Chapter 20
I stared at the group chat invitation for a long time. My finger hovered over the “Accept” button.
“Still want to talk? We’re ready to listen. But this is your last chance.”
Last chance. They were giving me one more opportunity to explain myself.
I clicked accept.
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The group chat window opened. Four people were online: BookwormL94, ArtistD_2010, FantasyFan_A, and QuietMath12.
Lily, Daniel, Arthur, and Emma.
A message appeared immediately.
BookwormL94: “We saw you watching us today.”
My hands trembled as I typed back: “I wanted to talk to you but I can’t be seen with you guys openly.”
FantasyFan_A: “Why not?”
I took a deep breath and typed the truth: “Because of my twin sister and my parents. They watch everything I do. If they see me with you guys, I’ll get in trouble at home.”
QuietMath12: “What kind of trouble?”
“They’ll take away my phone and computer. Maybe worse.”
There was a pause. Then:
ArtistD_2010: “That’s messed up.”
BookwormL94: “Why do they care who you’re friends with?”
“It’s complicated. They want me to fit in with the popular kids. They think you guys are bad influences.”
FantasyFan_A: “We’re bad influences? For reading books and making art?”
“I know it’s stupid. But that’s how they think.”
The chat went quiet for several minutes. I watched the cursor blink, wondering if I’d lost them forever.
Finally, BookwormL94 typed: “So you’re basically trapped.”
“Yeah. Pretty much.”
ArtistD_2010: “That explains a lot.”
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Chapter 20
QuietMath12: “We thought you just decided we weren’t cool enough.”
“Never. You guys are the realest people I know.”
Another long pause. Then messages started coming faster:
BookwormL94: “We talked about this before you came online.”
FantasyFan_A: “We figured something was wrong when you kept looking over at us but never approached.”
ArtistD_2010: “Your sister really does watch you like a hawk.”
QuietMath12: “So what do we do now?”
I stared at the screen. What could we do? I was still trapped in the same situation.
“I don’t know,” I typed. “But I miss you guys.”
BookwormL94: “We miss you too.”
We talked until late into the night. About books and art and all the things I’d been missing. They told me about inside jokes I’d missed and projects they were working on.
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It felt like coming home and we all agreed to do this at least three times in a week. That way, I get to maintain my friendships without getting into trouble.
The next morning at school, everything looked different. I still couldn’t sit with them or talk to them openly, but knowing they understood made the separation bearable.
During English class, Ms. Rachna stood at the front of the room with her grade book.
“Pop quiz today,” she announced. “Oral questions about the short stories we’ve been reading.”
My stomach dropped. Oral quiz meant standing up and speaking in front of everyone.
“I’ll call on you randomly. When I do, stand up and give a detailed analysis of the question.”
She started with Tommy. “Analyze the theme of sacrifice in ‘The Gift of the Magi.””
Tommy stood and gave a basic answer about love and giving. Ms. Rachna nodded and wrote something in her book.
“Sarah, what role does irony play in the story’s conclusion?”
Sarah stood and talked about unexpected endings. Her answer was simple but acceptable.
“Avery.”
My name hit me like a slap. Every head in the classroom turned to look at me.
“Stand up, please.”
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Chapter 20
I stayed in my seat.
“Avery?”
I could feel everyone staring. Ava looked confused from across the room. Madison raised her eyebrows.
“What is the significance of the narrator’s voice in “The Last Leaf“?”
I knew the answer. Could have given a detailed analysis of omniscient narration and its effect on reader sympathy.
But I couldn’t make myself stand up.
My parents‘ voices echoed in my head: “Don’t steal the spotlight. Support your sister’s strengths instead of trying to outshine her.”
If I stood up and gave a brilliant answer, I’d be showing off. Being selfish. Drawing attention to myself.
“Avery, I need you to participate.”
“I don’t know,” I said quietly, still seated.
“You don’t know the answer?”
“I don’t know.”
Ms. Rachna frowned. This wasn’t like me. I always knew the answers. Always participated enthusiastically.
“Can you at least stand up?”
I shook my head.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Students shifted in their seats. Someone coughed.
“Madison, can you answer the question about ‘The Last Leaf“?”
Madison stood and gave a decent response. Ms. Rachna moved on to the next student.
But I could feel her eyes on me for the rest of class. Concerned. Confused.
When the bell rang, she called out, “Avery, please stay after class.”
My heart sank. I gathered my things slowly while other students filed out.
“What’s going on?” Ms. Rachna asked once we were alone.
“Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing. You’ve never refused to participate before.”
“I just didn’t feel like talking”
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Chapter 20
“You’ve been acting strange for a while now. First ‘invisible‘ then not participating in class and now this?”
I stared at my desk.
“Avery, is something bothering or is someone trying to make you tone down your intelligence?”
The question was too close to the truth. I looked up sharply.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, is someone….maybe at home or friends discouraging you from excelling academically?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re clearly capable of answering these questions. But something is holding you back.”
I couldn’t tell her about my parents‘ warnings. About being told not to steal Ava’s spotlight.
“I have to get to my next class.”
“Not yet. Sit down.”
I reluctantly took my seat again.
“I’m concerned about you. Your performance has declined significantly in just a few days.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. And I think I know why.”
My pulse quickened.
“I know for a fact that you wrote that story. ‘Invisible.‘ And I think the family dynamics described in it are real.”
I said nothing.
“Am I right?”
“I have to go.”
I stood up and headed for the door.
“Avery, if you’re being discouraged from academic participation at home, that’s something the administration
needs to know about.”
I stopped walking but didn’t turn around.
“Are your parents supportive of your education?”
“Yes.”
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Chapter 20
“Are they supportive of you excelling in ways your sister doesn’t?”
The question hit too close to home. I could feel tears threatening.
“I really need to go.”
I rushed out into the hallway before she could stop me.
But instead of going to my next class, I found myself walking toward the main office. I needed to get out of here. Away from Ms. Rachna’s probing questions.
“I don’t feel well,” I told the secretary. “Can I call home?”
She handed me a hall pass. “Go to the nurse first.”
I took the pass but didn’t go to the nurse’s office. Instead, I sat in the bathroom trying to calm down.
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Ms. Rachna knew too much. Suspected too much. What if she called my parents? What if she told them about
her concerns?
They’d know I’d been complaining about them. Writing about them.
I’d be in more trouble than I could imagine.
Twenty minutes later, the intercom crackled throughout the school.
“Avery Flynn, please report to the principal’s office immediately. Avery Flynn to the principal’s office.”
The hallway went dead silent. Students stopped walking and stared at me.
I could see the questions in their faces. What had I done? Why was I being called down?
My phone buzzed with a text from Ava: “OMG what did you do Avery???”
I didn’t answer because I honestly didn’t know.
But as I walked toward the administrative wing, I had a sinking feeling that Ms. Rachna had made good on her threat.
And now I was about to face the consequences of trying to remain invisible.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
