Page 20 of Broken Princess

“Okay, if you rent a truck, we can go over there and pick it up.”

“They’re having a special. They’ll bring it to us, but I figured since you’ll be home we can unpack the pod together.”

“Fine mom. We’ll do that.” I yawn into the receiver.

“Oh, honey, did I wake you? You’re usually up by now.”

“I was up late last night, and they canceled my class for today, so I was sleeping in.”

“I’ll let you go back to sleep. Call me with your ticket info and I’ll meet you at the bus depot.”

“Okay, mom. Love you.”

“Love you, more.”

We spent the morning moving boxes from the pod and stacking them neatly around the living room and hallway. It wasn’t as many as I thought, but still more than we’ll get through in two days. My muscles are aching as if I just played a game of one on one with Summer. I let the warm water wash all over me, enjoying the steam and smell of mint and eucalyptus coming from the scented shower melt I have in the caddy beside me. Out of consideration for my roommate I don’t hog the shower, so it’s nice to be home and have some extra time to enjoy it.

My sister’s in the living room unpacking a box when I come downstairs. “Don’t tell me mom abandoned you.”

“She didn’t. She went to pick up dinner because she said it would be quicker than waiting for delivery.”

“I didn’t know Saturday nights are popping around here.”

“You would if you came home more often.”

“I’m sorry. I know I spent a lot of the summer in the city and winter break with Kassidy.”

“No, I get it. I’m just the annoying kid sister and you have friends and travel.”

“Stop. You know, I don’t think of you as just an annoying brat. You’re one of my closest friends.”

“Doesn’t seem like it anymore.”

She says it without malice, but I hear the sadness in her voice. Summer’s right, I’m a shitty sister and daughter. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve been preoccupied with school and…”

“Boys.”

When I go to tell her that’s not true, she says, “I know you broke up with Robbie, and Ciara heard that he told someone you were dating some guy at your school, but it didn’t work out.”

Ciara is Robbie’s sister, and Summer’s best friend. Her brows crease when I confirm what she heard is true. “Ciara is right, I was dating someone at school. It was after Robbie and I broke up, but it didn’t last long. I didn’t mention it to you or mom, because it was nothing.”

“You were sad when you came home for Christmas. That’s not nothing.”

“Last semester was tough, and I was feeling overwhelmed at Christmas. New school, new friends. You know how it is, trying to find your place.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“But I’m good now, and…” I point to my face. “No more sad.”

“If something bad happened at school, you would tell me, right?”

Yikes. I’ve been keeping mom in the dark, but I didn’t think about the things Summer might have heard through her association with Ciara. Robbie wouldn’t tell his sister all the sordid details, would he? Or is she getting fed information from another source? We’re not zoned to any of the Kingsley Hollow prep schools, but her basketball team plays them, and even the elite teens party outside of their zip codes. “What did-”

“Girls, I’m back with the food. Can I get a hand?” Mom yells from the door. I make a note to talk to Summer and find out how far the VDU rumor mill goes.

We dive into the food, working through boxes as we go. I thought most of the stuff was dad’s old work papers, but a lot of the boxes have pictures, drawings and baby clothes from when Summer and I were kids.

Mom sits back, looking at the pile beside her. “I don’t even remember packing this stuff away.”

---