Her life ended, not the day her father died, but the day her mother married another man who had a mean daughter with a dark heart, and a mission to ruin her life. Ever since they moved into Tim's massive mansion, her life had been miserable instead of sweet.
Happiness seemed to elude her in her new lavish home, and the reason was her new step-sister who seemed to have a personal vendetta against her and wouldn't give her a breathing space. Kate made sure to remind her she was a freeloader who didn't belong in their world of affluence. She kept taunting her with her modest background and mocked her every chance she got. It was as if Kate got high from inflicting pain on her. Kate relished embarrassing her every chance she got; it didn't matter if they were alone or had an audience, she made her life hell.
She had no peace at home or in school because of Kate, and when she tried reporting Kate to her mother, she was told to suck it up and ignore her step-sister. Her mother didn't care about her, she cared more about the lavish life she was living. She wished her father was still alive, and hadn't died from a heart attack a year back. She could have avoided this new life, and it wouldn't have been shoved upon her. There would be no Kate to deal with or entertain.
Ah, this life sucks! She growled beneath her breath.
She had lost her best friend when she suddenly changed school after her mum's wedding. Nothing was the same again, and she felt like a fish out of the water both in school and at home. Tim was cool enough and treated her with kindness, but his daughter was another story altogether. So she had made it her mission to stay out of Kate's air and visuals. Out of sight should have meant out of mind, but with Kate, it wasn't. Only leaving the house would do. But where would she go? She had nowhere to go. No living relative to turn to. It was just her mum and her. So she was trapped in a life of misery until she completed college and could move out to start afresh elsewhere and alone. She was counting down the days.
She sighed deeply, as she trudged downstairs for breakfast. It was a school day, and she had to move fast to avoid running into Kate. She had intentionally started her day early to avoid running into her wicked step-sister. She sighed when the coast was clear, and grabbed an apple, a bottle of her favorite cranberry juice, and a pack of chocolate chip cookies. She shoved them into her backpack before rushing towards the garage. Once there, she grabbed her car keys and got into the car Tim got her to commemorate her new life as his stepdaughter. She had accepted the gift with a grateful heart and used it to navigate the new town they moved into. Getting in, she drove out of the garage towards campus. She would have gotten a room on campus to avoid Kate, but her wicked step-sister had made sure she was hated by all and sundry.
Her geeky and timid nature didn't help matters either.
She knew she would have to grab the bull by the horns and be bold and courageous to cave and find her place in this new world. But it wasn't as easy as it sounded. It was like asking the mountain to move. She had no vivacious bone in her. She wasn't lively or attractive or elegant. She was just an ordinary girl who was a nerd. Her huge glasses were visible proof of her shortcomings. So it was no wonder everyone loved Kate, believed Kate, and followed her words to the T. They despised her because of Kate. Even her boyfriend, the only one who had shown interest in her on campus, also took Kate's side. Sam was always comparing her to her step-sister, pointing out her shortcomings and taunting her every opportunity he got. She often wondered why she was still with him. He was oppressive, emotionally manipulative, and sometimes aggressive. She should dump his ass but feared being utterly alone and boycotted by all on campus. So she sticks around and takes his bullshits.
She felt exasperation wash over her and threatened to drown her. She pulled her car to the curb and took in several calming breaths, a lame attempt to prevent the tears clouding her eyes from flowing. Her slight body shuddered with the emotions tightening her chest. God, she hated her life. She hated being a timid geek. She hated her unrefined look and lack of fashion sense. She hated her bed of curly unruly red hair. She hated her fair skin, and green eyes which she hid behind her shades. She hated everything about herself but didn't know how to change it. She knew it was wrong on so many levels to feel this way. Who would love her if she couldn't love herself? She knew she had to love, accept, and appreciate herself first. But it was so hard when everyone despised her.
Wiping the tears off her face angrily, she got back on the road and headed towards campus. She should forget everything and try to breathe. She needed to take each day as it came and hold on for as long as she could. Tomorrow would be a better day was her mantra. She tried to let her worries slip away, allowing the soothing sound of the music blasting from her stereo. Soon, her day would start at school. Just three more years to go, and she would be done.
