Chapter 2

Dawn broke the next morning. I dragged myself home with soaked pant legs and mud.

I caught the earliest bus and borrowed a charger from the driver.

I hadn't been home all night.

My phone powered on.

The family group chat had exploded with over a hundred messages.

Maya shared photos of autumn leaves. Mom and Dad sent Thanksgiving red envelopes. Cole posted his signature home-cooked dish.

The only private message was from work.

"Take a few days off. You'll be gone for ten years. Go spend time with family. Departure the day after tomorrow, on time."

I stood outside the front door for a long time.

In my hand were five Disneyland tickets. A whole month of overtime.

Last month, I overheard them say, "Wouldn't it be nice if the whole family went to Disneyland." I thought it was a secret code to finally belong.

The code had expired.

I kept my own ticket. Slipped the other four under the door.

The door flew open.

Maya yanked me inside. Cole dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.

Soaked to the bone, I crashed to the floor.

Maya shouted with glee.

"I bet she cries first."

Cole snorted.

"I bet she throws a tantrum first."

Mom and Dad looked at my wrecked state, doubled over laughing.

"Quick, see how Rain reacts. Losers get on their knees and apologize."

All four sets of eyes landed on me again.

But I didn't cry. Didn't scream. I forced myself up despite the scraped, bleeding wound on my palm.

I stood before them, looking down coldly at the four people still on the floor.

"You all lost. Kneel. Apologize."

Maya's eyes squeezed shut. She screamed.

Cole shoved me hard.

"Rain, what the hell?!"

Mom and Dad rushed to shield Maya between them.

"Don't be so dramatic. We're family, it's just a joke. You always overreact."

I never actually intended to make Maya kneel.

I just wanted to know, if Maya were the one hurt.

Would they still find it funny.

Now I had my answer.

The four Disneyland tickets lay at my feet, soaked and trampled to shreds.

Maya followed my gaze.

She thought it was about the tickets. Her face twisted with rage.

"It's just some crappy tickets. Like anyone cares. Mom and Dad already took me ages ago. Why play the saint now?"

"Learn to take a joke!"

I froze, hand still midair.

I'd always wanted to make my parents laugh the way my sister did.

So last month, when they casually mentioned wanting a family trip to Disneyland, I engraved it in my memory.

They'd already gone.

Their "whole family" never included me.

Mom and Dad frowned and ordered me.

"Look how you scared your sister! Tell her right now it was just a joke."

Cole stepped forward, his voice gentle.

"Rain, the engagement party is the day after tomorrow. Don't make things too ugly with your family. It'll look bad for you."

He sounded like he was thinking of me. Every word favored Maya.

Facing the four of them, I just felt hollow.

I'd come home planning to tell Cole it was over. To cancel the engagement.

But now, I wanted to use that party to finish the prank game I had custom-designed for my family.

I pinched my shirt and gave Maya a pathetic apology.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong."

She smirked.

"Hmph. That's more like it."

She turned, smirking at Mom, Dad, and Cole.

"The day after tomorrow's engagement party will be the peak of my prank career."

"Tell her to just wait."