Bye, I Guess... (Sequel and Third Book Included!)

Vingt-six

Allie's POV

Dear Milo,

Thank you so much for the gifts. I love them. I'm having a baby boy.

I'd like to learn more about my sister. Why don't I know about her? Have we ever met? Where is she? What's her name?

I hate to admit this, but I kinda miss you. Just a little. Also, what happened to Yannet? She hasn't replied to any of my emails. Ever. The last one I sent was in tenth grade. I gave up after then.

Sincerely, Allie Jade :)

It kind of pained me to send that email, but everything I said was true.

I got a reply half an hour later.

Dear Allie,

Glad to hear from you.

I wanted to end this on a happier note, so I'll start with your mom. She had cancer. No one knew until she died. She died sometime around thanksgiving of your freshmen year.

Anyway, about your sister.

She's only your half sister. Her mom raised her in DC. Don't worry, it wasn't my fault that she left me. She cheated on me with some dude, then took your sibling with her. Your sister's name is Senica Ashton Reigner. I found her instagram, but she blocked me. Last time I checked, her handle was @ashton.reigner88. Still not sure why she blocked me. We still email sometimes. Good luck finding her though.

Love, Milo

I read that and almost felt like crying. My mom was dead, but I also have a sister. I decided not to cry and focus on the sister part. I typed her name into google, and nothing came up. Like, actually nothing. Somehow, there were no results. I typed in the handle on Instagram, and that came up. There was one picture posted, which was a really cute German Shepard puppy. I sent her a DM.

Alliejade.leblanc: Hey, this probably sounds crazy, but you're probably my sibling. Is your dad Milo Reigner?

She replied soon after.

ashton.reigner88: yea! i can tell by your username you're the Allie that he mentioned to me for the first time a few days ago. he said you live in Maryland? what part? we might live close to each other. I'm in DC still.

alliejade.leblanc: I'm in Annapolis, so we're fairly close. Do you want to grab coffee sometime? I don't know if you work or something, but I'm in online college. I mostly just hang out with my roommate or my non-biological sisters (I got adopted when I was seven), so almost any time will work for me.

ashton.reigner88: can you do tomorrow at eleven? we can go to Peet's Coffee, it's 435 11th street, in Northwest DC.

alliejade.leblanc: I can do that time, but if it's okay, I'd prefer to do a place closer to me. I'm a 'can't drive' gay, and I also just can't go that far because reasons I'd rather explain in person.

ashton.reigner88: gotcha, just figure out a place and send me the address. I'll be there.

I smiled. I couldn't believe how nice my sister is!

•••

I parked my car and jogged into Starbucks. I was ten minutes late. Inside, I didn't see anyone that could be my sister. I got in line. While waiting to order a vanilla bean Frappuccino, I texted her and asked if she was here.

ashton.reigner88: yea, I'm sitting next to the window. I see you in line. I'll wave you over when you get out of line.

I ordered and paid for my drink. I looked over by the window. There was someone waving at me.

She was wearing a beanie with her hair tucked in it, a flannel, jeans, and black converse.

I sat down at the table with her.

"Hey! Can't believe I finally get to meet you!" She smiled and hugged me.

"I know, right! I can't believe I have a sister!" I said, sipping on my drink.

"Me either! So anyway, where do we start with explaining our lives?" I said.

"You start. Mine isn't that interesting, unless you count me thinking I was a butch lesbian in sixth grade. I don't even like girls though, so that was a weird time," he said.

I explained everything, from my mom leaving to the "kidnapping", to meeting Annie and Hayley, to being adopted, to becoming an aunt, to accidentally getting knocked up. I talked about how Quinn and I have been best friends for fourteen years too.

"Okay, when I thought your story was more interesting than mine, I didn't mean that crazy," she laughed.

"Yeah," I smiled.

"Also, I've got a theory here. You talk about Quinn the way I talk about my boyfriend. You so have a crush on her," she smirked.

"I do not!" I play-shoved her.

"You totally do! And she likes girls, so you should go for it!" She said.

"I don't know, I'll think about it," I smiled.

She got to explaining her story.

"Like I said, mine ain't as chaotic as yours. Five years before you existed, I was born. My mom left your dad because she liked her other boyfriend better and took me with her. They got married, but I was the only kid.

"I knew I wasn't like other girls growing up, and I thought it was just because I was a bit of a tomboy and didn't think any of the guys in my class were cute. I thought I was just confused at first, then realized I was probably lesbian, but I wasn't. The girl crush I had back then turned out to be non-binary, so neither boy or girl. I've only ever liked guys and non-binary people.

"But aside from bullying in freshmen year of high school, my life was pretty okay from then on."

"Oh wow," was all I could say.

"I mean, I guess it was a bit crazy," she shrugged.

We continued to talk for a pretty long time. Soon, I realized that it was nearly two o'clock, and I was supposed to be picking up Abbie from school and bringing her to my place. Luca was going to a friend's house, and Sapphire had to go home and get ready for gymnastics.

"I have to go, I'm supposed to pick up Abbie from school," I explained, getting up from the table.

"Oh, it's fine. I hope we can hang out again together," she said.

"Me too. Bye!" I said, leaving the place.

On the drive to the elementary school, my thoughts pondered over the possibility of having a crush on Quinn. I didn't think I did.

. . . But then I found a memory from fourth grade.

Quinn was sitting in the desk next to me. We were taking a history test. I knew all of the answers, and judging by her face, she knew none of them.

I took a pencil out of my pencil case and tore off a small piece of paper out of my notebook. I jotted down the answers, crumpled the paper really small, and tucked it in the pencil where the lead goes. I slipped it into her desk. She took it out and smiled.

"And this is why you're my bestest friend in the whole entire world. I love you," Quinn whispered to me.

I smiled and felt myself start blushing. I was really happy the rest of the day, and I couldn't get my mind off Quinn.

Ahh. Okay. So maybe I did have a crush on her.