The Unwritten Rule (14 page)

-Sarah-Brianna says, leaning over and putting his arms around me. You know I love you. You’re adorable and I am convinced that there is a boy

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out there that is so cute like you who are waiting for you. But Greg never really liked it because the boys who liked me-not you and I are really, well, we’re different, you know? You look like a little sister. You’re the kind of sweet and friendly girl. - So you’re not? “I say, turning away, and my hands are trembling now, not sad but angry because I hear what she is saying. I know exactly what you mean. The kids do not want me. And she did. “I think anyone ever called me sweet,” he says and takes another bite of brownie. I like to keep the kids on their feet. Make them work. It’s more fun that way. - Why you? Or for them? “Okay, what about that voice of disgust? “He says. I think you just said that this was not about Greg. “Well, girls, I see some people at least have to relax. Says Brianna’s mother behind us, and look at the frozen face of Brianna, I see his mother staring at the brownies and see Brianna blushed, embarrassed when they need to be. “Actually, I ate most of the brownies,” I say and Brianna’s mom says he looks at me briefly. Hi, Sarah, quietly before turning back to Brianna. “Well, you could terminártelo” he said, pointing to the brownie that Brianna is leaking and then abruptly turns around, squinting at something on the sink. I prepare psychologically for another display emotional and I realize that it captures their image in the window and smoothed the hair, making sure every strand is in place. - Do you stay here tonight? “She said, turning his head to Brianna and opening his bag. I have a friend pick me up and then go for a drink. Peter is younger than me, but says he finds it impossible to believe. She laughs lightly and pulls out a tube of lipstick, frowns and then thrown into the bag. “I need new makeup. I’ll bring home something too, I think the last collection I gave did not work very well, does it? Brianna has a pimple every six months and always gets high on his forehead, so high that you can cover your hair.

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“Thank you and no, I’ll be here. I’m going out, Brianna and her mother whispers to the table, touch the top of his head and says. I’m going to change. Do something with your hair if you really want out, sweetheart. It will be much nicer if you brush from time to time. Brianna is stuffed into his mouth the last part of the brownie I was eating and his mother sighs and leaves the kitchen. I move toward her, changing into my chair, but she shakes her head, gets up and pulls the counter. Wait a few seconds because I know that I need and then. “And that is a father who loves me. She says when I walk up to it. She is looking into the garden, there is sadness in his face. No anger. No expressions, except resignation. Fatigue. “I try to, you know? I do. But my dad does not even want me and my mom thinks I have no settlement. And what if, what do you do if people are supposed to love you as if you can leave nothing? -Brianna … “I’m tired of this, he says, no need-no need to feel that way again, never again. Why do you always hang out with guys who are really pathetic? Not to let me know, Sarah. But I want to … just for once, I have someone who can get away from me decides he wants to stay. I want them to be with me. I want that to happen with Ryan and “happen. I’ll make that happen. “You, wait. Want to Ryan why you want to make him stay with you? “It’s not make it sound like he says, shaking his head. You do not understand, Sarah. Do not know what being in love. Love is … you’re confused and do things you should not do and only, you hate yourself, and sometimes do not even want to love the person you want and do it because it would be easier if you do not. But you just-you do. I mean that is crazy and wrong, but it is not. I know it is not, because that’s how I feel, the things they do are just things I’ve done and it … she loves Ryan. She really loves him.

I feel sick. “I … Did you tell?

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She sighs. “No, because … How can you say that when you wonder why the kid does not love you, too? It’s hard to even think about it. But I … I can. I will. I can get what you want. I just … Can you just pretend that you understand and you stay with me for a while?

TRANSLATED BY: elamela CORRECTED BY: Brooke

or want her to love him.

One thing was wanting to Ryan when he knew she would not feel the same way I do. The fact that he fill your heart like mine filled. She loves him, and his desire to be with him is not his knowledge that he does not like the way she wants. Is what you like, more than he likes. It therefore sees and does not know what to do about it. Are scared. Do not want to be left. Wants to be loved, and so I’ll take it. I watch her trying on a dress, I have carefully with the mother of Brianna, who likes to get out quickly and offer advice, poisonous words that make Brianna’s shoulders sink even when you feel unstoppable. And do not feel that way tonight.

