Chapter 2
"Hey, Nolan," I said. "Let's knock one back tonight, just the two of us.
"Bottoms up!"
Nolan lifted his head with a blank look on his face.
"I can't really drink," he said.
I tore off a drumstick and stuffed it into my mouth, cheeks bulging as I asked, "Come on, how old are you?"
"Ten," Nolan replied.
Still chewing, I muttered, "Man, that's lame."
I remembered how, when I was just three and a half, I had the guts to climb up on the table and try to snatch my dad's drink.
Sure, I didn't pull it off back then, but today, I was definitely getting a taste of that booze, no matter what.
Nolan was floored by what I did.
He reached out, hands trembling, to stop me from drinking.
"Hey, what are you doing?" I complained.
"You can't drink, only grown-ups can," he said.
I laughed, "Do you really buy everything adults tell you?
"When I grow up, I'll say whatever crazy stuff I want, just like them."
Nolan looked stunned, like he had no idea what was going on.
There was a chill in his eyes, now brimming with bewilderment.
Just as Nolan was hesitating, a furious shout suddenly erupted. "Felicia, what are you doing?"
I was stunned.
I knew it was time to bail.
But before I could even move, fate had me by the scruff of the neck.
"Lawrence, why do you have to show up everywhere?" I snapped.
"You little troublemaker, sneaking booze again? This time, Mom and Dad are definitely gonna ground you," Lawrence said.
I got dragged right in front of my parents.
Their faces looked ready to explode.
The axe of fate was about to drop.
I knew I was doomed.
Suddenly, in a panic, I came up with a genius idea.
I pointed my chubby finger right at Nolan, who was standing off to the side.
"It's him!" I blurted out. "It's all his fault.
"He wanted to drink, so I only took him to the wine cellar at his request."
Everyone's eyes snapped to Nolan in unison.
Nolan lifted his head slightly, expressionless as always, standing ramrod straight.
He took a step forward and gave a small nod.
"It's me. I wanted to drink. Felicia had nothing to do with it," Nolan said firmly.
I was secretly thrilled.
But my dad looked even more pissed.
Apparently, he knew my tricks all too well.
My dad asked gently, "Nolan, did this little rascal threaten you?
"If anything's bothering you, just say it. Don't be afraid. I've got your back today."
I shot him a death glare.
I was fuming.
Was I really that kind of person?
Fine, I was.
Nolan shook his head. "Seriously, Felicia had nothing to do with it."
My dad gave me a skeptical look, wondering if I'd really turned over a new leaf.
I just chuckled.
Nolan was staying in the guest room downstairs.
After dinner, I walked past my parents' bedroom and overheard them whispering inside.
My mom said, "Magnus really crossed the line this time.
"Nolan's actually older than Miles. No wonder Mrs. Beckett's so pissed."
"I heard Magnus kept Nolan living somewhere else all this time. Now that his mom's gone and there's no one to look after him, Magnus finally brought him home," my dad replied.
"With Mrs. Beckett's temper," my mom said, "there's no way she'd let Nolan stay under her roof.
"He's going to be sent away sooner or later."
I crept downstairs and knocked softly on Nolan's door.
He'd just gotten out of the shower, his bangs still damp and sticking to his forehead.
I gave his shoulder a friendly pat.
I said, "You really had my back today.
"You didn't rat me out!
"From now on, we're ride-or-die allies. I'll look out for you in the future.
"I guarantee Miles and his crew won't dare mess with you again."
Nolan stood in the doorway.
"Actually, you're younger than me," he pointed out.
I snapped, "Seriously, when you run with a crowd, do we really rank people by age?"
To take Miles and his bunch as an example, they were always respectful toward me.
That was what it meant to be a queen.
Nolan just pursed his lips, not answering.
I stomped up the stairs, my little legs pounding each step in a fit of anger.
Every stomp made the stairs rattle and bang.
That was me making sure Nolan knew just how mad I was.
I knew Nolan was going to be sent away, but I never thought it'd happen so fast, or that he'd be gone for so long.
He was gone for thirteen years.
The very next afternoon, Magnus had someone whisk Nolan off and send him overseas.
It was probably because his wife, Alice, was really desperate to get Nolan out of the house.
After all, this whole mess almost got them divorced.
Miles hated Nolan to the core because of it.
Every time someone mentioned Nolan, Miles would angrily smoke two cigarettes back-to-back.
He complained, "Felicia, my dad says he's putting Nolan in charge of the overseas market.
"Why does he get it? He's only two years older than me."
Miles was freaking out, tugging at his blond hair like he was about to explode.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Just go fight him for it, idiot!" I shot back.