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She watched Jade neatly packing things away into the duffel. She didn’t say anything, even when she took the best knives and her favorite scrunchie. She just sat on the bed in silent compliance. Still, her resentment burned in her throat, but she didn’t have the words to beg her to stay.
Finally, Jade looked up at her, scowling.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Artemis shrugged and pulled her legs up to sit criss-cross. What else was she supposed to do?
“I’m serious. Making puppy eyes at me isn’t going to make me change my mind.”
“I’m not making puppy eyes,” Artemis retorted.
“You are. And it’s pathetic.”
They fumed at each other for a few moments before Jade resumed packing her bag.
“When will you come back?”
Jade laughed. “‘Come back’???” If this goes right, you’ll never see me again.”
“I don’t want to live with Dad.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Jade.”
“You’ll be fine,” Jade insisted.
“Mom said–”
“Doesn’t matter what Mom said.”
“But Dad let her ge–”
Jade scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“It’s Mom’s fault for staying with Dad. And it’s Mom’s fault that we’re stuck with him.”
“Not true.”
“Artemis.” There was something like disappointment on her face. “You don’t believe that.”
She looked at the floor as Jade heaved open the window.
“Good luck,” she said without turning back.
Artemis didn’t know how to respond to that. And Jade left so quickly on the rickety fire escape, she probably wouldn’t have even heard anything she had to say anyway.