Page 73 of Organized Chaos

Reid waited to hear the front door shut before turning to me. “What the hell, Mia?” he snapped. Raven patted Reid’s arm with an unspoken signal.

Of the duo, Raven was the reasonable one. On the other hand, Reid displayed all the classic symptoms of a middle child. Whereas my meltdowns were impulsive, Reid’s hot-headedness was routine. He’d likely come down on me the hardest for today’s antics.

“How are you feeling?” Raven asked me nervously.

“We were worried sick,” Reid charged ahead. “What if something had happened to you?”

“From taking a cab?” I couldn’t help but retort. “I’m seventeen. Both of you traveled alone at my age.”

“That’s because we had common sense. We were independent and aware of our surroundings. You might be a brainiac, but you have zero concept of how the real world works.”

I hated when they threw those words in my face. How did they expect me to learn when they wouldn’t allow me to do one thing by myself?

It was a Catch 22.

“Okay. Everyone take a deep breath.” Raven pressed her palm on Reid’s chest and pushed him back.

I preemptively declared, “I’m sorry.”

Reid was right.

I could speak like an adult, provide advice, discuss politics and religion. But there was no real-world application for my knowledge. I had no idea how to navigate life as an adult. My embarrassing actions today were only indicative of the fact. I lacked impulse control and desperately wished I had done things differently.

“It’s ok—” Raven started, but Reid cut her off.

“The worst part is that we don’t even know what sparked it.”

I was numb from fighting. “I kept asking you guys over and over again if we were moving. You kept dismissing me. You always do that,” I added in a small voice.

Raven and Reid exchanged a look. Since they were babies, those two could basically read each other’s minds. I was pretty sure they had a language of their own. I couldn’t always crack the code, but this one was easy.

They were gearing up to reveal something big.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

They both sat on either edge of my bed. “Mia,” Raven started. “I have some news.”

“It’s good news,” Reid added. “So, I want you to be happy for Raven.”

I stared at him. It only meant Raven was moving to a place I’d hate.

“Raven’s moving back to New York.”

I was right.

“Are you all right?” Raven asked without missing a beat.

I sat up on the bed and crossed my legs. “When?”

They exchanged another look. “Immediately. I came to help her move.”

I looked down at my hands. If Raven wasn’t in Paris anyone, it meant that I had no reason to visit. Everything I built here, the friendships, all gone. Poof.

“It’s going to be okay,” she said quietly.

I smiled sadly, determined not to have a repeat of the earlier showdown. Raven scooted closer and wrapped an arm around me to pull me closer. It was the comfort I had longed for all day.

“Why don’t I order some lunch? You must be starving.”