My younger sister screamed.

Natalie ran across the driveway and pulled open the driver's side door of the shiny, red BMW. She moved aside the red ribbon from the giant bow and climbed inside the car.

The new-car scent wafted over to where I stood with our parents. I glanced over at my used, hard-earned Ford. It languished next to the glistening BMW.

POP!

POP!

POP!

Three of the six driveway lights exploded into tiny pieces and fell to the cement behind us.

My oblivious sister sprinted back to our parents as her blonde ponytail swayed back and forth. She gave them each a big hug and a perfect smile. "Daddy, can I take it to practice and show my friends?"

Natalie pleaded with her big doe eyes.

"Of course, sweetheart. Let's get a picture first." My dad turned to me. "Alexis, will you take a picture of us in front of Natalie's new car?"

"I'd rather get a selfie." Natalie pulled out her phone and held it out. "I can't wait to post this. You guys are the best."

I counted backward from ten.

POP!

POP!

POP!

The other three driveway lights exploded into a glassy mess.

My parents and sister looked like a picture-perfect family straight from a magazine. Without me.

I trudged inside. Glancing back, it appeared no one noticed my absence. I went my room and did some homework to get my mind off the new car.

A knock sounded on my door. I ignored it. The door opened, anyway.

My mom walked in. "We're leaving to watch Natalie's practice."

"Have fun." I didn't look up from my laptop.

"Did you even get Natalie a present?"

I took several deep breaths. "All my money goes toward car insurance and gas."

POP!

POP!

Broken glass showered onto my bed and desk.

"Be ready to leave in fifteen minutes." She left the room.

I glanced at the calendar. College never looked so far away. Then I would have the option never to return. But for now, I had to go to my sister's practice and watch everyone gush over the BMW.

All too soon, I was in my dad's Escalade with my parents.

"Jack, two bulbs in Lexi's room exploded before we left," my mom said.

I could almost hear him raise an eyebrow. "Those ones, too? I'll have to give Roger a call. Maybe he can help us figure it out."

"Don't you think it's odd that the lights keep bursting?" It was more of a demand than a question.

As soon as my dad parked, I got out and ran to the gym.

Things went by in a blur as I ran. When I stopped at the doors, a group of kids stared at me, wide-eyed.

I ignored them and went inside. At least half of our small town was there for nearly every game and practice. The girls' varsity team was Delphic Cove's pride and joy. They'd been the undefeated Washington state champions for years.

This year appeared to be no exception, and my sister was one of the team all-stars. She was not only the favorite of our family, but of the school too—and she was only a sophomore.

My two best friends sat in the bleachers near the middle. I joined them.

Emma looked up from texting. "You avoid Natalie's games like the plague. What gives?"

"It's Natalie's birthday and our family's here to give her a special birthday cheer."

Emma laughed and slapped Amanda on the back.

Amanda rolled her eyes. "So what did they get her this year, another Louis Vuitton purse?"

"No. A thousand dollar purse is nothing compared to her new BMW."

Emma and Amanda stared at me, both speechless.

I pulled my laptop from my bag and started doing homework.

Amanda and Emma whispered to each other, but I could hear them as if they were speaking into my ear, even above the noise of the gym.

"There's something different about her," Amanda said.

"Sure is," Emma agreed.

"Like what?" I looked up at them.

They exchanged a bewildered glance.

"I—I… don't know exactly," Amanda stammered.

Emma shrugged.

My parents sat next to us. I groaned.

"Hello girls," my mom said to Emma and Amanda. "Did you know that it's Natalie's birthday today? Her sweet sixteen." My mom beamed.

"Is she having a big party?" Emma asked. "I didn't get an invite!" She was always obnoxious, and even worse to my parents because of their obvious favoritism toward Natalie.

My mom shook her head. "Not this year."

"I get it. I saw that new BMW in the parking lot," Emma lied. "What'd you get Alexis for her sweet sixteen last year? Wasn't it a Kindle?"

My mom's face turned red, and she turned away from us.

At the halftime break, my mom turned to me. "Since you didn't buy Natalie a present, get her a watermelon smoothie. It's her favorite."

