Lavender Snow

Anger

It took only a few seconds after Techno left for Phil to get upset.

"Wilbur!"

"What, he finished his story, isn't that what you wanted?" Wilbur scoffed.

"What's wrong, Wil?" Kristin asked, and though it was a genuine question, all Wilbur could hear was what's wrong with you, how dare you, how could you?!

"Nothing, I'm fine," he spat, standing up and marching to his room, slamming the door behind him.

It took two seconds to pull out his phone, four to click on Niki's contact, and six for her to pick up. Wilbur sat on the floor next to his bed, fingernails digging into his knees as the ringtone was cut off.

"Hey Wilbur! It's closing time and I'm kind of busy, what's up?"

"Hi Niki. I'm having. . . I'm. . ." Wilbur groaned, not finding the right words.

Luckily, Niki understood. "Do you want me to call you an uber or can you drive?"

Wilbur laughed without any humor in it. "I can drive. I'll see you in fifteen."

"Drive safely," Niki said, concern laced in her voice.

Wilbur lowered the phone from his ear and hung up.

There were voices coming from the living room, but no one noticed as Wilbur retrieved his keys from the junk drawer in the kitchen and slipped out the front door.

His driving was less than exceptional, especially with him screaming the lyrics to the songs blasting on the radio, but he managed not to crash the entire way to Niki's bakery.

It was golden hour by the time he arrived. Wilbur squinted against the sun glaring off of the glass door, pushing his way in.

"Ayup, Wilbur!" Jack greeted him from behind the counter. "Can I get you the usual?"

"If by the usual you mean my brother not being a massive prick," Wilbur said bitterly.

Jack's eyebrows shot up. "Oooookay, then, one black coffee with cinnamon and a raspberry muffin."

"Is that Wilbur?" Niki appeared from the kitchen, hands soapy. "It is! Hi! I'm just finishing this up, do you wanna go to the back?"

"Sure," Wilbur muttered, following her out then stepping out into the small alleyway behind the bakery. He sat on the low graffiti-covered wall and waited.

A minute later, she came out, holding Wilbur's coffee and muffin. She set it down between them before jumping up onto the wall.

"So," she started, breaking off a piece of the muffin, "Your brother's being annoying?"

Wilbur didn't answer right away, taking a long sip of the coffee instead. Oh, Jack, you're a lifesaver.

"Yeah," he finally said, setting it down again. "He's acting like a fucking asshole, and playing the victim, which, I mean, he is, but I think I deserve a little bit of sympathy too, you know?"

Niki stared at him, perplexed. "Wait, which brother are we talking about?"

"Techno!" Wilbur said, sliding off the wall and starting to pace. "He just revealed this huge, grand fucking backstory, all tragic and everything, and he never told me! I never had a clue that he had gone through all— all that, but I should have! He knows I should have known!"

Niki processed his words a bit. "And. . . why is that?"

Wilbur blinked at her. "Pardon?"

"Why should he have told you?"