Page 51 of As the Rain Falls
“Really?”
“Yeah, no.” I shake my head. “I don’t even like him like that.”
Caleb is a pretty boy, but he’s clearly not my type. When I try to picture someone I’d like to go on dates with, they don’t have brown hair and dark eyes like he does. My perfect idea of a boyfriend looks nothing like him.
“You’re more into someone like… Beckett Evans, right?” Kayla rolls her eyes at me, pretending not to be endeared. She rises andspins around, waltzing in her room. “Cassandra Rivera only likes the good boys.”
“Shut up, Kayla! I scoff loudly, feeling my cheeks heat up.“I do not!”
***
We get most of the work done by the time the sun comes down. I decide to spend the rest of my time trying on some clothes I never get to wear and listen to5 Seconds of Summer. They’re one of my favorite bands these days. I even like them better thanOne Direction,thoughMidnight Memoriesstill absolutely rules.
“You look so perfect standing there!”I grab Coco and give him one of my pearl necklaces.“In my American Apparel underwear! And I know now…”
Knock.
Someone knocks on my door, but I don’t bother to open.I’m too busy singing and having fun.
“That I’m so down!”
Knock. Knock.
“I made a mixtape straight out of ’94! I got your ripped skinny jeans lying on the—”
The door flies right open.Nathaniel barges in aggressively, and I’m so startled that I end up dropping my favorite pink sparkly dress to the floor.
The first thing I notice is the amount of gel that’s keeping his blond strands brushed back is absurd. My brother looks sweaty and disgusting.
I don’t want him here, touching my things with his dirty fingers. My room is my only safe space in this house. He shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near it. Not after he tried to ruin it for me to begin with.
“You see this?” He holds an orange Tupperware with raw chicken in it close to my face.
“Yes?” I mouth smartly before picking up the dress and throwing it on my bed. “What’s the problem?”
“It’s uncooked.” He shoves it in my face again, acting like I’m too stupid to notice the obvious.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was supposed to do it.” I pull my hair back before reaching out to grab the Tupperware, ready to head back to the kitchen. “Do you want me to fry it or something?”
Nathaniel presses his hand against my shoulder to push me away from him. “You really don’t know how to do anything, do you?”
“What the fuck?” I stumble back, wide-eyed and confused, not understanding what else he wants me to do. “Nathaniel!”
My brother turns his back on me and storms out of the room, punching random doors as he trails down the hallway. I don’t say anything else. I don’t want to risk getting in trouble, and arguing only makes things worse.
“I told you to fry the chicken before we got home, Cassandra! Not after!”
I bite my lower lip, feeling a lump forming in my throat, and start tracing after him. As I’m walking to the kitchen, I try to remember if that’s really the case.
Did he tell me or not?
Did I just forget?
Nothing comes to mind, which can only mean one thing: Nathaniel probably didn’t. I try to help around the house, especially now that Mom is not around to do it. I really truly do.
“I can do it now, but I really think you forgot to tell me.”
“No, I didn’t!”
