aao ichapter10 2
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
PreviouslyonAnApocalypseofIce:
IhopeyoureadChapter10.1,becausethesetwochaptersgohand‐in‐hand.ButChapter10.1canbesummedupinoneword:Drama.Iprobablyshouldhavejustcalledit“Drama”insteadof“Fairyland,”butthatwouldhaveobscuredthefactsthat(a)manyofthefamilymembersarelivingintheirownliHlefairylands;(b)dramawillprobablyjustconJnueforawhile.Whydidn’tIjustkeepmyApocalypseadorable?Why?
Butinanutshell:Willdidnotenjoycollege,becausehewasstrugglingtosurviveonveryliHlemoneyincondiJonsrivalingthebeginningoftheApoc.Whilethere,hisLTWflippedto20WooHoos.ThefamilydiscussedapotenJalmarriagebetweenWillandJanTellerman,atheoristwhoalsohappenstobeJulian’sgirlfriend.Needlesstosay,thatdiscussiondidn’tgowell.Itdidn’thelpwhenSabrieloverhearditandwentnuts,becauseshethinkssheshouldbetheheir.AndWillcamebacktoWineXell,hadabigfightwithSabriel,andmetAlayne.DANGER,WILLROBINSONSTARK!Arthur’stheonlyonewhoqualifiesasnormal;hejustwantsaboyfriendandanice,quietlife.
“QUITLEAKING,YOU.NOW.”Sabrieltookanotherswingattheshowerwithherwrench.HermoodhadbeenfinebeforeWillturnedup,butnowshejustwantedtohitsomething.
“Sabriel?”
“GOAWAY.”
“That’snotactuallygoingtofixtheshower,”sheheardArthursay.“It’sprobablygoingtomakeitworse.”
“Howdoyouknow?”
“Ihavemoremechanicalpointsthanyou.”
“FINE,”sheanswered,droppingherwrench.Sabrielturnedbacktoglareattheshower.“YouareNOToffthehook.”
“What’sgoingonthat’ssobadthatyouhavetotakeitoutoninnocentpiecesofplumbing?”
“Youknowwhat’ssobad.”
“No,Idon’t.”
“IsawWillyesterday.”
“What?Where?Whydidn’thecomeseeus?”
“See?Mypointexactly.He’sjuststrollingaroundWinterfell,hangingoutwiththisSpencerFitzhughguy,anddoesn’tgiveadamnaboutus.Whatkindofheirishegoingtobe?”
“Sabriel…don’tcomeaiermewiththatwrench,but…”Arthurgraspedhischinashethoughtaboutwhattosaynexttoavoidthenextoutburstbeingdirectedathiminsteadofatsomeonewhowasn’tpresent.“Idon’tknowtheanswertothatquesJon.Ididn’tpickWilltobetheheir.MomandDaddid.AndIdon’tthinkhedoesn’tcare…wait,youhaven’tinterruptedmealready?”
“WhatdoesitmaHer?”sheasked.“They’vealreadydecidedagainstme,justbecauseI’magirl.”
“Ionlyknowwhatyou’vetoldme,butIdon’tthinkthat’swhathappened,”Arthursaid.“Idon’tthinktheydecidedagainstyou.That’snotthekindofthingthey’ddo.TheyjustdecidedforWill.Andifhedoesn’twantit,thenyoucanhaveit.Idon’twanttobetheheir.”
Sabrielstaredatherpieces.“IsJlldon’tseewhythey’ddecideforWill,”shemuHered.Hewasn’tresponsibleenough.Plus,therewasnowayhe’dwanttobeheiranyway.
“Becausehewantsit?Idon’tknow.Justaskthem.They’reprobablynotasclosed‐mindedaboutitasyouthink.”
Sabrielopenedhermouthtotalkagain,butshecouldn’tthinkofanythingtosay.ShewassJllpreHysurethatherparentshaddecidedagainsther—butwhatiftheyhadn’t?“I’mabouttotopmycareer,”shesaid.“ThatseemslikeagoodJmetotalktothem.”
“Doitthen,doitbeforethen—justtellthem.”