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“You look great,” I tell Brianna after her mother and drag trembling smile, and his mother says, “Brianna, you certainly have a loyal friend. You’re a lucky girl! His voice is a farce full of sugar, and when you go, Brianna smiles. “Okay, now I’m totally taking another brownie to eat when you take home. I can even put a candle in it to celebrate your genius. And I’m going to tell Ryan about it too, and know how wonderful you are. Ryan. Tonight. She loves him. And he will break with her. “I … Do not tell me I can not praise” she says. Now just let me finish my makeup and go. Rings doorbell then, Brianna’s mother shouts, “Brianna, take care of that, and tell Peter that I will list below. And if you ask if we are sisters, Say yes! Brianna me I get up and look in the mirror, panic and shame in her eyes flashing. “As I would do that,” I say. Please. “You’re a star” Brianna says, and seat, then pitch down the stairs. Do not want to think about tonight. Is all I can think of. At least I get to do this. I open the door with a flourish, ready to prick Brianna’s mother a bit, then I stop, mouth open, the door handle kneeling in my hand because I’m holding on to it very strong. - Sarah? “Says Ryan.

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TRANSLATED BY: cowdiem CORRECTED BY: Alice_vampire

I stared at each other for a moment in silence, then stepped inside Ryan hesitant, even looking at me.

Should go back, I’m too close to the door, I’m so close I can extend my hand and touch it, squeeze your shirt and attract it, throw it at me, and he is looking into my mouth, I can see, I can feel it, and everything inside me is screaming his name, yelling for him. Brianna And then down the stairs. I do not see, hear her, and she clears her throat, and says. “Hey, you arrive early, and I turn to see her, I say. Peter-Not stupidly, blindly, and I see his eyes blinking at me. She looks beautiful and happy.

N

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“I know, I recognize my own boyfriend,” she laughs, but fails in his eyes and looking at me strangely. At least I think so. I do not know, I can not say, guilt and panic are making a mess of me. Me. “Yeah, me, here I say it, even talking. Why I’m still talking? Ryan says: “Hi, Brianna, and I know that the collar should be boiling against my neck, but things like that only happen in fairy tales and instead just so touching, Brianna’s gaze away from me but then and left to Ryan. “So what, I forgive you for fade away during the school after having been all-we need to talk ? she says, walking toward him, and I have been walking in this way many times, looking perfect, that somehow seems to slip through the soil. The high face gently. Ready for a kiss. “Actually, I tried to find you,” says Ryan. But you were not in any of the sites I searched and found me … “Now,” says Brianna, and goes to kiss him, she is getting closer and closer. “I’ll … I’ll call my parents to come get me an” I say, Brianna said: “Just take my car. Ryan’ll let me in your home later. Much later. I hear his mother moving up, I see a mischievous smile to Brianna Ryan and making them move, her hand on his arm, and she gets it, of course it does. His smile, so full of promise, of them, is all I see when I start to walk away when I close the last gap between them. I hear the soft sound of a kiss, whispering voices, and I can love how it ends it and still be so scared of how sad she is going to be? How I can be so screwed up?

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“Wait,” Brianna said. What bowling? Your great plan for tonight is bowling? Can not you see my shirt? “I thought …” Ryan clears his throat. I love bowling. Brianna murmurs. “You should. Wait, is this love? Brianna Is this love? I do not understand. But I know I have to get out of here. There is only one detail. Brianna I need the keys, and are right where she left them with her handbag on the bench next to the strange door. They’re right where she and Ryan are, and just when I decide that I slip away, wait for them to go, and then go back and get you in some way, she says, “Hey, Sarah. I turned and I see it. “I know you heard all that,” she says. And if I have to go bowling, I need people around me to make sure at least amuse me. So you come, “she points to the kitchen. Go call your parents. Ryan, my mom is here, so it is better to wait in your car. I wear shoes that will not be wasted by sitting in the den of the oh-so-adorable Antro bowling. “Oh,” says Ryan, and I look back quickly, so quickly, before going out again, causing my heart, my stupid, and treacherous heart beat yet. When he leaves, Brianna does not rise to his room, but is routed to the office of his mother. - What are you doing? “I say, but she is unresponsive. I sigh and call home.

