soon as I was standing in front of her.
Clementine’s eyes widened as she studied me. I gave her a smile, one that didn’t feel fake. It was the first time I wasn’t pulling out my political smile, and instead, I was just being me. And that felt incredible.
She paused for a moment before she smiled. “It’s fine, Victoria. I know you were stressed. It’s not a big deal.” She reached forward and gave me a quick hug.
I felt relieved that she wasn’t angry at me any longer. But I knew I needed to do something else to really show how sorry I was. “I’ll come to your classes,” I blurted out.
Clementine glanced at me. “It’s really okay.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m going to come. It’ll be good for me.”
She hesitated and then nodded. “I look forward to you being there.” Her smile was softer now, and I felt more relaxed.
This new Victoria was someone I could get behind. I felt…freer. Like this was who I was meant to be all along—even if I didn’t know who this person was, yet. It felt exciting to discover her.
I spent the afternoon eating and talking. After my tears had dried, I felt more normal, more human. I felt happy for the first time in a long time.
Maggie was kind enough to drive me home, and when I got out of the car and stared up at the huge house in front of me, I realized what I needed to do. If I was going to change my life, if I was really going to be happy for the first time since I could remember, I needed to stand up for what I wanted and not what my parents or this town expected.
By the time I got inside the house, my confidence was floundering, but I pushed my fears aside. I found my parents sitting at the table, eating a late lunch. They weren’t talking. Mom was on her phone, and Dad was reading the newspaper.
I entered the room, but neither looked up to acknowledge me.
So I spoke. “I’m pulling out of the election,” I said in a blur of words.
Dad stopped chewing, and Mom glanced up at me. Her eyes were wide.
“You’re what?” Dad finally asked after he choked down the food he was eating.
“I’m pulling out of the election. The polls don’t look good for me, and I”—I took in a deep breath—“am not happy.”
Dad bunched up the newspaper he was reading and threw it down onto the ground. Mom blubbered on about all the work they did to get me where I was. I could tell Dad was gearing up for some lecture, but I wasn’t interested. In fact, I was done living under the cloud of my parents’ expectations. So I turned and walked away.
Just before I was out of earshot, I threw, “And I’m moving out,” over my shoulder.
I was shaking by the time I got into my room and shut the door. I collapsed on my bed as fear coursed through my veins at the speed of my racing heart. I buried my face into my covers as I tried to calm my body.
I was terrified, but I also felt…free. And that was amazing.
Once I was calm, I climbed off my bed and went searching for Danny. Something was up with him, and I was going to figure out what. There was no point in finding my own happiness when my kid brother looked like someone had yanked away his. He was a happy-go-lucky guy, so for him to be moping around like this was concerning.
It didn’t take long for me to find him. He was in his room on his bed with the drapes closed. His head was buried underneath his pillow. I flopped down on his bed and patted his shoulder.
He growled.
“Well, at least I know you are still alive,” I said as I peered down at him.
“Go away.”
I sighed, leaning against the headboard. “I quit. I’m not running for mayor. And I’m moving out. Want to come with me?” I glanced down to see if that piqued his interest.
I felt triumphant when he began to stir and then emerged from his covers. He pushed up until he was sitting next to me with his back against the headboard. He didn’t speak right away. Something was wrong, and I felt like a horrible sister for not being there for him.
“This is a new side of you,” he finally said.
I nodded. “I thought I’d take a