FOUR

 I carefully parked my car and got out. I hadn’t seen her up close for a while. I couldn’t remember the last time I said a word to her, could be months really. It would sound crazy to someone if I told them, seeing that we lived in the same house and attended the same school.

   I looked at my sister, although she’s 19, she didn’t look a day over 15. She still had her small frame, and beautiful face. Her hair was parted at the center and fell straight past her breast almost reaching her waist. Mine was longer though, although it was wavy.

    I really wasn’t in the mood for the conversation we were about to have but alas, there’s no avoiding her. I finally walked up to her and stood in front of her. She eyed my entire body and tried to look intimidating.   

    If I was still 15, it probably would have worked, but my 17 years prepared me for this moment. 

    I kept my head up and hardened my eyes. When it was clear her intimidation wasn’t working she locked eyes with me.

    “So, I guess you finally came out of that bubble of yours.” She folded her hands as she spoke. She looked like she knew something and she didn’t like it at all.

    “What do you want Jane, surely you didn’t stand here to say irrelevant things. If this is really why you stopped me, then I’ll excuse myself.” I tried to walk away but she blocked my path. I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes not caring if she saw me. Yup this is really happening.

   “What do you want?” I asked again. I really had not time for any of this. I had a date the next day and I wanted to prepare earlier. Maybe pick the dress and prep myself, if it was a trick, I needed to be ready. 

   “You do know we go to the same school, right?” She flipped her hair and folded her arms again. What was she getting at?

   “Of course I know, I’m reminded every day.” My tone was flat. Even a baby would notice I wasn’t up for the conversation.

   “It’s obvious you’ve grown some balls, now I can really believe how slutty you are. Tell me how many boys already?”

    Oh no she didn’t. I don’t appreciate being called names, especially names like this one.

  “Okay, first of all, don’t call me names. If anyone could pass off as a slut it would be you. We all know you’ve got straws for brains. I don’t know why no one ever questioned your grades.” I turned around and started to walk away but she grabbed my wrist and spun me around. She raised her phone and showed me a picture.

  It was getting dark so I couldn’t really see what she was showing me so I moved closer and gasped. It was a picture of Shawn and a girl kissing. The face of the girl wasn’t visible but the hand was. And the bracelet she wore was owned by only one person in the entire world. Me. It was unique because my mom made it for me. Well not personaly, she was friends with the owner of Jewel company, it was silver and it was my exact wrist size. The top had my name designed in fancy letters, rubies and sapphires were scattered all over it. Someone might be able to copy that but the inside had a word that was written in Spanish 

“Siempre.” I whispered, unbelieving what I was seeing. Surely I didn’t really kiss Shawn in real life. But looking at the picture, the chances of anyone believing me do not exist.  If  I wasn’t the girl in the picture, I’d also conclude that Shawn was kissing a girl. 

    “Well now I suppose you realize the amount of trouble you’re in. And to think everyone believes you’re a good girl. You sneak around kissing boys while others are learning.” She shaked  her head and looked at me, disgust clear in her eyes.

  “I think mother would be interested in finding out the adventures of her perfect daughter.” 

    “Surely you don’t actually believe that I was kissing him.” 

  “Are you seriously trying to deny it?” 

 “I can’t believe you. What lie are you possibly cooking up now? It is very clear that you’re kissing him and now you’re gonna deny it? How disgusting.”  I was about to say something else when my phone rang indicating I had a text. I pulled it out and saw that I was sent a picture. I opened it and my mouth followed. 

   The same picture Jane just showed me was looking at me. My face was filled with horror when I realized that the photo must have traveled through out the school before it got to me. 

   “Jane, I’m serious. I wasn’t kissing him. He was just telling me something. I swear it.”

   “Save it for who cares. It’s not my problem you decided to join the girls that line up on his bed. A whore at 17, that’s a cute way to start your life. Keep it up and you just might be a famous pornstar.” She walked away leaving me with the bullets she shot with her words. 

   She’s supposed to be my elder sister, she’s supposed to protect me. She’s supposed to hold me and whisper soft words to me. 

   After standing there for what felt like eternity, I slowly made my way to my room with heavy foot steps. I was so lost in thought, I didn’t even pay attention to the servants who stopped to acknowledge me. I got the safety of my room and locked the door. I took off my clothes and sat at my window sit, my hands wrapped around my legs and I rested my head on them. 

     Someone knocked my door, I assumed it was one of the servants so I asked her to go away. But I didn’t expect what I heard next. 