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TRANSLATED BY: elamela CORRECTED BY: Alice_vampire

hile I’m calling my parents. I do not know what to do. Brianna wants me there with them tonight.

And Ryan will break with her. How I can see that? Especially now that I know she loves him. I … There is even words for this. Lean my head against the wall while the phone rings my parents. Once, twice, and pressed me against the wall, strong, and if I could somehow get inside it.

M

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“Hey,” I say with a trembling voice, when Dad answered the phone, “.Voy out to Brianna and Ryan, right? - What? “Dad said, sounding distracted. “I’m going to leave,” I say again, do not worry .and take me home, I have a driver. - Dad? I say after a moment, then he has not said anything, and is old, I know, but it is so old, not really, not an elderly grandfather, and if he was ill mother would not let him answer the phone. Although she usually responds because he is always expecting a call from a reply from a friend or a cooking contest. A cooking contest. As the Fabulous Family Cooking Contest. “Dad,” I say again. What happened? What’s happening? “Your mother is not. Do not get a call, “he says. - What? How do you know that? It was supposed to call all weekend. Jillian’s friend, your mother, who also won the Cozy Cakes, got a call and then called your mother, “Dad says. Apparently, the Fabulous Family decided to call all the finalists today to free people from having to wait on the phone all weekend. “Cutting costs, I hear Mom in the background, and his voice is very high, as it gets when it’s really annoying. The last time I heard the sound it was when a judge came to her after the Cooking Contest Plucked Chicken clucking and said he would have qualified if your dish has not been cooled before they had been able to prove it. It is cheaper to call across the world today and not have people working all weekend. And nice too, very nice for the finalists learn now instead of waiting … I hear a muffled sound, a cry, and Dad says, “Honey, no,” and then, “Sarah, I am taking your mother out for dinner and then to The Adams. We will be back in the morning.

Dad has mom to The Adams, which is a super elegant and expensive hotel an hour away, exactly twice. Once in their fifteenth wedding anniversary, and then again last year after

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the doctor told her that her arthritis was only going to get worse and mom was so sad that he left to cook for a while. - I can talk to her? “I say, no more silence, then a low murmur, and then mom on the phone, her voice quiet and tearful. -Sarah, I’m fine. Your father just being polite. I really do not need, stop talking and makes that horrible sound that people make when trying not to mourn, a cry which is a kind of rattle in his throat. No need to be in this contest or any other kitchen. It’s just something I do for fun, that’s all, but I think I left … It makes the noise again. “Mom, I’m sorry,” I say. Want to come home? “No,” he says. No need to see your mother mourn for not entering a cooking contest. I am ashamed of what I’m doing, but I “his voice lowers to a whisper sadly. I really wanted to happen. I thought it would. I thought I did everything right. “You did. You did it fully, and if they can see how great you are, then, that sucked. “You should not say things like” Mom says, but his voice is the mother autopilot. No seriously, I say: Even if they are true? “And sighs. “I just want to know what I did wrong. I was so sure he would. There should be … it was stupid to think that would be chosen. “No, it was not, say, and listen to dad in the background, also says the same thing. “Okay,” says Mom, her voice is calm as it now sounds sad. Not stupid, then. Just a reminder do not always get everything you want. Flashing once strong, while a shiver shakes me my column, because he is right and I know. I know, and that scares me. I know what I want too. What will happen because of that?

- Are you sure you do not want to come home? “I say, clearing my throat and mom says,” No, but your father and I will be returning home after dinner at The Adams, so …

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