“Weshoulddoourassignmentsfirst,though.Youdon’twanttotalktoDadwhileyou’resJllthisupset.I’drathernotseehimgetpunchedinthenoseanyJmesoon.”
“Iwouldnotpunchhiminthenose.”
“Wouldn’tputitpastyou,though.”
“Beatyou,”Sabrielsaid,standingupasshefinished.
“Wasitarace?”Arthuraskedashecheckedtheanswersonhismathproblems.
“Whynot?”
Likemostofthefamily,JulianhadtakenadvantageofanopportunitytoleavethehousewhenBriHanyAmanacalledtosayshewashosJngaget‐togethernowthatherphonelineswereopen.
Hehadalwayslikedher,hethought.JulianandhisbrothershadbeenfriendswithBriHanysincetheywereteenagers,andsheplayedameangameofchess—withoutcheaJng.HehadevenflirtedwithheracoupleofJmes.ButshelookedabouttenJmesmorebeauJfulthanherememberedinthatmoment.
SowhenJuliankissedher,hewasn’tthinkingaboutthefactthathemightbeabouttoloseJanoraboutMal’sfriendshipwithBriHany.Hehadalwayswantedtofindlovewheneverhecould.ThissituaJondidn’tchangethat.BriHanywasagoodfriend,andJulianlikedheralot.
AndBriHanysureseemedhappytherestoftheevening.
Ofcourse,theStarkshadnowayofknowingthattherewasanothersuccessfulscienJstintheneighborhood(specifically,aninventor)makingherwayupthecareerladder.Eveniftheyhadknown,theywouldn’thavewantedtoarrangehermarriagetoWill.
“Will?Hi,it’sAlayne!It’ssogreattotalktoyou.Ijustwantedtomakesureyou’dgoHenbacktoOldtownsafely—what?Youhaveclassinanhour?Okay,I’lltrytocallyoubacksoon,ifIcan!”
“She’swaytoohappy,”AliobservedoverachessgamewithJocelyn.
“That’snotnecessarilybad,”Jocelynsaid.“Maybeshe’sfalleninlove.She’sRomance,isn’tshe?Ithinkfallinginlovewouldbegoodforher.”
“Aslongasshedoesn’tfallinlovewiththewrongperson.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
AlitookalookaroundthehousetomakesureAlaynewasn’tthere,thenanswered,“WillStark.I’vebeentryingtowarnhimabouther,buthedoesn’tbelieveme.Icanunderstandwhy—Ididn’tthinkthedeadcouldcomebackbefore—buthecouldbeindanger.”
“Danger?”
“Jocelyn,he’shergreat‐grandson.That’sjustwrong.”
“Well,Iknowthat,but—that’sjustnotwhatIusuallythinkofasdanger.Iheardanger,andIthinkshe’sgoingtokillhim.”
ThevolumeofAli’svoicedroppedanothernotch.“Iwouldn’tputitpasther,ifshedoesn’tthinkshecangetwhatshewantsfromhim.”
“And—doesn’thehavesiblings?”
“Two.But—”
“What?”
Ifshekilledallofthem,thenshe’dinherit,Alienathoughtasshestaredatthenewspaper,lookingforajobopening.No.Thatcan’thappen.
Aierall,sheandJocelynweregoingtohaveababy.Alihadalwayswantedachild,butlatelyshehadstartedwonderingwhatkindoflifehersonordaughtermighthavewhilelivinginahousewithAlayne.
Forherpart,JocelyntriedtobenicetoAlayne.Theywerelivinginthesamehouse,aierall.
ButsomeJmes,everythingshedidmadeJocelynsoangry,evenwhenshetriedtobepolite.Especiallywhenshetriedtobepolite.
“Sabriel,I’mworriedaboutyou,”Chrissaidasshecaughtherdaughterabouttogoupthestairs.“Youseemso—angry,somuchoftheJme.Issomethingwrong?”
“No,nothing,”sheansweredautomaJcally.ButthensherememberedArthur’sadvice.Itwasworthatleastknowingifherparentshaddecidedagainsther,wasn’tit?“But—whyisWilltheheir?Whydoyouthinkhe’dbebestatit?”
