'Max?' Ginny said, gently opening Max's bedroom door and walking in uncertainly.

Her legs had turned to jelly on the very short trip from the hallway back to the bedroom, and her insides shook in fear.

Max looked up from her phone, meeting Ginny's eyes, looking concerned over Ginny's expression and tone.

'I…' Ginny started. She took a deep breath, and fixed Max with a serious face, feeling like she stood on the edge of a cliff. Behind her, land and safety – a world where Max is her best and most delightful friend. In front of her, a place where she and Marcus are publicly together, where Max may no longer associate with her.

'What?' said Max, getting up and walking over to Ginny. 'What happened, you've been gone like two minutes. Did your whole house catch fire this time?'

'Um,' Ginny tried, twisting her fingers together. She walked away from Max and began to pace. 'Sit,' Ginny ordered.

Max sat, her eyes rapt on Ginny's journey back and forth in front of the bed.

'I have to tell you something,' Ginny said, briefly catching Max's eye before she looked away, away from those soulful brown eyes that met hers so innocently.

'Okay…' Max adopted an unusually serious face.

'It's about Hunter. Kind of.'

'Oooh, intrigue. I love secrets. Tell me.'

'No, this isn't intrigue. This is serious, and I'm really scared to tell you.'

Ginny's heart pounded in her chest, tattooing anxiety onto her ribs. She didn't know how to approach the topic. Chronological order? Most up to date information first? She blew out a long breath, pausing in place and squaring off in front of Max. She opened her mouth. She sighed and started pacing again, wringing her hands.

'Oh my god, Ginny, just tell me. It can't be that bad.'

'I like Marcus,' Ginny blurted out – far, far too loudly. Her eyebrows rose up and she slapped a hand over her lips.

Max's eyes grew as large as saucers and her mouth fell open.

'You what?' Max rose up to tower over Ginny, her shock and incredulity making Ginny feel much smaller. Ginny cringed away from her.

'I like Marcus. I liked him since I came to town, and that's why I couldn't go out with Hunter.'

'You like Marcus? But he's an asshole! You like Marcus – my brother – th-that Marcus –' she gestured wildly in the direction of Marcus' bedroom, '– more than Hunter Chen?! And I thought you said you liked Hunter, but you just weren't ready to go out with him?'

Ginny put her hands over her eyes.

'I lied. I just said that because I couldn't tell you about Marcus and I thought you would hate me if you knew, and I thought I might ruin our friendship if I said I didn't like Hunter that way...'

'Oh my god, Ginny. I told Hunter what you told me and I told him not to give up. You've made me a bad cupid.'

'I'm sorry!'

'You're gonna have to break up with him again.'

'Again? We never got together!'

'You know what I mean,' Max dismissed.

'I'm not done, there's more,' Ginny said.

Max flopped on her bed, her hair spreading out as she stared in defeat at her ceiling.

'More? What could there possibly be? You like that floppy-haired stoner weirdo, I don't understand you, Hunter is right there, and you want my – ' she paused to feign vomiting ' – my brother?'

Ginny went and laid down next to Max and joined her staring upwards. This was easier, no eye contact. She took a deep, clarifying breath.

'When I first moved to town...Marcus and I...kind of kissed.'

'What?' Max shot up to a seated position and stared at Ginny. 'When?'

'The first time I came over to your house.'

Max's eyes bugged a little out of her head.

'When I went to get a soda?'

'No!' Ginny defended. 'It was when I left...he was out with his motorbike and I took it for a ride.'

'You what?'

'I can ride motorbikes. That doesn't matter. Anyway, I took it for a ride down the street and when I got off the bike, he was just so cute and I was so attracted to him and I just kissed him – I didn't even really realise I'd done it – but apparently I had.'

'You kissed him?' Max gaped like a fish.

Ginny continued on like a steamroller, all of the things she'd wanted to tell Max and held in with baited breath and fear. The words tumbled out of her mouth, and she felt the poison of secrecy siphon away.

'And then after my date with Hunter, he randomly climbed through my window. And then we kissed again and then we had sex, and it was awful – the aftermath, that is – he just left and told me to keep it a secret – the sex itself I think was okay, but definitely could be better, but I don't know because we've only done it the once and I was a virgin that time.'

Max's mouth dropped open even further.

