The Stepsisters - English [Completed]

Five

I WAS getting busy with the cheering practice as the competition is getting nearer. Lily and I did not have much time to hang out these days too.

I noticed that she was busy as well because her childhood friend came back to town and transferred to Marion City. I learned that it was the girl from the Oceanarium.

I am not sure what her name was but when she introduced herself she said she's Jana or Jena. I am not quite sure. I was not interested at all especially when she blatantly sat beside the chair of Lily.

Yeah, Lily and I were classmates. It was really difficult to hide our true relationship but luckily, we are really good at concealing it. However, this childhood friend of Lily will make it harder for us.

What if she will learn that Lily is my stepsister? She seems to be a blabber. What if she will tell everyone at school about our secret?

I haven't talked to Lily about her yet as I was really busy and every time I went home, due to the exhausting practice, I easily fell asleep. Sometimes, I forget to eat dinner. Lily will wake me up but I was really out so she just gives up most of the time.

Anyway, practice is over and tomorrow is the cheering competition. It will be held in the school gym and various famous high schools will attend.

Marion High Cheering Squad never slips down to the top three. Last year, we almost got first place. I was a member of the cheering squad since last year and my family was really supportive. 

I did the tryout because three of my so-called friends are going to join. Ever since I transferred, I was befriended by the "It girls" in our class. They called themselves "The Gorgeous".

The so-called leader, Sharpay, acts as if she was really a kind girl but when she was only with the girls, she's actually a backstabbing b***h. Her family is rich. That is why perhaps she felt so entitled. She's not that good academically but she's really good at dancing. Well, not to brag, but she's nothing compared to me when it comes to dancing. She was aspiring to be the next captain of the cheering squad.

Ginger, who's the smallest in the group, feisty and really a mean one. If she doesn't like you, she will not waste her time being kind to you. She's tactless as well. She's the daughter of the Vice Mayor that is why she's acting high and mighty. She's okay with academics and so-so with dancing. She just joined the cheering squad to be popular with boys.

Sally, her mother, was one of the shareholders of the school. Sally is actually pretty good in academics and cleverer than the two. She's not that mean but she's friends with the two since middle school, so it was automatic that she will be part of the group. She's okay with dancing as well and works hard to improve.

I joined "The Gorgeous" as I've learned that if you are friends with them, no one will pick on you or bully you. But before I could suggest adding Lily to the group, they were bullying my stepsister and I had no idea how to react. The memories of bullying from grade and middle school came rushing to my mind. Then with that, I chose not to say or do anything.

My relationship with Lily got awkward at that time. Since we are living in the same house, I did not know how to address the "abandoning" thing to her. But Lily just smiled and acted as if nothing happened. Then I was relieved. I tried to correct my mistakes and attempted to stand with Lily but it was getting harder every day. The bullies were too strong and no one really wants to get in conflict with the three. So everyone just turns a blind eye. Actually, even the teachers can't do anything about it. So, I got scared.

Luckily, Lara, our cheering squad captain was like a knight in shining armor. She always helps Lily when the bullies are doing too much, like physically harming her. Miss Lyra was one of the teachers as well that the Gorgeous can't tame. So, she's one of the people helping the students, including Lily, from the bullies.

As much as the Gorgeous want to take revenge on Miss Lyra and Lara, they can't. Because one, Lara is the daughter of the Mayor. And two, Miss Lyra is the daughter of the school president and the biggest shareholder. So Lily has actually a strong backup. As for me? I learned to like the girls in time, they may be mean but as a friend, they are really pretty good and supportive. I have been friends with them for two years, so I can say that I at least know them well more than their bully character.

Anyway, back to the present, the practice was done and we are going home. The three girls are with me and we are walking down to the school entrance. It was already dark and from the lamp post on the school entrance, I can see a familiar figure.

My heart skipped a beat again. This keeps happening for a few days now. I am not sure what's happening to me.

Then I felt my heart pumping so fast, as we were getting nearer the entrance and I could vividly see Lily standing there. She was not alone; she's with that transferee again.

The three girls with me were actually talking about boys and their crushes but I was not interested as I am more interested in what Lily and the transferee's topic. Lily was really smiling widely as the smaller girl talked with action. The transferee girl really is expressive when talking.

I am beginning to hate her. I don't know why but I don't like her. I understand that they were childhood friends but wow, she certainly can make Lily smile and giggle like that.

We were near them when they stopped talking and just looked at us. I can see that Lily was looking at me now as I was looking at her. Her smile fades and she puts on her usual poker face.

My heart aches when her expression changes. I wanted to see that smile she was giving to the transferee earlier. But I must act that as if I am not associated with her, right? Damn, why is this so hard?

"Someone got her girlfriend back," Sharpay said in a sing-song manner. Then they stopped in front of them. I sighed. Here we go again.

