Chapter 37
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We stood, staring angrily at each other and for a moment, I almost backed out, not until I saw not just anger in her eyes, but a little flicker of fear.
With a soft click, so slight that we would have missed it, the front door swung open.
Ava and I turn our heads in unison toward the sound. And there, in the doorway, stood Mom and Dad, just standing there, frozen.
They had heard everything.
Every single word.
Dad took off his coat and slowly lowered his tablet. “What is happening?”
Mom looked from Ava to me, her brow furrowed. “Avery? What were you guys talking about?”
“I….. it’s just a small interview,” I stammered, trying to carefully construct my words. “For the youth section. About… about writing.”
“You’re doing an interview? With a newspaper?” Dad’s voice was dangerously quiet. “Without asking us?” He sat on the armchair and crossed his legs.
“I was going to tell you-” I started.
“When?” Mom interrupted, her voice rising. “After it was published? Were you just going to start sneaking out for it?”
“It’s really nothing mom, I’m just going to be a junior reporter, that’s all”
“And you call that nothing? Where is it located? I need a reason why they employed a minor girl without consulting her guardian.”
“It’s at the Daily Grind café tomorrow,” Ava added, blinking innocently. “I thought it was so brave of her, putting herself out there like that.” She muttered.
“Seriously?” I glared at Ava. “Did you just dare me to do my worst?”
“You will not be doing anything and definitely not be going,” Dad said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Absolutely not.”
“Why?” A surge of anger burst out of me. “Why can’t I do this? It’s about my writing! It’s a good thing!”
“A good thing?” Mom snickered, how exactly is that a good thing? Your father’s words are final. This discussion
is over”
“So I’m just supposed to… what? Hide in my room forever? Never do anything good in case it somehow shifts attention from your special daughter?” I was on my feet now, tears clouding my eyes. “Ava gets to do whatever she wants! she gets to go to parties, she gets to go wherever she wants even though it’s bad and still, everything
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Chapter 37
she does is celebrated, and everything I do is a problem?”
“Don’t you dare bring your sister into this!” Mom snapped. “This is not Ava, it’s about your disobedience”
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Ava stood, watching me with a fake pitiful pout. “I’m sorry, Avie,” she muttered. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble. I just thought it was so cool…”
“SHUT UP!” I yelled at her, pointing a trembling finger. “Just shut up! This is what you wanted! You couldn’t…”
“That is ENOUGH!” Dad roared, surging to his feet. His face had turned into a dark red. “Go to your room, Avery. Now. You are not leaving this house tomorrow. You are not going to that interview. And if you so much as think about defying me, you will be grounded for the entire summer. Do you understand me?”
I looked at him, then at Mom, pleading silently for any sign of understanding, any flicker of support. She just looked away, drawing her mouth into a thin, disappointed line.
Ava smiled smugly. A smile that said I had lost while she had won. Again.
I didn’t say another word. I just turned and walked out of the living room, my shoulders slumped.
“It’s okay, Mom. She’s just upset. She’ll calm down.” I could still hear Ava’s voice, soft and comforting, behind
- me.
I climbed the stairs to my room and closed the door, leaning my forehead against the cool wood of the door.
***
We all sat around the kitchen table, sealed envelopes laid on the table. It contained our report cards which had just arrived.
Ava was practically vibrating with confidence. She must had done well, as always.
“Alright, girls,” Mom said, a forced cheerfulness in her voice. “Let’s see how all that hard work paid off.”
Ava ripped hers open with a smile. Her eyes scanned the page, and a big smug smile spread across her face. “All A’s and one B–plus in Integrated science! I knew I aced that final!”
“Oh, honey, that’s wonderful!” Mom beamed, grabbing the paper and showing Dad.
“Excellent work, Ava,” Dad said, a genuine smile gracing his face for the first time in weeks. “We’re very proud.”
“Yeah, congrats Ava” I mumbled
They turned to me. My envelope sat, untouched.
“Avery?” Mom prompted, nodding her head towards my result.
I smiled and slowly picked it up.
I slid my finger under the flap and pulled out the single sheet of paper.
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Chapter 37
“Well?” Dad asked, his impatience showing.
I didn’t speak. I just slowly turned the paper around and placed it on the table in front of them.
For a moment, there was absolute silence. Mom’s eyes hurriedly scanned the page. Then scanned it again. slowly this time. Dad leaned forward, his brow furrowed.
It was a perfect report card. Straight A’s. Not a single A–minus to be found. And at the top, in bold letters, it read: ‘Rank: 1/127.
I was first in the entire seventh grade.
Mom’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Dad blinked. “Is this… is this right?”
“It appears to be,” I said, my voice soft and humble. “I… I guess I was really focused on my studies.” I looked down, as if embarrassed by the attention. “With everything else going on, it was the one thing I could control.”
Ava’s face paled. Her All A’s and one B–plus suddenly felt pathetic. It’s the first time I had passed her academically. Not because I couldn’t but because I was never to take any attention from her.
“This is… gosh, this is very good, Avery,” Mom finally managed, her voice stiff. “We’re… surprised.”
“But pleased,” Dad added quickly, recovering somewhat. “Yes. Very pleased.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving them a small, grateful smile. “It means a lot to hear you say that.”
“Congratulations Avie” Ava muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You shouldn’t have tried so hard to be the first though” dad muttered, seeing the sad look on Ava.
Ignoring his remarks, I stood up and picked up my report card. “May I be excused? I’d like to put this in my room.”
AD
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.