“Oh,sweeJe,”Chrissaid.ShewantedtohugSabriel,butherdaughterdidn’tseemtolikehugs.Infact,ChrisbelatedlyrememberedthatSabrieldidn’tlikebeingcalled“sweeJe”either.“Isthisbecausewedidn’tchooseyou?”
WhydidSabrielfeelsostupidaboutitnowthathermomhadsaiditthatway?Ifshehadn’tbeensoniceaboutit,thenSabrielwouldhavebeenabletostayangry.Shenodded.
“Well…”Chrispausedagaintodecidehowtophrasethings.“It’snotbecausewedon’tthinkyou’dbegoodatit—”
“I’dbebeHerthanWill,”Sabrielinterrupted.“Mom,someJmesIdon’tthinkheevencares.”
“Don’tsaythat.Don’tyourememberhowhehelpedyoutakeyourfirststeps?”Chrisasked.“Hewasjustasworriedaboutwhetheryouweregoingtobeokayaswewere.Maybemore.”Aierall,shehadraisedtwobabiesbeforeSabriel.“Willcaressomuchaboutthisfamily.He’scaredsincebeforeyouwereborn.Sodon’tyoudaresaythat.”
Sabrielhadneverheardhermomspeaklikethatbefore,soshedidn’tknowwhattosay.
“Canyoupipedownoverthere?”Brandonasked.“Thisisfrommypublisher,andIwanttohearwhatshe’ssaying.Hello,thisisBrandon—what?TheEconomicsofJusGceisn’tsellingaswellasyouexpected?”
“I’llwritesomethingelsethat’llbeabiggermoney‐maker,then,”hemuHeredashesatdowninfrontofthecomputer.“AndthenI’llfindapublisherwho’sactuallywillingtopromotemywork.”
SabrielputasmileonherfaceasshesteppeduptothepodiumtopracJceherspeech.Itwasn’tanythingshehadplannedforschool;itwasjustsomethingthathadcometoherwhilestaringatchesspiecestheotherdayandtryingnottothinkaboutwhathermomhadsaidtoher.
“Letmeoutlinemythree‐stepplanfortakingovertheworld.”
“Stepone:Takeoverthethirdfloorbathroom.”
“Sabriel!”sheheardsomebodyyellingoutside.“Ineedtotakeashower!”
“There’sashoweronthesecondfloor!”shecalled,laughing.
“Steptwo—ah,forgetit.Playingpirateismorefun.Andit’sgoodpracGceformyfuture.”Exceptshehadmuckeduptherestofherfuture,hadn’tshe?
Sabrielkeptrowing.Itdidn’tmaHer.She’dshowthemanyway.
“Thanksforcomingovertoday,”ArthursaidtoRicky.“IthinkwemightneedtoworkonthatgroupprojectforhistoryaliHlemore,though.”
“Nosweat,”hesaid.“It’sfuntobehere,evenifIthinkyoursister’sgoingtoripmyheadoffsomeJme.”
Arthurlaughed.“Ithinkshe’smoreinterestedinrippingotherpeople’sheadsoff.”Hepaused.“Ididn’tthinkyoulikedmeforthelongestJme,youknow.”
“Whywouldn’tIlikeyou?”Rickyasked.“Wait…isthatyourdad?”
“…Crap.”
“Hey,Arthur,”Malsaid.
“Uh,hi,Dad.”ArthurletgoofRicky’shands.“I’llseeyouatschooltomorrow,okay?”
“Isheyour—boyfriend?”Malasked.
“Um…Iguessso,”Arthursaid.Hedidn’tmindthatSabrielknew.Shedidn’tseemtocare,andsheprobablywouldhavefigureditoutalready.Butherealizedthathehadn’twantedhisdadtofindoutthathelikedguys.MaybeMalwouldhavefoundoutlater,butArthurhadn’tthoughtitthroughthatfar.
“Whydoyoulooksonervous?”
“Um—everyoneelselikesgirls.Don’tthey?Ididn’tknowifIwassupposedto…”
“You’resupposedtodowhatevermakesyouhappy,”Malsaid.“Andthatmeanslovinganyonewhoyouwanttolove.”
“Youmeanthat?”
