The doorbell rang, echoing through the house like a signal of change. Sophie looked up from her art, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease. Marcus had mentioned that Mia would be moving in temporarily, but she was unsure what to expect.
"I'll get it!" Ethan called, bounding toward the door with too much enthusiasm.
Sophie followed him, her heart racing as she reached the living room just as Ethan swung the door open.
"Mia!" Ethan exclaimed, grinning as he pulled her into a hug.
"Hey, Ethan!" Mia replied, her voice cheerful but with an undercurrent Sophie couldn't quite place.
Sophie stepped back, peering from the hallway. Mia stood tall, with long, flowing hair and a confident smile that seemed capable of charming anyone.
"Look who it is! Sophie!" Ethan called, beckoning her over.
"Hey, Mia," Sophie said, forcing a smile, her stomach twisting.
"Mia, you're here!" Vivian rushed into the room, her face lighting up as if she were greeting royalty. "It's wonderful to have you! I know you'll be a great influence on Sophie."
"Thanks, Vivian! I'm excited to be here," Mia said, casting a quick glance at Sophie. Her smile faltered just for a moment. "I hope you don't mind me crashing your space, Sophie."
"Of course not," Sophie replied, her heart sinking at the implications of Mia's words.
As they settled in, Sophie tried to engage with Mia, hoping for a supportive cousin. Instead, the subtle jabs came quickly.
"So, Sophie," Mia said casually, unpacking her things with an air of practiced ease, "are you still drawing those… what do you call them? Doodles?"
"They're not just doodles," Sophie said, trying to keep her voice steady. "They're illustrations."
"Right, illustrations," Mia said with a smirk. "Must be nice to have all that time to yourself. I wish I could do that, but you know, some of us have to focus on real life."
Sophie felt heat rise in her cheeks. "I focus on real life too, Mia. Art is my passion."
"Passion? That's cute," Mia replied, a condescending smile on her lips. "But art won't pay the bills, will it? You should think about what you're going to do after high school."
Sophie's chest tightened. "I know what I want to do. I just need time."
"Time is precious, Sophie," Mia said sweetly, yet with a clear edge. "Not everyone can afford to waste it on fantasies."
Sophie felt the familiar ache of isolation creeping back in. She turned away, forcing herself to focus on her drawings.
As days passed, Mia settled into the household, seamlessly blending into Vivian's schemes. Whenever Vivian made a passive-aggressive remark about Sophie, Mia was right there to back her up.
"Don't you think it's about time you cleaned up your room, Sophie?" Vivian suggested one afternoon, her tone deceptively light. "It's a little... cluttered."
"Yeah, Sophie," Mia chimed in, feigning concern. "You wouldn't want your room to turn into a pigsty, right? I mean, it's a reflection of who you are."
"Thanks for the advice," Sophie replied, her voice tight.
Mia leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "Just trying to help. You know how easy it is to get lost in your own little world."
Sophie felt her heart race with frustration. "I don't need help from you."
"Oh, honey," Mia said, her smile wide and condescending, "you clearly do."
One evening, the family gathered in the living room for a movie night. Ethan had picked a blockbuster, and everyone seemed excited, except for Sophie, who felt out of place.
"Come on, Sophie! Don't be a bore," Ethan called, tossing popcorn at her. "Join us!"
Sophie rolled her eyes, sinking deeper into the couch. "I'm fine here."
Mia settled next to Ethan, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Are you sure? I mean, it's not like you have any friends to hang out with anyway."
"Leave her alone, Mia," Vivian interjected, but Sophie could sense the insincerity in her voice.
"I'm just stating the truth," Mia said, her tone airy. "Besides, it's not my fault Sophie is too busy with her drawings to socialize. It must be lonely."
"Maybe I like being alone," Sophie snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Yeah, right. Everyone likes being alone, don't they?" Mia replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just don't come crying to me when you realize how isolating it can be."
Sophie felt the tears welling in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She turned her attention to the movie, hoping to block out the noise around her.
