Chapter 131
She looked at for a long mont. "Are you serious? Why are you doing this?"
"I'll be honest with you," I said, eting her eyes. "Because you're very intelligent. Or at least, you have the potential to be. You're one of a kind in that aspect. It would be a sha to waste it."
"Oh great! Another one that's all about my intelligence," she snapped, full of sarcasm, eyes already moist. She stood up abruptly.
"Sit down, Paige. I'm not finished," I said, my tone firm.
She huffed and turned as if to storm out.
"If you walk through that door, there won't be second chances from ," I said in a calm, neutral voice. "You can go and keep wrecking your life. I won't stop you. I want to help you—but don't take it for granted."
She paused. Her shoulders stiffened. Then, slowly, she turned around and sat back down across from , arms crossed, her eyes hard.
"What exactly do you expect, Paige?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. "You're cute, sure. But I don't lack cute girls around —and most don't co with this level of problem."
I leaned forward, voice even. "We've talked what—four tis? We can't even call ourselves friends. We're barely acquaintances."
She flinched slightly.
"You think I'm moved by your situation? Girl, this country is full of people with broken childhoods and no direction, most of our problems co from that. My own school is packed with them. Girls with parental issues, trouble making friends—and yeah, so of them are cute too. You're not unique in that."
I let it hang for a mont.
"You know why I don't go offering a hand to every one of them? Because I can't care less. They're not my friends. I'm not a charming prince or so savior. My house isn't a charity."
She looked down for a second. Then back up, confused.
"But you," I said more softly now, "you're different. Not because of your situation. Because of your mind. I wouldn't mind having soone very intelligent, funny and sharp by my side. In no ti we can build a real friendship."
She didn't say anything. But she didn't leave either.
I reached across the table and took her hand. "I don't go showing this side of to just anyone. If we want this to work, at least you need to know that I'm not without flaws."
Paige suddenly lunged at and hugged tight. "You're a crap person, Jake. You don't talk to little girls like like that," she said playfully.
I snorted, hugging her back. "Yet, it seems we're gonna be big friends."
She leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, "You sure you don't want more?" Her voice was low and teasing.
I stood up, letting her fall flat on her butt.
"I'm not into little girls," I said, mocking her earlier words and putting emphasis on little girls.
Paige rolled her eyes, stood up, and brushed off her pants. "I will totally make you fall for !" she declared. Then added, "And you know what I'll say after?"
I raised my eyebrows, silently prompting her.
She placed both hands on her heart and said in a dramatically sweet tone, "We can't. I'm your little sister."
I grabbed her hand and kissed it. "If that happens, we move to Alabama."
She burst out laughing. As we were leaving the deck, she glanced at .
"Do you think our kids would be like Sheldon?"
"Eww," I said. "This world can only handle one Sheldon."
We both laughed as we walked back inside together.
---
Later that day, we went to the Santa Monica house. I explained everything to Mom.
"Of course you can stay here," Judith said warmly as she embraced Paige.
I thought to myself—maybe Mom saw herself in Paige. Her relationship with my grandparents was still rocky.
"We just need to talk to your parents," she added.
"They don't care about ," Paige mumbled.
I decided to step out, claiming I needed to use the bathroom, and left them alone for a while.
When I returned, Judith called over.
"Jake, co here," she said, her voice a little serious. "You don't talk harshly to Paige. She's thirteen."
She sounded like I had bullied her.
Paige was sitting there with a smug smirk on her face.
"She was drunk and high yesterday," I said imdiately, throwing Paige under the bus.
Judith's head snapped toward her.
"He drank too!" Paige said, pointing at .
Now Judith glared at .
"She puked all over my room!" I added quickly.
Judith alternated her gaze between the two of us before finally saying, "You two are grounded."
We both went to my room. I didn't mind—I wanted to read anyway.
"Thanks a lot," Paige muttered, giving a little jab with her elbow.
"That's your fault. You started."
"But you didn't need to escalate it," she shot back.
I shook my head. "You're impressive, Paige. First day here and already grounded."
"Shut up, you idiot. You're grounded too."
---
In the room, I looked over at her. "Did you decide what you want? You can take your ti, you know."
"I'll call and transfer to Caltech. I'm pretty sure they'll accept ."
"Are you sure?" I asked, looking at her seriously.
She nodded, with a quiet sort of determination. "Yeah. I'm ready to try. For real this ti."
I nodded back. "Don't worry, I'll help you."
I know that teachers might not take a thirteen-year-old girl seriously (even if she is a very genius one). I'll call Pepper and see if she can connect to soone important over there. You've got the capacity, Paige. You just need soone who's willing to take you under the wings.
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