to Mama, and it's from the hospital she used to work at. "What's this?"

Mama peeks over. "Oh, that's nothing. They've been sending me those letters for weeks."

I open the letter and skim over the words. "Mama, have you read this? They're offering you a ten percent raise if you come back. "

She shrugs. "I don't have time for it. I'm too busy to start working again."

I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow. "But you loved it, and you were the best. They're literally begging you to come back." I hold it up for her to see.

She waves it away. "It's been too long."

"I know you haven't let your license expire."

"That's different. I haven't worked in almost three years. I've probably lost my edge."

My mother has most definitely not lost her edge. She might not think she practices, but she is constantly reminding everyone around her she is in fact a nurse. It doesn't matter she worked in labor and delivery, if there is anything remotely medical brought up, she shares her two cents. To be fair, half the time she tells wild, non-medically-accurate stories, but we all know to take them with a grain of salt.

"You should call them. Just hear them out."

She'd love it, and it would give her something to focus on other than me. It would also mean that Papa wouldn't have to work as much. It's the perfect solution.

Mama opens the fridge to find whipped cream, conveniently not answering.

She may be stubborn, but I'm a miniature version of her. "At least tell me you'll think about it."

Her mouth opens like she's about to protest, but I cut her off. "You don't have to say yes. Just don't say no. Not yet."

"Fine," she says. "I will think about it, but no promises."

"Thank you." I smile big, and give her another quick hug. Bringing babies into the world has always been her favorite thing, and taking care of people comes second nature to her. I know if she jumped back into it, she'd fall in love with it all over again .

The afternoon goes by fast and before I know it, we've finished our homework and eaten dinner. Then we each grab a blanket and huddle on the couch with a bowl of ice cream. Annie, being the hopeless romantic she is, and me, being the people pleaser I am, somehow create the perfect combination for us choosing her favorite movie— Leap Year . I have to admit, I do love a good Amy Adams movie, but this is probably the eighth time we've watched it this year alone.

My sister's face glows, smiling and giggling as if she's never seen it before. She pats my leg repeatedly. "Look! It's the best part."

But instead of watching the movie, I watch her. I wish more people got to see her this way. Whenever we're around anyone other than family, she closes up, refusing to talk. It's like she doesn't want people to know how cool she is.

"You're missing the movie," Annie says, holding a pillow close. "He's about to kiss her."

I laugh and turn my eyes back to the happy couple.

She sighs.

"What's that for?" I ask.

She leans into the pillow. "Do you think I'm pretty?"

I laugh. "Is this a trick question? We have the same face."

"I'm serious. Do you think guys think I'm pretty?"

I give her a look to make sure she knows just how ridiculous her question is. "Of course they do. You're gorgeous."

"Then why don't the guys at school seem to notice me?"

"Maybe, and I could be wrong, but maybe it's because you spend all your time reading books instead of interacting with other humans."

She shoves the pillow at me. "Hey!"

I hold up my hands in surrender. "I said I could be wrong. "

She falls back into the couch with another sigh. "You know you aren't."

"Then why don't you try talking to people."

She takes her pillow back. "Reading people's conversations is easier than having my own."

"Why does it matter?"

Her cheeks redden, and she hides her face. "I can't tell you."

"Oh, come on. Since when do we keep secrets from each other?" My hypocritical words are heavy on my tongue as if it's dirty for them to leave my mouth.

"Because you'll think it's silly." Her voice is muffled behind the pillow.

I tug it away. "I will not."

"Yes, you will."

"I promise I won't."

She twists her lips, staring me down. "I don't believe you."

I squint. "Is it really that embarrassing?"

She groans, tossing her head back. "You're not going to let this go now, are you?"

I cross my arms. "Nope. So you might as well tell me."

She takes a breath, letting her shoulders fall. Then, she mumbles something I can't understand.

"Come again?"

"I want to . . ."

I gently shake her shoulders. "Louder."

"I want to fall in love!"

We lock eyes and both burst into laughter.

She rests her head on the back of the couch, squeezing her eyes shut. "See, I told you, you'd make fun of me."

"I'm only laughing because you yelled that into my face."

She rolls her eyes. "Mm-hmm, whatever. "

I have to help her. I'm going to leave a void, and the only thing I can do is try to fill it as much as possible before I go. That means if she wants to fall in love, I'll make sure it happens.

Wasting no time, I sit up, fully facing her. "What about Ricky?"

Her eyebrows pinch together, and her mouth falls open. "What about Ricky?"

"Well, he's nice and cute."

"I don't need you to play matchmaker," she says, slipping her arms into her jacket.

"You said you want to fall in love, so why don't you try putting yourself out there a little?"

She covers her ears. "I can't hear you."

I pull her hands off her ears. "Come on, stop acting like a little kid who still believes in cooties."

Her cheeks flush. "It's embarrassing to talk about."

"Do you think someone is magically going to drop into your life and sweep you off your feet? Because that only happens in movies."

She drops her gaze.

I cross my arms. "Annie, what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing," she says.

"Annie?"

There's a timid smile followed by a sparkle in her eyes. "Maybe life is like the movies, Margo."

"Are you about to tell me you actually talked to another person?"

She shies away, blushing again. "I may have had the perfect meet cute in the library—just like the ones I read about. I was trying to reach a book on the top shelf, and he came up behind me and grabbed it for me. "

Maybe she doesn't need my help after all. Here I was thinking my sweet closed-off sister needed me to make her dreams come true, but she was out there having her very own movie moment. "Who was it?"

She looks away.

" Annie ," I say, grasping her arm.

She refuses to look at me and whispers, "It was Daniel."

Daniel? Of all people... Daniel ? That's completely unacceptable. I don't want Daniel anywhere near Annie. Ever.

I gasp. "No."

She smiles big and nods.

I playfully smack her shoulder. "I thought we talked about this."

She shields herself. "I'm telling you, he's a good guy. I can feel it."

Oh dear, Daniel, you vile creature, how did you brainwash my sister?

I'm internally screaming at my innocent, gullible sister. Grabbing a book off the top shelf does not equal boyfriend material. "Did he say anything?"

She shakes her head. "But I have this feeling... if he knew me, he'd like me back."

I rub my temples, trying to calm my headache. "I have three classes with him, and I don't think he's the guy for you."

She pouts. "Only because he'll never notice me."

"No. Because he's a jerk."

She tilts her head and glares like it'll change my mind. "He's not. He's misunderstood."

I grimace, melting into the couch. "Please don't tell me you're an ‘I can fix him' girl."

"I don't need to fix him. He's quiet, like me, and I bet if someone took the time to get to know him, he wouldn't seem so scary."

I cross my arms. "Or you'd end up on the missing-persons list."

Her face gets serious, and she looks me directly in the eyes. "I'm serious. I know he's a good person."

"Then go talk to him. Go notice him."

Her eyes dart away. "I can't. I don't want him to think I'm a stalker."

"You are a stalker."

She pushes me. "It would be awkward. I'm not the type of person who goes up to people like that, even with our friends. They always start out as your friends, and I get looped in because I'm your sister."

What I'm hearing is she's the kind of person who wants someone to notice her, not the other way around, only reaffirming the fact this boy is undeniably the wrong person for her.

I have to show her how awful he really is. I have to completely crush her fantasy, and then I can help her find someone that'll actually treat her right.