   “Peanut, it’s your mother. Can I come in?”  We lived in the same house but I hadn’t seen my mom for almost a month. We used to be really close when I was younger. Even when Jane changed. She’d play with me and read books with me or listen to my crazy stories whenever Jane went over to her friends house to play. 

    When I was 11 mom found out dad was cheating with his secretary at work on their anniversary night, he forgot it was their anniversary and made his usual excuse of working late. Mother  planned a surprise for him and went o his office, that’s when she saw them. Dad pleaded for a month before she forgave him. But when she went on a business trip to Sweden, he started cheating  again. 

         “Yes, come in. You’re always welcome mother.” 

 She walked in and closed the door behind her. And stood a few inches from my bed.

   My mom has always been a y’all fair lady. One look at her and you wouldn’t believe  she was 40 with two teenage daughters. My grandfather started the hotel business with my  grandmother who died before they could put these plans into action. My mom was 9 then. Grandpa had to remarry because he couldn’t take care of mom alone, he got married to step grandma who already had a child for her late husband.

   Step grandma had more money than grandpa so she helped with the business. But mom was older than her step sister with 2 years so she inherited the hotel business after grandpa retired. I never met Aunt Meredith. She got married right after college and traveled out of the country.

   “You don’t look so good,whatever is the matter child?” She walked over, her long strapless blue dress flowing with her. She looked quite young that evening. Her honey blonde hair neeting packed behind her. She gestured for me to move a bit for her to sit down. I did, and she sat across me and clasped her hands together.

     “So, tell me peanut, what’s wrong? Why are you sitting all by yourself?” I looked at her and sighed. I fetched my phone and showed her the picture that has damned my peaceful existence in high school. 

    “Okay, you’re kissing a boy. So, what’s the problem? You should be here looking dreamy and inlovd. Unless you don’t like him.” 

    “That’s not the problem mom. I wasn’t kissing him, it may look like it, but we were just talking. “

   “Someone saw us  and took the photo.”

  “Oh that is bad. But I can’t see your face thoug. There’s a chance no one will know it’s you. I only knew because of the bracelet, which you’ll have to take off for a while until the commotion dies down.”

   “See? There’s no reason to worry anymore.” She cupped my face and smiled. I could see the the bags under her eyes. It was clear she barely slept. She wasn’t really on good terms with my dad but always stayed up late waiting for him. When hears the sound of his car driving in, she’d hurry tovthe room and act like she was sleeping.

         My dad and I weren’t practically best friends. He wasn’t there most of my childhood so we didn’t have that close bond while I her up. But he had the bond with Jane. When she was born, his Job wasn’t as complex it was when I was born so he was able to get home early in time to play with her. 

     My birth came with his promotion and it took his time, that’s excluding his other activities. Dad still tried to make time for me. He’d take me out on sundays at times when he didn’t have a lot of workload. The less frequent outing gradually became once in a while until it finally stopped, as a child I kept on hoping he’d come around and ask me to dress up for our Sunday dates, but he never did and soon I stopped hoping. The last of the hope died on my 13th birthday when my mom was away on a business trip.   

   I didn’t want a grand birthday without my mom. So dad organized a small party for me. We had it in my mom’s garden. I didn’t have many friends, it was just Lisa, Kevin, Jane, my dad and his secretary. Kevin is the son of our cook, he was three years older than I was but we were friends nonetheless. He moved to Kansas to stay with his dad. 

     Well I found it odd, why would my dads secretery come to my party?. I had never seen her before. Father assured me that she only cmse over for business emergency and he asked her to join the party and introduced her as Ms Gewen. Young and naive, I quickly believed and tried to enjoy the party. I was so caught up in the event, I didn’t notice when Ms Gwen slipped from the party. 

   When the party was finally over, dad quickly excused himself that he had business to take care of and he literally ran to his home office.. I gathered my gifts and went to my room missing mom already. If she was around, she would have slept in my room with me. I was growing, yes, but I needed her. Well I figured, dad wouldn’t mind if I spent a little time in his room. That way I can feel moms presence a bit. I looked out the window and saw it was already dark. He’s probably done with his work, I thought. Maybe he’d play with me a bit. Having a new reason to go to his room, I quickly got out of my room and made my way to his.   

    On my way, I stopped by Jane’s room. She didn’t say a word to me in the party. She didn’t even want to be there. She only came because dad threatened to take away her phone. It hurt to see my only sister hated me so  much, I moved closer and raised my hand to knock. I couldn’t. I stood there for a few more minutes and retreated. I continued my long walk to my parents room.

