Page 33 of Ivy's Venom

“Uh, it’s fine.” Just boning a teacher. “I’m pulling up my math grade.” Because I’m boning the teacher.

“You haven’t been back to New York, is there anyone you miss?” Dad asks. “Best Friend? Boyfriend?”

“Girlfriend?” Mother chimes in.

“No one.” I shake my head.

“So you were a loser there, too.” Saxon snorts and Mother slaps her hand on the table in front of him, never taking her eye off me.

Saxon jumps and Dad snorts.

“There’s no one in New York, I wasn’t in the right headspace to make friends.” I say it quietly and I’m shocked to see Mother’s eyes soften.

“And what about here?” She asks me.

“Here I have Carmelo and Cameron,” I shrug.

“Those are your cousins, Ivy. You need to socialize.” Mother interjects.

“Sometimes family makes the best of friends.” Dad covers her hand with his.

“That’s true,” she nods, “but you can have other friends. What about Veronica? You used to be so close.”

“She’s a bully now.” I shrug.

“Molly?”

“We no longer have the same interests.” And I boned her dad.

“This will change with time, Em.” Dad placates her.

“Fine, but if anyone is giving you issues, you come to me.” Her eyes the exact same shade as mine bore into me.

“Okay.” I agree because what else can I do?

Then they both turn on Saxon, his grades are slipping, and he’s a fucking sociopath. He hates people, he hates authority, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him bring a friend home like normal people do. I wasn't kidding when I said he needed a therapist.

Then they turn on sweet Dahlia and both their eyes crinkle with happiness, she really does no wrong.

“You young lady,” Dad says, “just continue doing what you do.”

“Yay!” She jumps from the table and plows into Saxon.

She’s the only one he softens for, the only one allowed to touch him for extended periods of time, and the one thing I think he would kill for. He hugs her back and kisses her head.

“That’s right, little miss perfect.” He doesn’t say it with his usual sneer. He likes that she’s perfect.

“Everyone is here tomorrow,” Mother looks around at us. Her eyes stop on me, “try not to make anyone cry, scream, or storm out of the house.” She turns to Saxon, “try to be present for longer than an hour, we are your fucking family.”

“Two bad words, Mommy.” Dahlia says holding up her fingers.

“Right.” Mother closes her eyes and breathes. “Just be with your family on Christmas, okay Saxon?”

“Got it.” He nods.

“Got it.” I nod.

“Everyone will be here in a few hours so let's clean the house and get ready.” Dad rises from his seat.

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