Revenge

Chapter One The Day That Started Wrong

I heard a few beeps. Is that my alarm, or am I dreaming? My brain felt foggy, heavy, like it didn’t want to wake up yet. As I was debating whether to get out of bed or hide under the blankets for five more minutes, there were a few sharp knocks on my door. At the same time. Too perfectly timed.

Then I heard my mom say, “Okay girls, quit giving her a chance to answer me.”

“Okay!” they both chirped, way too loudly for this hour.

I sat up, heart thumping a little from the sudden noise. I turned off my alarm and waited for Mom to stop talking so I could answer.

“Come in,” I said, trying to sound awake.

My mom, my half‑sisters, and my stepdad all walked in. The twins were practically vibrating with excitement.

“Happy graduation!” they all screamed, and the sound hit me like a burst of confetti. They set a cake and some presents down in front of me. The cake had a pink rose on it with Happy Graduation written across the top. There was also a card and two boxes wrapped in shiny pink wrapping paper. My favorite color. My whole chest warmed at the sight.

“Open the gifts!” Tammy and Sarah shrieked, bouncing on their toes. They’re five, and they look exactly like tiny versions of Mom and me. It’s almost eerie sometimes.

“Calm down, girls,” said Pat. He always tries to sound authoritative, but it comes off more like he’s practicing. He’s six‑foot‑one, a little heavy, black hair, brown eyes. And absolutely not my dad.

I ignored him. He thinks he’s my dad. Even if something happened to my real dad, he would never be my dad. I am a daddy’s girl, through and through.

“Which one should I open first?” I asked the twins.

Mom cut in. “Tara, you know it’s proper to open the card first. Have I not raised you better than that?”

Her tone stung a little. Graduation morning and she still had to correct me. “Yes, Mom,” I said, swallowing it down. I opened the card.

Tara, we love you and are so proud of you for graduating high school. You know you’re the first one your dad side who did. (That made me mad.) We are so glad you are getting away from here and going to Harvard Law School. Here is a $600 VISA gift card to help you get the things you need for school. We love you. Love, Mom, Twins, Dad

My stomach tightened at the “your dad said.” I forced a smile.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad,” I said. I must call him Dad or Mom won’t let it go.

“Now you can open your gifts,” she said.

I looked at the twins. “Which one first—the big one or the flatter one?”

“The flat one!” they screamed in perfect unison.

“Okay,” I said. “Calm down or I won’t open it.”

They froze instantly. “Okay.”

I opened the flat box and inside was an MSI gaming laptop. Hot pink. Different shades of pink hearts. Custom. My breath caught.

“What?” I whispered, hugging the laptop like it was alive. “You got me a custom laptop—and not just a laptop, but a gaming laptop?”

“Yes,” Mom and Pat said together. “You deserve it. You’ve worked so hard. You’ve always had your head in your books. You should have some fun.”

Emotion hit me so fast my eyes burned. “Thanks,” I said, hugging them.

“You still have one more,” Mom said.

I walked over to the next box. It was just a plain brown box, taped shut. My stepdad handed me a pocketknife.

“You might need this,” he said.

I cut it open. Inside was another shiny pink box. “What is this?” I asked.

“Just keep opening,” Mom said, smiling like she knew something.

Six boxes later, I finally reached a white envelope. My patience was gone. I opened it and inside was a one‑year Xbox PC Game Pass.

I stared at them, annoyed. “Really? Who does stuff like that?”

But I didn’t want to ruin the morning. “Thanks,” I said, hugging them again.

“We should go so Tara can get ready for the big day,” Mom said.

“Aww,” the twins whined. “We want to stay with Tara.”

“No,” Mom said. “She’ll be out in a few.”

They left, closing the door behind them.

The room felt suddenly quiet. Heavy. Like the moment before a big storm.

I picked up the Game Pass and the laptop, put them in my backpack, grabbed my clothes, and headed to the bathroom to shower, do my hair, and my makeup. My hands were shaking a little — excitement, nerves, something else I couldn’t name.

Graduation day had officially begun.