Aao ichapter10 2

PreviouslyonAnApocalypseofIce:

IhopeyoureadChapter10.1,becausethesetwochaptersgohand‐in‐hand.ButChapter10.1canbesummedupinoneword:Drama.Iprobablyshouldhavejustcalledit“Drama”insteadof“Fairyland,”butthatwouldhaveobscuredthefactsthat(a)manyofthefamilymembersarelivingintheirownliHlefairylands;(b)dramawillprobablyjustconJnueforawhile.Whydidn’tIjustkeepmyApocalypseadorable?Why?

Butinanutshell:Willdidnotenjoycollege,becausehewasstrugglingtosurviveonveryliHlemoneyincondiJonsrivalingthebeginningoftheApoc.Whilethere,hisLTWflippedto20WooHoos.ThefamilydiscussedapotenJalmarriagebetweenWillandJanTellerman,atheoristwhoalsohappenstobeJulian’sgirlfriend.Needlesstosay,thatdiscussiondidn’tgowell.Itdidn’thelpwhenSabrieloverhearditandwentnuts,becauseshethinkssheshouldbetheheir.AndWillcamebacktoWineXell,hadabigfightwithSabriel,andmetAlayne.DANGER,WILLROBINSONSTARK!Arthur’stheonlyonewhoqualifiesasnormal;hejustwantsaboyfriendandanice,quietlife.

“QUITLEAKING,YOU.NOW.”Sabrieltookanotherswingattheshowerwithherwrench.HermoodhadbeenfinebeforeWillturnedup,butnowshejustwantedtohitsomething.

“Sabriel?”

“GOAWAY.”

“That’snotactuallygoingtofixtheshower,”sheheardArthursay.“It’sprobablygoingtomakeitworse.”

“Howdoyouknow?”

“Ihavemoremechanicalpointsthanyou.”

“FINE,”sheanswered,droppingherwrench.Sabrielturnedbacktoglareattheshower.“YouareNOToffthehook.”

“What’sgoingonthat’ssobadthatyouhavetotakeitoutoninnocentpiecesofplumbing?”

“Youknowwhat’ssobad.”

“No,Idon’t.”

“IsawWillyesterday.”

“What?Where?Whydidn’thecomeseeus?”

“See?Mypointexactly.He’sjuststrollingaroundWinterfell,hangingoutwiththisSpencerFitzhughguy,anddoesn’tgiveadamnaboutus.Whatkindofheirishegoingtobe?”

“Sabriel…don’tcomeaiermewiththatwrench,but…”Arthurgraspedhischinashethoughtaboutwhattosaynexttoavoidthenextoutburstbeingdirectedathiminsteadofatsomeonewhowasn’tpresent.“Idon’tknowtheanswertothatquesJon.Ididn’tpickWilltobetheheir.MomandDaddid.AndIdon’tthinkhedoesn’tcare…wait,youhaven’tinterruptedmealready?”

“WhatdoesitmaHer?”sheasked.“They’vealreadydecidedagainstme,justbecauseI’magirl.”

“Ionlyknowwhatyou’vetoldme,butIdon’tthinkthat’swhathappened,”Arthursaid.“Idon’tthinktheydecidedagainstyou.That’snotthekindofthingthey’ddo.TheyjustdecidedforWill.Andifhedoesn’twantit,thenyoucanhaveit.Idon’twanttobetheheir.”

Sabrielstaredatherpieces.“IsJlldon’tseewhythey’ddecideforWill,”shemuHered.Hewasn’tresponsibleenough.Plus,therewasnowayhe’dwanttobeheiranyway.

“Becausehewantsit?Idon’tknow.Justaskthem.They’reprobablynotasclosed‐mindedaboutitasyouthink.”

Sabrielopenedhermouthtotalkagain,butshecouldn’tthinkofanythingtosay.ShewassJllpreHysurethatherparentshaddecidedagainsther—butwhatiftheyhadn’t?“I’mabouttotopmycareer,”shesaid.“ThatseemslikeagoodJmetotalktothem.”

“Doitthen,doitbeforethen—justtellthem.”

“Weshoulddoourassignmentsfirst,though.Youdon’twanttotalktoDadwhileyou’resJllthisupset.I’drathernotseehimgetpunchedinthenoseanyJmesoon.”

