Leaving The Genius’s World Chapter 04

Leaving The Genius’s World Chapter 04

The day I left, Pasadena was unusually clear and bright.

I got up early and spent two hours in the kitchen.

Scrambled eggs and sourdough for Theo.

Blueberry pancakes for Owen.

Breakfast burrito for Wyatt.

Greek yogurt with granola and berries for Sadie.

They came out one by one. None of them thought anything was off.

Wyatt bit into his burrito and gave me a thumbs-up.

“Audrey, you’re so talented at cooking. Why force yourself into academics?”

Owen laughed too. “Everyone’s good at different things. We handle making models smarter. You handle keeping us from starving. Isn’t that enough?”

Theo pulled me to his side and kissed my forehead.

“Why are you so good today? See? It’s easier when you’re not fighting yourself.”

“Stop pushing yourself into the hospital over the SAT.”

He glanced at Sadie, then added with a smile, “You don’t have to be as outstanding as Sadie.”

I met Sadie’s eyes. A faint, almost-smile curved her lips.

“Exactly. Audrey can keep us alive. We write the code, she makes sure we eat and sleep.”

I didn’t know when they’d started treating that division as obvious.

Like my only value was taking care of four geniuses.

I calmly pulled my hand free.

“I’m gonna go straighten up my room.”

In the bedroom, I grabbed the last of my toiletries and shoved them into my bag.

Theo appeared in the doorway. He glanced at the half-empty closet. “Where are your clothes?”

“Got rid of some.”

He didn’t suspect a thing.

“Tomorrow I’ll take you to The Grove. Buy you some new ones. You can never make up your mind about anything. Without me, you’d probably still be wandering around the parking garage looking for the exit.”

I looked at him. He was always so confident, as if I’d fall apart without him.

Owen’s voice came from outside.

“Theo, we’re going to be late for the celebration.”

Today their youth AI project had won an award. There was an industry mixer in Downtown Los Angeles.

“Theo!”

“Coming.”

He started for the door, then stopped and glanced back at me.

“Audrey, you sure you don’t want to come? The food should be good tonight.”

“I’m not going.” I looked into his eyes. “Go. I hope you all get exactly what you want.”

The lock clicked. The house went completely quiet.

Back then, they’d rented this house together with scholarships and project stipends so the four of them could attend the Pasadena research program.

When I offered to help with rent, Wyatt laughed at me. “Audrey, do you have any idea what this place costs a month? Save your part-time money for SAT prep books. Just live here. Rent-free.”

Back then, I thought it was them caring about me.

Now I thought about it.

A person who cooks for everyone, picks up their medicine, remembers all their habits, and gets no say in anything isn’t really an equal.

We’d never stood at the same table. They’d only ever let me stand next to it.

A tired smile crossed my face.

I laid out everything they’d given me over the years neatly on the coffee table.

On top was the SAT notebook, already scribbled over.

Then I dragged my suitcase out the door.

The California sun was bright.

For the first time, I walked away without one last look at their house.