Chapter 2: Sidelined

Senior year of high school, Derek brought his girlfriend home to meet the family. No one bothered to tell me. I was living in the dorms, but I caught the flu and got sent home early. That’s how I met my future sister-in-law, Aubrey, by accident—standing in our kitchen, hair perfectly curled, nails immaculate.

Aubrey’s eyebrows shot up. She pinched Derek: “You always talk about your little sister, but you never mentioned you have two!”

Derek, ever the diplomat, hurried to explain. “Natalie’s school is strict. She only comes home every few months. We didn’t want to pull her away from her studies, so we didn’t call her back this time.”

Mom smiled, her customer-service grin in place: “Yet you still met, so Natalie and Aubrey must be fated.”

My “Mom, my stomach hurts” got stuck in my throat. I slumped into the dining room chair beside Lillian. The kitchen smelled like burnt toast and Aubrey’s perfume—too sweet, almost suffocating. Feeling like a Halloween mask next to her Instagram-filtered face. Even without a mirror, I knew I looked rough.

While Aubrey was in the restroom, I tried again: “Mom, my stomach’s been hurting for two days. Could you take me to the hospital?”

She shot me a glare. “Really, Natalie? You had to get sick today of all days? Your brother’s girlfriend is visiting, that’s a big deal. Who has time to take you to the doctor?”

I bit my lip. “Then, maybe I’ll just go lie down in my room.”

“Don’t be rude. Do you want people to think we have no manners?” she snapped, voice low but cutting.

Aubrey was Derek’s classmate. She wasn’t a showstopper like him, but she came from money and had a quiet confidence, which meant my parents sang her praises nonstop.

Eventually, the introductions wound down. Derek walked Aubrey out. Lillian sifted through the hostess gifts—chocolates, a scarf, a candle from Bath & Body Works. Mom and Dad launched into a debate about whether Aubrey’s family, being from Seattle, would be a problem.

No one seemed to remember I’d said I was sick.

Derek got back, wind-chapped and tired. He tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter and started untying his shoes. “Natalie, do you need me to drive you to the hospital?” he asked, but he was already kicking off his boots, making it clear he wasn’t going back out tonight.

I pressed my hand to my side. The pain had faded to a dull throb. Guess there was no point asking anymore. But I remembered: when Lillian had cramps, Mom drove her to every OB-GYN in Maple Heights. Lillian hated medicine, but Mom coaxed her with honey tea and gentle words: “Take care of yourself, sweetheart. A girl’s body is precious.”

If she’d given me half that attention, maybe they’d have caught my appendicitis sooner and I wouldn’t have needed surgery.

Aubrey heard I was sick and came to check on me. She handed me a gift—a set of acne-fighting toner and lotion from Target. “I see your acne is pretty bad. My neighbor’s sister recommended this brand. The packaging’s ugly, but it works.”

Derek snorted, “You just like these odd things. She’s in her senior year, don’t distract her.”

Aubrey shook her head. “Spending five minutes a day washing your face—how’s that a distraction? When your acne’s gone, you’ll feel better, study better.”

Maybe it was just genetics. Lillian had clear skin; my forehead always broke out. I kept heavy bangs to hide it. Aubrey’s gift was practical, exactly what I needed. “Thank you, really,” I said, and meant it. It felt strange—someone noticing me, even if it was just for my skin.

Aubrey’s kindness seemed to rattle Lillian, who wasn’t used to sharing the spotlight. After checking the price tag—just twenty bucks—she scoffed, “Natalie, you actually dare put this on your face? Isn’t Aubrey supposed to be rich? She gives such cheap gifts?”

I took the bottle back, thinking, At least Aubrey cares enough to notice me.

Cheap as it was, the toner worked. After two months, my breakouts vanished. I swapped my curtain bangs for a side sweep, baring my forehead for the first time since middle school. My features still had flaws, but now I dared to meet people’s eyes and smile back.