Chapter 23
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After dinner, I went straight to my room and opened ClipTalk. My friends were already online. I was happy and immediately dove into the conversation. That should cheer me up a bit.
FantasyFan_A: “How was your day?”
I started typing about the principal’s office. About Ms. Rachna’s suspicions. About the disaster at dinner.
But before I could hit send, Mom’s voice cut through my door.
“Avery! Get down here and wash the dishes!”
I minimized the chat window. “Coming!”
In the kitchen, a mountain of dishes waited for me in the sink. Mom stood by the counter with her arms crossed.
“All of them. And wipe down the counters when you’re done.”
“Okay.”
I turned on the water and started scrubbing. The dishes seemed endless. Plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots,
pans.
By the time I finished, my hands were pruned and red.
I wiped down the counters and hung up the dish towel.
“Can I go to my room now?”
“Straight to bed,” Mom said. “No computer time tonight.”
“But Mom-”
“No buts. You got in trouble at school today. That means consequences at home too.”
“I just wanted to finish my homework.”
“You should have thought about that before you decided not to participate in class.”
I trudged upstairs, my chest tight with frustration. My friends were waiting for me to explain what happened. But I couldn’t even log back on to say goodnight.
I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed. Through the wall, I could hear Ava watching videos on her phone. Giggling at whatever she was seeing.
No consequences for her. Never any consequences.
I stared at the ceiling until sleep finally came.
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Chapter 23
The next morning was Saturday. I woke up to Mom calling from downstairs.
“Girls! Get dressed! We’re leaving for the mall in an hour!”
The shopping trip. For swimsuits I needed but Ava lied about not having any.
I pulled on jeans and a t–shirt. Brushed my hair without really looking in the mirror.
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Downstairs, Ava was already at the breakfast table wearing a cute sundress. Her hair was curled perfectly. She looked ready for a photo shoot, not a trip to the mall.
“Good morning!” she chirped. “Excited for shopping?”
“Sure.”
Mom appeared with her purse and car keys. “Let’s go. I want to hit the stores before they get crowded.”
The drive to the mall took twenty minutes. Ava talked the entire time about Sarah’s party. About who was coming and what activities they’d planned.
“Sarah’s pool has a diving board,” she said. “And a hot tub. And her parents are ordering pizza for everyone.”
“Sounds fun,” Mom said.
I stared out the window and said nothing.
At the mall, Mom led us straight to the swimsuit section of a department store. Racks of colorful bathing suits lined the walls.
“Pick out whatever you like,” Mom told Ava. “Something that makes you feel confident.”
Ava immediately gravitated toward the expensive designer section. She pulled out a two–piece in coral pink with ruffled edges and gold accents.
“This one is perfect!” She held it up against herself.
Mom smiled. “That’s beautiful, honey. Go try it on.”
While Ava was in the fitting room, I browsed the clearance rack. Found a basic black one–piece on sale for fifteen dollars.
Ava emerged from the fitting room looking like a magazine model. The coral suit fit her perfectly, highlighting her figure.
“What do you think?” she asked, twirling.
“Gorgeous,” Mom said. “We’re definitely getting that one.”
“What about Avery?” Ava asked innocently. “Did she find something?”
I held up the black one–piece.
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Mom barely glanced at it. “That’s fine. Go try it on.”
In the fitting room, I pulled on the plain black suit. It fit okay. Nothing special. Nothing that would make anyone look twice.
But it was practical. Affordable. Exactly what someone like me deserved.
I changed back into my clothes and brought the suit to the counter where Mom and Ava were waiting.
“All set?” Mom asked.
“Yes.”
The cashier rang up our items. The coral two–piece was eighty–five dollars. My black one–piece was fifteen.
Mom didn’t even blink at the price difference.
As we walked out of the store, Ava linked her arm through mine.
“We’re going to look so cute at the party,” she said sweetly.
But there was something else in her voice. Something calculating.
“I just hope…” she trailed off, glancing at Mom.
“Hope what, sweetie?” Mom asked.
“Oh, nothing. Never mind.”
“No, tell me. What were you going to say?”
Ava bit her lip like she was struggling with whether to speak. “I just hope Avery won’t be upset that my
swimsuit is prettier thans
hers.”
