THE HEIR OF BLACKTHORN

1. MOVING IN NEIGHBORS It's early in the morning. I yawned tiredly, a new morning with my routines on Saturdays. Actually, it's just 6:00 a.m., woken up by my annoying alarm clock ⏰... I tapped the top, ready to grab it and throw it somewhere across the room, but the door to my room opened, and my little, sweet, annoying sister came in, and I stopped myself in time... "Hey, Ixyy," she called out. "Get your lazy ass out of bed. Let's go jog, okay? It's Saturday," she added and left the room. I groaned. Okay, some introduction would do. Hiiiiiiii, I'm Ixora Vale, a student of Blackthorn Academy and the daughter of Mr. David and Mrs. Lucy Vale. My little sister, Barbie Vale, and I are their only children. We moved here last year. I stood up, went to the dressing room, brought out my joggers, and dragged my feet to the bathroom, closing the door. The bathroom swung open, and I came out, putting on the joggers, which were white tubes and black leggings. I went to the dressing mirror, packed my hair in a ponytail, smiled at myself, went to my dressing room, and took my black sneakers. I went to the mirror, loving my looks, black and white. You'd ask me my favorite color. It's black and white. I took a mirror selfie, which showed my curves. I've got an ***, and curves are not that big but just right for my age. I'm 17. Chocolate-skinned, beautiful, and medium ***bs for my age too, with perfect eyeliners you'd notice just by looking at me. I heard my sister calling me downstairs, so I grabbed my headset and my bottle of water and went downstairs to meet my sister glaring at me. She was wearing the same kind of joggers as mine, but hers were purple and white. "Do you know how many hours it took you to dress up?" she asked, grunting. I smiled at her and kissed her on her cheek. "You are beautiful," I said. Then she blushed, and with her usual arrogance, she replied, "I know." We went to the sitting room together and greeted our Mum. "Good morning, Mom." We smiled, hugging them. "Good morning, sweeties," She replied. "I see you guys are good to go," Mum said. "Yes," I replied. "Okay, but remember to be home early for breakfast," she said. "I'll make sure that Mom doesn't worry," Barbie said, winking. "Foodie," I said, and we laughed. "Don't worry, Mum, we'll be home early. I promise," I said. "I know, just saying," Mum replied. "Okay," we said and kissed her goodbye and left. Getting outside, I picked Sparkle up, petting her head and relaxing her fur. Sparkle is my puppy. She's really cute as a dog. "Why are the cleaning services here?" Barbie asked. "Where?" I asked, looking up. "The neighboring house," she replied, pointing there. "Maybe they are here to make it look clean for rent. You know, it's been a long time since someone lived there, or maybe we are having new neighbors," I suggested, shrugging. "Okay," she replied. "Let's go," she added. Then I dropped Sparkle, picked up my headset, and looked at her. She was with hers too. We smiled at each other, putting the headsets on. We put on our favorite song, "LOVE DOESN'T GO MY WAY BY TATIANA MANAOIS." And we jogged away 🎶. As we stepped into the house, I looked at my wristwatch. It was already 8:00 a.m. on the dot. "We are back just in time, Foodie," I said, smiling at Barb (Barbie for short). "You can't blame me," she replied, pouting her lips, and I smiled at her cuteness. "Oh, I think the cleaning services are gone," she said while squatting to rest. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "They're done already? With this house, I thought it'd take them a whole day or two, but it just took them 3......ju...just 2 hours, huh?" "Now you see," she said, looking at me as if I were a fool. I glared at her and went inside. I heard her chuckle as she followed behind me. "So annoying," I muttered. "Oh, you guys are back, just in time for..........." "Breakfast!" Barb exclaimed happily. I smiled at her cuteness again, forgetting I was angry at her just now. "Foodie," I said. "What did you make, Mum?" she asked excitedly, sitting at the dining table while propping her head into the pot. "Huh! Spaghetti and meatballs." "Mmm," she moaned. "And my favorite salad, right.........?" she added. "Yeah, sweetheart," Mom replied. "Which is specially for......r You, Me!" they exclaimed together. "Now I suddenly miss Dad," I mumbled. "We heard you," they said together. "But sorry, he's gone for work," Barb said, giving me the pity look. "Trying to oppress me now, huh?" I scoffed. “Daddy's girl," she mocked "Mommy's girl," I mocked too. "Okay, girls, stop this," Mom said. "Xora, you are old enough not to fight with your sister. She's just 14 okay?," she added. "Okay, now you are blaming me, but she started it," I said, feeling unjust. "But sti......." Mom was about to keep nagging me when Barb interrupted her, rolling her eyes. "Dad's not my only friend, okay?" I tried defending myself. "Okay, you have Emily, but you hardly hang out with her. You are just introverted. Stop defending what's true. I just pity her," she concluded. "Okay," I said and stood up, going upstairs so as not to get too agitated and do or say something I'll regret later. I've got anger issues, and now my emotions are already clouded. "Don't feel somehow. I'm just saying, you should get a boyfriend or something. You are old enough. You are eigh........." "Shut up already, Barbie. You've messed up now. You better make it up to her." I heard them say before entering my room and slamming the door.