Page 106 of The First Time
"Bullshit."
Mal pulls out his phone and shows off the evidence— a one word text from Ethan.
Ethan: Fine.
I fold my arms and hold my brother's gaze. "He seems enthusiastic."
Mal stares back at me.
"They couldn't interrupt their last research trip to make it to my high school graduation. I'm not going."
I should be jumping for joy that Mal only wants to talk about our parents. That I haven't fucked up shit for the people that matter the most to me.
But I still feel sick.
"It will be three hours. Go." Mal's expression gets hard.
"No."
"Piper."
"Malcolm."
His eyes turn down. "Don't you want to be a family?"
No. Not with Mom and Dad.
Mal stares back at me.
I stare back at him.
The alley is so quiet I can hear my heavy exhale. I can hear Mal's calm inhale.
One street over, there's a car turning on and pulling away.
Here, Mal waits patiently for me to come to my senses.
He stares with that intenseI know beststare of his.
I try to hold his gaze, but I can't quite manage it. My eyes go to the asphalt. To the sky. To the side door.
Fine. I'll break the silence. "There's nothing you can say to convince me to go."
"Then you're not going to Europe with us."
My stomach twists. How can he lord that over my head after making such a big deal about inviting me?
"Piper."
"Fine. Then I'm not going to Europe." Who wants to see Paris, London, and Madrid anyway? It's not as if I'll have time for a vacation if I'm scurrying to move the fuck out of my asshole parents' house. "They've never gone to a Dangerous Noise show. Not one. It was the same for all the other bands. For Ethan's talent shows. Foryourhigh school graduation. And you're loyal to them?"
"They're still family."
I shake my head. They're not. "I'm not having this conversation." I take a step backwards. "I'm leaving."
Mal's expression gets concerned.
"I'll call a cab." I take a step towards the street. "But I'm not going home. Not tonight."