“Iwouldnotpunchhiminthenose.”

“Wouldn’tputitpastyou,though.”

“Beatyou,”Sabrielsaid,standingupasshefinished.

“Wasitarace?”Arthuraskedashecheckedtheanswersonhismathproblems.

“Whynot?”

Likemostofthefamily,JulianhadtakenadvantageofanopportunitytoleavethehousewhenBriHanyAmanacalledtosayshewashosJngaget‐togethernowthatherphonelineswereopen.

Hehadalwayslikedher,hethought.JulianandhisbrothershadbeenfriendswithBriHanysincetheywereteenagers,andsheplayedameangameofchess—withoutcheaJng.HehadevenflirtedwithheracoupleofJmes.ButshelookedabouttenJmesmorebeauJfulthanherememberedinthatmoment.

SowhenJuliankissedher,hewasn’tthinkingaboutthefactthathemightbeabouttoloseJanoraboutMal’sfriendshipwithBriHany.Hehadalwayswantedtofindlovewheneverhecould.ThissituaJondidn’tchangethat.BriHanywasagoodfriend,andJulianlikedheralot.

AndBriHanysureseemedhappytherestoftheevening.

Ofcourse,theStarkshadnowayofknowingthattherewasanothersuccessfulscienJstintheneighborhood(specifically,aninventor)makingherwayupthecareerladder.Eveniftheyhadknown,theywouldn’thavewantedtoarrangehermarriagetoWill.

“Will?Hi,it’sAlayne!It’ssogreattotalktoyou.Ijustwantedtomakesureyou’dgoHenbacktoOldtownsafely—what?Youhaveclassinanhour?Okay,I’lltrytocallyoubacksoon,ifIcan!”

“She’swaytoohappy,”AliobservedoverachessgamewithJocelyn.

“That’snotnecessarilybad,”Jocelynsaid.“Maybeshe’sfalleninlove.She’sRomance,isn’tshe?Ithinkfallinginlovewouldbegoodforher.”

“Aslongasshedoesn’tfallinlovewiththewrongperson.”

“Whatdoyoumean?”

AlitookalookaroundthehousetomakesureAlaynewasn’tthere,thenanswered,“WillStark.I’vebeentryingtowarnhimabouther,buthedoesn’tbelieveme.Icanunderstandwhy—Ididn’tthinkthedeadcouldcomebackbefore—buthecouldbeindanger.”

“Danger?”

“Jocelyn,he’shergreat‐grandson.That’sjustwrong.”

“Well,Iknowthat,but—that’sjustnotwhatIusuallythinkofasdanger.Iheardanger,andIthinkshe’sgoingtokillhim.”

ThevolumeofAli’svoicedroppedanothernotch.“Iwouldn’tputitpasther,ifshedoesn’tthinkshecangetwhatshewantsfromhim.”

“And—doesn’thehavesiblings?”

“Two.But—”

“What?”

Ifshekilledallofthem,thenshe’dinherit,Alienathoughtasshestaredatthenewspaper,lookingforajobopening.No.Thatcan’thappen.

Aierall,sheandJocelynweregoingtohaveababy.Alihadalwayswantedachild,butlatelyshehadstartedwonderingwhatkindoflifehersonordaughtermighthavewhilelivinginahousewithAlayne.

Forherpart,JocelyntriedtobenicetoAlayne.Theywerelivinginthesamehouse,aierall.

ButsomeJmes,everythingshedidmadeJocelynsoangry,evenwhenshetriedtobepolite.Especiallywhenshetriedtobepolite.

“Sabriel,I’mworriedaboutyou,”Chrissaidasshecaughtherdaughterabouttogoupthestairs.“Youseemso—angry,somuchoftheJme.Issomethingwrong?”

“No,nothing,”sheansweredautomaJcally.ButthensherememberedArthur’sadvice.Itwasworthatleastknowingifherparentshaddecidedagainsther,wasn’tit?“But—whyisWilltheheir?Whydoyouthinkhe’dbebestatit?”

