The Black Sheep

Dinner Time

"Zaya, dinner!" Zion shouts.

"I'm not hungry!" I yell back.

"Get your ass down here!" Mom shouts. I sigh and make my way down the stairs.

"Mom, I'm not hungry."

"I don't give a damn, sit down." Dad doesn't say anything so I take a seat next to Zion and stay quiet. Everyone starts passing the food around the dinner table and I just stare at my empty plate. "Eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"So how was everyone's day?" Dad asks.

"It was great. We had a sub in Math who has no idea what he was doing so we basically just goofed around for the whole period. And there was a full on fight in the middle of Science. Dante got his butt whooped. But then the deans came and broke it up which sucked." Dad laughs a little.

"How was your day Zaya?"

"Fine," I rest my head on my hand and stare down at my other hand that rests on my lap.

"What did you do all day?"

"I went to school and then came home and did homework."

"Oh here we go again," Mom barks. "Why can't you ever just tell us about your day without having an attitude?"

"Because there's nothing to say. I don't do anything special or have anything interesting happen like Zion. It's pointless," I ignore her stare and remain silent for the rest of dinner while everyone rambles on about how great their day was and all the amazing things they accomplished. I hate dinner time.

"Zaya!" I snap my head up to look at my dad. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"No."

"Your mother and I are leaving for the weekend for business. We're leaving Friday and coming back Monday. And I expect both of you to behave while we're gone," he glances over at Zion.

"Worry about Zion, not me. When do I ever do anything?"

"Just letting you both know."

"Can I be excused?" Dad nods his head and I get up from the dinner table and walk upstairs.

"What are we gonna do about her?" I hear my mom sigh. Once out of sight, I stay to listen. "She's so distant and never wants to talk to any of us. I guess we should be happy to have such a quiet kid, but I'm worried. Is this much isolation normal?"

"Zion, what is she like at school?" Dad asks.

"When I do see her, if she's not with Skye and Luna, she has her earphones in and completely ignores everyone. My friends even say she seems like the loner type."

"We need to bring her out of her shell. And besides, her birthday is soon. Maybe we can do something special for it." I roll my eyes. They know I hate celebrating my birthday.

"Or we can leave her alone and just let her figure herself out." Good idea dad, I like it.

"Oh no, you don't get to go all soft on her. She needs help." I stop caring and head into the bathroom to wash my face and get ready for bed. I wish my family would just realize that I'm a teenager who wants her alone time. Is that too much to ask for? Like I'm sorry that I'm not a girl version of Zion, but I don't want to be one.