Miss Americana

Twelve

When I walked downstairs for breakfast on Monday morning, the kitchen table was covered in black and red decorations—UGA colors. Typical Nat, always going all out.

"Nat, what is all this?" I asked, unable to hide my smile.

She spun around, wearing a shirt that read University of Georgia Sister. "We're celebrating your commitment! I made banana pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit. Beau's upstairs helping Saf get ready for daycare, but they'll be joining us."

Even when I felt invisible to the world, my sister always saw me. I gave her a hug, "Thank you, Nat."

"I'm so proud of you, Tate," she whispered, squeezing me a little tighter before pulling back to make me a plate.

I sat at the kitchen island, watching as she carefully arranged food on Safiya's plate like she was building some kind of masterpiece.

"So," she began casually, leaning on the counter. "You going to tell me about the elephant in the room?"

I paused mid-bite, glancing up. "What?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You're seriously gonna play dumb? Tate, you're sneaking out of the house, smiling at your phone every five seconds, getting picked up in a nice car..."

I tried to keep my face neutral, but I could feel the flush creeping up my neck. I hadn't exactly been subtle.

Natalia tilted her head. "Don't play me. I was a teenager once, too."

I shoved a piece of pancake into my mouth, hoping to stall. "It's... nothing. Nothing to worry about."

"Tatum," she said, her voice dropping to that big-sister, no-nonsense tone. "I know Miles' car."

I froze, my fork hovering in mid-air.

"Does Bella know?" she asked quietly, her eyes searching mine.

I sighed, putting my fork down. "We're just figuring things out. I don't want to drag her into it if we don't even... work out."

Nat studied me, her face softening. "Do you like him? I mean, for real? Or is this just... fun?"

I met her gaze and, for the first time, admitted it out loud. "For real."

Her eyes widened, but she didn't say anything right away. Miles made me feel something I hadn't felt in a long time: safe. Even when it felt like the world was closing in, he was my anchor, my escape. But would that be enough?

I braced myself for her inevitable lecture, but instead, Nat just gave me a long look, then said quietly, "Just... be careful, okay?"

"You're young, Tate," Natalia started, her voice soft but firm, "and I know you know right from wrong. Sometimes,  you have to learn by living it so that's what I'm gonna let you do. But I think a visit from Bunny would do you some good."

Bunny—our grandmother. Only Natalia called her that, for reasons we'd never figured out. One day, she just started, and it stuck.

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I'm sure I'll see her while I'm shadowing Uncle Sammy this week."

Natalia shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Not this week, Pops whisked her away to Turks and Caicos for some R&R. They'll be back Sunday. But seriously, Tate, you need to take in her stories. They're getting older, and we gotta take in these moments."

If anyone knew how to spoil someone, it was Grandpa. He'd been the king of that his whole life.

"Jesus, Nat, don't get so morbid this early," I shot her a look.