“Oh,sweeJe,”Chrissaid.ShewantedtohugSabriel,butherdaughterdidn’tseemtolikehugs.Infact,ChrisbelatedlyrememberedthatSabrieldidn’tlikebeingcalled“sweeJe”either.“Isthisbecausewedidn’tchooseyou?”

WhydidSabrielfeelsostupidaboutitnowthathermomhadsaiditthatway?Ifshehadn’tbeensoniceaboutit,thenSabrielwouldhavebeenabletostayangry.Shenodded.

“Well…”Chrispausedagaintodecidehowtophrasethings.“It’snotbecausewedon’tthinkyou’dbegoodatit—”

“I’dbebeHerthanWill,”Sabrielinterrupted.“Mom,someJmesIdon’tthinkheevencares.”

“Don’tsaythat.Don’tyourememberhowhehelpedyoutakeyourfirststeps?”Chrisasked.“Hewasjustasworriedaboutwhetheryouweregoingtobeokayaswewere.Maybemore.”Aierall,shehadraisedtwobabiesbeforeSabriel.“Willcaressomuchaboutthisfamily.He’scaredsincebeforeyouwereborn.Sodon’tyoudaresaythat.”

Sabrielhadneverheardhermomspeaklikethatbefore,soshedidn’tknowwhattosay.

“Canyoupipedownoverthere?”Brandonasked.“Thisisfrommypublisher,andIwanttohearwhatshe’ssaying.Hello,thisisBrandon—what?TheEconomicsofJusGceisn’tsellingaswellasyouexpected?”

“I’llwritesomethingelsethat’llbeabiggermoney‐maker,then,”hemuHeredashesatdowninfrontofthecomputer.“AndthenI’llfindapublisherwho’sactuallywillingtopromotemywork.”

SabrielputasmileonherfaceasshesteppeduptothepodiumtopracJceherspeech.Itwasn’tanythingshehadplannedforschool;itwasjustsomethingthathadcometoherwhilestaringatchesspiecestheotherdayandtryingnottothinkaboutwhathermomhadsaidtoher.

“Letmeoutlinemythree‐stepplanfortakingovertheworld.”

“Stepone:Takeoverthethirdfloorbathroom.”

“Sabriel!”sheheardsomebodyyellingoutside.“Ineedtotakeashower!”

“There’sashoweronthesecondfloor!”shecalled,laughing.

“Steptwo—ah,forgetit.Playingpirateismorefun.Andit’sgoodpracGceformyfuture.”Exceptshehadmuckeduptherestofherfuture,hadn’tshe?

Sabrielkeptrowing.Itdidn’tmaHer.She’dshowthemanyway.

“Thanksforcomingovertoday,”ArthursaidtoRicky.“IthinkwemightneedtoworkonthatgroupprojectforhistoryaliHlemore,though.”

“Nosweat,”hesaid.“It’sfuntobehere,evenifIthinkyoursister’sgoingtoripmyheadoffsomeJme.”

Arthurlaughed.“Ithinkshe’smoreinterestedinrippingotherpeople’sheadsoff.”Hepaused.“Ididn’tthinkyoulikedmeforthelongestJme,youknow.”

“Whywouldn’tIlikeyou?”Rickyasked.“Wait…isthatyourdad?”

“…Crap.”

“Hey,Arthur,”Malsaid.

“Uh,hi,Dad.”ArthurletgoofRicky’shands.“I’llseeyouatschooltomorrow,okay?”

“Isheyour—boyfriend?”Malasked.

“Um…Iguessso,”Arthursaid.Hedidn’tmindthatSabrielknew.Shedidn’tseemtocare,andsheprobablywouldhavefigureditoutalready.Butherealizedthathehadn’twantedhisdadtofindoutthathelikedguys.MaybeMalwouldhavefoundoutlater,butArthurhadn’tthoughtitthroughthatfar.

“Whydoyoulooksonervous?”

“Um—everyoneelselikesgirls.Don’tthey?Ididn’tknowifIwassupposedto…”

“You’resupposedtodowhatevermakesyouhappy,”Malsaid.“Andthatmeanslovinganyonewhoyouwanttolove.”

“Youmeanthat?”

