Chapter 28

       When my parents went out for dinner, I took it as the perfect opportunity to invite Orchid over since Dad rarely let her come over. I've been to her house many times, but that was only because Orchid had a lot more siblings to take her side than I did.

       Mom and Athena were the only two telling Dad to get over it. Evelyn, on the other hand, took any chance she got to disagree with me because that was what older sisters did apparently.

       "Has that piano always been there?" Orchid said, eyeing the piano as soon as we walked into my house. "Because I swear that has never been there."

       "That has always been there," I said. "You just haven't noticed because you are never over. And I wonder why that is."

       "Okay, there's no need for you to be salty when it's directed towards your dad, yet he's not even here," Orchid said before grabbing my arm and pulling me to the piano. "Can you play it for me?"

       "I love how you asked me to play, yet you pull me here before you ask," I said, though I sat down at the piano anyway. "I will, though. Just for you."

       I only pressed one key before Evelyn yelled from upstairs, "Atticus, shut up! I'm trying to watch TV!"

       "I'm sorry, what was that?!" I called back before continuing to play the piano, but as loud as I could just to irritate my ever-so wonderful older sister.

       Evelyn, of course, then came down the stairs and placed her hand on top of mine to stop me from playing the piano. "Shut. Up."

       "I can't shut up if I'm not even talking," I said. 

       "I mean stop playing the piano," Evelyn said. "Go play your viola or something."

       "It's a violin, and you know that," I said. "And how about you go take a long walk off a short bridge?"

       "Viola, violin, what the hell is the difference?"

       "Well, for starters, a violin is a bit smaller and has a much higher pitched than a vio--"

       "Atticus, read my lips. I don't care."

       "You asked."

       "I was being sarcastic."

       "Were you? I couldn't tell. Your voice sounds boring no matter what you say."

       "Just keep the piano playing to a minimum."

       "And why do I have to listen to you?"

       "Uh, because Mom and Dad are gone, so I'm in charge."

       I raised an eyebrow. "You're in charge? First off, I'm eighteen. Second, you didn't even live here a few months ago. And third, I'm probably more responsible than you."

       "More responsible? You were arrested."

       "Yes, for smashing a pig's car window because he's, well, a pig."

       "Didn't you also get into a car crash?"

       "That's not fair," Orchid spoke up. "The car crash wasn't his fault, and I would know because I was in the car with him."

       "Evelyn, you know, part of me was glad you decided to move back home and be with the family," I said. "The other part of me, the bigger part, kind of wished you would move to Antarctica and never talk to me again. I already went through enough shit constantly blaming myself for the car crash, which caused my girlfriend's brother to be paralyzed. I don't need that guilt coming back, so please do me the favour and kindly fuck off. Or, better yet, I'll go to the Prince's house where my presence is more appreciated."

       I got up from the piano and grabbed Orchid's arm, pulling her to the front door. I put my shoes on and she did the same, not saying a single thing until we were out of the house.

       "Wow," she said. "I never knew you and your sister didn't get along so well."

       I sighed. "Yeah. Our personalities just clash a lot, and she doesn't seem to think that my emotional detachment isn't a thing, so like I said, she can fuck off and move to Antarctica. Anyway, can we actually go to your house? Your dad doesn't hate on me as much as Evelyn. He just glares at me, and it's funny."

       Orchid chuckled. "Sure. William misses you anyway."

       "Yeah, right," I said. "I'm not good with kids, so I don't know how he could miss me."

       He apparently did because as soon as Orchid and I walked into the house, William ran over as fast as his little toddler legs could before wrapping his arms around my legs.

       "See, I told you," Orchid said.

       I just awkwardly stood there, not knowing what to do. How did one even interact with kids?

       "Orchid, thank goodness you're here," Nolan said, walking out of his bedroom. Yes, walking. He did have to use a walker, but he was no longer in a wheelchair and that made me really happy.

       Well, just at home and any other places he went except for school. School he was still going to use his wheelchair because he still had physiotherapy and walking to all his classes was going to be too much for him as of right now.

       "Why? What's wrong?" Orchid asked.

       "What's wrong? My boyfriend's mad at me, that's what's wrong," Nolan said. "I do one small thing, and he won't talk to me."

       "You cheated!" Jerome called from the bedroom.

       "Whoa, cheated?!" Orchid asked. "What the hell, Nolan?!"

       "No!" Nolan said. "Not like that! He just thinks I cheated in Mario because I bet him every single round."

       "You hate video games, Nolan! You cheating cheater!"

       "Jerome, Mario Kart was literally one of the few things I could do all day when I was paralyzed! I got good! I can even beat Ryder!" Nolan then looked at Orchid. "Can you go talk some sense into him?"

       "I most certainly will by beating him with a pillow," Orchid said before heading into the bedroom.

       "So...." I said to Nolan. "How's physiotherapy going?"

       "Really good," Nolan said. "I'm just happy that this means I'll most definitely be able to walk across the stage during graduation. It might be with this walker, but it's better than nothing. Hey, so while my sister is beating my boyfriend with a pillow, are you going to a promposal to Orchid."

       "Promposal? Gross," I said. "....Should I?'

       Nolan shrugged. "I don't know. I was just asking if you were doing one."

       "But now I feel like I have to do one. Is Orchid expecting me too?"

       "I don't know. I'm useless with relationship advice."

       "How? You've been with the same guy for almost three years."

       "I know. But gay relationships are less confusing than straight relationships. I don't understand you breeders."

       Orchid walked out of the bedroom. "All done. He's not mad at you anymore."

       "Thanks," Nolan said, heading back into the bedroom.

       Great, no I didn't know if I should actually do a promposal for Orchid. I just kind of expected we would go together.

       She wasn't expecting one. Was she?

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Promposals suck, js.

Lol jk jk (kind of)(my brother was my prom date so im salty about prom)(that and i hate dances)(prom was the only high school dance i went to lol)