      “Good evening Ms, hope you had a wonderful birthday.” Dora, one of our many servants greeted. She was in her late twenties, and kept to herself most of the time. 

      “Good evening Dora, yes I had a wonderful time. Thanks for asking.” I answered politely. She gave me a small smile and went in her way.  I saw the double doors of my parents room and hurried towards it. I stopped in front of it and leaned on it trying to check for any voices to know if my dad was inside. I heard a sound but it was so faint I thought I was hallucinating. 

        I made to leave but I heard a voice saying darling. Great maybe he’s on FaceTime with mom I thought. I was so happy I get to see mom and da. Out if excitement, I opened the doors and ran inside. 

      I stopped in my tracks. I wasn’t sure I was supposed to see what was unfolding before me. 

     “ June, sweetie. It’s not what you think.” I snapped back to reality then. I became visibly livid.  

    “Not what I think?, you’re fucking your secretary on your matrimonial bed on my birthday, while your wife is away with your two kids at home and you’re telling me it’s not what I think?!”

    “Sure, it’s not what I think. It’s what I’m seeing!”

  “Where did you learn to speak like that?” He fumbled with the duvet trying desperately to cover his body. 

     “How the hell is that the point? Is that all you really have to say? You really want to lecture me in this situation?” I almost yelled at him. I couldn’t believe the man. I catch him cheating on my mom and he’s trying to lecture me.

     “Mind your language girl. I will not have you speak foul words in my house. Mind the tune too, I dm your father.” He tried to muster a stern face as he spoke knowing fully well he’s screwing up over and over again. 

    “Oh please, I think we are past the time were you try to lecture me. Seeing what you’re doing today? Makes we question who’s the sane  one here. Plus the house is technically for mom and not you, you should be trying to bribe me not to tell her. But with that attitude? No amount of bribery is gonna work.” Something moved on the bed and I remembered the witch under the covers. I ran over to her and slapped her hard. I began to pull her hair 

  “Why,  you wicked witch. You have the nerve to come to my mother’s house. You’re filth is still sitting on her bed and you don’t even have the decency to cover that smelly body.”  I was really havingbit with her hair when my father pulled me away and slapped me. He fucking slapped me. I sat on the floor and held my face with my hand and stared at him. He seemed to realize what he did, his expression changed from anger to fright. The tears fell freely and they stained the white nightdress I was wearing. 

       “Peter?, did you just slap my daughter?” We all turned our faces slowly and saw my mother standing by the door. With the white floor length dress she was wearing, in addition to her blonde hair, she looked like a ghost. A beautiful ghost here to hunt my father and his mistress.

     “You’ve been cheating son me this whole time. I could feel it but I didn’t dare question you. Now I come home for my daughter’s birthday and not only do I find you soiling our bed but you’re slapping my daughter with your filthy hands.” She was livid. But her voice was so melodic you wouldn’t notice the anger in her words. 

    She walked over to me and helped raise me up, kissed my head and asked me to go to my room, that she’s handle the situation. I didn’t want to leave her there with those wicked people, but she wasn’t asking me, though her voice was soft, but there wasn’t mistaking the command in them. Besides, I was already tired, there’s so much my little body could take. 

      I have my father one last glare and walked away from the room. Mom didn’t file for a divorce, she moved her things from the room and stayed in a room on the second floor away from my father. I never spoke to him since then. He made attempts to apologize but I ignored or avoided him until he finally gave up.

   I look at my mom now and saw how fast she’s aged. She was still young and beautiful, but all that beauty hid behind her tired eyes and exhausted body. She needed a vacation. She worked nonstop since that incident. She no longer slept in that room on the last floor, she moved back to her bedroom with my dad who must have done something for her to forgive him. Jane didn’t care nonetheless, so long as they weren’t divorcing. 

    “I guess you’re right mom. If they don’t see my bracelet they wouldn’t know I was the one. I’d just have to discard those clothes too so no one would suspect. Now my only problem is Jane, she’s definitely gonna tell. If she hasn’t done so already. And the photographer, I’m sure he/she saw my face after taking the picture.”

      “Jane won’t be a problem, I’ll go talk to her right now. You’ll have to find the photographer alone though.  He didn’t call you out after distributing the picture, my guess is he didn’t get the chance to. But he’ll be looking for that bracelet, so keep an eye out.”  She hugged me and stood up.

      “Goodnight sweetie. I love you.” She opened the door and left. My mom’s the best.

    Feeling less sad after talking to mom, I took a quick shower. Did my homework and went to bed, with hopes that the entire school didn’t know I was the one in the picture.