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“Well, it’s a good thing you have the internet and months to research ‘how not to kill my sibling.’ ”
“I guess you’re right.” She sighs. “You should research that too.”
“The baby won’t be my sibling.”
Olive rolls her eyes. “You’re practically our brother.”
No, I’m not. I’m just someone staying in their house. “We’re not that close,” I say.
“Yes we are. You practice my drama lines with me, and we argue. That practically makes us brother and sister.”
I stare out the window. “Whatever you say.”
I like Olive. I do. But one day Olive is going to grow up, and when she does, she’ll realize that I’m not the person she thinks I am. I’m not a good person. If she wants a sibling so badly, then maybe this new baby is a good thing. It’ll give her what she thinks she sees in me. It’ll give her a friend.
“My audition is coming up. If I’m in the play, you’ll come, right?”
“Do I have to?”
She nudges me with her arm.
“Okay, okay. I’ll be there.”
“You better.” She reaches over my head and pulls the signal for our stop.
Nerves flood through me from my head to my toes. Will Margo talk to me today? Will she go back to the way we used to be?
She’s at her locker, and her hair stands out against her light top. Gold lemons dangle from her ears. An overwhelming pressure builds in my chest. I need her close. I just wish she wanted the same thing.
“Hey,” I say, walking closer.
She glances over. “Hi.” She hangs up her backpack and closes her locker.
My hands tremble at my sides, afraid she’ll pretend not to hear me. “Are you heading to class?”
She nods. She’s about to say something else when I follow her gaze and spot Annie at the other side of the hallway.
Annie shakes her head at us and walks in the opposite direction.
Margo’s face falls and tears well up in her eyes.
They must still be fighting.
I reach out to her. “Do you want me to try talking to her?”
Instead of answering, she takes off running.
I jog after her. “Margo, slow down.”
She doesn’t slow down. She wipes her eyes as she barrels through the school entrance. I find her standing against the school off to the side, clutching her books like they’re her support animal. Her eyes are watery.
“What happened?”
Margo stares at her feet, but I can’t bear to see her cry. It tears me up inside, like her pain is mine.
I want to make it better. I want her to smile. “Will you please talk to me?”
Her chin quivers. “I miss Annie.”
