Summer

*Bonus* Chapter 3

Noah's POV

I know Maggie's upset with me. I know because she hasn't said one word to me at dinner and she's using the fork in her hand to pick at the pasta in her plate.

"Not hungry, Mags?" I give in and ask, even though I already know the answer.

I'm going to need to try harder. She's mad at me for taking Fee to the airport, and rightfully so.

I promised myself years ago that I would never lie to my baby sister. So, when she asked me if Fee would be coming over again, I knew I had to tell her exactly what happened, despite knowing she would hate me for it. You see, Maggie and I have one rule: we don't keep secrets from each other.

Maggie remains silent and keeps her head down, continuing to pick at the penne, and I can't help but watch her from the corner of my eye, hoping that she'll finally say something. But she doesn't. Instead, she pushes her chair out, which makes a screeching sound against the wooden floor, and heads upstairs.

I contemplate going up and talking to her, but I let the idea go and decide that it's probably best to give her some space.

I crash onto the couch in the living room and think back to my conversation with Justin from earlier today. I know that I want to be with Fee, but wanting something is merely an impulse. It's temporary. And with Fee, I've got to think long-term, because I care about her too much not to take things seriously with her.

Damn, I can't think about this anymore. It hurts my heart more than it does my head, and my head is already pounding. I shut the lights off and march up the stairs.

It's not until I pass Maggie's room on the way to mine when I hear her crying.

Maggie's door is closed but not all the way, and I push it further so that I'm able to see her. She's tucked under the pink paisley covers with her hands below the matching pillow. She's leaning on her right side so that her face is turned towards the window. She's so upset that she doesn't even notice me walk in until I call out to her.

"Mags?"

The hurt I hear behind her cry makes me want to smash something. I hate myself for causing my sister this much pain. I don't say anything else and instead walk up to the side of her bed and sit down next to her. She doesn't move or turn her head to face me.

"I'm sorry," I say, but all she does is sniffle. "Please don't hate me."

She brings her hand over her eyes to wipe away the tears and finally turns around to face me. Just as I suspected, her eyes are red and watery. Her cheeks are stained from the tears that continue to fall, and my heart breaks each time she sobs.

"What can I do to fix this?" I ask her.

I know how much Fee means to her. Maggie always wanted a sister, especially since mom was never home. She never had that female role model in her life. Over the last couple of weeks, Fee had become that for her.

"I'm fine," she mumbles as she breathes in through her nose. All I can do is look at her, and when she sees the guilt in my eyes, she continues. "Really, Noah, I'm fine."

"It's okay if you aren't, though. You can tell me the truth. What's bothering you?"

She lifts herself from the mattress and scoots her body closer to the headboard so that her head hits the frame. She grabs a tissue from the nightstand to blow her nose before answering me.

"It's just," she begins, "I don't know. It was so nice having Fee around. You're the best big brother a girl could ever ask for, but it was nice knowing what it would feel like to have a sister. Even for only a few days."

I smile softly at her. It's clear that I've failed her, and right now, I feel like her biggest disappointment.

"I'm fine, though. Really," she tries to convince me. "I'm just tired."

I wish I had the words to console her, but all I do is listen because I don't want to say something that might mislead her. I've done that already, and I won't do it again.

I give her a kiss on the cheek and pull up the covers so that she's tucked in fully, before exiting her room and closing the door shut.

After washing up, I get into bed. Even though I physically feel tired, I know mentally, I'm nowhere near it.