Page 12 of The Storm

“No!” My shout rings out like a gunshot. “I’m not staying here. I will never move here. We’re fine. You’re getting better. This is—” My voice breaks, and I hate everybody here even more because they get to witness me breaking along with it. I whirl around and suck in breath after breath, squeezing my eyes shut because I will not cry.

“Baby,” Mom says softly, and I so wish I could be that. Just a baby. Somebody who wouldn’t get anything and would just be happy and dumb. But I’m not. I’m the foundation now. Imake decisions. I shoulder the responsibility. And right now my responsibility is to put a stop to this… planning for the worst-case scenario, because there is no worst-case scenario. She’s going to be fine. We’re going to be fine.

“We’re going home,” I say. “You’re not staying here.I’mnot staying here.”

I don’t know why I say it like that. Like I’m afraid these people are going to kidnap either of us.

“Okay,” Mom says placatingly. Like she’s calming down a toddler throwing a tantrum. “Okay, we’re going.”

I nod.

Getting to the car is a blur. We don’t even go inside to pick up what little we brought with us.

In less than five minutes, we’re on our way.

I take one last look at the house and the people standing in front of it.

I let out the breath I’ve been holding.

I’ll never have to see this place again.

PART 1

ONE

INDY

17 YEARS OLD

“Dia, come on!”I yell up the stairs as I glance at my watch for the thousandth time. “We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry the fuck up!”

She peeks out from behind the corner. “I’m almost done. I just have to take a quick shower.”

I take another look at my watch. “What the hell do you mean shower? We have to get going!”

“I have an audition for the school musical,” she says, singing the last few words and flicking her hair over her shoulder. “I have to look the part. Have you ever seen Elle Woods look anything but her best?”

“Dia,” I grit out.

“I’ll be five minutes tops.”

I let out an incredulous laugh. “In what universe? Just give me the keys and take the bus.”

“I can’t take the bus in my costume.” She puts one hand on her waist and juts her hip out. “Are you insane? Have you actually gone insane?”

My sister, everybody. The drama queen.

“The audition is in the afternoon. You don’t have to be in your costume.”

“I need time to get in character. You take the bus.”

“I will never make it to the bus stop on time,” I grouse. “Just drop me off at school and come back if you’re planning to skip first period anyway.”

“I don’t have the time.”

“Dia, I swear to God?—”

“Skip first period too, and we’re good.”