Why didn't we win? We were original.
My face was flushed with embarrassment, and Liam, and Hudley started to jump in happiness.
"Credit card!" Hudley exclaimed.
"Shopping!" Liam screamed.
"Did you guys believe that? Come off it. That was for a little spice. My winners are none other than the singers of this blissful song." She said, and Poppy clapped hard.
"Yay!" She exclaimed, and my blush came back.
"Thanks so much, Bianca." I said shyly.
"That's not fair. You made us happy, then dashed our hopes." Liam said.
"But they do deserve it."
"Where's my credit card?" Bianca asked, searching around.
"Someone stole it!" Poppy screamed dramatically.
"If you're searching for the card, never mind, it's with me!" Freddie said from upstairs, and there was silence before everyone burst into laughter.
<<<
I was dropped off at Winton Street and I enjoyed the night air before turning into our block.
Then I saw Mera out in a thick yellow hoodie gown.
"She's here!" She shouted and ran to hug me.
I saw Chris and Val rush out too.
"I'm sorry, did I keep you worried?"
"Of course!" Mera said and hit me playfully on the head.
"Mum is coming home tonight, that's why we got scared, we didn't want her thinking you go to nightclubs." Chris said.
"Aww, that's cute." I replied with a smile.
"Tsk tsk tsk, all you think about is cute, cute, and cute" Val said, ushering me in.
"Have you eaten?" Mera asked.
"I forgot to… I only had a cake with chocolate coating."
"Come in… there's shepherd pie, and then we made this Korean dish, it's supposed to be a dish, but I'll call it a soup."Val said and I looked at her.
"Who cooked it?" I asked.
"It's Mera, don't tell her it's watery though, she flared up saying you'd like it."
"What?" I asked, and she ushered me into the warm dining hall and as I sat, Mera pushed plates of garlic chicken, and a shepherd pie to me.
"Where is the soup?" I asked.
"Coming." She said, and dropped a mini pot in front of me.
As she opened it, hot steam came billowing out.
I saw green stuff floating in it, and some soaked white stuff that had turned orange due to the red soup.
Looking at it, I decided to attack the garlic chicken first… ooh!
Nothing like a good homemade food.
Then I put my hands on the shepherd pie, and ate until there was nothing left.
After eating those, I had no choice but to look at the soup.
It was damn unattractive…
At that moment, Mera came in.
"Oh you're about to eat my special dish!"
"It's tripe, but they would rather not eat tripe, so I left it out, and cooked the rest instead." Mera said and I smiled.
"Are you certain this is the dish?" I asked because it didn't look anything like what she had just said.
"It's just like you're making a meat pie without meat, how will you make tripe without tripe." Chris said and Mera threw the pot cover at him.
" Hey! Do you have any idea what's going to happen to your face if something happens to mine?"
"I'd like to see" Mera said and while they were bickering, I tasted the soup.
Okay…
It's kind of tasteless, yet peppery, and it's got this chemical taste…
I tasted the white squarish stuff.
Bleeeeh! So soft!
I chewed on, then poured the rest of my garlic chicken into it to give it more taste… it got better, but I felt it actually corrupted the garlic chicken.
" How's it?" The three of them asked suddenly.
"It's cool… I actually like it. Will you teach me how to make it? I like those white stuff especially."
"Aaah! I knew you'd like it." Mera exclaimed, while Chris' and Val's chins dropped open.
"It's really delicious, I can't stop chewing."
"Really? There's a little more, I was supposed to throw it out, but since you like it…" she said and bounded off to the kitchen.
Oh, no!
Val and Chris erupted in laughter at my expression.
"Okay it's just a little more." I encouraged myself.
Then she brought another pot.
Nope, it's not just a little more…it would fill the mini pot thrice!
"Thanks a ton." I said.
"You're welcome." she replied, and I spent an hour eating that.
Then the doorbell rang.
"Oh I think that's mum!" Val said, and rushed to get the door.
"Mum!" Mera squealed.
"Oh my babies, I hope you didn't miss me too much." she said, coming into the living room, and we all hugged her.
"Mum… My classmates and I want to go on a trip to Choco Island" Mera said acting cute.
"Choco Island?"
"Yes mum… they say everything there is made of chocolate and if you wish to swim in the Choco pool, you have to wear a suit that's coated with chocolate on the outside.
"You can sit in Choco houses, do lots of stuff in there too and… we need money…"
"Ah, I'm exhausted now, and I don't understand what you're saying right now, so we'll discuss later, or you could just tell me the amount you need, and I'll give it to you, just don't drown in a Choco pool." Aunt said, and we all laughed.
"Is there anything else anyone needs?"
"I need a new phone, mum." Chris said.
"What for?"
"First things first, it's kind of heavy, and I want something light. Second, it's too long, it sticks out of my back pocket each time I put it in, Third…"
"Okay, okay, Val?"
"Um, I need a teddy bear, a bigger size, I've been dreaming scary dreams lately and no one allows me to cuddle with them.
