Chapter 4

4: 4

The next day.

I pulled out my phone and called Coach Head.

"Coach Head, could I trouble you to get me a leave from the drill instructor and the counselor? I want to go home and pack my things."

"Sure. Once you're done, I'll come pick you up."

After I hung up, I went home.

Through the living room washed in warm light, past my parents' room, my brother's room, my sister's room.

At the end I stopped in front of the attic, bent down, and crawled into the cramped corner I knew so well.

The space was small. The light was bad.

It was where I had lived for eighteen years.

I'd been born outside my parents' plans, and from start to finish I never had a room of my own.

Even when my sister went abroad and a room stood empty, they wouldn't let me have it.

I felt around under the pillow for something.

When my fingertips finally touched something hard, I let out a small breath.

I took out the box and opened it.

But the 1,729 dollars that were supposed to be inside were gone!

My fingers froze. I flipped the pillow over, then threw back the blanket.

Not a single dollar.

I heard the front door open in the living room, and I ran out clutching the box.

The moment they saw me home, their faces shifted, but they recovered quickly.

Mom asked in a low voice,

"Why are you back? Aren't you still in military training?"

I didn't answer. I opened the box and held it out to them.

"Where's my money?"

Mom's face went pale and she said nothing. My brother let out a cold snort.

"We used it to buy Serena a gown for the showcase. You're not going to make a fuss over that, are you?"

I kept my head down and said quietly,

"That was money I saved myself…"

Before I could finish, my brother cut in.

"What do you mean, your money? Everything you've eaten and worn your whole life came from this family."

"Back then you're the one who got to stay by our side. Now we put a little money toward making it up to her, and you can't even stand for that?"

"She was out there all alone, going through so much. We wanted to be fair to her, just once. Is that wrong?"

Tears slid down my cheeks. I said softly,

"I'd rather have been the one going through it."

Antony frowned, his voice turning cold.

"What's the point of saying that now? Hurry back to school. Don't hold up Serena's lunch!"

Mom chimed in beside him.

"That's right, stop sulking. I'm already worried Serena's going hungry."

Ralph came over to my side and said, easy as anything,

"Be good, Lolly. Go on back to school."

I clenched my teeth and let my eyes move across all three of their faces.

Then I gave a soft hum, turned, and went back into the attic.

I packed up my things and left that house without looking back.

Mom called after me, in the direction I'd gone,

"Lola, remember to wash your sister's pink heels before the showcase!"

Behind her my brother's brow knotted hard, and he shouted,

"Lola Garner, not an ounce of manners!"

Off to the side, Ralph watched my quiet figure disappear, and a thread of unease rose in him.

The next day at noon, the family came to the school again.

Serena held the sweet bowl of porridge Mom had brought and started eating, not forgetting to say,

"Mom, Lola went too far. She didn't even bring me any food last night. My roommates laughed at me. You need to have a good talk with her later."

Mom dabbed gently at the fine sweat at Serena's temple, aching for her.

"Okay. Eat plenty. If it's not enough, I'll go home and get more."

My brother stood beside them holding a little handheld fan, smiling.

"That dress you mentioned, we bought it for you. Want to try it on after we eat?"

Serena's eyes lit up and she nodded again and again.

Ralph watched, a smile on his lips, but something sat wrong in him.

For the next several days, they all forgot to contact me.

The day of the showcase.

The whole family got to the auditorium, seated in the front rows, waiting for my sister's performance.

Ralph's eyes kept sweeping the room, distracted.

Mom noticed too, and frowned.

"Where did that Lola girl run off to? Haven't seen her for days. What a headache!"

Antony fiddled with the camera, careless.

"Don't bother about her. She's got no money on her. She can't run far even if she wants to."

"Not like Serena, who picked up all these talents. She just holes up at home all day and never goes out."

As he spoke, Serena went up on stage.

He stopped talking and swung the lens straight onto her.

On stage, she wore a pink evening gown studded with jewels, dazzling.

She danced along with the music.

Applause rolled through the room, cheers everywhere.

When it ended, Serena ran down clutching the trophy, thrilled.

"How was I?"

Mom gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and was the first to speak. "My precious daughter is the best!"

My brother came right after. "Serena, I'll always be proud to have you for a sister!"

Ralph gave a faint smile. "You were wonderful tonight."

Serena's cheeks went a little red, and she said shyly, "It's all because I had you all beside me."

She looked straight at Ralph, her expression coy and bashful.

My brother teased from the side. "Well, well, why's Serena blushing?"

Ralph laughed and swatted him off. "Cut it out. Let's go eat. Serena must be hungry."

They went to a small restaurant near the school.

After Mom ordered, something seemed to come back to her.

"Antony, call Lola and tell her to come eat with us."

Antony frowned slightly, but he still took out his phone and dialed her.

While the call rang, Ralph waved a server over to add a seat.

The server set the chair down, and still no one answered.

"Can't get through. That wretched girl Lola won't even pick up her phone!"

Ralph had no choice but to quietly send her a message.

After the message went out, he froze where he sat.