She parked at the parking space allocated to students and gathered her stuff before vacating her car. With a defeated sigh, she started her walk to class. She didn't want to be there, in a place she was most hated. But she couldn't avoid it, coming to college was a necessity for the security of her future. She needed to become independent, and that could only be earned with a good education. Her pep-talk seemed to be working until she bumped into something hard, and almost tumbled on her bottom. Gasping aloud, she stared at the ground that would have been her curse and embarrassment, then turned to follow the hand of her savior up to the face it belonged to and gurgled in shock. She couldn't believe the heartthrob of the school was the one holding her and preventing her social humiliation. Could the day get any worse? How could she have bumped into Ethan, the most beautiful creature on campus, and a famous hip-hop artist? She felt her heart stop as she looked into his soulful baby-blue eyes, the shade of the sky or the ocean. She didn't think those descriptions did his beautiful jewels justice. He was still holding on to her hand as her body was bent backward to break her fall. She didn't know how long they stood that way staring at each other, but suddenly the moment was shattered as someone cleared his throat. He suddenly pulled her up, and she crashed into his hard body with a startled squeak.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice sounding like music to her ears. She had never heard anything sweeter before. She could listen to his voice all day long. His voice had this fine texture to it, that drugged and hooked one from the get-go. No wonder the ladies were head over heels in love with him, but, he seemed oblivious to them all. She had never seen him hanging around any lady on campus.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't have a girlfriend hidden somewhere, Annabelle. Look at him, he can't be single.
She felt him squeeze her hand and raised her gaze to meet his. She nodded at him and said shakily. "Y...yes. I'm sorry...for...for bumping into you." Way to make an impression, Annabelle, she silently chided herself. Can't you have a normal conversation with a hot guy?
"It's okay. I'm glad no one was hurt," he smiled at her, and she felt her heart flutter in response. Gosh, what a nice set of teeth. And those luscious lips, she could imagine getting lost in them. She wanted a taste but knew that was wishful thinking on her part.
"Come on, Ethan! Let's go. We're running late already." The annoying voice that interrupted them before blurted out in impatience, and she felt like knocking his teeth off so he wouldn't be able to talk. She smiled at her lame thought and thanked her savior and new crush.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. See you around." he moved around her to follow the annoying guy she suspected was his friend. She couldn't help but stare after him and sighed wistfully.
Ethan turned to look back at her before turning the corner and disappearing. Was she dreaming? He looked back at her! God, was she dreaming? Why did he turn around and look at her with a small sexy smile twisting the corner of his lips? Why would he do that? She had heard in passing that when someone did that, they were interested in the person. But how could that theory apply to her? She was a nobody, with no social influence whatsoever. She had no fashion taste either and was not refined. Why would he look at her, or smile at her? It made no sense at all. But her life didn't make sense either. Not making any sense wasn't something foreign to her. She turned to continue on her way, excitement pumping through her blood, but bumped into something, and ended up on the floor.
"Ouch!" she groaned, looking up at her culprit. She glared at the guy she was dating. A guy who didn't deserve her, and made her regret her choice every day. "What did you do that for?"
"You seemed to have forgotten your place and needed a little reminder. What did you think? I would watch you throw yourself at another man like a cheap floozy and do nothing. The floor is where you belong, you cheap whore."
"Why the hell would you tell me that?" Annabelle yelled shooting messily to her feet. "You don't know anything. It's not what you think."
"You have no freaking idea about what I think. I know what I saw. Do you think he would want you? Have you seen yourself? Look at yourself in the mirror. You're foolish to entertain any hope of bagging such a famous guy!"
"Why do you hate me so much?"
"Oh, honey, you know that's not true. I don't hate you. I'm the only one who can stand your presence. Can't you see that? You should be grateful and kissing my feet, instead of lusting after what you can't have. Come on, baby, use your head."
"You're a mean bastard. Most times, I wonder why I'm even with you!" she exclaimed with tears clouding her eyes. His words cut so deeply that she regretted the day she accepted to date him. He was a mean hideous devil, and she was the very stupid and naive moth to get lost in his flame.
"Because no one will have you. No one will ever want you, except me."
"You bastard!" She ran away from him, tears clouding her eyes and pain lacing her heart. He was a mean bastard. She should just break up with him, and rid herself of the garbage. She rushed into the washroom and locked herself in the closet. She cried her heart out, letting all her pent-up frustration and misery out. She would not let Sam's insults define her. His actions would not define her. She was worth more than he thought, and she would prove it to him someday.
She will.
Thank you for reading!
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