"So, I need a teddy to cuddle, and it has to be massive, like about my height, and very fat" Val said and I laughed.
"And very fat" Mera mimicked in a cat's voice.
"Okay big baby, so Pris, anything?"
"Um… there's not much really, but I think I'd like a huge diary, so I can write all my songs, and poems in it."
"Aww that's the only meaningful thing I've heard since I came home, just imagine, Choco... Choco what?"
"Choco island, there's even a Choco boat, you can eat as much chocolate as you want, and Chocolate is good for the brain you know."
"Whatever, just imagine, a new phone when nothing is wrong with the phone you bought just this year's July and imagine a 15-year-old girl still sleeping with a teddy bear, you're unbelievable." she said and went to the sofa.
She took off her heels and her jacket.
"It's freezing outside" she said, and we all began to talk.
After minutes of endurance, I excused myself to my room, raced for the toilet and knelt in front of the toilet seat and puked…
I threw up every single thing I ate.
It felt good to get that hideous meal out of me.
Imagine the horrible meal she made, yet she would rather not see Chris cooking.
At least I didn't throw up when I ate his cupcakes.
But wait, I didn't eat them actually, I remember forcing Chris to eat them.
I set my next day clothes, a super skinny crazy Jeans and knee-high boots that I'd have to use a lot of time lacing up and an oversized light gray hoodie.
Then I'd style my hair, I'd make a crown braid and put a scarf round my neck and then take a head warmer in case it got too cold.
I brushed my teeth… took off my clothes, then a nice long warm shower, before putting on my nighties and going to bed.
On my bed, I thought of my day with Freddie. It was so nice.
We were going to have a day together, all because of Bianca's credit card. I knew I had to look beautiful, and that was why I had made sure my outfit was going to be smashing.
He seemed to like purple, and my purple scarf was going to be set to work.
I was going to look pretty.
<<<
I woke up late the next morning, Jeez I was so tired.
I stretched and yawned, and my phone rang, making me wonder who was calling because I hardly had any calls.
However, I looked at the name and squealed in delight.
It was Jane!
I know you've forgotten, but Jane is my sister!
My lovely sister.
I picked the call.
"Hey Jane! I've missed you so much, time is really slow over here, and I hope you've missed me as much as I've missed you.
"Seriously, Jane, you've got plenty of things to catch up on, and so does Cam, you don't know me anymore. I've changed, I've learned a lot, and I've experienced a lot…"
"Wait, wait, wait, calm down, tell me all little by little. When you mean you've experienced a lot…what does that mean?"
"Well, I've experienced chemistry!"
"Woah with whom, and how do you know it's chemistry?"
"Well, someone told me." I replied with a smile.
"Who did you feel chemistry with?"
" Chris." I whispered in an extremely low voice.
"Do you have any idea you're on the phone? I can't hear a thing!"
"With Chris." I whispered again.
"Is anyone there with you?"
"No."
"For God's sake, Pris, speak up."
"CHRIS!" I said, and I think I said it too loud because I heard Chris answering from downstairs.
"Whaaaaaaat!" Jane screamed so loud, I dropped my phone.
I picked it up immediately.
"Whatcha doing having chemistry with Chris??"
" Woah, woah, woah chill out, calm down."
"You know what's called a play boy? He's one."
"I know."
"But you guys were total enemies when we were younger, do you know he hated you?"
"I know but…"
"Do you know you also disliked him?"
" I know."
"Do you know how many girls he's dated?"
"I know."
"Do you know he's had sex before?"
"I know!"
"Uh."
"Just let me talk… I do not like Chris."
"What? I was about to support you guys."
"Support what?"
"It doesn't matter he's a cousin… you've got different dads that are not related.
"The mums come from a polygamous family, and have the same dad but different mothers, so you guys have a chance, and it's not like you can't date… just fall in love, don't…"
"Don't give me a speech, Jane."
"Wait if you don't like him, then who do you like?"
That instant, Freddie popped up in my head.
"No way… what if I like him?"
"See you like Chris! Yeah, he's charming…"
"Not Chris! It's someone else, but no way, I don't like him."
"I just can't wait for you to get back, we can't discuss stuff like this on the phone, I need to see you, to feel you, to tease you, jeez! I miss you!"
"Aaaaaah!" I screamed, and she laughed.
"I still miss the way you scream when you're so excited."
"I miss everything, and everyone."
"Get lost." She suddenly said.
"Uhn?" I asked confused.
"No not you… it's Jimmy! She wants to talk to you."
That was my little sister.
"Aww, Lovey dovey!"
"Pris! I missed you! Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you. That is how I know you go on.
"Far across the distance, and spaces between us…"
"Pris don't fall for that, she's quoting Celine Dion's 'My heart will go on' lyrics to impress you that she knows how to speak…" Jane was saying, but the next thing I heard was screaming.
"Hey pris!" Jimmy said excitedly.
"Mum!" I heard Jane scream.
