Chapter 20

Gabe: Morning, I saw your brother yesterday. He's quitting med school?

Ameline: He is? :raised-eyebrow: emoji :exclamation-question mark: emoji :thinking face: emoji

Gabe: That's a lot of emojis. I take it you didn't know.

Ameline: Yep. I have no idea. Let me ask Izzy, she should know.

Gabe: I thought you were aware of everything that's happening at home.

Ameline: Umm, nope. I have a lot to juggle including a job my father knows nothing about.

Gabe: You have a job?

Ameline: Okay, it's probably two. I do some light babysitting around the neighborhood and also work at a bookstore. But Dad knows nothing about either one of those gigs. I use schoolwork as an excuse to avoid going back home.

Gabe: And they don't text you about what's happening?

Ameline: Nope. Is that what they do in Deckerland?

Gabe: Deckerland?! :laughing: emoji

Ameline: You guys live in your own little dimension, which is super cool, but totally different from reality.

Gabe: Oh we're real, babe. There's a lot of drama around here, but we do learn what's happening through text messages. Everyone is pretty vocal about everything.

Ameline: Well, Izzy just responded, and she doesn't know anything about this issue, but she'll get back to me soon. As I mentioned, if you don't go to the main house Dad doesn't complain. He only calls to check that we're doing fine and following his rules. Cedric ignores us most of the time.

Gabe: Your dad is pretty weird.

Ameline: Controlling. The word is controlling.

Ameline: Did Cee tell you what he's doing with his life? I mean if he quit Dad is going to disown him—or something like that.

Gabe: He's going into dentistry.

Ameline: Eww, teeth.

Gabe: What's wrong with teeth?

Ameline: Can you imagine spending your entire life looking inside people's mouths?

Gabe: I wouldn't enjoy it, but it's a novel profession. We all need dentists. That's exactly why I'm going to become a doctor, to help.

Ameline: Have you decided your specialty?

Gabe: Don't start questioning that . . . again. There's a lot I have to learn before I make an informed decision.

Ameline: Fine, but you can't be on my case when I don't have any direction about my life.

Gabe: You're only nineteen, you'll be fine.

Ameline: Well this nineteen-year-old is heading to work. See you around.

Gabe: Take care of yourself.