“OfcourseIdo!”Malsmiled.“Idon’tknowwhereyougotthatideafrom.YourunclesandIlikewomen,yes,butwhoyouloveisyourdecision.IjustwanttoseeyouandWillandSabrielhappy.”

“Now,doyouwanttotellmemoreabouthim?Hisname’sRicky,right?”

“Yeah.”

Willhadbeendreamingabout—whatwasit?Hefeltlikeitwasjustoutofhisgrasp.Whateveritwas,heknewforsurethatithadabsolutelynothingtodowiththree‐dimensionalcalculus.

“IguessIhadtowakeupeventually,didn’tI?”hemuHered,rubbinghiseyes.Timewasn’tgoingtostopforhim,aierall.Willcouldn’tstayinbedandcomplainanymore.Hehadtowakeupandtackleeverythingthathehadtodotoday.

WillhadactuallymadefriendswithDerek,whodeliveredanewspapertohishouseeverymorning.Hewasn’tsureexactlywhyDerekbothereddeliveringthething,becausetherewasnothinginit,butitwasajobforDerekanditbroughtsomeonebyhishousetochatwith.

“Fight!Fight!Fight!”Willfinished,raisinghisfistintheairashechantedtheOldtownschoolcheer.

“WhatareyoufighJngfor?”

“Idon’tknow.It’snotlikewehaveasportsteam,exceptifthere’ssuchathingascompeJJvesnowballfighJng.”Willshrugged.

HehadalsometCandiceMamuyacatthelibraryandquicklydeterminedthatshewasthecutestofthefewgirlsheknewincollege.

Healsolikedanyonewhowasupforagoodsnowballfight.

“YouareSOdead,”CandiceteasedWill.

WilljumpedfromtheplaceCandicewasaimingfortoanotherspotafewfeetaway.“Onlyifyouhitme!”

ItwasalmostlikeoldJmesbackatthehouse.ButwhenWilllookedbackonthat,hedidn’tthinkhe’deverbethatcarefreeagain.

JulianknockedonthedoorofBriHany’shouse,thenlethimselfin.Itwasn’tthemostpolitethingtodo,buthewantedtotalktoBriHanybadlyenoughthathedidn’treallycare.He’dbeenthinkingabouthereversincethepartyatherhouseacoupleofdaysago.

HerroommateMayalookedoverfromthepillowfightcurrentlyconsumingheraHenJon.“Julian?”sheasked.“Isthatyou?”

“Yeah,”Juliansaid.BrandonandMayahadbeengoodfriendsforawhile,butshewasFamily,soJulianhadneverbeenthatinterestedinher.“IsBriHanyaround?Ineedtotalktoher.”

“Sorry,shejustleiforwork,”Mayasaid.“She’snotgoingtobebackunJlabout11.”

Juliancheckedtheclockonthestove.ThereweresJllseveralhoursleiunJlthen.

“Well—canIwaitforher?”Julianasked.

Mayashrugged.“Sure,”shesaid.“Aslongasyoudon’tmindZackandIpillow‐fighJng.”

Juliansatdownatthechessboard,buthedidn’ttakethepiecesoutyet.Hehadn’tthoughtofanythingtosayonhiswayoverhere.Instead,hehadjustfiguredhe’dworkitoutwhenhesawBriHany.Nowthathehadfourhourstowait,heshouldprobablythinkofsomething.

Whyhadhecomehereinthefirstplace?

BecauseBriHanywascharming,intelligent,andgorgeous.Hedidn’twanttoloseher,too.

AiercheckingtheclockwaytoomanyJmes,BriHanyfinallywalkedinthedoor.“Hey,Maya!I’mback!”shecalled.Then,shestoppedandsmiled.“Julian!”

Wassheblushing?

“It’sgreattoseeyou!”BriHanysaid,throwingherarmsaroundJulian.“Howdidyoudecidetocomehere?”

“Ijustdroppedby,”Julianexplained.“Ofcourse,itwasatthebeginningofyourshii.”

“Youshouldn’thave,”BriHanysaid.“Actually,Iwasjustsayingthattobepolite.Youdefinitelyshouldhave.Otherwise,Iwouldn’thavegoHentoseeyouunJlwhoknowswhen.”

“Ilikethewayyouthink,”Juliantoldher.