"You looked good together. Garbage and garbage can," Ginger said and then laughed. Sharpay and Ginger did a high five as well.

"Welcome back, Jesu," Sally said, earning a glare from the two. "What?"

That's what I am talking about. Sally was really the less mean of the two. Sometimes she was just influenced by them.

So, Jesu was her name.

"Thanks, Sally. I am pleased to see you but not these two. Somethings never change eh, Sharpay and Ginger?" Jesu retorted.

"Is someone talking? I can only hear nonsense." Sharpay rolled her eyes and continued insulting Jesu.

"Someone's getting crazy too and talking rubbish. The same with the mother of someone she's close with. Oh! So, it was contagious after all. Oh, God!" Ginger dramatically said.

"You, biatch!" Jesu was immediately triggered by Ginger's statement. 

Jesu was about to attack Ginger but Lily was fast holding the transferee's arm before she could reach the latter. Judging by her reaction, she knows what happened to Lily’s mom. They easily catch up then.

I tried to keep myself calm and never averted my eyes at Lily. I was more concerned about what Lily’s about to do. But her expression did not change. She was still in her poker face.

"See. Being crazy is contagious. That's what you get when you keep hanging out with the child of a crazy person," Sharpay added and looked at Lily who's just giving her a blank stare. "Let's go, girls. Before we get infected with that disease," The bully added and headed to the car waiting for them. It was Sharpay's ride.

I was biting my lower lip the whole time and I am feeling the guilt feeling again. Before we hopped into Sharpay's car that was opened by her personal driver, I looked back to where Lily was.

Then I saw that she was staring at me while Jesu was ranting next to her. That was really quick but I saw how she nodded her head to me as if telling me to go into the car with them. That everything was okay. I bit my lower lip again before I nodded my head as well and hopped into Sharpay's car.

When the car was moving, I saw in the side view mirror that Lily was patting Jesu's head. Again, I felt that inscrutable ache inside my heart. Ah, why is this happening?

I hate Jesu!

"That was really a low blow," Sally said out of nowhere. She was in the front seat near the driver. The three of us were at the back.

"I know right! I'm gonna teach Jesu a lesson one day. She's really getting on my nerves!" Sharpay exclaimed.

"It's not Jesu. You two actually went out of the line. That was below the belt." I was surprised when Sally said that. We all looked at her. More like, I was amazed by her standing up with her opinion to the two. And she just earned a death glare from Ginger and Sharpay.

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you that scared of her too?" Ginger dramatically said.

"Don't get intimidated with her, Sally. She might be the daughter of the Mayor but she can't get away with her meddling with my prey. Not this time." Sharpay's voice was really determined to make Lily's life a living hell. What did Lily do to her that makes Sharpay hate her this much?

"So Jesu was actually captain's sister?" I butt in on the conversation.

"Yeah. She introduced herself earlier, duh. Jesu Bunny Kirby. Who named her child bunny? Their family is really weird," Ginger retorted.

"You're absolutely right," Sharpay reacted.

Sally becomes quiet while Ginger and Sharpay keep on backstabbing the Mayor's family. That's what they always do.

Back to Jesu, that's why her features were familiar. She was Lara's little sister. Now that I think about it, when the captain saw me in the Oceanarium, she was actually with her sister. Luckily, they were not together when Lara approached me.

This is the more reason I have to be careful around Jesu. If she’ll know our secret, the captain will know about it as well. No, I couldn't let that happen. I have worked hard to be where I am right now. I won't let myself get bullied again.

I will tell Lily to stay away from Jesu. Yeah, I will tell her that. I know Lily will listen to me.

We already passed our house but I didn't go down there. I told them I will go to the mall first because I'm going to buy something but the truth is, I just don't want them to know where I live. Though they didn't know that Lily's house was nearby too, I am just being careful.

The three girls were actually born and raised here in Marion City. The address that they know where Lily and her father live was the old house. Uncle Primo did not sell that house yet but from what I heard, he will sell it soon. After his first wife died, he bought the house where we are now which is a few blocks from the old one.

He said that he wants Lily to move on, that is why he bought a new house for them to start over. And according to him, there were actually a lot of painful memories from the old house, so it was better for them to transfer to a new one.

I am not sure what's his reason why he still keeps the old house and I was afraid to ask Lily about it because as much as possible, I don't want to open the topic about her mother. Because the last time I did that, Lily ignored me for two days.

Lily was really devastated about her mother's death. She suffered a lot. It was a really sensitive matter but my so-called friends always used it to make Lily angry. But guess what? Lily never showed any expression every time they use that topic against her.

But the truth is, I am more scared of seeing Lily like that. Lily is a kind and patient girl but she has a bad side as well. I only heard the story from my mom, but I don't want to experience that bad side of Lily. I hope.