EXPOSED

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I looked up at the blaring alarm to see it was 8am. "So soon," I groaned, shoving my face back into the pillow.

Mornings have become my nemesis, knowing that in a few minutes I would need to get up to do my house chores. I wanted to sleep in, relax, but instead I had to spend the morning scrubbing my house from top to bottom.

My mum always made me do house chores everyday, even on Sundays. I mean, what kind of parent forces their child to do chores on Sunday?

To make matters even worse, mum has started to act all weird ever since our dad left us to go work for a men’s underwear magazine in Canada. Mum is still convinced that he left her for another woman who lives in Canada, it didn’t help when he stopped all communication after a few months of being there. Three years later and not a single word from him.

I miss him.

My dad was thirty nine years old this year. I could understand why my mum was convinced he left her. He was tall with gray eyes that stuck out thanks to his midnight black hair. He always worked out, making sure his physique was not that of a thirty nine year old. Even though he stands at six foot three, he always seemed taller thanks to his never-ending legs. That’s what made mum fall in love, those long legs and his husky voice. He was truly one of a kind, so I won’t argue about my mum being upset that her dashing husband went missing.

Ever since he left, my mum has been reminiscing about how they meet. My dad spotted my mum during a trip in France. They talked, but never exchanged numbers. Then months later they met again in Florida. After the fated meeting, getting to know each other more in depth, they decided to marry after a year of knowing each other. I think I’ve heard that story about two times a day, every day for the past few months now.

But that is enough thought about dad. I have to have the attic cleaned before 9:30 a.m., get the dishes done and make breakfast before my mum wakes up at 10. I really hate living here. Not to mention getting my younger sister, Barbie, ready after all of that.

Barbie was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. Barbie was only slightly shorter than me, standing at five foot three. She took after my dad in looks, taking his straight jet black hair and gray eyes. She also inherited his long legs, and got my mother’s smooth skin. With her pageant looks, I was often compared to her, Barbie being the favorite out of the two of us. I didn’t like to admit it, but I was jealous of all the attention she received. Even our grandma gave her all the attention when we were kids, giving her the nickname Barbie. Her real name was Tracy, but to grandma she was “her barbie”.

****

After getting up, I was able to finish the attic right at 9:30. I rushed down stairs to start breakfast. Once I finished making scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon I set the table for my mum and sister to eat. I cleaned the dishes before I could go back to my room. I was going to eat after my mum did, not really in the mood to join her for a meal.

“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast with us?” My mother questioned.

My exhausted mind felt angry, because of her question. Didn’t she understand that she cleaned out her attic before 10 a.m.? Out of frustration my blurt out to her, “can’t you just eat by yourself? Must you stress on us eating together?”

My mum ignored my question. “Darling we need to have a talk. It’s important. I need to leave soon, so I better see you at that table. Hope you can understand?” My mum snarled at me, her smile feeling more rude than usual.

My mum walked to the table, not turning back to look at me knowing I would follow. I shook my head and sighed. My feet unwillingly turned me around and I walked back to the table I had just set.

"I thought I told you to come to the table immediately," Mum asked angrily. Her eyes trained on me as I sat down in the chair across from her.

"I needed to use the bathroom." I replied politely, not wanting to make my mum any angrier.

"Well it shouldn’t have taken that long. I told you, I have something to speak to you about.” My mum said, buttering her toast.

"Alright, what is it.” I answered once I had fully sat down. My mum's eyes seemed unfocused as she tried to give a confident air about, which she failed to do. I was worried about what she had to say, was it about my dad?

"Darling, you know what I do for a living right?” My mum asked as she bit into her toast. I nodded in response. She was a secretary for some company, but I wasn’t sure which one.

“Well I have been...been.” My mum trailed off, she was hesitating about telling me making my nerves run wild.

"Did your company fire you? Did they ask you to do something?" I asked curiosity. My mum wiggled in her chair and I grew impatient. “You asked me to be here, what is it?” I raised my voice slightly.

"Darling, you know when I promised we would never move from here and I have kept that promise as long as I could. I know you grew up in this house, but well I’m sorry sweety. But I have been transferred to…” My mum trailed off again as she saw my face.

"Where? Where did they transfer you?" I yelled, wishing it wasn’t true.

My mum sighed. "To California. I’m sorry darling, but you’ll be transferring to Harwart high school." My mum looked apologetic towards me.

"Why?" I screamed, fully absorbing the information that I would be spending my last year in high school at a completely new school.

I sank into my chair, I had never left this home or even lived outside of Florida. I mean sure, we visited other states, even traveled to other countries but we never moved.

Any story I have ever read where they move to a completely new place always ends badly. Always!

My mum chose to work for a construction company, even though she was a certified chief. But the idea of working in a restaurant or bakery made her nauseous. Now, she was being transferred to their headquarters in California.

I excused myself from the table, still in shock from the information my mum gave me. She continued her breakfast as I left the table. Making a swift walk to my room, I opened the door only to shut behind me, locking it and began to cry.

I couldn’t believe I was leaving my home. I was so comfortable here and while I didn’t have friends at school I was still going to miss my teachers. This was all I had ever known.

I continued to cry, not knowing how long had passed when I heard a knock on my door. I stopped my sobs, confused if I actually had heard right when the knock happened again.

"Leave me alone mum! I don’t want to talk anymore." I managed to get out, my voice shaking from my tears.

I waited for my mum to tell me off when there was no response. I waited for something to be said, and when I was greeted with silence I spoke up again. “Who’s there? What do you want?” I yelled at my closed door.

"It's me Barbie." A small voice said through the door.

"What do you want now Barbie?" I yell back, still not in the mood for people.

"I need to use the bathroom." Barbie whispered.

"Alright." I sniffed and wiped my cheeks to make sure they were dry. As I opened the door Barbie immediately greeted me with a hug.

"What’s with the hug?" I asked, Barbie letting me go and stepping back

"Cause you saved me from peeing on myself!" She said, stepping into my room which had its own bathroom. I guess our mum was using the main one.

"Okay then." I sighed, and watched her run to the bathroom. As soon as she was done, she went to my bed and climbed on top. She laid down underneath the covers.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching as she closed her eyes.

"Can’t you tell I’m trying to go to sleep?" She replied rudely, looking over to me as if it was obvious.

Her comment reminded me of my own fatigue. I sighed feeling the tiredness of my bone and over to the bed. Once I climbed in next to Barbie, who really didn’t want to share the covers, I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

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Authors note.

**Finally am through with this chapter... urghh it was so stressful**

Please read my story, don't just go through it.