A Hard Year

*Nathaniel*

Willow wouldn’t know what hit her this summer. 

I was going to have Orlando romantically and sexually distract her so that I could destroy her during the internship. I would be on top once more and the world would be right. 

“Do you have all your good ties?” Mom asked. “Appearance is everything, darling.”

“Yes, I know, Mom.” I rolled my eyes. “I have all my best ties.”

“Good boy. Oh and don’t forget your glasses, they make you look smart.”

“Got it.”

“And don’t forget-”

“Mom, come on!” Gerald exclaimed. “We’re just going to the summer mansion. If he forgets anything, we can come back.”

“Fine. I’m just trying to make sure he’s prepared. Willow continues to prove that she’s a force to be reckoned with.” Mom stated. 

“We’ll see about that.” I smirked. “I have a feeling I’ve got Willow beat for this internship.”

“That’s my boy. Bianca was much too smug last night. ‘My Will got all A’s’ ‘My Willow has the highest GPA in her year’. You would think she actually accomplished those things, the horrid wench!”

“Alright, we should get going,” Gerald said. “We’ll see you this weekend. Come on Nathaniel.”

“Bye sweethearts.” Mom kissed us both. “Remember you’re a winner, Nathaniel Watson!”

“I sure am!” I grinned before following Gerald out of the house.

“Can you take it easy on Willow this summer?” He asked as we started driving.

“Why should I?”

“Because you don’t realize it, but that girl understands you more than anyone else in the world.”

I scoffed. “She does not.”

“Who else knows what it’s like to be born with an arch nemesis? Who else has an insane mother who pushes them to destroy their sister’s sibling?”

“I don’t know, but Willow doesn’t understand me. She’s simply not smart enough.”

“Whatever,” Gerald muttered. “Look, I gotta tell you something.”

“What is it?” I asked, looking over at him. 

I had never seen my brother look so nervous. This must be something. 

“I um…I dropped out of med school.”

“What? Dude why did you do that?!”

“I…hate it. I really never wanted to be a doctor, I just thought that’s what I was supposed to do, but I can’t do it anymore.”

“When are you gonna tell Mom and Dad?”

“In the fall. You can’t tell anyone.”

What the hell was it with everyone telling me their secrets? No way they thought I was that trustworthy!

“Alright, I won’t tell anyone. But what the hell are you going to do?” I asked. 

Gerald sighed. “That’s the million dollar question.” 

--

Only Grayson, Scarlett and Robin were there when we arrived. 

I was glad. I felt like I never got enough time to just talk to Scarlett. I worried I was her least favorite sibling a lot. She’d had Gerald for longer, and Willow was a girl. And then there’s me. 

“Oh, Nathaniel, I wanted to talk to you alone, actually.” Scarlett smiled. 

I was thrilled. 

We went out to the garden. That had always been Scareltt’s favorite place. 

“What’s up?” I asked. 

“Daddy asked me to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“About Willow and the crazy rivalry you two have.”

“Oh come on, Scar. It’s not like it’s just me! She does stuff too! I mean you saw her at graduation yesterday, she stepped on my foot!” I exclaimed. 

“After you tripped her,” Scarlett pointed out. 

“After she purposely annoyed me. It’s a cycle with us.”

“Well I just think it should end. Willow has had a very hard year, you know that.”

“What happened during Spring Break was not my fault, Scarlett. I swear! I-I don’t know what happened!”

“I know, Nathaniel but…would it kill you to take it easy on her?”

“You don’t get it, Scarlett. I-I didn’t choose this. It’s ingrained in us to hate each other. It’s inevitable.” I said. 

Scarlett sighed heavily. “Alright, I tried. I guess you’ll always have that sibling rivalry.”

“We’re not siblings!”

“Sorry, you’re right. Hey, at least try to enjoy this summer huh? Your whole life might change after graduation. Enjoy it now.”

“Oh don’t worry, I plan to enjoy this summer very much.” I grinned. 

We heard honking from the front of the mansion. We went around the house to see several cars pulling up. Julian in his silver Ferrari, Joy in her purple Rolls Royce, Lee in his blue Lamborghini. Behind them was a brand new Aston Martin. It was red, had the top down and was glimmering in the sunlight. It was everything I had ever wanted. 

