Free Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

any one-on-one time together, I didn’t want to pass it up.
    Joe studied the wrinkled T-shirt and shorts that Justin had loaned me and the plastic bag I was holding, which had my dress and shoes inside. “Where have you been?” he asked, and glanced at the tennis shoes that I’d borrowed from Clare’s suitcase.
    I considered skirting around the truth but reminded myself that Joe wasn’t my dad. I took a chance.
    “Justin’s in town,” I said, and felt a girlish grin brush my face.
    His eyebrows rose. “That’s who you were with last night? You told me you were going out with Clare.”
    I sighed and set the bag on the floor near my feet. Bringing up Justin’s name around Joe usually sparked a heated debate. I couldn’t blame Joe for resenting him—it was true that he encouraged my rebellious side. But that side was dormant only because Dad had smothered me with regulations for so long. I was just living in a shadow. It was interesting that two such vastly different men had had the greatest impact on my life.
    “He met up with us,” I said, like it wasn’t a big deal.
    Joe sat down on a stool next to me. “You know something, Maddie? I really don’t think Justin’s your type.”
    I fought a groan and took a sip of coffee. Do older brothers feel it’s their birthright to screen who their younger sisters date? “You don’t know my type,” I assured him.
    “I have some friends who are single, if you’re looking for a boyfriend.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of anyone replacing Justin.
    “Great,” I said. “I’d love it if you’d pimp me out to your friends. Are you going to introduce me as your juvenile-delinquent little sister?” I knew I was being a brat but I was tired of my family condemning me for dating the most amazing person I’d ever met.
    “I will if you act like one,” he said, and his face was serious. “What about your friend Pat?”
    “Pat?”
    “He’s into you. He’s
unplugged,
as you like to refer to it. And he isn’t running from the cops on a daily basis.”
    “That’s no fun,” I said, and Joe frowned. “He’s Justin’s cousin,” I pointed out. “And he knows we’re just friends.”
    Joe shook his head. “Guys don’t want girls as friends,” he told me. “If he’s hanging out with you, it’s because he thinks he has a chance.”
    “Whatever,” I said, and took another sip. I told my brother it was none of his business who I dated. I never picked on the girls he liked. “Not that I care, but why don’t you think Justin’s my type?”
    “Other than the fact he’s leading a revolt against our father?” Joe asked. He scrunched up his face. “I don’t know. He’s kind of a hippie.”
    I set down my cup and stared at him. “People still use that term?” I asked, and Joe shrugged. “He is not a hippie. He’s like James Bond in blue jeans,” I said with a smile.
    “Well, when your tree-hugging Bond boy leaves and goes running around trying to save the world, what are you going to do?”
    “Probably help him,” I said.
    “So you’ve decided to join his side?”
    “I’m leaning that way. Why fight gravity?”
    Joe’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t learn anything from your mistakes, do you?”
    “Mistakes are simply a matter of opinion,” I said. “Joe, I’ve had full-time babysitters my entire life. I could really use a break. I know it’s well intended and I appreciate you care, but there’s a fine line between caring and controlling. And I’m very sensitive when someone’s trying to breach that line.”
    Joe stared at me like he didn’t recognize me. “Who are you and what did you do with my baby sister?”
    I took another sip of coffee and gave him a proud smile. “I grew up, Joe. It’s finally me.”
    He nodded slowly. “That’s what I was afraid of.” He rubbed his finger thoughtfully along the rim of his white mug.
    “Paul called me last night,” he said. “He saw footage that people took of you at the dance