erpret the chipped-paint Morse code's mysterious messages. Sadly, all it

g in my head from that

ut for her, Chris. Tr

't an abandoned puppy

n what? Sister? daughter? Responsibility? The

coffee with that maddeningly poised face. The kind of look that screamed, Don't

ght of taking on a bratty, sarcastic

h

nly the faint outline of a water

that had been building in my throat. Why did I car

ke and the moral compass of a Boy Scout. So why did I f

inning of... whatever this was. Wright had looked at me like

sed together in an expression that wasn't

'd interpreted

irl-share-a-genetic-pool-w

e had known Ethan during his golden yea

, only this one didn't come with subtitles to decode Wright's ex

glass that might shatter under his gaze or like I am

uldn't name-things that knotted up in my chest

ays there, never too close, never too far, h

soft breathing from the bunk above me. She'd fallen asleep ages ago, blis

The walls were covered in mismatched posters-Mia's were bright an

n had forced me to watch. It was called 'Dead Poets Society', and I'd ke

e room couldn't pull me ou

's attention? Was it a pity? Obli

ake sure I had someone to lean on. He didn't know I hated the idea of leaning on anyone, least of all

d tried, I guess. But then he remarried, and it was like som

lem, literally the problem! The one who didn't fit neatly into the p

ories coming back like a

thrown like blades. My stepmother's loud voice cutting through the air, accusing

sided

me with my science projects looked me in the eye an

away. To the boarding school that

ving in his apartment miles away. I hadn't told him. I

unannounced, his face a mix of rage and heartbreak. I sti

you tell me,

final blow! I can feel his emotion

l. "Because it's not your problem

voice rising. "You're my sister

desperate to make sure I wasn't completely alone. An

ant to give him any more trouble!

face from that day flashed in my mind again-equal parts surprised a

nder what he saw when he looked at me. Did he see me

y head. I hated how his presence seeme

w a small, traitorous part

alls were growing, and I didn't know how