Chapter 4

"She probably just forgot you're allergic. I'll apologize to you on her behalf."

Drew wouldn't look at me. "And don't mention this to your mom. Brynn has it hard enough already. If your mother turns on her too, how is she supposed to live in this house? We're all she has.

"Just let it go. Don't make a thing out of it."

Just like that, everything I'd been through was supposed to not matter anymore.

I nodded.

Fine. I really did need to stop expecting anything from any of them.

After I was discharged, I found a job that came with room and board; I didn't go home. I only went back the day my acceptance letter arrived.

When I opened the door, the house was all warmth and celebration. Drew and Mom were crowded around Brynn, who was wearing a pretty new dress, the three of them hugging and beaming.

"Our little Brynn is going to be a college girl! I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. As pretty and talented as you are, you're going to have boys lining up."

Brynn hung off Drew's arm with a shy smile, swaying playfully. "None of them could compare to you, Drew. You'll always be the best."

The second they heard me walk in, the laughter stopped.

Mom shot me a look. "Gone all that time and not a word. I half thought you were dead in a ditch."

Drew noticed how thin I'd gotten. Something like concern crossed his face, and he reached for my hand.

"I'm going to help your mom with tuition for you and Brynn, so you don't have to run yourself into the ground working."

I pulled my hand free. "Don't bother."

I turned toward the bedroom.

"Lena." He stopped me, softening his voice deliberately. "Since the acceptance letters are in, let me drive you both over to campus so you can get the lay of the land before school starts."

"Really?" Brynn lit up instantly, latching onto his arm. "Drew, you're the best."

Then, right on cue, her expression dimmed. She glanced at me carefully. "I think Lena's still upset with me. She probably doesn't want to go if I'm there. Why don't you two just go without me? I really don't mind."

Hearing that, I just felt tired. Before Mom could start in on me, I spoke first.

"You guys go. I've got things to do."

Drew frowned and stepped forward instinctively, reaching for my wrist. "Lena—"

"Drew." Mom cut in immediately. "Look at that miserable face. She'll just drag down the mood. Leave her. Let's go."

Brynn lowered her head right on cue, her voice small. "Drew, don't push her. She probably really doesn't want to be around me."

Drew's hand hung in the air. Something tightened in his jaw, irritation and anger building behind his eyes. He dropped his hand and walked up to me, his voice going low.

"Lena, I'm giving you one more day to get over this. Tomorrow, I'm taking you to see the campus. Just us."

He paused, then added like it was an order. "And tomorrow, I want to see the Lena who used to smile the second she saw me. Not this petty version. Are we clear?"

I let out a quiet laugh and walked into the bedroom. That Lena was gone, and she wasn't coming back.

After they left, I grabbed the little I had, picked up my Northgate University acceptance letter and the train ticket I'd already bought, and went straight to the station.

Before I boarded, I took one last look at the southern city I'd spent all 18 years of my life in. Then I turned around and left without looking back.