Marley maneuvered Nick’s fingers until he was holding the object properly. It was foreign in his unskilled hands. Crude. He fidgeted as Marley positioned the tip to point at her.

“Don’t let it touch me!” she yelled. She reached for one of her parents’ decorative pillows and held it over her chest. “Okay, try again.”

“This is a bad idea,” I mumbled. Marley’s dad was the most intimidating person I’d ever met. I figured he would have no problem arresting me just for looking at his misplaced weapon.

“Yeah. I don’t wanna do this,” Nick said.

“Oh, you’re fine,” Marley told him, guiding the gun back to her pillow-covered gut. “You know how Ollie is.” She flashed her most mischievous, cutting smile. “Pull the trigger. Nothing’s gonna happen.”

I pouted to myself, contemplating my next move. Marley was playing a game of chicken with Nick and me. Testing us because we were the youngest. We couldn’t cave.

My frustration bubbled up into my cheeks. And then, of course, my eyes. Reluctant tears only made me angrier. Indignant, I tried to let my stare burn holes through the pillow Marley held.

Its casing was golden, much like her parents’ bedding, with flowers embroidered in the same delicate shade. Each detail was so subtle that you had to be up close to notice, particularly the flaxen petals of the roses, which seemed to be spun from strands of Marley’s hair. She held the pillow over her body so casually, her eyebrows raised into impish arches, no mind to the contempt I lasered at her. Only serenity. She knew she’d won.

She always won.

Then, like the unexpected clap of a firework on the fifth of July, or the startling pop of a blown-out tire, a heavy, booming sound shocked me like I’d touched an electric current.

Marley collapsed with a resounding thud, landing in the fetal position atop a decorative rug. Viscous red liquid poured out from a hole in the pillow, saturating every texture around her rag-doll body.

11

Full on the promise we’d be better to each other, Aidy and I walked back up the bowl. Ruby still sat on the swing. She twisted side to side to let herself spin. Harrison stood nearby, staring at his phone. Nick squatted on the edge of the playground, arms wrapped around his knees as he looked outwards.

It struck me then, the magnitude of what I’d already accomplished. I was no longer the tagalong sister fighting for some semblance of dominance. I had united these people. They were all waiting for me to come back before we continued with the Adventure.

Whether they liked it or not, I had become their leader.

1. Me (16 years old)

2. Aidy (19 years old)

3. Ruby (17 years old)

4. Teeny (18 years old)

5. Bigs (18 years old)

6. Harrison (19 years old)

7. Nick (16 years old)