“OfcourseIdo!”Malsmiled.“Idon’tknowwhereyougotthatideafrom.YourunclesandIlikewomen,yes,butwhoyouloveisyourdecision.IjustwanttoseeyouandWillandSabrielhappy.”
“Now,doyouwanttotellmemoreabouthim?Hisname’sRicky,right?”
“Yeah.”
Willhadbeendreamingabout—whatwasit?Hefeltlikeitwasjustoutofhisgrasp.Whateveritwas,heknewforsurethatithadabsolutelynothingtodowiththree‐dimensionalcalculus.
“IguessIhadtowakeupeventually,didn’tI?”hemuHered,rubbinghiseyes.Timewasn’tgoingtostopforhim,aierall.Willcouldn’tstayinbedandcomplainanymore.Hehadtowakeupandtackleeverythingthathehadtodotoday.
WillhadactuallymadefriendswithDerek,whodeliveredanewspapertohishouseeverymorning.Hewasn’tsureexactlywhyDerekbothereddeliveringthething,becausetherewasnothinginit,butitwasajobforDerekanditbroughtsomeonebyhishousetochatwith.
“Fight!Fight!Fight!”Willfinished,raisinghisfistintheairashechantedtheOldtownschoolcheer.
“WhatareyoufighJngfor?”
“Idon’tknow.It’snotlikewehaveasportsteam,exceptifthere’ssuchathingascompeJJvesnowballfighJng.”Willshrugged.
HehadalsometCandiceMamuyacatthelibraryandquicklydeterminedthatshewasthecutestofthefewgirlsheknewincollege.
Healsolikedanyonewhowasupforagoodsnowballfight.
“YouareSOdead,”CandiceteasedWill.
WilljumpedfromtheplaceCandicewasaimingfortoanotherspotafewfeetaway.“Onlyifyouhitme!”
ItwasalmostlikeoldJmesbackatthehouse.ButwhenWilllookedbackonthat,hedidn’tthinkhe’deverbethatcarefreeagain.
JulianknockedonthedoorofBriHany’shouse,thenlethimselfin.Itwasn’tthemostpolitethingtodo,buthewantedtotalktoBriHanybadlyenoughthathedidn’treallycare.He’dbeenthinkingabouthereversincethepartyatherhouseacoupleofdaysago.
HerroommateMayalookedoverfromthepillowfightcurrentlyconsumingheraHenJon.“Julian?”sheasked.“Isthatyou?”
“Yeah,”Juliansaid.BrandonandMayahadbeengoodfriendsforawhile,butshewasFamily,soJulianhadneverbeenthatinterestedinher.“IsBriHanyaround?Ineedtotalktoher.”
“Sorry,shejustleiforwork,”Mayasaid.“She’snotgoingtobebackunJlabout11.”
Juliancheckedtheclockonthestove.ThereweresJllseveralhoursleiunJlthen.
“Well—canIwaitforher?”Julianasked.
Mayashrugged.“Sure,”shesaid.“Aslongasyoudon’tmindZackandIpillow‐fighJng.”
Juliansatdownatthechessboard,buthedidn’ttakethepiecesoutyet.Hehadn’tthoughtofanythingtosayonhiswayoverhere.Instead,hehadjustfiguredhe’dworkitoutwhenhesawBriHany.Nowthathehadfourhourstowait,heshouldprobablythinkofsomething.
Whyhadhecomehereinthefirstplace?
BecauseBriHanywascharming,intelligent,andgorgeous.Hedidn’twanttoloseher,too.
AiercheckingtheclockwaytoomanyJmes,BriHanyfinallywalkedinthedoor.“Hey,Maya!I’mback!”shecalled.Then,shestoppedandsmiled.“Julian!”
Wassheblushing?
“It’sgreattoseeyou!”BriHanysaid,throwingherarmsaroundJulian.“Howdidyoudecidetocomehere?”
“Ijustdroppedby,”Julianexplained.“Ofcourse,itwasatthebeginningofyourshii.”
“Youshouldn’thave,”BriHanysaid.“Actually,Iwasjustsayingthattobepolite.Youdefinitelyshouldhave.Otherwise,Iwouldn’thavegoHentoseeyouunJlwhoknowswhen.”
“Ilikethewayyouthink,”Juliantoldher.