'And for a little I kind of hated him, I was so angry at him, ugh! And he tried to make a move on me after I told him I'd had to take the Plan B pill, but despite that we were both into one another, and then we hung out at the Sophomore Sleepover and we actually had a really nice talk and we really connected and he shared things with me – and I just felt so close to him – and then he agreed to stop seeing Padma and I agreed to stop seeing Hunter.'

Ginny sat up again and looked Max earnestly in the eyes, who blinked at her in disbelief.

'And all this time we've kind of been keeping it a secret because I know you and Marcus don't really get along, and I just love you so much as my friend and I was terrified that you would hate me for liking your brother and keeping it a secret, but I love you so much and I wanted to be your friend more – you're my best friend – and I'm so grateful to you – but Marcus and I have gotten really close and...and we kind of…' Ginny started to lose steam, as she took in Max's face that didn't seem to be comprehending any of what Ginny told her. 'I...I'm in love with Marcus, and I don't want to keep the secret from you anymore, you deserve to know and Marcus deserves to not be a secret.'

Max stared at Ginny.

'...and that's it,' Ginny finished lamely.

There were a few beats of silence.

'Hey uh loser. Dad said Mom's working late so we're on our own for dinner.'

Marcus had strolled in through the open door casually, clicking his fingers at the end of the sentence.

He took in Max's flabbergasted appearance and Ginny's stressed face.

'You guys okay?'

'I just told her…' said Ginny.

Marcus looked at Max.

'Ah.'

'I've never seen her this quiet before.'

'Loser, you okay?' Marcus waved his hand in front of her face.

Max blinked a few times, looking a little like a re-booting robot. She stood up and crossed over to Marcus.

'You climbed through her window? What are you, psycho? I hope you don't crawl through anybody else's window, you stalker.'

Marcus sighed.

'And you KEPT THIS FROM ME?' She folded her arms over her chest. 'Your twin sister? We shared a womb, we were womb-mates, and you just don't share this detail with me?' She rounded on Ginny, ignoring Marcus' disgusted expression at 'womb-mates'. 'And you! You're my best friend and you don't even tell me when you lose your virginity? And you lie to me about seeing my brother?'

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,' said Ginny. 'I didn't really mean to keep it from you, it's just that it first happened when we'd only known each other a couple of days and it wasn't really anything…' she glanced up at Marcus, 'and now it's definitely something.'

He gave her a small, sweet smile.

'Ew, don't smile at her, ughhh.' Max gagged. 'I don't know if I can handle this. I can't look at your face, Marcus, go away.' She put her hand up at him and swatted him away. He rolled his eyes, but waited for a nod from Ginny before he left. Then she turned to Ginny. 'I think I can still look at yours.'

'Are...are you mad?' Ginny asked quietly, looking at her feet.

'Yes. No. Kind of? I don't know! You said a lot back there, Ginny – love that for you, by the way, you should speak more – but it was a lot and I was not expecting it. I think it's more revulsion, than anything,' she mused, her voice turning contemplative. 'Like a deep, visceral rejection of the idea of my best friend having sex with my – hurk! – twin brother.'

Ginny dared to hope a little – tentative fluttering tendrils gripping her nerves.

'...I'm still your friend?' Ginny asked.

'Look, jury's still out...but yes. You have terrible taste in men – but yes.'

Ginny took a deep breath, and burst suddenly into tears, putting her face in her hands.

'I was so worried, and everything is so messed up right now with my mom and everything, and I haven't even gotten to tell you about that yet!'

Max looked sadly at Ginny, and pulled her into a comforting hug with a sigh.

'Sorry I've been so obsessed with Sophie. What else is going on, you weirdo? Is this about that biddy from Blue Farm? She was like a human Fyre Festival.'

Ginny wiped her tears, and managed a laugh, pulling back from the hug, so relieved to still have Max on her side.

'You can't tell Abby or Norah.'

'Ooh. It's gonna be good, isn't? I love sentences that start with 'don't tell Abby or Norah'.'

And Ginny regaled Max with the full tale, her heart lighter than it had been in days. Marcus came back in when it seemed calm, waving a white cloth of surrender.

'Ugh, fine,' Max said. 'Just don't kiss in front of me – or I will kill myself.'

When Georgia called and Ginny had to go back home to watch Austin and Caleb, Max and Marcus came with her. Playing The Floor is Lava, laughing and smiling, Ginny felt a moment of being genuinely carefree. She counted her gifts – her kid brother, her best friend and her – boyfriend? Lover? They hadn't really discussed it yet. Her Marcus.