I opened my mouth to protest.

"I'll go with you." Amanda grabbed my arm and dragged me to the concession stand. "Just think, after next year we graduate. Then you can go to any college as far away as you want. Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, or whatever. You've already got that full-ride science scholarship."

I shook my head, too upset to speak. I got the watermelon smoothie using the last $5 from my clearance-rack purse. Then we walked to the player's bench. My anger had a companion. Humiliation.

I forced a smile. "Happy birthday." I handed Natalie the smoothie. "It's watermelon, your favorite."

She gave me a sweet smile. "You didn't have to. Thanks, Lexi." She gave me a hug, and we both looked up at our parents. Our dad took a picture.

Grumbling, I headed back to my seat with Amanda

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" asked my mom.

As I watched Natalie sip the smoothie, I felt rage tear at me like a wild, cornered animal.

I was only half-listening to my parents talk about how great Natalie was. As I watched her drink the smoothie and laugh with her friends, I imagined pouring it on her head. I grabbed the bench, afraid I might jump up and actually do it.

Suddenly, the bright red smoothie burst straight up out of the cup onto Natalie's face, hair, and jersey. It was as if someone had hit the drink from the bottom, making the smoothie leap up against the forces of gravity—exactly when I thought of throwing it on her.

POP! POP! POP!

POP! POP! POP!

POP! POP! POP!

Rows of fluorescent lights burst all over the gym. People screamed and shrieked, while others ran for cover.

The drive home was a blur as my mom yelled and whined. Too bad I didn't have my Kindle so I could've tuned her out.

When we finally got home, I ran to my room and found my light bulb mess to clean up. It was dark by then, and I couldn't ignore it.

I used a flashlight to make sure I got all of the pieces picked up before heading for the garage to get new bulbs. I groaned when I saw my parents and sister sitting at the kitchen table. Guilt tugged at me when I saw the red covering Natalie's bleached blonde hair and jersey.

"Are the light bulbs still in the garage?" I asked.

"On the third shelf," my dad said, not even looking up.

I went to the garage. I squeezed between my dad's Escalade and my mom's Mercedes to get to the shelf. It was an ordeal to get the stool so I could reach the shelf. I finally got the bulbs and marched inside.

"Where the batteries were for my foot spa?" Natalie asked.

Dad jumped up. "They're in the garage. I'll get them for you."

POP!

POP!

Two more shattered light bulbs.

"You'd better get some lights while you're at it." I stormed to my bedroom.

Natalie came into my room.

I continued studying from my textbook.

"I know you're jealous, but it wasn't my idea for them to get me the car. I know they always buy me nice stuff, but it's not my fault. Maybe they're trying to help me not feel bad about never being able to live up to you."

I arched a brow. "You, not living up to me? You're the volleyball star, you're on the sophomore homecoming court, and you're the stylish, popular one. How exactly do you not live up to boring, plain me?"

"Seriously? You've got the best grades in the whole school—the first junior to be president of the Honor's Club. Don't forget about your trip to the White House after you won that national science contest."

"None of that seems to matter to them."

"Can we at least have a truce? I don't like all of the competition. Sisters are supposed to have a special bond, you know?"

"I don't want to be fake," I said. "I'm not going to pretend that everything is fine when it's not. You're the favorite, and they always throw it in my face. You don't do anything to discourage it."

"Discourage it?" she exclaimed. "What do you want? For me to have them return the car?"

"You could tell them to not act like I'm a peasant."

"You're crazy. No wonder they like me better."

I jumped off the bed. "Excuse me?"

She looked at me with innocent eyes. "What?"

"You heard me."

"What? That I should return the beamer?"

"After that."

"I didn't say anything after that, Alexis."

"You didn't call me crazy? Say you understood why they like you better?"

Her face went paled. "I never said that."

"I heard you loud and clear."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what's going on here, but I didn't say that."

"Are you kidding me?" I exclaimed.

"What a freak," she said—but her mouth didn't move.

"Did you just call me a freak?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

Her mouth dropped and she stormed out of the room.

POP!

POP!