My head snapped toward her. “What?”
“I mean, I don’t want you to feel bad,” Ava continued, her voice dripping with fake concern. “I know you picked out that plain one, but if you’re going to be jealous—”
“I’m not jealous.”
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“Are you sure? Because you’ve been acting strange lately. Getting in trouble at school. Being moody at home.”
“I’m not being moody.”
Mom stopped walking and turned to face me. “Avery, are you upset about the swimsuit situation?”
“No!”
“Because if you are, we need to address this right now. We can’t have you making a scene at Sarah’s party.”
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“I’m not going to make a scene. I don’t even care about the stupid swimsuits.”
“Don’t use that tone with me,” Mom snapped.
“I’m not using a tone. I’m just saying I don’t care.”
“You clearly do care, or you wouldn’t be getting defensive.”
I stared at both of them. At Ava’s innocent expression and Mom’s accusing eyes.
She’d done it again. Planted the seed that I was the problem. Made it seem like I was jealous when I wasn’t.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I’m not upset about the swimsuits.”
“Good,” Mom said. “Because Ava deserves to feel special. She works hard to maintain her figure and her appearance.”
Unlike me, was the unspoken message.
“I know.”
“And she’s thoughtful enough to make sure you’re included in activities with your friends.”
“I know.”
“So a little gratitude would be nice.”
“Thank you, Ava,” I said mechanically.
Ava smiled. “Of course, Avie. That’s what sisters are for.”
We continued walking through the mall. Mom wanted to stop at a few more stores to browse. I followed behind them like a shadow while they chatted and laughed together.
In a clothing store, Mom picked out a cute dress for Ava. “This would look adorable on you for the party. You could wear it over your swimsuit.”
“I love it!” Ava hugged the dress to her chest.
Nobody asked if I wanted a dress.
At a shoe store, Mom bought Ava new sandals. “Your old ones are getting worn out.”
My sandals were more worn out than Ava’s, but nobody noticed.
By the time we left the mall, the trunk was full of bags. Most of them were for Ava.
On the drive home, I sat in the back seat and watched the scenery pass by.
“This was such a fun girls‘ day,” Ava said from the front passenger seat. “Thank you, Mom.”
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“My pleasure, sweetie. We should do this more often.”
“Definitely. Just us three.”
Nobody asked if I’d had fun. Nobody cared.
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When we got home, Dad was in the living room watching TV.
“How was shopping?” he asked.
“Great!” Ava ran over to show him all her new things. “Look at this swimsuit. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“Very nice,” Dad said.
“And this dress Mom got me. And these sandals.”
“Looks like you girls had a productive trip.”
Ava beamed. I carried my single bag upstairs to my room.
I pulled out the black one–piece and looked at it. Plain. Practical. Forgettable.
Just like me.
I shoved it in my drawer and sat down at my computer. Finally, I could check in with my friends.
But when I opened ClipTalk, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
A message from BookwormL94 sent late last night: “Are you okay? You disappeared suddenly.”
Followed by messages from the others expressing concern.
Z34)
And then, sent just an hour ago: “We’re starting to think maybe you don’t actually want to be friends with us after all.”
My fingers flew across the keyboard trying to explain. But before I could hit send, my door burst open.
Ava stood in the doorway with Mom right behind her.
“I knew it,” Ava said, pointing at my computer screen. “She’s on the computer again.”
Mom’s face darkened. “I thought I told you no computer time.”
“That was last night. Today is Saturday-”
“Don’t talk back to me.” Mom crossed the room and slammed my laptop shut. “You’re grounded from the computer for the rest of the weekend.”
“But Mom-”
“No buts. Clearly, you can’t be trusted to follow rules.”
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:.
She picked up my laptop and walked out of the room with it.
Ava lingered in the doorway, a small smile playing at her lips.
“Sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “I was just looking for you to show you my new things. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”
She closed the door behind her.
I sat on my bed, staring at the empty space where my laptop had been.
My friends thought I was abandoning them again.
And I had no way to tell them otherwise.
But then my head slowly flew to the door as my eyes widened in realization of a bigger problem.
What if mom and dad discover my cliptalk?
田
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
