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Apparently, I’m rebellious

So, I do what any rebellious girl would probably do

I eat in sullen silence I drink my soup from the spoon, I eat three croissants (because they really are iant piece of pie

My mother looks at me in disapproval

“Mia, you’re not going to be seventeen forever You ain weight”

I roll s to worry about besides ht I’m skinny for now and that’s all that ht when I’m thirty

“How long is the construction on our house going to take?” I yell down tothat it isn’t seemly But how else is she supposed to hear

And I’ to hate the word seemly

She shrugs “They say it will take three months or so And Kolettis Academy will be closed for the next two to four weeks for construction, as well I just heard today They will add that tiraduate on time”

I nod I’ out of school for a ive my memory time to come back I’ll focus on that

“My doctor said that I should do things that are familiar to me,” I remind her “He said that it will helptomorrow”

Mythat she wouldso she hates, rather than spend tiuess that’s Old Mia’s spunk talking

I’ that chick now and I wish I could remember more about her

“Also, Marionette toldto Caberra for a while to help with clean-up from the earthquake,” ed It ood to help, as well”

“Dante and Reece are co?” I ask, surprised “When?”

She shakes her head “I don’t know Marionette probably does, though You can ask her”

I’m excited by this Dante and Reece used to be faood thing

I inoring uess, to follow your daughter into a kitchen I alh, but don’t My mother’s self-imposed rules are sort of funny And sort of pathetic

Marionette, Darius and Quinn look surprised to see me, but Quinn quickly jumps up and pulls a chair out for me His polite behavior makes my pulse speed up But I try to cal manners Geez I’m sure he’d do it for anyone

I sit down and i her about Dante and Reece Her face is genuinely happy when she answers

“They’ll be here soon,” she tellstomorrow And they are very excited to see you”

Quinn doesn’t look quite as happy, but I’ to do with the fact that he and Reece have a complicated relationship or so I’m told

Apparently, they took turns having a crush on each other for the last ten years or so But they never tiether Quinn dated Reece’s friend Becca for the last couple of years, although now they’re broken up But now Reece is with Dante, so the tiretful of that?

He doesn’t seeh, as he takes a bite of soup I can’t help but notice how big his hands are He’s absolutely gigantic

“So, how rinning He isn’t apologetic at all I like it

“Not much,” I answer “Just a lecture Apparently, I’m supposed to stay away from you, too But you can see hoell that lecture took”

Marionette mutters under her breath and I can see that she doesn’t approve of my mother That’s okay I’m not sure that I do, either Quinn’s eyes sparkle

“Aht like that I’ve never been the bad boy before It ht be fun”

“You’ve never been the bad boy?” I ask doubtfully My eyebrows are raised Quinn shakes his head

“Nope I’uess you don’t Well, I’m from the heartland of Aer Yes,a tattoo I’ your mom wouldn’t approve of that, either”

He’s s now, totally unrepentant and unconcerned My pulse speeds up yet again It seems to do that a lot around him

“A tattoo? Gavin said that he’s going to get one that says, “Always ready”

Quinn rolls his eyes good-naturedly “He would I haven’t decided yet what I want Maybe you can help me”

I raise h to knohat you should get”

Quinn winks “Well, et to know me”

“Devious,” I grin “I like it Well, ittattoo and then you’ll be tied to me for life”

“Needy,” he observes “I like it”

We laugh and Marionette and Darius laugh, too I really like the to eat in here from now on My mother can suck it If she doesn’t want to join us, she can eat out there alone She can keep up her seemly appearances all on her own

When we’re finished eating, Quinn walksrooone She left her dirty dishes, though Obviously carrying the to hate that word I shouldto hate

Seemly

Soon

Apparently

I can add ht now, I’ers and rin I stare up at him and smile

“Do you and Reece get along okay now?” I ask hi to the bedrooms He looks surprised

“Of course Why do you ask?”

“Gavin toldI’ across that way In an effort to enhance the act, Ithe portraits of Giliberti ancestors as alk past them Their eyes seem to stare into my back It’s sort of creepy

“Why are you so interested?” Quinn raises an eyebrow