Chapter 3

I typed the last line of code and let out a long breath.

I set the program to run a test, then headed out to buy my bus ticket.

When I got home and pushed open the door, the smell hit me first. Acrid. Burnt.

My laptop was open. The keyboard covered in sticky brown liquid.

I watched the screen flicker. Twice. Then black. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the motherboard.

Tally stood beside my desk. Half-empty iced latte in her hand. Looking lost.

"What are you doing?!"

My vision went red. I lunged forward, shoved her out of the way, yanked the power cord. Trying to save it.

Too late. The motherboard was fried.

I was shaking. I spun around and locked eyes on Tally. My voice came out ragged.

"Who gave you permission to touch my computer?"

My bloodshot eyes must have scared her. Tears instantly welled up in hers.

"Winter, I'm sorry… I dropped my phone in the ocean in Cancun. I needed to check Facebook."

"And the new MacBook Leo got me is still in my suitcase. I haven't unpacked it…"

She twisted her fingers. Voice wobbling with tears.

"I was just borrowing it. The cup slipped. I really didn't mean it…"

"Didn't mean it?" I was trembling with fury.

"That computer was how I was going to pay for school! I spent two weeks on that code! And you just 'didn't mean it'?"

"What is wrong with you, talking to your sister like that?!"

Mom rushed in from the bedroom. She pulled the crying Tally behind her, her forehead creased with anger.

"It's just a crappy secondhand computer! Practically an antique! It died. So what?"

"Tally didn't do it on purpose. Why are you screaming at her? You want to eat her alive?"

Dad set down his suitcase and walked over. He pulled out his wallet, annoyed.

"Is that all this is about? How much? I'll pay you. We'll go to Best Buy tomorrow and get you the newest model. Happy?"

"A family screaming at each other over a piece of junk. What a scene."

I stared at them. Tears burned at the backs of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

This was how it always was.

To them, one tear from Tally was worth more than all my effort and sacrifice.

They'd throw money at it. But they wouldn't offer a single real apology.

"A new one? Can you buy back my data? Can you buy back two weeks of my life?!"

I shouted it. Desperate. I moved to open the case and try to salvage the hard drive.

"Winter! Enough!"

Leo had just walked in. He crossed the room in three strides, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me back.

"Tally already apologized. Her dad said he'd pay you back. What more do you want?"

His grip was hard. His brow was furrowed. Disapproval and disappointment written all over his face.

"I know that computer was old. I know you're jealous."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Apple Store. Buy you something even better than Tally's. Okay?"

"Stop being so aggressive. You're scaring her."

He always thought money could fix everything. He didn't understand. I didn't want a more expensive computer. I didn't want his compensation. I just wanted to be seen.

"I don't want your charity! Get off me!"

I wrenched my arm free and lunged for the desk again, trying to get the hard drive out. Maybe there was still a chance.

"This kid just won't listen!"

Dad saw I wasn't backing down. He shoved me. Hard. Instinct.

"Get away from her!"

Caught off guard, my foot caught on something. I went backwards. No control.

A crack. My forehead hit the corner of the coffee table. Sharp, searing pain exploded across my skull.

Something warm ran down into my eye. My vision turned red.

Dead silence in the living room.

Dad's hand was still frozen in the air from the shove.

He saw the blood streaming down my forehead. Panic flickered in his eyes. And something that looked almost like pain.

"Winter…"

His lips moved. He stumbled forward a step, helpless, reaching for me.

"Ah! Blood!"

Tally shrieked. She clamped her hands over her eyes and collapsed against Leo, shaking violently.

"Tally! Tally, baby, what's wrong? It's okay, it's okay. Is your fainting thing acting up?"

Mom cried out and rushed to Tally, her face tight with panic.

Leo turned too. Wrapped his arms around Tally, holding her tight, rubbing her back. He didn't spare me a single glance.

Dad's hand, reaching for me, froze in midair.

He pulled it back.

To cover his own panic and guilt from a moment ago, he hardened his face. Shouted at me, all bluster.

"Look at this mess! Look how you've scared your sister! Go to your room! Don't come out until you've calmed down!"

I pressed my hand to my bleeding forehead and slowly got to my feet.

I didn't cry. Didn't argue.

I just watched, quiet, as the three of them circled around Tally. Completely unharmed Tally.

Blood from my forehead dripped onto the hardwood floor. A small red flower blossomed there.

The pain in my head had done one thing. It made me clear in a way I'd never been before. I wasn't angry anymore. I wasn't sad.

The only thing in this house that proved my worth and the last stupid shred of hope I'd held onto for them had been destroyed together.

Everything was simple now.

I didn't need their apologies anymore. I just needed to leave.

"Okay."

I said it softly. Walked into my room. Locked the door behind me.