It was hard to figure out when things had gotten this way, had it been a slow build that he had failed to notice, something he hadn’t accepted because he didn’t want to, or had she changed overnight, turned into a near stranger? There was a time when his sister would actually listen to him, but now it was almost like she was doing this on purpose, just to spite him, and he didn’t understand why. “I’m not against you having any fun,” he said, slowly, “But there’s a difference between ‘having fun’ and being just downright– reckless. Driving go-karts and going to the movies, that’s fun. Climbing fences, sneaking out, that’s just asking for trouble.” He didn’t even hear it, how much like a parent he sounded. “I’m not saying that you’re a baby, I’m just… accidents happen. Please, Mi. Please get down. Mom’s got enough on her plate without having to worry about visiting you at the hospital.”
“You know, I thought we were going to go out for froyo and have a good time for once, my mistake. I’m always going to get a lecture when you’re around, aren’t I?” Mimi couldn’t help the way her eyebrows furrowed angrily, and she flipped her leg back over the fence. She wasn’t going to get down, especially now just to spite Julian. Instead she perched herself up at the top, holding herself steady with her arms. Mimi hated when Julian brought their mother up in conversation, especially when she was doing something “wrong”. It wasn’t because it made her feel guilty, which it did, it was because Mimi hated the “mom crutch”. It was something Julian always brought up when he decided to give her a lecture.
“Why do you always have to do that?” Mimi accused. “Why do you always have to bring mom up like that? Like I’m some kind of problem to her? Like I’m the one of the things that is on mom’s “plate”. You act like--” She huffed annoyed. “You act like I’m always the one causing mom stress. It’s not me, Julian. She’s working three fucking jobs, she’s never home anyways! I doubt she’d even be able to make it to the hospital if I fall off this stupid fence. God why do you--?” Mimi hated this, this anger inside her heart, and she hated it more than she was taking it out on Julian. She couldn’t help it, though, nor could she stop it. Leaning forward, as though to get closer to Julian even though she was so high up on the fence, Mimi couldn’t help but lose her balance slightly, swaying before she caught herself. Letting out a huff, Mimi flipped her hair out of her face. “Stop acting as if you’re dad, Julian. Dad’s not here. Dad was never here. Stop trying to fill in his shoes, it’s fucking annoying.”
