“Exactly.Fenella’s too nice.Too soft.She needs someone who’ll really take care of her.”
“Yeah, I can try.Wish me luck, I guess.”My tone’s casual.Maybe too casual.I turn around and start walking toward the prom committee room.
Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for is almost here.I’m gonna be Fenella’s hero again.She’s gonna be surprised and thrilled.After prom, she’ll say yes, and we’ll finally be together, the way it’s supposed to be.
15
You Are The Reason
Clark
A week after prom night
This summer is the worst.Mom goes on vacation with her husband again, Amy goes with Chris, and I’m left home alone.My friends are all busy with their own family trips.I never thought I’d say this, but I miss my mom.At least she’d nag me when I lie around all day in my room during summer.
I’ve told her a hundred times that marrying Mr.Schmidt is a bad idea.Because of him, I have to move out, leave my friends, and start all over.I’ve begged her more than once to get a divorce and come back to our old house.Of course, she never listens.She winsthe jackpot, and I get left alone.
I stare at the photo from graduation—me and Fenella before prom night.That morning, she still has that bright smile, like some sweet angel.In the picture, I’m standing next to her, and I have to admit, we actually look good together.We should’ve been in love.I run my fingers through my hair in frustration, take a deep breath, and keep staring at her blue eyes.
“Clark!”My door flies open.Amy and Chris storm in like they own the place.
“Amy?You can’t just walk into my room like that!”I snap, but she doesn’t care.
“You should thank me.I’m doing you a favor,” she says, tossing a brown envelope onto my desk so hard it almost knocks over my lamp.“It’s from Dad.”
I get up from the bed and half-run to the table.“You can’t just throw it like that!”I grab the envelope and freeze.“Wait—why isn’t this sealed?”
“You’re so picky,” Chris says, smacking my back so hard I flinch.
“Hey!Don’t touch that!”I yell when he starts fiddling with my action figures.I snatch one out of his hand, and he just laughs.
“I wonder why,” Amy mutters, glancing around my room like she’s inspecting something gross.
“Did you open it?”I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Why would you do that?It literally saysconfidentialon the seal.”My voice rises before I can stop it.Fear creeps in, because something feels off.
Amy rolls her eyes.“Oh, please.We’re siblings.There shouldn’t be any secrets between us.”
I pull out the documents from inside.They’re thick—some kind of legal form filled out in pen.There’s a note attached on top:
I have filed for your name change to use the name Schmidt.Please sign and send it back to your father’s office so the lawyer can file it in court.From now on, your name is Alan Schmidt.
Happy 18th birthday!
Love, Mom.
“Oh, no…” I whisper, my heart pounding.What the hell does she mean, changing my name?Like a thunderbolt hits me right between the eyes.
“Hey, look at this.”Chris’s voice pulls me back.
I turn, and my stomach drops.He’s holding the graduation photo with Fenella.Before I can move, Amy snatches it from him and looks at it too.
“Don’t touch that!”I shout, throwing the document onto the table.I rush to grab the photo, but Chris slams into me, knocking the air out of my chest.
“Shut up!”He punches me in the face.My head jerks back, and before I can react, he shoves me onto the bed.
