Failed responsibility

I got back to my go-kart to find El nowhere around.

"She ran to your mom crying after seeing Emma," King told me.

"Oh," was all I said before hopping back in the kart and waiting for King to get in position. I let him count us off.

"Ready, set, go," As soon as I whipped off, the daze of my sister crashing left me. The only thing I was focused on was leaving King in the dirt, which I did.

After 5 rounds of me coming first, King finally came around and admitted I was a better racer than him.

Honestly, it was all about the turns. You've got to get as close to the rail as you can and jerk-turn the minute you get there. It leaves you feeling like you're gonna crash and it gets you around the corner quicker. Seems like a win-win situation to me. Yea, I know, mom's never gonna let me drive.

But, now it was time for the high of the kart driving to wear off as I saw my sister giving me a weak smile from her spot beside mom.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked. She bit her lip and took a little while before answering.

"This is so embarrassing, I kind of freaked out at the turn and forgot to do it at all," she nervously chuckled.

"Emy, this is all my fault, I should've never let you ride on your own," I gave her a hug.

"Is your shin broken?" I asked after I let her go.

"No, just fractured, but it does hurt to walk on that leg," she admitted, pointing to her left leg wrapped in bandages.

"I'm sorry sis," I apologized, my head hung low. I'm supposed to protect the family when mom can't. I'm the oldest sibling, that's my responsibility, and I failed. I couldn't even keep my sister from having to limp by making her ride with me or King. It was such a simple task.

"It's my fault too baby, I shouldn't have told Miria it was okay to let her drive," I didn't want to cry, I had no right to. Emy was the one hurt, not me, yet, my eyes were more watery than hers when she was hit.

I didn't say anything but walked over to a pile of rocks that I pretended to find fascinating and crouched down to flick a small one away.

"Hey, it's not just your fault. Some of the blame falls on Emma and some on your mom," I heard King say from behind. I sniffled and wiped my eyes.

"I know," I whispered. I knew it wasn't just me to blame, but I felt like it was. Like when someone bumps into you and you apologize anyway, claiming half as your fault, except this felt way more extreme.

"Here, I know this'll cheer you up," I heard plastic crumble and turned around to see him holding out a giant Hershey's bar. I took it, peeled the paper off, and bit into it.

"Yep, chocolate makes everything better," I smiled as I took another bite. I noticed King was staring at me even after I finished the chocolate.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked, rubbing my mouth with my arm.

"What? Uh- no," King shook his head.

"Hm, alright, let's go back. I haven't had lunch yet," I said standing back to my full length again.

"Right, okay," King seemingly absentmindedly nodded and followed me back over to everyone else.

"Well humans other than me, what are we having for lunch?" I asked once we were back.

"We've decided on-"

"Wings," I nodded my head after using my mind-reading powers.

"Wings!" El clapped her hands.

"Wings," Emy agreed with me.

"King!" I elbowed him in the arm.

"Oh, um, wings," Kings said.

"Four against three, majority rules," I smiled sweetly while the grown-ups laughed.

"Wings then?" Miria asked and John and mom nodded.

"Alright everybody, back in the jeep then," Miria said.

"King, could you help Emma to the jeep?" Miria asked, whatever daze King was in was quickly snapped out of. It looked like King was about to grimace but sighed and looped his arm around her waist.

As if I couldn't bear to see my sister get helped, my feet hauled ass to the jeep, waiting to hear the click of unlocking the jeep. Once I did, I climbed in and made my way to the back.

I was back there to be alone, even though I knew King would probably climb to the back too, but for some reason, I didn't want him to.

I watched as King sat Emy in her seat with a bad taste in my mouth, as soon as her butt was in the seat I turned my head.

I won't let anyone think I care, even though I'm 84% sure I'm jealous.

How ironic, she was jealous of me over him and now I'm jealous of her over him.

I swear, a man can ruin your whole life.

Even worse, I was just worried sick but the second King touched her that disappeared.

He walked to the back looking as disgusted as I felt with him.

Did he not like having to drag her over here? That makes me feel less jealous but I'm still jealous.

"What was that?" He muttered to me.

"What was what?" I hissed.

"You went stomping away all brat-like," King grumbled. Luckily, mom and Emy were singing a song so they couldn't hear anything we said.

"I didn't go stomping off!" I whispered angrily.

"You act like I like touching her," King murmured.

"You act like I like you acting like you like touching her," I murmured back and that was the last of the argument.

Probably because it was confusing as hell.