Don't Stop Now [Finding My Path Sequel]

Chapter 15

"That was a little rude," I said, partially to fill up the silence as Andi and I exited the building.

My sister looked away. "I don't know what kind of relationship you and your dad have, but that's how Mom and I are."

"Or maybe it's just how you are," I pointed out.

"Quit doing that."

"Doing what? Telling you the truth?"

"Acting like you know it all," Andi snapped. "Like you have a perfect understanding of everything and I'm just a bitch for no reason."

"I don't," I started, thinking about it, "I don't think that. I get that your life is confusing and--"

"See, there you go again. Before you jump to your conclusions, let me tell you the real story," she said. She wasn't offering. She was telling me whether I wanted to hear it or not.

"What story?" I asked finally, because in the end I really did want to hear it.

"How I really grew up, not that crap Mom was feeding you.

"I was fourteen when my grandma died. She had practically raised me while Mom was off pursing her fortune telling dream. Grandma taught me earthbending, sure, but also everything else a mother should've taught me. She was tough, but I loved her more than anything. More than I loved Mom, since Grandma actually bothered to be around. After Grandma's death, Mom insisted I move in with her. She even bought a house right near Grandma's old one. We didn't last long together, especially since I was more depressed than she was over the death. Eventually I hit my breaking point, and she did too. After a fight, she told me to leave, and I did. Moved in with Jaxon that night, and I haven't lived with Mom since. She got what she wanted."

"She told you to move out?" I asked, more than a little surprised. It just didn't match up with the lady I had just met.

Andi glared at me. "Uh huh. Bet that never happened to you and Dad."

"At least everything was upfront when you grew up. I thought I knew everything when I was a kid, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Now I'm sure I know nothing," I said. I didn't know why it came out, but it did. Maybe this was just sharing time. I definitely wasn't trying to compare my pain to hers.

"Like what?" Andi, to my terror, actually sounded interested. "Waterbending, sure. What else?"

"For starters, that I had a sister. And a mom. But I guess that was my fault for asking. The bending, though, that was the worst of it. In Republic City, it's all benders. They're the top of the food chain, getting all the high paying jobs and benefits. Benders are celebrities there. Being a nonbender was nothing,maybe less than nothing."

"And you think knowing you could waterbend would've made everything perfect?"

"Not perfect, but easier. I don't know, maybe it's just wistful thinking. But being a bender now is like everything I've ever wanted." Except maybe being able to bloodbend.

Andi was quiet for a moment. "Maybe...maybe you're right about that. We both had things the other wanted. Neither of us would've been happy in either situation. But that's just life."

"So we're good then?" I asked as we approached Jaxon's house. I couldn't even remember the walk here anymore.

"Of course we are," she said like it was nothing. For me, it felt like a weight off my shoulders.

"Thanks for being so honest." Especially since I'm not telling you anything.