And then, as Georgia came home with a drunken sister and flirtatious moments with Joe, she counted her curses – her mother.

o
o - o
o - o - o
o - o
o

Ginny knocked on Austin's door.

'Come in,' he said quietly.

Ginny walked in, and saw Austin wipe a tear surreptitiously. Ginny sat on the bed next to him.

'Feeling any better?'

'No. I didn't want Caleb to leave. Or aunt Maddie. And Mom's all mad. I don't like it when she's mad.'

'I know.' Ginny put an arm around Austin's shoulder. He rested his head against her.

'Can we go on vacation again?'

Ginny looked over at Austin's books.

'Is later tonight okay?'

'Okay,' Austin said, sniffing.

Ginny took a steadying breath. She didn't have long to get her plan in motion.

'You remember when Mom had that meeting with your principal? And they mentioned that therapy might be something good for you?' She started casually, off-hand. No big deal. Just a little subterfuge.

'Yeah?'

'I booked you a therapy appointment...it's today, in about forty minutes. One of my friends is coming to pick us up soon and take us there.'

'But Mom said she wasn't worried and didn't want me to go. And I don't want to go either.'

'I know,' Ginny said in a non-confrontational tone. 'Are you worried at all, though?'

Austin looked up at Ginny with vulnerable eyes, but then shrugged and looked away.

'Do you feel bad about it?' Ginny probed.

'Kinda.'

'He's not a very nice boy, is he? The boy you hurt.'

Austin shook his head.

'I get it. But do you think it's okay to stab someone with a pencil?'

'I don't know...Mom always says…' he trailed off.

'I know. Sting first.' Ginny sighed. She glanced at Austin and his glasses, and changed tack. 'Do you remember what Harry Potter's favourite spell is?'

'I don't think he has a favourite, they never talk about it if he does.'

'Okay, well, what spell does Harry use a lot whenever he fights the dark wizards?'

'Expelliarmus.'

'That's right. And Expelliarmus only disarms people, doesn't it?'

'Yeah.'

'And Harry uses that even when he fights Voldemort, right?'

'Yeah,' said Austin slowly, not sure what Ginny was implying.

Ginny leaned forward gently, meeting Austin's eyes with the kindest and least judging expression she could. She brushed his hair smooth with her hand.

'Do you think Harry would sting first?' she asked softly.

Austin looked at his shoes.

'No,' he choked out, and Ginny pulled him into her chest and hugged him tightly as he began to cry. 'Am I gonna go to Azkaban?'

'No, of course not,' Ginny soothed, rubbing his back. 'Everyone has bad days. It's like the Horcrux necklace in the last book, remember? You wear it and it makes you crabby, makes you say and do things that you wouldn't normally do.'

She pulled back and looked at Austin seriously.

'But I think we need to try and make sure that we can get through a bad day without hurting someone. And that's where therapy can help.'

Austin wiped his eyes and nodded. Ginny glanced at her phone, checking the time. She also checked her messages – still no response from her dad after she texted him about things going sideways.

'My friend's probably almost here. Will you go the therapy appointment?'

Austin nodded again.

'Okay, that's really good. Let's go wait outside, okay?'

She took Austin by the hand and, acting as naturally as possible, walked out into the hall and downstairs. Georgia – or Mary?That was something she hadn't had time to think about yet – was in the kitchen tidying up. She seemed distracted, and kept taking long sips from a wine glass. A little early for that, Ginny thought. Georgia turned around as she heard their footsteps.

'Where are you going?' she asked.

Ginny let her face fall back into anger; it was so easy when she wasn't really pretending.

'I'm taking Austin to the park. He needs cheering up,' Ginny lied, looking at her mother scathingly – it's your fault...Mary.

Georgia looked at Austin, his eyes red.

'Austin, baby, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell before.'

'You sent them away!' Austin yelled hotly, surprising both Ginny and Georgia, then he raced out the front door. Ginny followed, and she led him just out of sight of their front lawn where Georgia couldn't see so they could wait for Hunter.

He pulled up in his car a few minutes later, smiling at Ginny. Ginny tried to smile back as she jumped in, leaning back to check that Austin had put his seat-belt on.

'How you doing, buddy? I'm Hunter,' Hunter looked at Austin through the rear view mirror. Austin looked at him sulkily.

'It's been a hard day so far,' Ginny said apologetically. 'Austin, this is Hunter.'

Austin stared back.

'It's nice to meet you,' said Hunter, smiling encouragingly.

