Chapter 1

Moving day sucks. It doesn't matter who you are. But I'd like to think that I am participating in the worst move in the history of all moves, especially since none of the stuff I'm moving is mine.

Sweating and shaky, I grab the gazillionth box and lug it towards my room. I don't even try to care as I dump it on the cleared out side of my room.

"Watch it! That stuff's fragile!"

I grunt at my new roommate as I shuffle out to grab another load. I am pleasantly surprised to see that there is nothing left to take and collapse on the grass outside. Closing my eyes, I lay back in the grass. Sweat oozes down my face and into my hairline. Gross.

Exhausted laughs come from inside the house, but I'm not ready to face the family yet. I already feel like the world is closing in on me, I don't need to rush the reality of it. Instead, I slip in my earbuds and let the insistant beat carry me to a place between awake and asleep.

A shadow falls across my face, but I ignore it. I've been an obedient drone today, let them stand there for all I care.

"Cal, Mom wants you."

I pretend not to hear.

"Seriously, Cal, family meeting."

I look up at Rebel, backlit by the sun. "I'm too tired for a meeting. Send my regards, though." I close my eyes again.

Rebel sighs loudly and mumbles, "Whatever."

I feel my body relax again as she moves away. I know it is a temporary reprieve, but I'll take what I can get.

I roll on my side and check my Facebook feed. Junk, junk, cute picture of my friend's cat, junk. I check to see if Bradley is on Messenger, but no such luck. He's supposed to be on a trip to see his grandmother, so it was a long shot.

I consider my face with my phone and take a sad-face selfie. It looks extremely pathetic with my hair stuck to my reddened face. I post it with the caption, "All moved in. Two bedrooms and six people. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Cal! Get your lazy butt in here!"

"Lazy? Really?" I groan as I get my sore muscles to work long enough for me to stand and walk towards the house. "Coming!"

Stepping around boxes, I make my way to the living room. Everyone is there. Pizza has magically appeared on one of the boxes.

"Oh, thank god." I collapse in the floor and grab a slice. I am so busy enjoying the taste of italian sausage that it takes a moment to realize everyone is staring at me.

"What?"

Felicia sighs. "We were talking about getting Rebel enrolled in school. Maybe tomorrow you could give her a tour."

"But school doesn't start for two weeks."

"Yes, but the building will be open. It's a big school and Rebel isn't used to such a large campus. It would really help her out."

It feels like everyone is just staring at me, waiting for me to give an answer.

"Sure, whatever."

Dad does not look pleased. "You need to at least try to fit into this new family, Cal."

I thought I was trying.

"Sorry, Dad, I'm just tired."

Satisfied by the answer, he turns to other topics and I tune out. After a couple of minutes I stand up, grab another slice of pizza and head out of the living room.

"I'm going to my room."

I hear Rebel protest, "Our room," but I ignore it and keep walking.

I gulp down the pizza and then flop on my bed. I stare at the posters that still hang on my half of the room. I turn on my side to prevent me from seeing the other side of the room. My laptop peaks out from under the covers.

"Time to unload before I explode."

Note to self: remember you are sharing a room now. Keep your thoughts inside of your head. No pressure or anything.

Opening up my computer, I click on my blog and start typing.

"Well, it is fait acompli. My new "family" has moved in. I will probably be writing here more since it is the only way to feel like at least someone is listening to me.

R's stuff is all over my room, I'm sorry, OUR room. Nothing is too surprising. Fake pink punk crap. I can't even imagine her in a mosh pit. I guess pink spikes are in? (Like I'd ever know that.)

I hope she doesn't snore...or wants to talk...or anything, really. I'm going to try and ignore her as much as possible. After all, she is invading my space, not the other way around.

F and M are already trying to treat me like a child. They keep assuring me that they know they aren't my parents, but that doesn't stop them from ordering me around. The worst thing is that they are all sleeping in the same room, so I can't even get Mom alone to talk about stuff. She is always surrounded by her "loves."

Like, I'm not against the whole poly thing, really. I just don't need all of this right now. They didn't even ask me what I think about all of this. They just handled me like some fragile glass or something.

So now I have to go to school in a couple of weeks and pretend that I'm okay, that life is okay. As if I'm not already the freak of the school.

I'm so tired and I've barely begun. I'm glad I have therapy in a couple of days."

I distract myself with some games for a little while. Rebel comes in and starts to unpack some of her clothes. She is strangely quiet and I am content to stay quiet myself. The smell of my own sweat overcomes my laziness.

"I'm gonna take a shower."

Rebel nods and doesn't say anything.

I enjoy the warm water, using my visualizations to imagine all of my anger flowing down the drain. It is calming, and I am ready to have a short conversation with Rebel before bedtime.

By the time I get back to our room, she is curled up on the bare mattress, blankets pulled over her head. Shrugging, I turn on my reading lamp and turn off the overhead. Probably for the best.

I don't read for long before I roll over to switch off my lamp. Curling up, I start to drift off to sleep. I think I hear Rebel quietly sniffling, but the call of sleep is too powerful and I am out.