Chapter 8 - Andvantage

“If it isn’t my beautiful, talented, overachieving and untouchable big sister.” Chloe says standing behind me. I almost choke on my muffin at the sound of her voice. I didn’t hear her approach, I force my throat to work with me and not let this muffin kill me. “You summoned me and I am here.” she says when I look back at her.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the evident baby bump she’s carrying. I didn’t imagine that her belly to be this big. She gained a lot of weight. Looking at her I’m sure I don’t want to have a baby.

“I didn’t summon you, don’t be dramatic.” I say and she rolls her eyes at me. I shake my head at that; she needs to stop rolling her eyes. She’s too old to be doing that.

“Mom told me what you said to her word for word.” She says looking at me with an accusatory stare. I look right back at her. She thinks I give a shit what she thinks of me. I don’t. She can hate me all she wants for what I said. But like I said to our mother she’s the one that needs my help. She will deal with me whichever way I present myself.

“And that’s exactly why I told her to tell you to come to me yourself.” I say and she pouts at me this time. One more thing she needs to stop doing. “You don’t need her telling you what I said or what I didn’t say. You can talk to me, we’re both adults.” I say and she sighs in exasperation.

“I get it, you don’t have to talk to me like I’m a child.” She says giving me what I call the fuck off Chloe look.

“I’m talking to you in a normal tone.” I say and she rolls her eyes at me. “Although if you keep rolling your eyes at me like that I’ll start talking to you in the appropriate manner. If you don’t want to be treated like a child stop acting like one.” I say and she looks at me in surprised.

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you? You’re loving the fact that I came here to beg you for your help. You feel like you have a little power don’t you? I should have known you’d milk this.”  She says and I look at her annoyed.

“You think I’m enjoying this? You have no idea do you?” I ask laughing; she thinks she knows what being an adult is. If she did she wouldn’t be thinking about petty things, instead she would be thinking about her child.

“Yes you are enjoying this, you’re still mad your boyfriend left you for me and you’re using this situation to punish me.” she says making me laugh even louder, I can’t hold it in anymore. Man this girl is delusional. What she did to me may have hurt and in some ways it still hurts but I don’t give a shit about her and Phil. I know I shouldn’t but I’m worried about her, her baby and her future. She doesn’t deserve my help or sympathy but I feel for her. She doesn’t know what she’s in for. Having a baby is n joke and having a baby young is even harder.

“Chloe believe me when I say I don’t give a shit what you and your boyfriend do. What I care about is the fact that you and mom expect me to foot the bill for this baby of yours. I ‘m worried about my money.”I say and for the first time since she sat down I see fear in her eyes. She looks at me in disbelief.

“Does that mean you’re not going to help me?” She asks her voice getting low.

“I don’t know.” I say and her face turns from disbelief to anger.

“I should have known you wouldn’t help me. This is some revenge shit.” She says looking at me angrily.

“What kind of help are you looking for?” I ask ignoring her. I don’t have time for her anger and antics.

“Isn’t it obvious?” She asks giving me attitude.

“No, Chloe it’s not obvious. I can’t assume to know what you need. That’s why I asked you to come here, tell me.” I say over her attitude.

“I need money Adira, what do you want me to say? I need money for clothes, milk, diapers and stuff for me. I need a lot of money.” She says her voice getting louder. “Dad is kicking me out, so I need somewhere to stay too.” She says and the last part takes me by surprise.

I didn’t know about this part. My mother didn’t tell me our father kicked her out. I feel like she set me up here.

“Why is he kicking you out? What did you do?” I ask feeling panicked. What is she talking about right now?

“He said that I can only stay in his house if I’m going to school, I can’t stay with them if I’m not going to school. So I have to get out of the house as soon as possible.” She says looking at me with fear in her eyes.

“You have to beg him to let you stay. Where are you going to do? Are you going to move in with Phil?” I ask and I see the answer to my answer before I finish my sentence.

“He said I can’t move in with him. He says he says he can’t deal with a baby crying all night. And his apartment is small.” She says looking at me mournfully.

“What the fuck? What is that supposed to mean?” I ask feeling myself get angry. How in the hell can Phil say that about a baby that he actively partook in making.

“I can’t force him to take me in. Things are not good with us right now. We’re working through some things.” She says looking at me like I’m the crazy one.

“If that’s the case, then what’s your plan?” I ask looking at her like she’s crazy. What in the hell is this girl thinking? She needs to make this man take responsibility for his action. She should be talking to him right now not me. He’s the one that’s supposed to be figuring this out, why should I be the one to take care of his mess?

“That’s why I’m asking for your help. I need money for an apartment.” She says and stops talking when she sees the horror on my face.

“Chloe, I don’t know how much money you think I have but I don’t have money for an apartment.” I say and she pouts at me.

“You have the money, you just don’t want to give it to me. Just give to me I’ll pay you back.” She says and I cringe inwardly, she’s using four words I have come to loathe.

“I don’t have money for an apartment.” I repeat looking her in her eyes, so she can hear me. “And how are you going to pay me back? Did you find a job?” I ask and she shakes her head no, looking down at her hands.

“I was thinking I could find one as soon as I get settled down. I just need you to help me get on my feet and then I can take it from there.” She says looking at me sadly.

“Even if I wanted to, I can’t get you an apartment. I can get you a job though.” I say and she makes a face at me.

“You want me to get a job? I can’t work. I’m pregnant.” She says looking at me with horror on her face.

“Exactly, you’re pregnant, you’re not sick. You need to start working now so you can put together some money before the baby comes. There more you work and save up the better.” I say and she shakes her head no.

“I can’t get a job Adira. I don’t know how to do anything.” She says her tears coming down her face so fast it catches me by surprise. Where did that come from?

“You’ll learn. You just have to apply yourself.” I say and she shakes her head at me vigorously.

“Just give me the money Adira, mom will pay you back. She gets money every month; you can work out a payment plan with her.” She says and it dawns on me. She thought I’ll become her cash cow. She and mom came up with this plan to make me give her more money. She’ll stay home and be taken care of while I slave away to give her my hard earned money. This is something.

“No I won’t give you the money. Mom will never be able to pay me back because the money she gets every month is from me. I can’t offer you any more help beyond a job. Take it or leave it.” I say and she looks at me tears falling down her face.

“I knew you hated me but I never imagined you hated me this much.” She says staring at me. She’s looking at me like she wants to kill me.

“I don’t hate you…”

“Yes you do!” she screams getting up from the chair. “You should have told mom you weren’t going to help me, I wouldn’t have wasted my time coming here. I can’t believe you made me beg for nothing.” She screams and the people in the coffee shop look at us in shock. “You know what? You can keep your stupid money and you can also keep your stupid job. I’ll figure this out.” She says storming off and leaving the shop.

 I watch my little sister walk away in a huff. She thinks I’m doing this to spite her but I’m only trying to help her. I’m trying to teach her the one thing I learned very early in life. When you can provide for yourself you are not beholden to anyone.

 She needs to learn that lesson faster than anyone else because she has a baby on the way and that baby is going to need her to put on her big girl pants on.

And I’m not footing the bill for an apartment. There’s just no way in hell I’m doing that.