'Austin – isn't Hunter nice to pick us up? He's come completely out of his way to do this as a favour.'

'...thank you,' Austin said quietly.

Ginny and Hunter smirked at each other.

'Thank you,' Ginny said seriously. 'We wouldn't have been able to without you.'

'That's okay, I'm here for you.' He smiled fondly at her for a moment, then turned back to the road.

Ginny blinked. She'd just remembered. Max had told Hunter not to give up on Ginny yet. Ginny's insides squirmed with discomfort. Did he still like her? She risked a side-glance at him; he seemed up-beat, with a polite smile on his face. He didn't seem nervous. Surely he'd be kind of nervous, right? She dug her nails into her palms for the rest of the car trip.

She put her worries about Hunter out of her mind as they pulled up at the therapist office. She led Austin inside and directed him to sit in the warm waiting area, its walls a friendly, unassuming yellow. Hunter politely sat near him, but not next to him. She approached the reception desk, where a kind-looking man was typing on a computer.

'Um, hello,' Ginny said.

The man looked up and smiled at her.

'Hi, how can I help you?'

'Um, I'm bringing – um, my little brother has an appointment with Dr Darmody today. Should be under Austin Miller?'

'Austin...Miller…' said the receptionist, typing on his computer to access the file. 'Yes, I see, we have you at 2pm. Okay, first time here, yes?'

'Yes.'

The receptionist passed Ginny a clipboard and a pen.

'Fill these out with your brother, just standard patient information. I can see we already have your mother's permission form on file, so you guys are all set once that's done.'

Ginny smiled politely, if not a little guiltily, and sat down between Austin and Hunter. She looked at the form and inhaled deeply. She was not stressed. She was not stressed. She filled it in, pausing where it asked about a history of mental illness in the family. She checked 'Unknown'. She signed nervously under 'Guardian', and handed it back at reception with trembling fingers. Was she actually going to pull this off? She glanced at the entrance, half expecting Georgia to burst through and tackle her.

'Any minute now,' she said to Austin, sitting back with him.

'Can you come in with me?'

'Oh, um, I think you have to go in by yourself?'

Austin looked up at her in alarm.

'It's okay, it's okay. All you have to do is talk to them.'

'Austin Miller?' A kind voice called out.

Ginny looked up and saw a man in spectacles looking over the waiting room. She stood up and grabbed Austin's hand.

'Come on. It's okay.'

Austin trailed behind her shyly, hiding behind her legs. They walked up to Dr Darmody. Ginny smiled nervously.

'Hi, I'm Ginny. This is my brother Austin,' she gestured to the little head poking out by her side.

Dr Darmody gave a smile and crouched down to Austin's eye line.

'Hi Austin. I'm Dr Darmody.' He looked behind him down to his open office door and pointed. 'That's my office over there. Do you and your sister want to come in for a bit? We can just hang out, get to know each other?'

Ginny squeezed Austin's hand encouragingly. He nodded. Dr Darmody smiled, standing back up to his full height, and led the way. Ginny glanced back at Hunter, who waved, and then followed Dr Darmody in. She was surprised to see his office was full of toys and life. The walls were adorned with finger painting artwork, there was what appeared to be a craft corner, and even musical instruments. She heard Austin let out a quiet 'whoa' from beside her. She sat Austin on a squashy couch and stood back awkwardly. Dr Darmody sat in a chair opposite and faced Austin.

'Ginny, you're welcome to sit too.'

She sat.

'So, Austin, it's really good to meet you. I can see you're a little nervous, so I think you're being very brave to come here.'

Austin smiled nervously.

'Do you know what therapy is?' Dr Darmody asked.

Austin nodded.

'Therapy is where you talk because you're worried.'

'Yeah, that's a pretty good way to explain it. What sort of things are you worried about, Austin?'

Austin looked up at Ginny.

'It's okay, you can tell him.'

'I did something bad.'

'Okay, do you want to tell me?'

'I hurt one of the kids in my class. With a pencil. I stabbed him in the hand because he was making fun of my mom and my family. And Mom says you should sting bees first.'

'Okay. Is there anything else?' He looked kindly at Austin. Ginny was impressed – if he had been surprised by that information, it did not show at all.

'Mom sent away my secret cousin, too. And we just became blood brothers. And Mom and Ginny are always fighting.'

'Okay,' Dr Darmody said. He glanced over at Ginny, then back to Austin. 'Where is your mom today?'