JulianrealizedhehadcomeheretoseeifhecouldfallinlovewithBriHany.Helikedher,andheknewshelikedhim,butthatwasn’tenough.Hedidn’twanttobewithBriHanyjustbecauseshewasthereandhedidn’twanttobealoneonceWillmarriedJan.
Butashelookedather,herealizedthatwasn’thisreasonfordoingthisatall.Juliandidloveher.Hedidn’tloveBriHanythesamewaythathelovedJan,butitwouldn’tberightifhedid,wouldit?
AndnowshehadgoHendownonherkneesandpulledoutaring.“Iknowthisisprobablyatotalshocktoyou—”
“Itis,”Juliansaid.Buthecouldn’thidehissmileverywell,andBriHanyknewit.
“Ican’tsayIwanttospendtherestofmylifewithyou,becauseIknowIwon’t,”sheconJnued.“ButIloveyou,andIknowIwanttospendasmuchJmewithyouasIcan.Willyoumarryme?”
“Idon’tknowifIshould.Idon’t—Iwanttosayyes—”Butwasittherightthingtodo?
“Thensayit.”
Juliantookadeepbreath.“Yes,”hesaid,pulngtheringonhisfinger.
ApartofJulianwonderedwhathewasdoing.HewasaRomanceSim.Hewassupposedtohatetheveryideaofgelngmarried.Buthedidn’tcare.
Besides,itwasn’tasifbeingengagedmeanthavingnofunofanykind.
Juliangotupafewhourslater.Hedidn’twanttoleaveyet,buthehadafeelingthatifhedidn’tgobacktothehouse,hisbrotherswouldstartmobilizingsearchparJestotrackhimdown.
“I’llcomebackassoonasIcan,”hewhisperedbeforehelei.
“How’syourcareergoing?”MalaskedSabriel.He’dbarelyspokentoheroverthelastfewdaysexceptforafewmumbledwordsoverdinner,andaierChrishadtoldhimabouttheirconversaJonabouttheheirship,hewantedtotrytoclearthingsup.
“Okay,”shesaid.“I’mclosetogelngpromoted.”ButSabrieldidn’tlookathim.
“Isthisthelastonebeforeyougettothetop?”
“Itis.”Shepaused,andMalwonderedwhatshewasabouttosay.“IwasgoingtogotalktoyouonceIreachedthetopandaskifIcouldbetheheir.”
“Andnow?”
“Now?YoutalkedtoMom,didn’tyou?”Sabrielasked.“AiershethinksIinsultedWill?”Shewasn’tgoingtoapologize.Shehadn’tdoneanythingwrong,unlesssayingwhatshethoughtwaswrong.ButSabrieldidn’tknowifsayingshedidn’tthinkWillcaredhaddugherholedeeper.
“Well,Idon’twanttoseeyouhurt,”Malsaid.“Butyourmomwasright,Sabriel.Willcaresaboutourfamilyalot.Maybehe’shavingsometoughJmesatcollege,butIdon’tthinkthatit’sgoingtochange.”
“DoeshecareenoughtomarryJanTellerman?”Sabrielasked,tryingtostaycalmthisJme.“Becausethatwon’tbeaproblemwithme.I’llmarrywhoyouwantmetomarry.Theonlyproblemwithme—”shetriedtogetthosewordsthatshedidn’tbelieveout,“isthatI’magirl.”
“Idon’tthinkthat’saproblem.”Atfirst,Malthoughtthattheproblemmightbeeavesdropping,buthecouldn’tblameSabrielbecauseeveryoneheardeverythinginthehouse.Besides,itmeantshehadthemakingsofagoodadventurer:alwayspayingaHenJontohersurroundings.
“ButUncleBrandonsaid‘eldestsoninherits.’Ofcourseit’saproblem.So’sbeingtheyoungest,Iguess.“
“WillsJllmightnotagree,”Malpointedout.“Idon’tthinkhewould,butit’spossible.AndJanmightnotagree,either.”ButSabrieldidn’tlookanybeHer,andMaldidn’tthinkhe’dfeelanybeHerinhershoes.“Letmeaskyouthis—whydoyouwanttobetheheir?”