JulianrealizedhehadcomeheretoseeifhecouldfallinlovewithBriHany.Helikedher,andheknewshelikedhim,butthatwasn’tenough.Hedidn’twanttobewithBriHanyjustbecauseshewasthereandhedidn’twanttobealoneonceWillmarriedJan.

Butashelookedather,herealizedthatwasn’thisreasonfordoingthisatall.Juliandidloveher.Hedidn’tloveBriHanythesamewaythathelovedJan,butitwouldn’tberightifhedid,wouldit?

AndnowshehadgoHendownonherkneesandpulledoutaring.“Iknowthisisprobablyatotalshocktoyou—”

“Itis,”Juliansaid.Buthecouldn’thidehissmileverywell,andBriHanyknewit.

“Ican’tsayIwanttospendtherestofmylifewithyou,becauseIknowIwon’t,”sheconJnued.“ButIloveyou,andIknowIwanttospendasmuchJmewithyouasIcan.Willyoumarryme?”

“Idon’tknowifIshould.Idon’t—Iwanttosayyes—”Butwasittherightthingtodo?

“Thensayit.”

Juliantookadeepbreath.“Yes,”hesaid,pulngtheringonhisfinger.

ApartofJulianwonderedwhathewasdoing.HewasaRomanceSim.Hewassupposedtohatetheveryideaofgelngmarried.Buthedidn’tcare.

Besides,itwasn’tasifbeingengagedmeanthavingnofunofanykind.

Juliangotupafewhourslater.Hedidn’twanttoleaveyet,buthehadafeelingthatifhedidn’tgobacktothehouse,hisbrotherswouldstartmobilizingsearchparJestotrackhimdown.

“I’llcomebackassoonasIcan,”hewhisperedbeforehelei.

“How’syourcareergoing?”MalaskedSabriel.He’dbarelyspokentoheroverthelastfewdaysexceptforafewmumbledwordsoverdinner,andaierChrishadtoldhimabouttheirconversaJonabouttheheirship,hewantedtotrytoclearthingsup.

“Okay,”shesaid.“I’mclosetogelngpromoted.”ButSabrieldidn’tlookathim.

“Isthisthelastonebeforeyougettothetop?”

“Itis.”Shepaused,andMalwonderedwhatshewasabouttosay.“IwasgoingtogotalktoyouonceIreachedthetopandaskifIcouldbetheheir.”

“Andnow?”

“Now?YoutalkedtoMom,didn’tyou?”Sabrielasked.“AiershethinksIinsultedWill?”Shewasn’tgoingtoapologize.Shehadn’tdoneanythingwrong,unlesssayingwhatshethoughtwaswrong.ButSabrieldidn’tknowifsayingshedidn’tthinkWillcaredhaddugherholedeeper.

“Well,Idon’twanttoseeyouhurt,”Malsaid.“Butyourmomwasright,Sabriel.Willcaresaboutourfamilyalot.Maybehe’shavingsometoughJmesatcollege,butIdon’tthinkthatit’sgoingtochange.”

“DoeshecareenoughtomarryJanTellerman?”Sabrielasked,tryingtostaycalmthisJme.“Becausethatwon’tbeaproblemwithme.I’llmarrywhoyouwantmetomarry.Theonlyproblemwithme—”shetriedtogetthosewordsthatshedidn’tbelieveout,“isthatI’magirl.”

“Idon’tthinkthat’saproblem.”Atfirst,Malthoughtthattheproblemmightbeeavesdropping,buthecouldn’tblameSabrielbecauseeveryoneheardeverythinginthehouse.Besides,itmeantshehadthemakingsofagoodadventurer:alwayspayingaHenJontohersurroundings.

“ButUncleBrandonsaid‘eldestsoninherits.’Ofcourseit’saproblem.So’sbeingtheyoungest,Iguess.“

“WillsJllmightnotagree,”Malpointedout.“Idon’tthinkhewould,butit’spossible.AndJanmightnotagree,either.”ButSabrieldidn’tlookanybeHer,andMaldidn’tthinkhe’dfeelanybeHerinhershoes.“Letmeaskyouthis—whydoyouwanttobetheheir?”

