SOL - Sit back down

You sit back down as she resumes eating.

“You’re Riley’s sister?”

“Yeah. Is that weird? My name’s Kayla,” she says, chewing. “It is weird that I would work here of all places, but I just wanted to have some fun this summer. They actually pay pretty well,” she says, clicking her chopsticks at you. “Since they board you and everything.”

You don’t know what to say. There is nothing to say. It’s not strange that Riley has a sister that you didn’t know about. Or did you know about her? You did. She’s always texting and emailing her family. You’re just all wound up.

“She looks so happy,” Kayla says, glancing back at the path. Lara and Riley are long gone. They were heading for the dining hall. Kayla sighs. “I guess I had to see her like this to kind of understand how she used to be different. I never paid enough attention. I didn’t see how miserable she was.”

“Miserable?”

“Yeah. She has a… secret. Or maybe two secrets,” Kayla adds. “And I guess it was hard for her to be open with people and do normal things while she was scared all the time because of that. She was lonely. She never had a girlfriend back in Gurlberg. So this is big for her, and I guess that British chick is pretty hot. I mean, it’s pretty cool. They’re the stars of their team. Like a power couple. I used to give her so much shit for not having a life. I was going to play some big prank on her or something, surprise her that I’m here, but I’m not going to. She deserves this. She’s happy. So I’m going to stay a ninja. She’ll never know that I was here. I don’t want to distract her. I have to let her have this.” Kayla gives you a little smile and nudges you with her elbow. “I have to make up for being a little asshole to her for my whole life.”

You sit there like a statue. “Were you difficult?”

“Was I difficult?” Kayla cackles. “You have no idea.” She sighs. “I was the worst. But she always put up with me. She has more patience with me than our mom does. Which is weird,” Kayla adds with a frown. “I should be the favorite. Because I look exactly like our mom. I saw some of her old yearbooks when she was a cheerleader. OK, so her waist was a little thinner than mine, but we’re like twins. I guess she likes Riley better because Riley doesn’t make her worry. I was always sneaking out with boys and stuff, but Riley never did that. She stayed home and did her homework.”

Kayla looks over at you. Seconds go by.

“You don’t have to sit here listening to me,” she says, trying not to laugh.