When Summer got better and started alternating work days with me, I barely saw her. We didn't come into contact during the day. And the guys quickly decided who they thought was the prettier, funnier, and more interesting of the two Weaver sisters. It wasn't me.

So, Summer snuck out most nights after lights-out to see her brand new friends. It never occurred to her to ask me to come along, and it never occurred to me to ask.

The only guy on the team that paid attention to me was Alan, but I was pretty sure he had a crush on my sister. It didn't take me by surprise; I had always just been "the little sister" to guys, and Summer was always the hot one or whatever. I was the one Alan talked to about football and bathroom-humour related jokes. Summer was the one he tried to be charming around. But I kinda thought he was charming even when he told me Fatty-Fatty-Two-By-Four jokes.

Two nights before camp ended, Summer watched the clock, and seeing it was eleven, needlessly ran a brush through her already flawless hair. I knew she was leaving and would be gone for awhile. I didn't know how long she stayed out for; I was usually asleep when she crept back in.

"So, you seeing someone on the team?" I asked, barely peering up from my novel.

"Ronnie," she replied. "And kinda some other people too, but mostly Ronnie."

"Don't you worry about Ronnie's feelings?"

"It's not like we're getting married, Lyric."

"So, who else are you kinda going out with?" I asked.

"No one special."

"Like who?"

"Like no one special! Jeez Lyric, what crawled up your butt and laid an egg?" she demanded. Her amber eyes were not as serene as usual.

"It was a simple question, Summer! Like who?"

"You mean, like Alan?" Setting down her hairbrush, she came over and sat down on the edge of my bed, our bare knees touching. I moved away. A small smile on her face, she said quietly, "You like Alan, don't you. This whole thing is about you being jealous. Well, I like him too. But he said he likes some other chick. So we're both out of luck, sweetheart."

"Up yours."

"I can't believe you're mad at me over some guy you've known for like ten days!" she cried. "Besides Sky, I'm like the only family you've got left, and you don't even care! Alan's not a god, Lyric. Although, I guess to you, he is, considering you could never get someone like him."

"I never said I liked him."

"You never said you didn't."

She was hurting my feelings. I knew I had brought this on myself, but she was hurting my feelings. I sat up straighter, holding my chin up defiantly. "Mom got pregnant with you and Sky when she was your age. Grandma said she had to take a paternity test just so she'd know who your father was."

A look of puzzlement fell over her face. "Yes, I know."

"You really are turning into her," I said in a contemptuous voice.

"Normally I would say thank you, but why did you say that like it was a bad thing?"

"Mom was a tramp."

My words didn't seem to hit her hard at all. She sat there, staring at me. I waited for her to say something. I just wanted an all out brawl with her so that I could get out a few hateful thoughts stirring in my mind about my mother, and so that I could kick her butt. But Summer just stared at me.

Finally, tilted her head. "Excuse me?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Why would you say something like that?" she demanded. "Who are you to judge--"

"I've always been the one left behind, Summer!" I exclaimed, tears choking my voice. "I've always had to sit apart from everyone else and watch. I watched Mom with all her boyfriends, and I watch you with all your boyfriends, and don't think I don't know what's going on just because I'm the little sister and I am never a part of it! You have no idea what it's like having to be your sister, Summer, having to be 'Summer's little sister,' the one that never gets the guy!"

"No, I don't know what it's like," she said coldly. "It must be hard to live in my shadow. And no wonder you do."