A profile in the Messenger could address your worries about your reputation at Monarch, Andy explains.
Cleo blinks. Does everyone on campus know what happened to me?
Andy shakes her head. Not so far. The story didn’t name names. But since I’m on the newspaper staff, I’m privy to more information than most students.
There’s a short silence, and then Andy presses. If we do this, I’ll ask you for one important thing, though. You’ll have to be honest about your relationship with your brother.
Cleo lets out a whoosh of breath and frowns. Even after everything that’s gone down, I don’t want to affect his trial, or sentencing, or whatever it’s called.
That’s not what I mean. This story will be about you and your experience. His issues are only peripheral. But, as a reader, my question would be: How did she not know what her brother was doing? How could she have been so naïve?
I think you mean fucking clueless. Cleo sounds more like herself now.
I’m not criticizing you; I’m only trying to get to the heart of the story, Andy explains. Obviously, you have complex family dynamics. Are you willing to examine them?
I’ve never seen Andy in full journalist mode, and it’s quite impressive. I can practically see hearts coming out of Sinc’s eyes as he watches her.
Cleo seriously considers Andy’s request. She doesn’t talk much about her family. For someone so unfiltered, she’s kept their secrets tight to her chest—like her mistaken resentment towards me. She’s twisted herself up for years in the hopes of, what—making her family proud? Keeping them together? Raising a brother who is only a year younger? And I only know a tiny portion of what she’s been through.
I don’t know what the right thing is for Cleo to do. Only she can make that decision. As I look around the table, I can see that all her friends look tense and worried. They’ve known her for years and understand the way she’s been treated by her family. We’re all hoping that Cleo will put herself first.
I can almost see the tension leaving Cleo’s body as she decides. Okay. I’ll do it. I’ve already come this far, why not kick the whole fucking door down?
There’s a collective sigh of relief around the table.
Once you’ve agreed to the story, I get to write it my way. You won’t get final approval or anything. Andy is upfront about the possible negatives, which I appreciate, since Cleo probably isn’t at her sharpest right now.
You did a great job on Smitty’s profile, Knudy comments.
Well, it’s all hypothetical anyway, right? We have to find out how much all this shit costs first, says Cleo. But I vow to make sure that cost isn’t a problem.
Okay, we have a plan, Becks says. Andy’s going to look into the availability of this testing and the cost. Knudy will check the rules about practising, and I’ll find out about extra ice time and then coordinate with your schedules. She motions towards all the guys here. Get ready for those 6:30 AM practices of your childhood.
As the women leave, we pause in the living room to check the score of the game. The Wild are nursing their usual one-goal lead. Ethan doesn’t even look up, which is not a good sign for Becks.
I approach Cleo. Hey, can I talk to you alone?
Sure. She looks over at her roommates.
We’ll see you at home, Knudy says, and they leave along with Sinc, who is walking Andy home. That’s their thing.
Want to walk a bit? I suggest, and she nods.
We pull our coats and boots on and head out. It’s March, and there are signs of spring as the fresh snow melts to reveal dirtier snow underneath.
Are you okay? I ask.
Physically, yeah. But it’s weird not having any contact with my brother or father, she admits. Maybe there was a part of me that liked being the fixer.
Does that mean you’re talking to your mother?
She nods. She called me to apologize, which was the minimum that I asked for. She promised to do better and not to prioritize Jordan over me anymore. My dad had this big-deal lawyer that he was set on hiring, but without her contribution, he can’t do it. So, he and Jordan are both putting pressure on her, but she’s hanging in there.
That could have been you. Not the financial part, but getting squeezed in the middle. I hope your mom has a good support system.
Yeah, her sisters are in her corner. They can’t stand my dad. And she has her boyfriend, Graham. He’s a good guy.
Who’s helping you?