“IthinkI’dbethebestatit,”Sabrielansweredquickly.“IknowI’ddoagoodjobleadingthefamily.Iknowit’shardsomeJmes,butIcandoit.Justtrustme.”

Malrealizedhehadbeenholdinghisbreath.Heletitout,knowingthatheandChrishadmadetherightdecision.“WhenWillwasborn,ItoldmyselfthatifIlovedhimenough,everythingwouldbefine,”heexplained.

“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”

MalrealizedthathewasansweringaquesJonSabrielhadneverasked.“Beingtheheirisn’taboutwho’sincharge,”heexplained.“Well,itis.ButBrandonneverwouldhavesteppedaside,ifthatwasallitwas.I’vealwaysthoughtitwasaboutlove.Loveforthefamilyandtheworkthatwedo,foryourspouse,andforthenextgeneraJon.AndIthinkWillunderstandsthat,andthat’sbeHerforthefamilyinthelongrun.”

Sabrielclosedhereyes.Whatifhewasright?She’dneverthoughtabouthavingchildren.Shewasn’tevenaHractedtoanyoneatschool.Butshecouldn’tgiveup.“It’snotlikeIdon’tloveyou,”shesaid.“Andhowcanitbeallaboutloveifyoudon’thaveacluehowtoleadthefamily?”

“Sabriel,lookatme,”Malsaid.“You’regoingtohaveagreatlife.You’llgotocollegeanddosomethinggreatwhenyoucomeback.Andyoucangoonalltheadventuresyouwantonceyou’redone.Idon’tthinkthere’sgoingtobeanythingyouwon’tbeabletodo.”

“Itdoesn’tmaHer!That’snotwhatIwant.”

“I’msorry,sweeJe.Iknowthisisimportanttoyou.Butit’snotbecauseIdon’tloveyouorbecauseIdon’tthinkyoucandoit.”

“Well,that’snotwhatitfeelslike.”Sabrielslammedherhanddownontheedgeofthetableandwalkedaway.

ButSabrielwasbacktoherusualselfasshegotoutofthecar,poinJngherfingeratwhoevershewantedtoshowatthemoment.Shehadmadeittothetop,securinganinternshipthatwouldlastunJlsheleiforcollege.

Thensherememberedthatthisdidn’tmeanwhatshehadthoughtitwouldhavemeanteversincesheoverheardtheconversaJonaboutmarryingWilltoJan.

“Imean,it’shardtoarguewhenDadkeepssayingthingslikehowit’sgoingtobethebestforthefamily,”SabrieltoldArthuroverdinner.“ButIcan’tjustsitdownandacceptthis.Idon’tknowhow.”

“Youwouldn’tbeyouifyoudidn’twanttoruletheworld,”Arthurpointedout.

“Damnstraight.AndWill’ssJllgoingtoneedmyhelp.”

“He’llneedmyhelp,too,”Arthursaid.“It’llbegoodtoseehimagain.Phonesgouptomorrow,sohe’llbeabletovisit,andthenI’llcallovertoOldtownandgetreadyforcollege.”

Sabrielnodded.“I’vedecidedtogotocollegeatthesameJmeasyou,”shesaid.“IthinkI’mready.”

“Areyousure?”Arthurasked.

“Duh.I’vegotgreatgradesandI’matthetopofmycareer.IguessIcouldgoforafewmorescholarships,butIfeellikemyworkhereisdone.AndIneedtogetoutofhere,Arthur.”Sabriellookedaroundatthewallpaper.“IfeellikeI’msloggingthroughthreefeetofsnow.Ineedcollegetobedifferent.Iknowit’snotgoingtoallbesmoothsailing,butIhavetodosomethingformyselfinsteadofsilngaroundwhileeveryoneelsedoeseverything.”

“Idon’tthinkyou’vebeensilngaround.You’reworking,andyouhavethesamenumberofscholarshipsasme,eventhoughyou’reyounger.”

Sabrielwavedherhand.“Yeah,butthat’sjustdoingstupidinternstuff,books,andchess.Ineedanadventure.Silnginmoreclassroomsisgoingtobeboring,butatleastI’llbeonmywaythere.”

