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“Because…” Ari stopped talking, pushed out an exasperated-sounding sigh, and frowned Her expression said she wasn’t about to change her ued-over issue “Well, it’s…it’s because…well, just because That’s why”

“No Not this time”

“I can see that you’re angry, Izzy, but you need to get over this It’s nothing”

“Oh? Really? Nothing?” Each single-word question caher pitch than the one before Isabelle felt the stirrings of a shrill retort about to unleash If it did, she wouldn’t be in control of it

Ari’s eyes closed and another long breath escaped her lips as if she—once again—didn’t plan to, or even need to, explain her actions Everyone was supposed nod their heads and rush to do her will as if she were a superhero out to save the day

Not toIsabelle from whatever she wanted to do—Ari never bothered to explain her actions, not ever But Isabelle was supposed to drop everything in her sad little life at every turn because she didn’t display the same iron will her sister always demonstrated

Isabelle suppressed the screaly calm tone, “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Ari But this tie your plans and agree to stay with Gran or don’t bother co a dramatic, “Ever!”

“I can’t changeto happen” Her sister sed hard, looking a bit vulnerable for the first ti to back down

She couldn’t do it Not again Not one more time In an equally calm voice, her sister said, “I’m sorry, but my life is complicated”

“Complicated? Why is that? Why is your freestyle party life so complicated? Do not even say it’s because you have that io to” Isabelle put air quotes around the word “important” to mean quite the opposite

Her sister’s eyes narrowed “It is important Besides—”

Isabelle didn’t want to hear it “Yes I know You’ve already purchased very expensive tickets and backstage passes to a band I’ve never even heard of before today, knowing full well that it was your turn to visit Gran this weekend, knowing full well you’d just crook your little finger like you always do to getit!”