Page 28 of Ask No Questions

“I miss you too, Pey. How’s school going?”

“It’s fine.” She paused. “Aubrey? Did you leave because of me?”

The ice around my heart cracked a bit. I could tell now that she was choking back tears. What she did was awful, but I didn’t want to keep punishing her.

“Peyton, of course not! I love you. I just needed some space and a blank slate. Brandon offered to let me start here.”

“So you didn’t leave because of what I did at Dad’s party? I know it was bad, but my friends dared me, and I didn’t want to chicken out. I’m really sorry. Mom even grounded me, like really grounded me. No TV, iPod, iPad, phone, or friends. She’s never grounded me before!”

I clenched my jaw. She did all of that because of a dare? She’s young and still learning. I couldn’t hold that against her.

“I know you’re sorry. You shouldn’t have done that, especially in front of all those people, but I’m not mad at you anymore. I love you, girlie.”

“I love you too. Thanks for not hating me.”

After hanging up, I sat looking out over the ocean, realizing how lucky I was to get away from everything back home. I loved my family, but I felt so smothered in that house. The expectations were too much for me. I couldn’t be everything my mom wanted me to be, no matter how hard I tried. I would continue to train and dance, but I could feel the freedom now to do what made me happy.

Brandon walked in later while I was sitting on the couch finishing my homework, carrying bags of take out from the Mexican food restaurant around the corner. The delicious aroma took over the kitchen and living room in seconds.

“Yum! I’m so glad you came bearing food. My stomach has been growling for hours!”

He chuckled as he emptied the bags onto the counter. “And you didn’t order anything because?”

“Because I knew my awesome brother would know how starving I was. You even picked my favorite!” I snatched up the plate of enchiladas without asking if they were his.

“Mighty presumptuous, little one.” He smirked as he unwrapped a burrito and bit in.

“I know you well enough to never get between you and a burrito.”

He struggled to swallow as he laughed. Shaking his head, he looked up at me. “You know, when it was decided you were going to come live with me, I was nervous about what I was getting into.”

“What do you mean? Parenting a teenage girl?”

“Well, that too. I was more worried about the state you were in. I thought I was going to pick up a complete wreck from the airport, and that was before I knew what you had gone through, but you are the strongest person I know.”

“I don’t know about that.” I felt uncomfortable discussing this. I preferred the joking relationship we had over discussing my feelings.

“You have thrown yourself right back into school and dance. Plus, you already have a busy social life. I was convinced I would be dragging you out of bed every day.”

“Well for all of Mom’s failings, she did one thing right.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve been in therapy since I was twelve.” I chuckled lightly at his reaction.

“Well, I guess some things didn’t change back there. I started when I was ten. Apparently, Mom thinks that’s all it takes to make up for her lack of parenting skills.”

“Paula has definitely helped me through this. She calls me every few days to make sure I’m doing all right here.”

“That’s great, I didn’t realize you were still talking to her.”

“Well, I don’t go around advertising it. She keeps track of my nightmares too.”

“Nightmares?” His brows furrowed. “I didn’t know about those.”

“They started around the time the notes and photos were getting bad, but after Morgan attacked me, they’ve become a nightly occurrence.”

“You never mentioned anything. Is there anything I can do?”