My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter 2

The next morning, I walk down to the kitchen. Mallory is making coffee and I pour cereal into a bowl. I can't avoid the topic so I say, "Just so you know, Dad and Mia love Jeremy too. They might be upset." I didn't tell them though I was tempted to tell Mia this morning. She's still upset with me. She didn't even acknowledge my loving note that I left at her bedside table. 

"Don't get salty with me, I just thought you should know."

"It's not like he would come over here once I was gone, anyway."

I frown. Maybe he would. He came over here before they were a couple. Why should he stop? He's my friend too. "He might," I say. "He loves Mia as if she was his own sister." I don't mention myself.

With her back to me, she says, "Maybe I won't even tell them."

"Um, I think they'll figure it, Mal." Mal is my nickname for Mallory. I hardly ever use it.

Mallory makes a face at me "Ugh, emotions."

"I know."

* * *

When Mallory decided to go to college in London, it felt like she was abandoning us. Even though I knew it would happen because of course, she was going to go to college somewhere far away. And of course, she was going to go to college in London (the University of London no less) and study biology because she is Mallory, the smart one. The girl who had aced math, science, chemistry, and biology. Of course, she would leave us.

I'm still mad at her, just a little. She's going so far away, and we always said we'd be sisters forever. Mallory first, me in the middle and my sister Mia last. On her birth certificate, she is Amelia but to us she is Mia. Occasionally we call her Amy or Mel or Lia. Amy Mel Lia. Amelia. But most often she is Mia even though that is the name that sounds least like her real name.

We are the three sisters. Like the little women minus one. The Martinez sisters. Our mom's last name was Martinez and our dads were O' Connor. We all look more like our mom anyway. We look more Spanish then white. At least Mallory and I do. Mia looks most like Dad: her hair is a dirty blonde like his. People say I look the most like my mom, but I think Mallory does, with her tan skin and dark eyes. Of course, we only know from pictures. Our mom left us when Mia was born. I guess she couldn't handle three kids.

Mallory is only two years older than me but it feels like she's an adult and I'm just a little kid.

* * *

Dad and Mia come downstairs. Dad takes a cup of coffee that Mallory has poured. I look at Mia but she frowns at me. Instead of eating at the counter with me, Mallory and dad, she goes to the table. She's still upset.

Between sips of coffee, Dad says, "I'm thinking hamburgers for dinner. Should I get a patty for Jeremy?"

I look at Mallory. She buys herself time by taking a sip of Coffee. After a long sip, she says, "No, just get enough for the four of us."

I give her a disapproving look, and she ignores me. I've never seen Mallory lie before. But I suppose if she did lie, I wouldn't have known it wasn't the truth.