But instead, my brother just glanced at me with a look—one that felt like embarrassment, maybe even disgust.
"Betty, Angus is right," Charlie said, his voice flat. "You always fight people. Just… stop it."
I froze, disbelief washing over me. My fists loosened as the fight drained out of me.
I had been ready for Charlie to stand up for me, to have my back like brothers are supposed to. But all I got was this huge, aching disappointment.
"Charlie…" I whispered, but he didn't glance in my direction like he didn't hear me.
Angus, seeing an opportunity, grinned wider and then turned to Ginny. "Whoa, dude! Who's that pretty girl?"
Ginny blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She shot him this shy smile that made my chest tighten with jealousy.
Charlie, beaming with pride, slung an arm around her shoulders. "Well, this is my other sister, Ginny!"
Angus looked Ginny up and down. "Yeah, no doubt about that. She's way better than that freak over there!" He nodded toward me, laughing.
Before I knew it, a group of boys had crowded around Ginny, eager for her attention.
Charlie barely reacted, but when he did, it wasn't to defend me.