Chapter 2

The next day, my mother actually knocked on my door, something she almost never did before.

She shoved several hundred bucks into my hand. "You've been pretty mature lately.

"Linda was wrong too. I already gave her a talking-to. It's just a piggy bank, no big deal. Go get a new one, and I'll pay for it.

"Still, you shouldn't have blown up like that. You scared her. Take the rest of the money and go grab some snacks she likes from the store to make it up to her. You two are still cousins. Arguments should never last long in a family."

I was totally unfazed. "No need. I don't want anything. Just give it to Linda."

The moment I needed it most had passed.

My mother frowned, about to say something, when Linda suddenly screamed and burst into tears in her room.

My parents rushed in, sounding panicked. "Linda, what's wrong? Are you hurt? What happened?"

Linda threw herself into my mother's arms, sobbing. "I had a friend who said he'd help me buy a gaming account. I gave him the money, but he scammed me. Now all my money is gone!"

I thought my parents would chew out Linda for trusting the wrong people, like she totally had it coming.

After all, just yesterday, they called me cold-blooded for wasting money on outsiders.

But instead, they just breathed a sigh of relief and dotingly wiped away Linda's tears. "Oh, sweetheart, it's not a big deal," they promised in soothing tones. "We'll give you double what you lost. Don't cry, sweetie."

I stood there, watching all of this, and suddenly, the few hundred dollars in my hand made me feel like a joke.

If this had happened before, I would've thrown a fit, bawling and shouting about how my parents always favored Linda over me, their own daughter.

But this time, I just watched it all happen, calm as ever. Then I left the money in the living room.

I went back to my room, dumped all the broken piggy bank pieces into the trash, and then rushed to change my college application before the deadline.

*****

Linda happily went shopping with the six thousand bucks my parents had given her.

Meanwhile, I finalized my college application—Bestalia University, the best school and the furthest from home.

Back when I was in high school, I went to the best school in the city, but it was far from home, so I had to live on campus.

When I came home for the holidays, I found that Linda had taken over my big, sunny room with a great view, while all my stuff was piled up carelessly in a dark, damp little room.

I'd never forget standing there clutching my luggage, feeling completely out of place, while Linda clung to my mother and whined that I was glaring at her like I was about to bite her head off.

My parents had immediately scolded me, "Linda's grades aren't great, and you just had to show off and make her feel bad. Is that how you treat your cousin? She can have your room as compensation."

So after the SATs, I picked the university closest to home without a second thought.

This way, I could keep my parents happy by not upsetting my sensitive cousin, while also stopping my cousin in her tracks from taking everything I had.

But now I finally understand—anything that could be taken from me was never truly mine to keep.

I had the grades to get into Bestalia University, but just for them, I nearly threw away my bright future. As I looked back, I realized that it really wasn't worth it.

Once that clicked, I let out a deep sigh, and it felt like a weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders.

When my mother spotted the several hundred bucks sitting in the living room, she lost it. She kicked open my door and demanded, "Jennifer, what's that supposed to mean? Why'd you leave the money out there?"

I closed my laptop and met her gaze, calm as ever. "I don't need it. That's all."

I didn't throw a fit or get sarcastic about her playing favorites, but my mother was still fuming, her face flushed red.

"So you think you're too good for my several hundred bucks now, huh? Fine, let's see if you can make it through college without asking me for a dime," she snapped.

I pressed my lips together, trying not to let the bitterness show.

I thought I was numb by now, but her words still stung.

My father came in, shaking his head in disapproval and letting out a sigh.

"Your mom only scolds you because she cares. She was worried you might be hungry after eating so little today. How can you talk to her like that? Say sorry to her. You're a grown-up now, you should know better and cut Linda some slack."

"Exactly," my mother cut in sharply. "After all the sacrifices we've made, this is the thanks we get?" She drew herself up, a perfect picture of wounded pride, and turned her face away.

They always did this—one played the strict parent, the other played nice.

Then they'd just wait for me to break down, finally get how much they cared, and come back with tears and an apology.

It was a routine that I swallowed my pride and told Linda, "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been mean to you."

But this time, I was just too tired to argue.

After a long silence, I texted Tina. Then I turned, pulled out my suitcase, and started packing.

My father was shocked. "Jenny, what are you doing? Giving us the silent treatment isn't enough, so now you're running away?"

My mother pressed a hand to her chest and screeched, "And I thought you'd become mature. Now I see it was all an act."

I blocked out their voices, focused on packing my stuff. Once I was done, I dragged my suitcase to the front door and slipped on my shoes.

My father's face was dark with anger.

My mother totally lost it. She kicked the door open and screamed, "Get out! Don't you ever come back. From now on, we'll pretend you were never born."

I set the house key down and walked out, never looking back.

Behind me, the door slammed shut. "Ungrateful little snake, hope you drop dead out there!" my mother seethed.