'She's at home, she didn't want me to go to therapy because she's not worried. She says therapists are latte-drinking and tweed-wearing.'

Ginny swallowed and looked at the floor. Oh, no. She could feel Dr Darmody's eyes on her.

'Some of us definitely do drink lattes and wear tweed,' he said generously. He held his arms open and gestured to his clothes. 'Am I okay?'

Austin considered him, and his simple slacks and shirt.

'You're okay.'

Ginny couldn't help but smile as she watched Dr Darmody gently pry Austin out of his shell. He focused mostly on Austin, never once letting a single judgemental expression cross his face. Occasionally he directed a question at Ginny, but he didn't ask about the consent form with Georgia's name on it.

After a while, Dr Darmody gave Austin an activity about anger to do. Anger is in all of us, he'd said, but it's not who we are and we can't let it control us. He armed Austin with an array of pencils and crayons and asked him to draw anger as a person. Once Austin started, he stood up and looked at Ginny. Her stomach dropped. He gestured to the far corner of the room and she meekly walked over.

'Your mother doesn't know you're here,' he said in hushed tones.

It wasn't a question.

Ginny nodded, her chest tightening. Was he going to kick them out?

'What you've done is illegal. And I can't treat Austin. Under licencing laws, anyone under the age of twelve cannot consent to their own therapy and you have to be either a parent or a legal guardian to give that consent.'

Ginny looked up at him, and exhaled shakily. Was he going to call the police? Her nails found their way back into her palms. She was screwed. She'd been so stupid – of course she was going to get caught.

'That being said, I believe Austin would benefit from therapy. Your mother definitely won't let him come?'

Ginny shook her head fervently, and to her embarrassment realised she was starting to tear up – from fear, from stress, the sheer volume of just everything that threatened to overwhelm her at all times.

'Okay.' Dr Darmody glanced back over at Austin, who was using the colours red and black with abandon. 'What about yourself?'

'Me?' Ginny was surprised.

'Yes, I expect you would benefit from therapy as well. What you've done is very brave, and beyond your calling as an older sister – I think you also might need some support.'

Dr Darmody looked at her with compassion and understanding. Ginny shuddered and her tears fell. Dr Darmody wordlessly passed her a tissue from his desk and another kind smile before turning back to Austin to inspect his drawing of anger. Ginny stifled her affectionate chuckle – even from over in the corner, she could see it was going to be a wizard.

Dr Darmody told Austin to take his anger-wizard home and, if he ever felt the urge to sting first again, to tell the anger-wizard 'no'. He walked them out, dropping briefly by the receptionist to tell him there was no charge for their appointment and to mark it as a no-show. Ginny bit her lip; she'd stolen his time and made him complicit in a crime. He handed Ginny a business card.

'If you like, you can book an appointment with me yourself. If you don't have the support of your mother, we can discuss payment options.'

Ginny nodded and thanked him quietly.

Hunter took them home, parking a little way from the house again.

'Austin, you go on in,' Ginny said, handing him her keys.

She watched him safely walk around the corner and into their front yard before she turned to Hunter.

'I just wanted to say thank you...again.'

Hunter unbuckled his seat-belt and faced her. He smiled at her. And glanced at her lips.

Uh oh.

'It's really okay,' he said. 'Ginny, I wanted to tell you something…'

Ginny opened her mouth and started to shake her head.

'I know, I know' he said, before Ginny could get anything out. 'Don't be mad. Max told me, you're not ready. I just wanted to let you know that I'll be here when you are.'

Ginny looked down. She had to be honest.

'Um, Hunter…'

Hunter reached out a hand and covered Ginny's.

'It's okay, you don't have to say anything now.' He rubbed her hand in what seemed like it was meant to be a comforting way.

Ginny felt a stab of annoyance – he hadn't really given her a chance to say anything. She extricated her hand.

'Thank you again – for the ride, and for sitting in the waiting room. I'm going to head in now.' She faked a smile at Hunter and left, waving as he drove away.

Ginny stared at her front door in trepidation. It felt strange and unusual. A third party observer – Dr Darmody – had confirmed that Ginny needed help. More than ever, she was acutely aware of her discomfort about her mother. Ginny resolutely walked forward, she could manage this – she'd done it so far. By the end of the day Austin was still sad and asked to stay with Ginny in her bed that night. He fell asleep as she finished off Alice in Wonderland for him.

All alone, Ginny had nothing to distract her from her musings on Georgia. Mary. Whoever she was.