The bet

23.Powerless

Joel

''What do you mean you got zero points?" father yells and the three of us flinch. 

''I... I don't know...I did all of the questions, but I don't...'' Luke stutters trying to answer. 

"Shut up. I don't want your explanations.'' father yells raisin to his feet. ''I didn't send you to that school to embarrass me for God's sake! I sent you there to ruin the Meyers. And all of you disappointed me. You disappoint me in every way you could.'' he says, and needles pinch my chest.

''Lucy Meyer gets a hundred points and my son gets zero? Are you that stupid?'' he yells.

''Father, I...''
"Shut up, I don't want to hear your voice.'' 

''How can't you beat two small stupid girls? Two dump girls who have no idea what life is, and yet they still rule in that school. You spent all of your life preparing for this moment. Preparing to ruin them. And now that that moment came, you're not doing anything. Why? Because the three of you are too weak and too nice.'' he says, his voice full of hate.

Something in my heart twists. It's like an invisible knife stabbing me in my heart and then being twisted in its way out. 

''We're not nice.'' I swallow.

''Oh, really Joel? You're not nice?" he asks laughing humorlessly.  ''Then why aren't you doing anything to Olivia Meyer? Why are you showing mercy to her?"  he yells.
"I'm not showing mercy to her.'' I quietly say. 

''Prove it.'' he says, his voice calm and my blood runs cold.
I look at him in confusion.

''By the end of this week I want the Meyers ruined and you have to show me that you don't have mercy for Olivia Meyer.'' he looks at me with challenge in his eyes. 

He comes closer to me and grabs my shirt. "Stop being nice to the Meyers and show them who the real Cullens are. Love is for the weak ones, son, do you hear me? Don't let it control you.
Ruin the Meyers. Ruin Olivia. Show me that you are a Cullen.'' he says, and I nod.

Love is for the weak ones.
Don't let it control you.

''Are Christian's daughters better than you Avril?'' father asks Avril in a sudden.
She looks at him in fear and doesn't answer.

''Answer me! Are they better than you?" he yells.
"N-no.'' she stutters.

''No, they're not. You're so much better than them.  They are princesses but you are a queen!'' he says. ''Stop hiding and start being a Cullen. You're born to be a leader, never forget that.'' 

Avril nods over and over and raises her chin. 

''Luke.'' he calls.
"Yes, father.'' 
"Come to your senses'' he says, '' Start working smart and beat Lucy Meyer. Destroy the Meyers.'' 
"Yes father.''

I'm sick of this. 
I'm sick of being someone I'm not.
I'm sick of trying to be his perfect child and still can't reach his expectations. 
I'm sick of being a disappointment.
I'm sick of being afraid I'm not doing enough to deserve my last name.

This last name is too heavy on my shoulders. 

Avril touches my hands and I realize that they have turned red because I'm scratching them with my nails.

''This is the last time I say it. By the end of this week, I want the Meyers ruined, especially Olivia Meyer.'' he looks at me. '' I don't care what you will do, I only care one thing, them being ruined. Understood?" 
"Yes father.'' the three of us say.

''Luke.'' he calls.
"Yes father?"
"Go to your room.''

No.

''Yes father.''