Behind the wheel was none other than Willow Monroe.

*Willow*

“Honey I cannot tell you how proud I am of you!” Mom smiled as I packed. “You sure showed Sophia who the smartest is.”

“I didn’t beat Sophia, I beat Nathaniel.”

“It’s the same thing. Oh I knew when I was pregnant with you that you were going to be amazing! Now let me see what outfits you plan on wearing to your fancy internship.”

I inwardly groaned before allowing Mom to look at my suitcase.

“Honey, what are these skirts?! They’re much too long!”

“What? They’re professional.”

“Sure, but no man is going to look at you in that.” She frowned. 

“So what? This is about the internship.”

“Exactly. Most likely a man will be in charge, so you need tighter and shorter skirts so you’ll always have his attention.”

“Bianca, are you trying to pimp our daughter out so she can get a job?” Dad asked, walking into the room.

“Of course not honey! I am telling her to pimp herself out. There’s a difference.” Mom stated. 

Dad and I exchanged weary looks. 

We did that a lot. Mom was very eccentric. According to Scarlett she’d always been like that. I’m sure it got worse when I was born though. That’s when her sole goal in life was to make Sophia Watson feel like a failure as a woman and a mother. 

I was just glad I at least had a great relationship with my dad. He was so patient and understanding in a way Mom never really had been. Some say it’s because Dad’s closer to my age than she is, but I think she’s just kind of nutty.

“Let’s talk honey,” Dad gently pulled me out of the room. “I really need you to enjoy this summer, Will.”

“I will, I promise Daddy. If I win this internship, I will be happier than ever.”

“I just…this rivalry thing, sweetie, it’s a bit much now don’t you think?”

“No. Nathaniel has done a lot of nasty things to me!”

“And you’ve done them in return.” He said.

“I know. He just gets on my nerves. He’s horrible!” I whined. “I have to beat him.”

“This will never be over, Willow. You’ll always find another thing to compete over.”

“It’s motivation!”

“I just worry about it, honey.” Dad admitted. “It’s been an intense year-”

“I’m fine, that was months ago. Really. I’m totally fine, I swear. I can win this internship and then so many doors will open for me. I just want to make Mom proud.”

“You do, I promise you that. And you make me proud too.”

“Well that’s not as hard.” I smiled. 

We hugged. “If you promise to me to enjoy this summer, I will allow you to keep the gift your mother got you.”

I perked up. “What gift?”

“Bianca, babe! Willow is ready for her gift!” Dad grinned.

“You’re letting her keep it?” Mom hurried over to us. 

“Yes, she can keep it.”

“Oh come on sweetie!” 

Mom pulled me down the stairs, into the garage. I gasped seeing a shiny red Aston Martin waiting for me.

“Mom! Oh my god I’ve always wanted one!”

“That’s for your good grades. Keep it up and there’s more where that came from.”

“How did we afford this?” I asked. 

“Great question,” Dad looked over at Mom.

“I may have asked your sister for a loan,”

“Bianca,” Dad raised his eyebrows. 

“Okay I guilted her into it, sue me!” Mom exclaimed. “I just really wanted to do something to show you that I’m proud of you.

“That’s not cool…but I love this car, so thanks Mom!” I hugged her. 

“You’re welcome. Now, pack some shorter and tighter clothing, please.”

--

When I pulled up the summer mansion, I felt immaculate. 

I was in a brand new car, the sun was shining and the cherry on top….Nathaniel looked furious.

“Where the hell did you get that?” He demanded. 

“A present for getting the highest GPA,” I smirked. “What did you get for your four point zero, Nathaniel? Let me guess….nothing?”

His eyes lit up with fury. 

“Enjoy that car while you can. It’s gonna be the only good thing that happens to you this summer. I was going to take it easy on you, but no. You don’t deserve it.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s a promise Monroe. I’m going to ruin your life this summer. You’re not going to know what hit you.”

“Oh, Nathaniel…your mere presence ruins my life. Mission accomplished. Now while you worry about taking me down, I’m gonna be winning that internship.” I strutted away and into the house. 

I was so ready for this summer.