I was probably glad I had no lectures on Saturdays. If I stayed in campus I would love to sleep through out the day and paint but unfortunately enough, I was eighteen and I still lived with my parents.
When I was young my mum taught me this song...
Monday we go to school; Tuesday we go to school; Wednesday we go to school; Thursday we go to school; Friday we go to school; Saturday we 'rest' at home. More emphasis on the 'rest'. Considering the long cue of chores I have to do this particular day... even staying with my sister alone was a big deal!
I dug my glove-covered hand further into the sink drain and brought out dirt. More dirt. Chloe was responsible for our blocked sink, she should be the one doing the dirty work not me. She faked sick again and my parents believed her. Again.
Unknown to me she had been standing in the kitchen doorway watching me. If I had not twisted my neck the moment I would have missed that smug look on her face. "Aren't you supposed to be sick?"
She smirked. "Not until I heard that lame rhyme. Seriously, Jane, you sing grossly off key."
"So you really lied to mum and dad that you're sick so I can do all the chores?"
It was more of an affirmation than the way it sounded like a question.
You know the one when you have to ask yourself if you heard right?
Maybe it was my fault. I wasn't ready to stand my ground and question my mother why she hated me this much .
Chloe sat on one of the stools across from where I knelt on the floor with dirt. She was on her phone again and was smiling at something.
Heat waves rocked through my body as and the cold water pouring out of the drain was not going to cool the burning fury inside of me.
" I am so angry, Chloe. Do you realize I could be doing something much better with my time than fixing your bloody mess!?"
The little thing looked at me, rudely.
"Well I'm sick and mum said I should get some rest."
"It's so obvious you're lying. What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped.
She ignored me. Oh God,if I do anything out of maddening impulse, please don't blame me, I told myself. Give me the wisdom to handle this unbearable situation.
I took in a breath, let it out. " I'll tell my. that you're faking if you don't help me out here. I have solid proof." I said quietly.
Chloe broke out into a wild chuckle...then she looked at me wildly.
That was it! My jaw stiffened.
I got up and went to her..
"Are you really going to treat me like this?"
She turned her head from her phone looking right through me like I wasn't even there.
Rippling, bubbling sensations exploded through me, right there and then.
"I mean it! You better get to work or you'll regret it."
"What if I say I don't feel like doing anything! Why don't you do all the chores, it could be the only way you'll slim down, you'll never know."
For a second I was too dumbstruck to throw a come- back at her smugly wicked face. My mouth was hanging open in shock. Did my kid sis just talk to me in that crude and unfair manner and I can't even do anything about it!
I was lost in the hurtful words that I started questioning myself yet again. I'm the older one here. I shouldn't be treated like this...not at all.
So I did the only thing that seemed like the perfect defensive mechanism. I snatched her phone from her hands
" I'm going to show mum the evidence that you are busy typing instead of you to be in bed..sick."
It was as if her eyes widened in audacity more than surprised.
"Give me back my phone!" She screamed and started scratching my arms to get her phone but I put it away from her reach.
I didn't let go and she didn't back off..she became violent and forceful to the point I got tired. We struggled there until the phone finally slipped out of my grip and smashed against the floor.
Blind!!
Confused and shocked me looked down at the damaged phone..the phone was cracked completely..it was a hard fall.
Chloe gasped and quickly fell to the floor , her hands shaking as she picked the damaged gadget. The rigidity of her back was spelling it out already... Chloe was extremely mad.
I gaped for words but nothing came out. I quivered. For fear of my own little sister. I had just ruined her passion, her phone and now he'll was going to break loose.
As she knelt on the ground and slowly turned to look at me with stormy eyes. Sadly it was happening in a sort of sickening slow motion. You know what's coming.
I stepped back. Her eyes fixed on me with pure hatred. Her phone threatening to fall from her trembling hands. Her breathing increasing to a pace...that was bad.
"You monster!" Came the first shot which didn't sound good in the ear at all, unless said ear felt as if it would fall off at any moment.
She continued, " You bloody, fat monster , now you've ruined my phone."
I winced at her words. I was feeling sorry just two minutes ago but now I had every reason to remain angry. "You know, none of these would have happened if you just agreed to help me out instead of lying you were sick.
"I hate you." She sobbed. " Sometimes I wish you never even existed, you're not doing anyone good in this house!"
She yelled at me headings up the stairs.
Chloe's words were like knives, cutting through my heart.
I know this wash the time but actually I began to feel miserable.
.....
"MaryJane, what on earth came over you!?" Mum was shouting across, her feet paddling down the stairs, and another followed: the soft swish-swish of the soft slippers with bunny ears that Chloe had been wearing.
"To throw your sister's phone on the ground because I told you to do the chores?"
Mum pointed at me. I pulled my dirty gloves and looked.at both of them.
I remain mute watching mum display her dramatic scolding.
" When will you ever outgrow your inhuman behavior and focus more of your attention on shaping your self?" Mum's face twisted in annoyance. " Because it's really bothering me. I can't even have a peaceful work time in my room because I have two teenage daughters who loves arguing about everything. At times when I hear my friends and colleagues talk about their children, I can't help but feel jealous."
