Chapter 4

"Oh."

Mom smiled. "The honor's ours."

Dad chimed in with a smile of his own.

"That's right, Professor Dickerson. People always say our older girl has one of those common faces."

"We honestly wish she were the girl you're looking for."

Mom clicked her tongue, all regret.

"Too bad this one just happens to resemble that genius.

"This year, she didn't even make it into a decent school."

Professor Dickerson looked a little surprised.

"Is that... really true?"

Dad nodded. "There's nothing we can do about it."

So they hadn't ignored just my acceptance letter.

They'd never once paid attention to a single award I'd won.

And yet.

I'd set the gold medal from the physics competition in the most visible spot on my desk.

Three years of high school.

They'd come in and out of my room countless times.

And never once noticed there was a medal sitting on my desk.

"Come on! Stop getting in the way!"

My brother yanked me off without another word.

I saw Professor Dickerson wipe his glasses.

He let out a sigh full of regret.

"Such a shame..."

My brother pulled me over to the table and sat me down.

Not long after.

My sister came rushing over, glowing.

"Professor Dickerson took me on as an outer-circle student! He agreed to tutor me online once a week from now on!"

She shrieked it out.

Then threw herself into my brother's arms.

I looked past her.

Mom and Dad were fawning all over Professor Dickerson as they walked him to his car.

At the table.

Mom stroked my sister's hair.

"Mom always knew Marcy would make it."

"Of course!"

My brother set down his glass.

"With scores like Marcy's, how many girls in the whole country are as brilliant as her?"

"Ugh, too bad I can't measure up to that genius who got into the top school."

My sister propped her chin in her hand. "She's really amazing. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I'll never catch up to her."

I sat there without reacting at all.

"What's wrong with you, don't you know how to read a room."

Dad gave me a shove.

"Your sister just became Professor Dickerson's student. Do you have any idea what kind of standing he has in academia?

"Raise a glass to your sister."

My sister looked over at me.

Tucking away the smugness at the corner of her mouth.

"It's fine, Rae. We're sisters. Even if you don't toast me, I'll still look out for you later on."

"Rachel Mason!"

Mom shot me a displeased look.

"Look at your sister, then look at yourself."

My brother was out of patience.

"No talent, no social sense either. I really don't know what's going to become of you."

Dad watched me coldly.

"I asked you to toast your sister. What, is that too much to ask of you?"

I stood up.

Raised my glass.

"To you."

My sister rose quickly.

Picked up her glass and clinked it against mine.

But the moment her glass touched mine.

Her hand tipped.

The drink spilled all over her own arm.

"Marcy!"

Mom cried out and shoved me aside.

I went down hard onto the floor.

The soup that had just been served spilled all over me.

My sister's eyes reddened. "It's okay, I'm sure Rae didn't mean to."

Dad wiped every drop off her arm.

Then turned.

Saw me sprawled on the floor.

He frowned.

"Bad grades, fine, at least she could have decent character.

"Bad character too, and there's nothing left for her in this life."

"Come on, Marcy, let's go get you cleaned up."

They gathered around my sister and turned to leave.

As if they hadn't noticed I was soaked in sticky soup.

I lowered my head.

Found a bathroom on my own and wiped down my clothes.

When I came out.

The hall was already empty.

"Oh, your sister thought it was too noisy here, so they left ahead of you. What, no one told you?"

I froze where I stood.

Said nothing.

My clothes dried out.

On the walk home.

My family didn't seem to register that I'd come back late.

They brought it up like it was nothing.

"We need to get your graduation trip on the calendar. Think about where you want to go, talk it over with your sister."

"I want to go to Aspen!!"

My sister shrieked and threw herself forward.

Clinging to Mom's arm.

"Mom! Let's go to Aspen!"

Mom broke into a delighted smile.

"Sure, we'll go to Aspen. Rae wants to go too, perfect timing."

I blinked.

I hadn't said a word about where I wanted to go.

But I kept my mouth shut.

I think I already understood.

At a time like this.

It didn't matter where I said I wanted to go.

That night, to catch the early morning flight, I went to bed early.

I could hear my family downstairs helping my sister pack.

Mom: "Bring this sunscreen. Marcy's skin is delicate, she can't get burned."

My brother: "Then I'll bring the umbrella. If the sun's too strong there, I can hold it over Marcy."

Dad: "Get a bigger bag then. Marcy's a girl, she'll have a lot of stuff, and Dad can carry the big one for her."

"Thanks, Mom and Dad! Thanks, big brother! You're the best! Mwah!"

I closed my eyes.

Forced myself to sleep.

The next day.

I went through security with my family.

My ticket scanned.

But it wouldn't let me through.

My family, already inside with their suitcases, turned around.

Mom spoke up.

"Oh, I forgot. When I bought your ticket yesterday I clicked the wrong one. Yours goes to the capital."

My brother shrugged.

"There's no time to change it now. Next time, maybe."

Wrong ticket?

Only mine bought wrong?

I looked at them.

They looked at me.

Not a hint that anyone meant to explain further.

I took the ticket.

"Fine."

"Yay! Off to Aspen with Mom and Dad and big brother!"

My sister shrieked and dashed off.

My family laughed one after another.

I turned around.

Not a word.

Opened my phone.

Sent Professor Dickerson a message.

【Professor, I've made up my mind. My flight today is to the capital. I'll come do the closed research project with you.】