“IthinkI’dbethebestatit,”Sabrielansweredquickly.“IknowI’ddoagoodjobleadingthefamily.Iknowit’shardsomeJmes,butIcandoit.Justtrustme.”
Malrealizedhehadbeenholdinghisbreath.Heletitout,knowingthatheandChrishadmadetherightdecision.“WhenWillwasborn,ItoldmyselfthatifIlovedhimenough,everythingwouldbefine,”heexplained.
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
MalrealizedthathewasansweringaquesJonSabrielhadneverasked.“Beingtheheirisn’taboutwho’sincharge,”heexplained.“Well,itis.ButBrandonneverwouldhavesteppedaside,ifthatwasallitwas.I’vealwaysthoughtitwasaboutlove.Loveforthefamilyandtheworkthatwedo,foryourspouse,andforthenextgeneraJon.AndIthinkWillunderstandsthat,andthat’sbeHerforthefamilyinthelongrun.”
Sabrielclosedhereyes.Whatifhewasright?She’dneverthoughtabouthavingchildren.Shewasn’tevenaHractedtoanyoneatschool.Butshecouldn’tgiveup.“It’snotlikeIdon’tloveyou,”shesaid.“Andhowcanitbeallaboutloveifyoudon’thaveacluehowtoleadthefamily?”
“Sabriel,lookatme,”Malsaid.“You’regoingtohaveagreatlife.You’llgotocollegeanddosomethinggreatwhenyoucomeback.Andyoucangoonalltheadventuresyouwantonceyou’redone.Idon’tthinkthere’sgoingtobeanythingyouwon’tbeabletodo.”
“Itdoesn’tmaHer!That’snotwhatIwant.”
“I’msorry,sweeJe.Iknowthisisimportanttoyou.Butit’snotbecauseIdon’tloveyouorbecauseIdon’tthinkyoucandoit.”
“Well,that’snotwhatitfeelslike.”Sabrielslammedherhanddownontheedgeofthetableandwalkedaway.
ButSabrielwasbacktoherusualselfasshegotoutofthecar,poinJngherfingeratwhoevershewantedtoshowatthemoment.Shehadmadeittothetop,securinganinternshipthatwouldlastunJlsheleiforcollege.
Thensherememberedthatthisdidn’tmeanwhatshehadthoughtitwouldhavemeanteversincesheoverheardtheconversaJonaboutmarryingWilltoJan.
“Imean,it’shardtoarguewhenDadkeepssayingthingslikehowit’sgoingtobethebestforthefamily,”SabrieltoldArthuroverdinner.“ButIcan’tjustsitdownandacceptthis.Idon’tknowhow.”
“Youwouldn’tbeyouifyoudidn’twanttoruletheworld,”Arthurpointedout.
“Damnstraight.AndWill’ssJllgoingtoneedmyhelp.”
“He’llneedmyhelp,too,”Arthursaid.“It’llbegoodtoseehimagain.Phonesgouptomorrow,sohe’llbeabletovisit,andthenI’llcallovertoOldtownandgetreadyforcollege.”
Sabrielnodded.“I’vedecidedtogotocollegeatthesameJmeasyou,”shesaid.“IthinkI’mready.”
“Areyousure?”Arthurasked.
“Duh.I’vegotgreatgradesandI’matthetopofmycareer.IguessIcouldgoforafewmorescholarships,butIfeellikemyworkhereisdone.AndIneedtogetoutofhere,Arthur.”Sabriellookedaroundatthewallpaper.“IfeellikeI’msloggingthroughthreefeetofsnow.Ineedcollegetobedifferent.Iknowit’snotgoingtoallbesmoothsailing,butIhavetodosomethingformyselfinsteadofsilngaroundwhileeveryoneelsedoeseverything.”
“Idon’tthinkyou’vebeensilngaround.You’reworking,andyouhavethesamenumberofscholarshipsasme,eventhoughyou’reyounger.”
Sabrielwavedherhand.“Yeah,butthat’sjustdoingstupidinternstuff,books,andchess.Ineedanadventure.Silnginmoreclassroomsisgoingtobeboring,butatleastI’llbeonmywaythere.”