I felt a sudden flicker of guilt. That I had wished this was on a record video.
My heart froze when she said we were grounded. Chloe and I screened in disbelief. If that was the only thing we ever teamed up to do, we had a pass mark.
"No buts and objection and that is final." She stated.
" That doesn't even explain the reason for stuffing me with so many chores while Chloe sits back and do nothing." I objected.
Mum pretended to think about it but then looked at me and said." You're the older one and it's quite a shame you have no single bone of concern in your body to understand your sister is quite indisposed."
When I thought the evening was going to be better,it got worst. Mum had driven me so mad I was ready to drive myself out of the house.
"I'm leaving anyway!" I ran down the stairs with tears in my eyes. I paced about the living room, devouringy raw nails and thinking about my next action.
Mum climbed down the stairs. " How dare you? Wow if you think you're old enough to make your own rules and do as you like why don't you go out there and know what it feels like to live alone."
That wasn't going to be a problem...I knew I will be in endless joy if I was away from my mum and sister.
"You ruined all my painting equipment and always choose Chloe over me! I never pretend to be sick just to dodge responsibility but in the end I'm still labelled as the rotten egg."
" Just tell me you finally want to leave this house," Mum said.
"Yeah!!" I shot back." Since you all hate me, I'll go somewhere else ... where I will be appreciated. Enjoy your good daughter."
I wrenched the door open and stormed out slamming the door so hard that they will hear it and know how much I wish that was the sound of Chloe's broken bones instead of her phone.
....
I burst open their house. Max was on the couch playing a video game and I quickly wiped my eyes but it was too late .I had dropped in like a mad woman .
"Is Dave around?" I tried to keep emotion out of my voice. I sounded like a hyena.
The worst part was the expression on his face. His mouth opened a touch,just a touch when he saw the tears in my eyes but his quickly changed back to its normal broody expression.
"He's in his room." He said and turned back to his game .
Bloody hell, he didn't care to ask what was wrong.
When I got into Dave's room, he was waking up from sleep. Weird. The banging sound of his door must have startled him.
"Jane?"
I couldn't believe the tears I had managed to get a hold off simply sprang out without caution.
He jolted out of bed immediately e helped me sir at the edge of the bed.
He looked at me deeply. " What happened? You're crying." I sobbed and narrated everything to him.
"It's okay, don't mind whatever your mum told you...she doesn't mean it," Dave said.
" That woman hates me. Is it because I'm the fat, ugly daughter? "
Dave stared daggers at Jane. "Not again with that assumption. You are perfectly made, your mum probably has t problem with you because she expects more from her first child."
First child my butt. I'm sure if mum got a chance to know what her first child will look like now, she must have thought about aborting me.
"Hey, look, you are beautiful Jane, believe me, I'll never lie to you."
I stared back into his blue eyes and sighed. " I'm gonna have to stay here, I'm too upset to go back."
" No, I don't want your mum to be mad at me.. I'll try and talk to her."
Again I sighed. He was not only a best friend, he was a brother and a daddy.
I watched as he took his phone, scratching his sleepy eyes. He got up from the bed stood by his window and I had little time to envy his neat room.
Unlike my nest his tent was welcoming. The simple shape of his modern room was enhanced by pale grey walls and a bold garage door. Planter's were painted in a stronger tone of the masonry colour to add depth against the walls. A perfect sized bed with soft denim pillows alongside the lunar grey and soft denim sheets. A fancy night lamp sat on the bedside drawer. Even his reading table was so tidy. The books were arranged neatly .
I know, I was good at describing colours...my talent that mum had ruined .
" Jane, she said she needs you."
I stared back at him.." So fast?"
"Yeah."
"What did she say?"
Dave ran a hand through his dark hair, completely exhausted." She is freaking out, Jane. You should hurry and go, it's getting late."
He came towards me and pulled me up.
I frowned. "I feel you are kicking me out."
I pushed him away .
He groans in exasperation. "Not today. If you don't mind I was sleeping before you came."
"Fine in going." I headed for the door and before I could shut the door I heard him call after me.." Love you, bye."
The jerk.
As I left his room my senses came back to my head. I totally forgot I will have to deal with Max later. God, what was I going to say? Will I just walk pass or what?
I was in a bundle of nerves as I breezed past the walk way ..
I retrieved my steps when I saw Max bedrooms door slightly open. I have never seen what it looked like in there, never seen the light. Now was an opportunity and I wondered where Max was. I tell myself I am only going to peep through and that's all.
I applied firm but gentle pressure to the door knob and slowly began to push the door.
What came next was a big shock to the system.
"What are you doing?"A thick broody voice demanded.
I nearly jumped out of my skin and swiftly turn to see Max angry.
"I'm so sorry," I blurted out an awkward apology.
His eyes turned suddenly dark and scary.. my heart began to pound when he took a first step towards me, his eyes never fixing on any thing else but me. That was creepy , what was he going to do to me.