Chapter 9
1081 Words
Skylar POV
"Rain's talking to you, you dumb b***h," Alice flicked her curly red hair around her shoulder. I frowned at her. I might have to be nice to my step-sister, but no one said I had to be nice to her friends. I was exhausted and all I wanted was to disappear downstairs to celebrate my birthday alone. Was that too much to ask? Must they also deny me that too?
"I'm not deaf. I heard her," I said, straining to keep calm. A hand crossed my face hard and I dropped my backpack upon impact. It was so loud that a few people started to look our way. Rain showed a slight smug look, but it quickly vanished the second my eyes caught it. She held a protective arm out against Alice as if she were shielding me from another slap from her.
"Don't hit her, Alice," Rain yelled, pretending to care. "It's not her fault she can't understand words. That's why Daddy said it would be better for her to start working early since she wouldn't get into college." Yeah, rub it in, why don't you? Not that you could seriously survive being in college. I squinted my eyes at her. I knew by doing this action I was already on thin ice. I also knew one weakness my family had. None of them would dare do anything ghastly in public. With an audience to watch their curtly on full display would mean the ruin of their statues. If there was one thing, my Mr. and Mrs. Beyers valued more than life was their image of charitable, kindhearted people. However, Rain didn't fathom this concept and would sometimes slip up despite being somewhat clever in her cruelty. It was also where Mr. Beyer was an actual father to me. The first time I had ever seen Rain get punished was when she actively shoved me into a table full of drinks at a parent-teacher conference. I had gotten cut during the ordeal and this made some teachers question how he was raising us. My Dad was so enraged he grounded her for it.
I finally spoke through gritted teeth, "Can you please move? I'm trying to get to my room."
"Sure," Rain smiled with a cheerful voice. "After you give me my present."
My eyes darkened. They knew all too well that I was never let out more than I was supposed to be, and now this spoiled brat wanted me to spend what little money I had to buy her a gift. They would not give me a second thought when it came to my birthday, let alone a gift from them. I clenched my fists at my side. Still, I remained calm and stared at her confusingly. If she says I'm dumb then I'll be dumb. "What?"
"Don't be so modest, Skylar. " Daddy told me you had a gift for me and Mom is really looking forward to seeing it," Rain patted me on my shoulder; her smile was still there but showed a hint of sinister thought in it.
"Sorry, I...I don't have anything," I admitted, raising an eyebrow. Some of Rain's associates in class heard what I said and gasped; others whispered, saying how I could forget my own sister's birthday. Rain's eyes started to tear up and her bottom lip quivered. She looked grief-stricken and sobbed slowly, "Skylar, I know you don't like me because Daddy favors me, but I always get you stuff on your birthday. Please don't get mad."
Bitch, please. I should have known she would attempt to put on a show today. I couldn't care less about the whispering, but I refused to be made a monster here. "I need to go to my room," I tried to step past them, but Alice blocked me again.
"You're not going anywhere until you give Rain her gift," Alice held up a hand to my chest in a threatening manner. "Your sister is nice to you, complements and encourages you, although I don't see why. You could at least wish her a happy birthday with a card or something." Feeling my anger rise under my skin, I proceeded to explain to the stupid Alice one last time.
"I told you," I barked, my voice becoming elevated, "I don't have anything. I didn't have time to go to the store before I got off."
Alice folded her arms and looked me up and down, smirking, "So you're not only a terrible sibling, but lazy as well."
Some of our classmates started to shake their heads while others looked at me with disgust. My heart began to beat wildly in my chest. Rain was making it worse by sobbing harder now. A few students came to her and patted her on the back. I hated this kind of attention and I also hated it when Rain would do these kinds of shows in front of people from our school. I started to feel nervous and rushed to push past Alice.
"I already told you," I brushed past Alice, picking up my backpack. I didn't want to say anything else to these people. No matter what I said, people tend to believe Rain more, so I gave up on trying to convince my peers about her. Most people had to see it for themselves before they understood. Alice quickly grabbed hold of the other end of my backpack, yanking it towards her. I still had a firm grip on the other end of my pack, so the two of us looked more like a standoff. Alice hissed, "And I said, you need to give up Rain's gift. What kind of sister doesn't her eldest sibling have a gift?"
She yanked at my pack a second time, causing me to roughly pull towards her. " What are you jealous of her," Alice contorted her face. Rain immediately glanced at me, eyes red and puffy from crying. "Sister, is this true? Are you that jealous of me that you would ruin my birthday?"
"No," I answered, heaving and struggling to keep my backpack. I was already weak and sore from the chores and work; coupled with malnourishment, it made it easy for someone like Alice to overpower me.
"Then give me Rain's gift," Alice yelled, before taking my pack away," It's in here, right?"
"NO!" I pursued to get my backpack from her, but one classmate held me back and forced me to watch.
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