was so crowded, Cath felt like even calling her sister was an interruption. Cath had thought they were over the bar-tastrophe, but Wren was acting even more irritable and remote than shed been at the start of the year. When Cath did try to call, Wren was always on her way out, and she wouldnt tell Cath where she was going. I dont need you to show up with a stomach pump, Wren said.
In some ways, it had always been like this.
Wren had always been the Social One. The Friendly One. The one who got invited to quinceañeras and birthday parties. But beforein junior high and high schooleveryone knew that if you invited Wren, you got Cath. They were a package deal, even at dances. There were three years worth of photos, taken at every homecoming and prom, of Cath and Wren standing with their dates under an archway of balloons or in front of a glittery curtain.
They were a package deal, period. Since always.
Theyd even gone to therapy together after their mom left. Which seemed weird, now that Cath thought about it. Especially considering how differently theyd reactedWren acting out, Cath acting in. (Violently, desperately in. Journey to the Center of the Earth in.)
Their third-grade teacherthey were always in the same class, all through elementary schoolthought they must be upset about the terrorists.
Because their mom left on September 11th.
The September 11th.
(Cath still found this incredibly embarrassing; it was like their mom was so self-centered, she couldnt be trusted not to desecrate a national tragedy with her own issues.)
Cath and Wren had been sent home from school early that day, and their parents were already fighting when they got there. Her dad was upset, and her mom was crying. And Cath thought at first that it was because of the World Trade Center; their teacher had told them about the airplanes. But that wasnt it, not exactly.
Her mom kept saying, Im done, Art. Im just done. Im living the wrong life.
Cath went out and sat on the back steps, and Wren sat beside her, holding her hand.
The fight went on and on. And when the president flew over their heads that afternoon on the way to the air force base, the only plane in the sky, Cath thought maybe the whole world was going to end.
Her mom left for good a week later, hugging both of the girls on the front porch, kissing their cheeks again and again, and promising that shed see them both soon, that she just needed some time to feel better, to remember who she really was. Which didnt make any sense to Cath and Wren. Youre our mom.
Cath couldnt remember everything that happened next.
She remembered crying a lot at school. Hiding with Wren in the bathroom during recess. Holding hands on the bus. Wren scratching a boy who said they were gay in the eye.
Wren didnt cry. She stole things and hid them under her pillow. When their dad changed their sheets for the first timenot until after Valentines Dayhe found Simon Snow pencils and Lip Smackers and a Britney Spears CD.
Then, in one week, Wren cut some other girls dress with safety scissors, and Cath wet her pants during Social Studies because she was scared to raise her hand to ask for a bathroom pass; their teacher called their dad in and gave him a business card for a child psychologist.
Their dad didnt tell the therapist their mom was gone. He didnt even tell Grandma until summer break. He was so sure she was going to come back. And he was such a disaster.
They were all three such a disaster.
It had taken years to put themselves back together, and so what if some things didnt get put back in the right place? At least they could hold themselves up.
Most of the time.
Cath closed her biology book and reached for her laptop. Reading was too quietshe needed to write.
It startled her when the phone rang. She stared at it for a second before she answered, trying to recognize the number. Hello?
Hey. Its Levi.
Hi?
Theres a party at my house tonight.
Theres always a party at your house.
So youll come? Reagans coming.
What would I do at your party, Levi?
Have fun, he said, and she could hear that he was smiling.
Cath tried not to. Not drink. Not smoke. Not get high.
You could talk to people.
I dont like to talk to drunk people.
Just because people will be drinking doesnt mean theyll be drunk. I wont be drunk.
I dont need to go to a party to talk to you. Did Reagan tell you to invite me?
No. Not exactly. Not like that.
Have fun at your party,
Levi.
WaitCath.
What? She said it like she was hassled, but she wasnt. Not really.
What are you doing?
Trying to write. What are you doing?
Nothing, he said. Just got off work. Maybe you should finish reading me that story.
What story? She knew what story.
The Simon Snow story. Vampire Baz was just about to attack Simon.
You want me to read to you over the phone?
Why not?
Im not going to read to you over the phone.
There was a knock at the door. Cath eyed it suspiciously.
More knocking.
I know thats you, she said into the phone. Levi laughed.