014 - The Surprise Outside
1678 Words
He let out a short, ridiculous laugh.
Amber’s breathing grew louder as she stepped closer. “Say that again. I dare you.”
“Or you’ll do what?” he shot back. “Pfft. I’m literally nauseous just staring at your face.”
“You two,” he said, flashing a crooked grin. “Are ugly. Uglier than a frog in a crown. And I swear, no amount of botox in the world would fix that.”
Amber’s jaw dropped. Her face flushed the same shade as Kim’s, fury swelling in her chest.
“Excuse me? What did you just call me?”
Kim jabbed her index finger straight to the middle of his forehead, pushing it back. “Ohhh no. You just opened the gates of hell, Felix!.”
He nearly stumbled but covered it with a laugh.
“What exactly do you want? You’re doing way too much for a pair of bargain-bin Barbies,” he scoffed.
Amber crouched and grabbed his ear, giving it a sharp yank.
He squealed. “Ow! Cut it out! Ugly trolls!”
“You think you can insult me and my sister and get away with it? Not today, you little gremlin!”
Felix, small but wildly feral, twisted in her grip and stomped his muddy sneakers onto Amber’s foot. The football slipped from his hands and rolled across the pavement.
“Let me go!” Amber shrieked. “Oh my goodness! My foot hurts!”
“Enough!” Kim snapped, trying to pull him off.
It was useless. His legs were locked like iron rods, and Kim’s irritation flared as she watched her sister wince in pain.
She grabbed the football before he could lunge for her hair. Taking four careful steps back, she lifted the ball high, making sure Felix saw it.
Amber’s groaning softened.
This was it.
She nodded through the pain. Give him a taste of his own medicine.
Kim flung the ball off her wrist, sending it spinning forward like a guided missile. Felix’s eyes widened, but he quickly ducked and the ball sailed past him, slamming straight into the windshield of a white Nissan Versa parked behind them.
Not just any Nissan Versa. Andrea’s Nissan Versa. Her baby.
The glass cracked instantly, forming a perfect spiderweb across the surface - deep and wide, enough to smear the once pristine shine.
Amber froze, clutching her cheek.
Kim’s grin vanished. She bit her lip, scratching the side of her head.
At that exact moment, Andrea stepped out of the doors of the print shop. She gasped softly, her heart feeling almost as damaged as the windshield in front of her.
She took a few slow steps forward, staring at the scars, her lips pressed together. Briefly, she shut her eyes and turned away.
Kim and Amber exchanged a nervous glance.
She was the owner.
And they had just destroyed her car.
“You two are insane,” Felix muttered, grabbing his ball and breaking into a run.
“Hey!” Andrea yelled, but he was already gone.
“s**t! What do we do? Run?” Amber whispered.
Kim grabbed her hand, backing away. “Yes. We roll. Now.”
They sprinted to their black SUV. Amber threw herself into the passenger seat, lifting her sore foot onto the cushion. Kim shut the door and started the engine, slamming her foot on the accelerator.
The tires screeched against the asphalt as they sped off, the wind blowing Andrea’s hair wildly.
She yelled something after them, but her words were swallowed by the tinted windows.
Andrea stopped herself from chasing further, palm pressed to her forehead, almost covering her eyes.
“Felix is pure evil,” Kim muttered, normalizing the car speed when they reached the boulevard.
She lowered the windows.
Amber threw her head back with a sigh. “We really went too far this time, didn’t we?”
Kim stayed quiet for a moment.
She looked out the window, returning her focus on the road.
Andrea's baffled expression replayed in her head.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” she said with a lopsided smile. “That woman’s way too pretty not to fix her car immediately.”
***
• Andrea •
***
I used to wave it off whenever a certain relative said good things always died in my hands.
It had happened on my seventeenth birthday — when my cake collapsed before the candles were even lit. Then again, on graduation day, when I tripped walking across the stage and my speech was cut short.
I was embarrassed then.
But not even close to how broken I feel right now.
I smoothed my hair and dropped the comb into my handbag. My eyes looked exactly how my heart felt. I could see it clearly in the rearview mirror — dull, shaken but the part of me that never breaks refused to bow to it.
