“Because she said hello to me?”
It was more than a friendly hello. They were laughing together. “What were you talking about?”
“School stuff,” he says slowly and meets my eyes like he’s got nothing to hide, but he’s worrying his bottom lip.
“Are you friends with her?”
He releases his lip. “What?”
“David, you're my brother.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t talk to her.”
I point to Ella who is walking out of the thrift store. “She is the only person who stands between me and Citrus Scholar.”
“So what?”
I flinch. He can’t be serious. He, of all people, should understand the pressure I’m under to succeed. The pressure we’re under. Our parents will flip if I don’t get it. And poor David will suffer. “What do you think will happen if I lose to Ella?”
“I don’t know.”
“Mom and Dad are going to be pissed. And all that rage is going to come down on you.”
He throws his hands up. “I’m trying my best. That’s all I can do, and that’s all you can do.”
I laugh harshly at him. “It’s just that simple, is it?”
“What do you think they’ll do if we don’t get Citrus Scholar?” he yells, but I can tell he’s not happy about his loss of composure. He pauses, rubs his face, and tries again at a normal tone. “Do you think they’ll disown us? Throw us on the streets? Come on, Connor.”
I don’t understand where all of this is coming from. Has Ella somehow convinced him that winning Citrus Scholar isn’t everything? That would be really rich coming from her. Our parents might not throw us on the streets, but I can’t say that for sure. Only one person has dared go against my dad, and he’s in prison.
Williamses don’t fail. Ever. They adapt. They always land on top.
“Connor,” David says, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’ll still get into college if you lose to Ella. You’ll still have a full-ride to almost any school.”
“But it won’t be Citrus Scholar. That money can’t go to Ella.”
David rolls his eyes. “Would it be so bad?”
A sound of frustration escapes the back of my throat. I can’t tell if David really doesn’t understand why it’s such a big deal or if he’s purposely being obtuse. Either way, we’re not getting anywhere. And since he doesn’t have anything to buy, there’s no reason for us to stick around. I storm out to my vehicle, not looking to see if he follows me.
I turn on the truck and stew in silence for a few moments before I realize David didn't come. I look around the parking lot and don’t see him. Leaving the engine idling, I walk back inside the store. He’s not there either.
I lean against the door of my truck and pull my phone out.
Where are you?
I got another ride home.
I look around the parking lot for the familiar station wagon. It’s gone. She’s not the person giving David a ride, right? If our parents saw her dropping off their son, they would lose their minds.
With who?
Does it matter?
David isn’t usually passive aggressive. He must be really upset with me, but I don’t understand why. Because I don’t want Ella to win? Because I want him to be Citrus Scholar when he’s a senior? I thought these were all givens, but then our conversation got weird, and he left with someone else.
How did everything get so mixed up? I’m not sure, but I don’t have any other choice but to go home alone and figure this all out.