“You’releavingforcollegetonight?That’sgreat!”Malclappedhishands.“I’llmissyou,butI’msogladyou’regoingtobeabletogo.IknowI’vesaidthisadozenJmes,butIreallywishIcoulddowhatyou’redoingnow.”
“I’mlookingforwardtoit,too,”Arthursaid.Hewasn’tsureifhe’dlookforwardtocollegeasmuchifhedidn’tknowhowmuchitmeanttohismomanddad.Besides,hedidn’tfeellikehewasreadyforarealjobyet,andthiswasawaytoputitoffforawhilelonger.“It’sabigworldoutthere,andIwanttoseemoreofit.Notasmuchasyouhave,orasmuchasSabrielwantsto,butjustaliHlemoreoutsidethishouse.”
Malnodded.“Thereisalottosee.And—Sabriel’sgoingwithyou?”Shehadtoldhimaboutherdecisionearlier.EventhoughMalsJllhopedshewouldchangehermindandstayhomeforafewmoredays,hedidn’twanttoforceSabrieltodoanything,evenifhecould.
“Yeah.”
HerealizedthathewasstarJngtotearup.Willwouldcomebacktohimsoon,butnowallhischildrenweregoingtobegone.Maldidn’twanttothinkabouthowemptythehousewouldfeel.
“Youallright,Dad?”
“I’mhappyforyou,”Malsaid,givingArthurathumbs‐up.“Butit’sgoingtobesadnothavinganyofmybabiesaround.”
“I’mnotababy,”Arthurremindedhim.
“Iknow.”ButsomeJmes,hesJllseemedsoyoungtoMal.Theyalldid,especiallynowthathedidn’tmovearoundthehouseasquicklyasheusedto.
Hetriedtoshakeitoff:“Well—letmeknowifthere’sanythingIcanhelpyouwith—”
“Maybewithmymechanicalskill?”Arthurasked.“I’msJlltryingtogetthatscholarship.”
“Yougotit.”
Acrosstheroom,ChriswashelpingSabrielwithherskills.
“That’samazing.”SabrielgapedasshelookedatthepainJng.“That’stotallyawesome.”
“Isn’tit?”Chrisasks.“IlovethewaythearJstshowedthewavescomingintothesea.”
“Whydon’ttheypaintanymore?”Sabrielasked.
Chrisshookherhead.“Iguessit’sjustnotsomethinganyonethinksabout.”
Sabriellookedatherbookagain.Thiswasn’tthefirstnormalconversaJonshe’dhadwithhermomsinceChrishadshoutedather,butSabrielsJllfeltlikeshehadtoJptoearoundhermomalot.ShedidnotJptoeverywell.
“Iwonderwhatcollegeisgoingtobelike,”sheobserved,lookingaway.“Didyougo?”
Chrisshookherhead.“Itwasamistake,”shesaid.“Ididn’tthinkIneededit.IwaspreHystupidwhenIwasyounger.”Sheturnedthepage,andtheyfocusedonthebooksforawhile.
Arthurcouldn’thelpbutpanicashepulledtheminiaturerocketoutofthesurgicaldummy.“WhatdoIdo?”heaskedMal.
“Firstofall,takeadeepbreath,”Malsaid.“Calmdown.It’lljustgetworseifyoudon’thaveaplanforfixingit.”
Arthurnoddedandtookthebreath.“Whatnow?”
Maltalkedhimthroughit.
“Andnowyousewhimbackup,”Malinstructed.“See?You’vegotit.Everything’sfine.”
Arthurexhaled.
“You’regelngmarried?”Brandonlaughed.“That’sfunny.Tellmeanotherone.”
Juliannarrowedhiseyes.“No,really,”hesaid.“OnceWillgetsseHledinasheir,I’mgoingtomoveoutandmarryBriHanyAmana.”
“But…you’reaRomanceSim,”Brandonsaid,tryingtowraphisheadaroundit.
“AndIloveBriHany,”Juliananswered.“Allright,I’mnotsurewhatcompelledmetosayyes.SomeJmesIthinkthisisasweirdasyoudo.Butdon’tIdeservetobehappy?”
“Youdo,”Brandonsaid,smiling.“I’mnotgoingtoarguewiththat.”
ConGnuetothenextpartofthechapter…