"They're fighting, our lovey-dovey is growing up, I can't believe she wants to take Jane head on!" I heard my mum say.
"I missed you guys, mum!"
"We missed you too…I'll make anything you want to eat when you come home."
"Mm, I missed your special chocolate cake."
"Seriously? I made it for dessert yesterday, and we were so full, we were unable to finish it, even dad, a fully grown chocolate monster was defeated…
"It's in the fridge, I'm going to wrap some up for Jane and dovey to take to school this morning."
"Aww… I want some too, you know if I was around, no chocolate cake is going to survive the night."
"I think that's why that cake is chilling in the refrigerator now." She said, and I laughed.
"Mum I want some."
"Should I send some then?"
"You can?" I asked.
"Yeah I'll just send it through the ATM, and you'll go withdraw it. When it asks for the amount, press other and type in cake, it'll bring out the chocolate cake."
"Mum! Quit teasing me! There aren't even letters on an ATM."
"Then create them… hang on, your dad wants to talk."
"Hey pris." My dad said.
"Hi daddy!"
"Did your mum tell you I eliminated a full chocolate cake yesterday?" He bragged.
"That's not the story, she said you were defeated."
"Hehe, that's not true. Honey! Didn't I finish that cake?" He asked, and I heard mum's voice from afar, she was probably in the kitchen, I could totally see her, doing something with the plates.
"You told me…"
"Remember that trip to L.A.?"
"Oh yes! You totally finished that cake!" My mum suddenly said.
"Hear that?" He said, and I laughed.
"Oh dad, quit bullying mum."
"I'm not bullying her… Am I honey?"
"No way, darl." she replied.
"Dad…I found him."
"Who?"
"Green-eyed boy." I replied, blushing.
"Oh… Don't tell me he's a player?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, I'm going to dribble him." I said, and he laughed.
"That's my girl, tell me, is he as handsome as me?"
"No way! My dad is the prettiest man in the world… he's the most beautiful!"
"What does that mean?" He asked, and we both laughed.
I talked at length with my family.
I didn't feel like stopping… I only stopped when…
"What's the time there? Aren't you going to school?" Jane asked, and I looked at the clock.
"It's still….aaaaah!" I screamed, it was past seven!
"Bye gotta go! Will call later… love you! Send my love to everyone!" I ended the call immediately, and flew to the bathroom.
I threw off my nighties and took a cold, and painful bath.
I rushed out, tried to blow dry my hair, but time was running, so I did it only halfway.
"Where's it, where's it, where's it?" I asked myself, and snatched my large, gray hoodie I had prepared.
It was almost eight., classes were going to start at eight, and we were having Mrs. Binns first.
She was known for deducting marks for coming late, she never failed to do so every time a student came late.
She was so nasty, she always took twenty marks off, and her marks were hard to get!
7:25!
There was no way I was wearing those tight skinny jeans.
They'd take an hour to put on.
I searched my cupboard, throwing everything out.
"When did I have so many clothes as these?" I asked myself.
I recognized a few of mera's tight skirts and some of Val's teddie bear hoodies.
"So, my wardrobe has become an official dumping site for clothes? How would I find these jeans in all this mess?" I asked, and finally saw a pair of boyfriend jeans, staring at me.
I pulled them on with a gray head warmer hanging on the chair.
7:36!
There was no way I was going to wear those boots, they took a day to lace up.
I searched for my tennis shoes, but they were all missing their pairs. After searching, and turning my room upside down, I checked the time.
7:40!
"Twenty minutes more!" I screamed, and picked a white shoe…
"Oh my!" I exclaimed, as I was wearing mismatched shoes! Pink and White.
I combed my hair a little and dumped the head warmer on it.
I didn't bother with a scarf and instantly stuffed my books in my bag, hoping with all I had, that Biology was among those I rough handled into the bag, then I swung it over my shoulder and rocketed down the stairs.
"You're still home?" Aunt asked.
"Yes. Good morning aunt."
"Come, have some oatmeal to…"
"No I'm fine! I'm really fine… I'm running super late. When I'm back, I'll eat them!" I said, rushing out the door.
I couldn't wait for a cab, so I ran like I was a robber being chased by the police.
A last I got to school.
7:55!
I climbed the stairs, past the halls and corridors, then another flight of stairs, another, and another.
"Oh my…" I said, panting, and gasping.
THE BELL RANG.
It was 8:00
I whooshed past the classrooms and just as Mrs. Binns came up the corridor, I entered the class which was already settled down.
I was so happy, I made it.
Everyone began to stare at me, and I didn't care, but began to care as I caught myself in the class window before getting to myself.
It was as though I were seeing a stranger.
" Okay, this wasn't exactly the pretty I imagined yesterday." I said to myself in devastation, and sat down.
This wasn't the definition of pretty that I wanted to look.
My heart broke in a million pieces, as I imagined going on something that seemed like a date with Freddie, only to be looking like a clown who picked clothes from a dumping site.