As weeks went by, Mia's subtle insults became more frequent and aggressive. Sophie couldn't escape her cousin's presence; Mia seemed to thrive on her discomfort, always ready to poke at her vulnerabilities.
One afternoon, Sophie found Mia rummaging through her art supplies, a sly smile on her face.
"What are you doing?" Sophie asked, irritation flaring.
"Just checking out what you've got here," Mia replied, holding up a sketchbook. "Wow, these are… interesting."
"Give that back!" Sophie reached for the sketchbook, but Mia held it just out of reach.
"Interesting choice of subjects, Sophie. Is this supposed to be you?" Mia laughed, flipping through the pages. "I can see where the inspiration comes from—total sadness."
"Stop it!" Sophie shouted, feeling humiliated.
"Why? I'm just trying to help you understand what people really think," Mia said, her expression mocking. "You might want to consider more uplifting themes. Or maybe just stop drawing altogether."
"Leave me alone!" Sophie yelled, snatching the sketchbook back.
"Oh, poor Sophie," Mia said, her tone patronizing. "Always so sensitive. You really need to toughen up."
Later that evening, Sophie sat in her room, the door locked, the weight of Mia's words pressing down on her. She wanted to scream, to cry, to release the anger and sadness building inside her.
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. "Sophie, let me in," Mia called, her voice feigning sweetness. "I just want to talk."
"I don't want to talk!" Sophie shouted back.
Mia's voice turned sharper. "Come on, Sophie. Don't be such a baby. I'm just trying to help you, remember?"
Sophie ignored her, focusing on her breathing.
"Mia! Leave her alone!" Ethan shouted from the other side. "She doesn't want to talk to you!"
"Oh, Ethan," Mia said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "I'm just being a good cousin. Is that a crime?"
Sophie heard Ethan's footsteps retreating, leaving her alone with Mia once again.
"Just open the door," Mia urged. "I promise I won't bite."
Sophie felt the tears spill over, frustration turning into despair. "Just go away!"
"Fine," Mia replied, her voice filled with mock disappointment. "But you'll miss out on all the fun when I'm gone."
Sophie heard her footsteps retreat down the hallway, leaving her feeling even more isolated.
The next day, Mia's presence became suffocating. Sophie was acutely aware of the way her cousin shadowed her every move, always ready with a snide remark or a false compliment.
"Wow, Sophie! That dress looks like something from a thrift store," Mia said as they prepared for dinner.
"Better than whatever that is you're wearing," Sophie shot back, anger flaring.
"Touchy, touchy!" Mia laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I'm just saying, you have such a unique sense of style. It's… different."
"It's called being myself," Sophie snapped, her voice rising.
Mia stepped closer, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Sure, but sometimes being yourself is not always the best choice, you know?"
Sophie felt her chest tighten with the weight of Mia's condescension. "Why do you care so much about what I wear?"
"Because it reflects who you are, sweetie," Mia replied, her smile too wide. "And honestly, it's not a good look."
"Why do you always have to be like this?" Sophie asked, her frustration boiling over. "Can't you just leave me alone for once?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Mia replied, feigning innocence. "I'm just here to support you, after all."
"Support? This is support to you?" Sophie felt her anger rising. "You're not supportive; you're cruel."
"Cruel? Oh, come on," Mia said, shaking her head as if Sophie was being ridiculous. "I'm just trying to help you see the world as it is."
Sophie turned away, feeling overwhelmed. "You're not helping; you're tearing me apart!"
"Oh, poor Sophie," Mia said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Always the victim, huh?"
Later that evening, during family dinner, the atmosphere was tense. Vivian and Ethan exchanged uneasy glances as Mia continued to poke at Sophie.
"Did you finish those illustrations, Sophie?" Vivian asked, her voice light but with a hint of condescension.
"They're not finished yet," Sophie replied, keeping her tone even.
"Maybe you should focus on something more practical," Mia suggested. "Like finding a job. You can't just rely on art forever."