Page 3 of Fireworks

The noise level of hooting and hollering was unreal when they called Asher Hanover to receive his diploma. Nate and five others who I’m sure I had met once or twice made good on their promise of causing a commotion for Asher. It surprised me he made it through four years of college. He wasn’t as interested in reading and education in the way I had always been drawn to it.

It was the longest four years of my life. My friends’ infatuation with Nate and my brother hadn’t lessened, even though they went away to college. I was glad that I would graduate in a few weeks and not be around the same people who knew my brother and me since we were born. College was going to be a fresh start. Of course, I had my reservations, but mostly I was excited. I had spent the last four years of my life being Asher and Nate’s little sister. At least in college, I had a better chance of being myself and not being shrouded in their shadow.

My mother hugged both boys goodbye, reminding them their attendance was mandatory in a few weeks to watch me graduate. Personally, I didn’t care if either of them showed up. I knew it meant a lot to my mom to have us all together, so I resisted the urge to tell them to sit it out.

On the car ride home, Mrs. King sat in the backseat with me. I always found her so intimidating and no matter how many times she told me she could call her Grace, it never felt right. Her hair, dirty blonde, rested at the middle of her back and her eyes were the same chestnut brown as Nates. Despite the hardships thrown her way, she still made her way to become a partner at the law firm she worked at. I would never admit it out loud for fear my mother would get offended, but she was my idol.

She always stood up for me if she heard Nate and Asher poking fun. There were many times Nate would wait for an opportunity when he wasn’t near my brother to apologize. I knew she was hard on him and made him do it. I always thought he meant it until he’d go right back to his old ways when my brother showed up. Everyone I knew made remarks about how sweet, caring, and charming they both were. They did not direct those qualities at me.

The three adults were having their own conversation so I dove right back into the book I was trying to finish. I had already read it twice, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know where it was going to end up.

“Wasn’t it so lovely seeing the boys today?”

Peering up from my book, I realized Mrs. King was staring at me, waiting for a response.

“Oh, sorry. Yes, it was nice.”

She beamed back at me.

“You know, Katie, Nate is very proud of you.”

Mrs. King was never blind to my brightened cheeks when Nate was around. I hated him, I truly did, but there was just something about him that caused my face to flush when he entered the room. Damn teenage hormones have a mind of their own.

“He called me as soon as your brother told him you got your acceptance letter. He’s always had a soft spot for you ever since your mom brought you home from the hospital, even if he probably would never admit it.”

I smiled politely, not sure how I was supposed to respond. Had she known the extent of his behavior growing up, she wouldn’t think that of him.

“He did text me and said congrats.”

I still remembered the shock I had when I saw his name pop up on my phone.

“I cannot believe that you are going to be eighteen. My gosh, I remember visiting your mom in the hospital when you were born. You were the most beautiful baby in the world. You, my dear, have only gotten more stunning as you’ve aged.”

My eyes shifted away. Few people offered me compliments. When I got one, it made me uneasy. Collin was probably the only one who ever had anything nice to say. We had been friends since a game of seven minutes in heaven in the ninth grade. It was his first kiss and he never let me forget how great it was.

“Thank you.”

I squeaked out my appreciation for her remark before my mother started asking questions about Nate’s plans and derailed our conversation.

Looking back down at my book, I tried to focus on the words but found it impossible. It was only a few weeks away from my graduation and I couldn’t wait to spend my summer relaxing by the pool. The more I thought about it, the more I hated people thought my brother and Nate were these great guys when I knew the truth. They were rebellious and cruel. There was no one I had met in my life that I hated more than Nathan King. I couldn’t wait for the day they went away to college and his constant presence in my life slowly faded away. My phone buzzed in my lap.

Collin: Can you come over when you get back from Asher’s thing?

Looking out the window as the trees blurred past us, I knew exactly why he was texting me.

Katie: Sure. I’ll text you when I’m coming.