“You’releavingforcollegetonight?That’sgreat!”Malclappedhishands.“I’llmissyou,butI’msogladyou’regoingtobeabletogo.IknowI’vesaidthisadozenJmes,butIreallywishIcoulddowhatyou’redoingnow.”

“I’mlookingforwardtoit,too,”Arthursaid.Hewasn’tsureifhe’dlookforwardtocollegeasmuchifhedidn’tknowhowmuchitmeanttohismomanddad.Besides,hedidn’tfeellikehewasreadyforarealjobyet,andthiswasawaytoputitoffforawhilelonger.“It’sabigworldoutthere,andIwanttoseemoreofit.Notasmuchasyouhave,orasmuchasSabrielwantsto,butjustaliHlemoreoutsidethishouse.”

Malnodded.“Thereisalottosee.And—Sabriel’sgoingwithyou?”Shehadtoldhimaboutherdecisionearlier.EventhoughMalsJllhopedshewouldchangehermindandstayhomeforafewmoredays,hedidn’twanttoforceSabrieltodoanything,evenifhecould.

“Yeah.”

HerealizedthathewasstarJngtotearup.Willwouldcomebacktohimsoon,butnowallhischildrenweregoingtobegone.Maldidn’twanttothinkabouthowemptythehousewouldfeel.

“Youallright,Dad?”

“I’mhappyforyou,”Malsaid,givingArthurathumbs‐up.“Butit’sgoingtobesadnothavinganyofmybabiesaround.”

“I’mnotababy,”Arthurremindedhim.

“Iknow.”ButsomeJmes,hesJllseemedsoyoungtoMal.Theyalldid,especiallynowthathedidn’tmovearoundthehouseasquicklyasheusedto.

Hetriedtoshakeitoff:“Well—letmeknowifthere’sanythingIcanhelpyouwith—”

“Maybewithmymechanicalskill?”Arthurasked.“I’msJlltryingtogetthatscholarship.”

“Yougotit.”

Acrosstheroom,ChriswashelpingSabrielwithherskills.

“That’samazing.”SabrielgapedasshelookedatthepainJng.“That’stotallyawesome.”

“Isn’tit?”Chrisasks.“IlovethewaythearJstshowedthewavescomingintothesea.”

“Whydon’ttheypaintanymore?”Sabrielasked.

Chrisshookherhead.“Iguessit’sjustnotsomethinganyonethinksabout.”

Sabriellookedatherbookagain.Thiswasn’tthefirstnormalconversaJonshe’dhadwithhermomsinceChrishadshoutedather,butSabrielsJllfeltlikeshehadtoJptoearoundhermomalot.ShedidnotJptoeverywell.

“Iwonderwhatcollegeisgoingtobelike,”sheobserved,lookingaway.“Didyougo?”

Chrisshookherhead.“Itwasamistake,”shesaid.“Ididn’tthinkIneededit.IwaspreHystupidwhenIwasyounger.”Sheturnedthepage,andtheyfocusedonthebooksforawhile.

Arthurcouldn’thelpbutpanicashepulledtheminiaturerocketoutofthesurgicaldummy.“WhatdoIdo?”heaskedMal.

“Firstofall,takeadeepbreath,”Malsaid.“Calmdown.It’lljustgetworseifyoudon’thaveaplanforfixingit.”

Arthurnoddedandtookthebreath.“Whatnow?”

Maltalkedhimthroughit.

“Andnowyousewhimbackup,”Malinstructed.“See?You’vegotit.Everything’sfine.”

Arthurexhaled.

“You’regelngmarried?”Brandonlaughed.“That’sfunny.Tellmeanotherone.”

Juliannarrowedhiseyes.“No,really,”hesaid.“OnceWillgetsseHledinasheir,I’mgoingtomoveoutandmarryBriHanyAmana.”

“But…you’reaRomanceSim,”Brandonsaid,tryingtowraphisheadaroundit.

“AndIloveBriHany,”Juliananswered.“Allright,I’mnotsurewhatcompelledmetosayyes.SomeJmesIthinkthisisasweirdasyoudo.Butdon’tIdeservetobehappy?”

“Youdo,”Brandonsaid,smiling.“I’mnotgoingtoarguewiththat.”

ConGnuetothenextpartofthechapter…