I took a long, deep breath, letting it settle into my nerves.
Perhaps, it would calm the storm.
My hands reached for my seatbelt, clicking it into place while deliberately avoiding the cracked windshield in front of me.
I’d deal with that after my meeting with Mr. Langston.
I placed my cellphone on the dashboard, already noting the route to Everstone Holdings in Williamsburg. Within seconds, my engine roared to life. I placed my foot onto the accelerator, ready to ride out.
Tap. Tap. Tap
A sudden knock on the window nearly sent my soul out of my body.
I lifted my foot, winding it down slowly.
My eyes caught a cropped leather jacket over a an ivory crop top. Definitely designer. Then the face of the caller.
I gripped my steering wheel tighter.
How in God’s name did she get here?
My stepsister - the certain relative who claimed good things died in my hands.
Might as well just shut this engine off.
With a slight grin, she ran her fingers through her platinum pixie and I can swear it looked so damn good, even though I didn't want to admit it.
At this point, I’m convinced she has a sixth sense for my worst days.
“My instincts never lie,” she said brightly. “I almost made a pinky promise with Blake that you were the one I spotted through the glass doors of the boutique. Well, he’s settling the bills for our spontaneous shopping spree. I’m just here to confirm it’s really you.”
She checked me out, snapping a gum between her teeth.
“I guessed right. You sure do have a thing for temperamental cars.”
Her eyes scanned my vehicle.
“But this?” she added, arching a brow. “This is definitely not your old Corolla. So what's the story? Was it on clearance?”
She popped the gum, again.
Was she done?
I simply stared at her.
This was exactly why I left Harlem for Brooklyn. Elizabeth had always been the perfect daughter in my mother’s perfect little marriage. But I despised her sharp tongue and the way she chewed gum like a cartoon villain.
Spending twenty four hours in Harlem felt like grieving my father all over again.
It reminded me of the hole he’d left and how glaringly obvious it was around Elizabeth and my step-father
“I should be asking what you’re doing here,” I said evenly. “What happened to enjoying your shopping spree with the love of your life? I’m not available for your trouble today, Liz.”
“Interesting.” She leaned closer, invading my space like she planned to kiss me.
I pulled back instinctively.
“You don’t have to make it obvious you’re jealous,” she smirked. “Was being loved properly by my man a crime? Is that why you ignore my calls and leave my messages on read? Dad thinks I’m a spoilt brat. And you? You could tell me what you think of me. A nuisance? A little tornado?”
“Jeez,” I muttered. “Stop being silly. At least Mom’s on your side.”
“Seriously?” She laughed bitterly. “That woman is high on money. She asked me for cash last week. And the week before. Sometimes I wonder if I’m dating Blake or she is. She practically takes half of what he gives me.”
I scoffed in bewilderment. Does everything really have to revolve around Blake? Men? I feel sick doing this thing with Liz and Tahlia.
[“You never have the exact amount I ask for. It’s not like I’m demanding the world. Children are supposed to take care of their parents! I need three thousand dollars to finish planning your father’s birthday surprise. I won’t take no for an answer!.]
Those were the exact words of my mother.
And anyone hearing that wouldn’t believe she had already received money two weeks in a row.
Anthony could never replace my father, but he was a decent man.
So I did it.
I sighed and looked at Liz again. She stared at me like she did enjoy drilling holes through my skin.
“I have work,” I said stiffly. “Maybe I’d see you at Dad’s birthday surprise.”
“What birthday surprise?” she scoffed. “Dad’s not even in the right state for one.”
My stomach dropped.
“Is there something I should know? I spoke to Mom a few days ago. She said she needed money for a supposed birthday surprise she was planning to throw. What are you talking about?”
Liz tilted her head.
“You’re the first to arrive on this planet, but somehow I’ve got Mom figured out more than you do. Isn’t that ironic? She really didn't tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Just say it, Liz!”
“She found herself a new man.” she said at last. “And they both kicked dad out, flinging his bags at him like he was a pizza delivery guy. I think... our mom's planning to divorce my dad.”
- Writer
