High School Treachery | ✓

EPILOGUE | Goodbye For Now

E P I L O G U E
Goodbye For Now

"Damn it, Lyndon. Did you forget my weed?"

I roll my eyes so hard I see spots. Leave it to Noah to interrupt me singing happy birthday to Malia, just so he can loudly ask a question that'll get both our asses kicked if Dad—who's literally right next to me—hears.

"I got it, dipshit," I quickly say, sparing a glance at Dad to make sure he didn't hear. His eyes are set on the road, seeming oblivious to what his kids are saying.

"Good. You better have it," Noah replies, and then I hear him yelling out in pain. "Ouch, Malia. That hurt."

"Give me my phone back," I hear her command, and then her voice is closer when she speaks again. "He literally lunged over the couch to snatch my phone once he heard your voice."

"Of course he did, he's obsessed with me," I tell my cousin while laughing at the image of Noah hopping over a couch.

Part of me wishes I was already there with them, and that I had listened to Malia and just came for the Fourth of July party she was throwing. But once I heard the guest list and realized most of it consisted of our graduating class, I declined. I promised Malia I'd be there the next day for her actual birthday, and I'm keeping that promise.

"Well, I know you didn't call just to horribly sing happy birthday again," Malia says, and I can hear Noah start laughing in the background. "What's up? Are you almost here?"

I giggle at the memory of calling Malia at two in the morning to sing to her. I had gotten up to use the bathroom, and when I saw the time, I figured I'd take a chance and try being the first one to wish her a happy birthday.

"Yeah, almost. My dad just needs to confirm the address," I say once my giggles stop, and then I pass the phone to my dad's waiting hand.

"Okay, got it," Dad replies to her in a soft tone. "We'll be there soon. Happy birthday, Malia."

The phone's back in my hand seconds later, and I see she's still on the line. "Are you excited to celebrate your birthday today, and not America's?"

A small chuckle comes from her, and then she replies with a very unenthusiastic, "Sure."

"Come on," I say playfully. "It's so nice of Titi Talia to let you use the Carrington beach house to throw two big ass parties back to back."

"Yeah, it's nice for them," she replies with a snort.

"The party's for you, Malia," I argue in the most gentle tone I can muster.

She sighs, and it sounds like she's walking further away from wherever she had been before. Any background noise is completely gone. "Everything that's been done for me, hasn't ever really been for me. Get what I mean?"

I'm starting too. I knew things were off between Malia and her stepfather when I first moved back here, but I've come to learn that that's not even the proper way to describe it. It's worse than that. And it's taken me too long to realize it, to see just how broken my cousin is.

I've been shitty to her, when really, Malia and I should have been allies this whole time.

"Well, I'm happy to celebrate your birthday," I tell her, knowing there's no point in speaking further about her mom or stepdad. "This is about you. At least to me it is. I'll see you soon."