Page 131 of Darling Venom
“Let’s calm down and talk about this over a cup of hot cocoa.”
“We’re not five, Charlotte. Our parents are not alive to mediate our fights. They’re dead, in case you’ve forgotten.”
Wow.
She was intent on hurting me today. More so than usual.
She gained volume, transforming into something I didn’t recognize and, frankly, didn’t want to.
“We don’t need chocolate and a hug to handle our problems anymore.” Her voice turned hard, lashing. It whipped my skin and left it raised. “Did you or did you not tell Jonah to ask me out? I heard you talking with him in the hall, so don’t even think about lying.”
/> I launched myself onto my knees before her, unable to hold it in anymore. “Yes, Leah. I did. I want my sister to be happy. To find love. To move on from fucking Phil. Is that a crime?!”
“Do you want to know how I felt after he took me to see the Berlin Wall, brought me to a restaurant, and asked me to be his girlfriend? Like… like I’m not this.” She gestured to her face, lips curling up in disgust. “Like I’m special. Like I’m beautiful. I can’t believe I was dumb enough to even consider saying yes.”
“He took you to see the Berlin Wall?”
My heart did a dance in my chest.
I just wanted Leah to live.
Really live.
She stared at something behind me. Maybe nothing. “He brought me to the piece of the Berlin Wall in the United Nations Sculpture Garden and centered me before the mural on it.”
I knew the one. Of a man and woman embracing over a wall. I knew in my gut why Jonah had taken her there.
“He wanted you to see the aftermath of tragedy. That it can still be beautiful and celebrated.”
“Pain and scars are the armor beauty wears. That’s what he said.” She scoffed. “What a load of bull.”
“He’s right. And he obviously put a lot of thought into today. You should give him a chance.”
“You took the choice away from me. By running to Jonah and asking him to pity date me, you took away my opportunity to date him on my own.”
“He already wanted to date you.”
“Yeah? Well, I already gave up my face for you. I won’t give up my freedom, too.” She stormed to her room, stopping just at the threshold to add, “I’m not your friend, Charlotte. I didn’t choose to have you in my life. At least let me choose the other people in my life.”
Fucking ouch.
It stung.
But she was right.
We weren’t friends.
We were sisters. Connected by a stroke of fate. Of misfortune. A red thread tying me to her. We didn’t choose to share the same blood, just as I never asked her to run through fire to save me and she never asked to be placed in a position where she had to make the choice.
Sometimes, her words hit so low, I wanted to leave her.
Permanently.
And then I remembered why she hated me.
Leah slammed the door behind her, knowing I wouldn’t follow her in there. I’d never been inside Leah’s room following The Night Of.
Not after we moved to the Bronx.
