Don't Embarrass The Family! Ugh!

Christie's POV

The house was commotion. A party I wasn't invited to was in full swing.

I sat at my desk, hunched over a petri dish, my eyes scanning the data I had compiled over the last twelve months.

A year ago, I had cracked the code for a rare human cancerous tumor that baffled local doctors. Now, I was close to perfecting a synthetic version that could be produced for pennies. I didn’t need a ballgown; I needed an hour of quiet in my lab across town.

I checked my watch, shoved my notebooks into a worn backpack, and pulled my hoodie over my head. If I timed it right, I could slip through the servant’s entrance, get to my rusted sedan, and be at the lab before the main guests arrived.

I crept into the hallway, my sneakers silent on the carpet, but as I reached the top of the stairs, a sharp laugh cut through the air.

"Going somewhere, Nerd?"

I froze. My step sister, Anna, stood there, draped in a silk dress that cost more than my car. Standing next to her was Robb. He looked different in a tuxedo—stiff and a bit out of place.

Years ago, Robb used to leave flowers on the porch for me and wait for me after school. That stopped the moment Anna decided she wanted him for herself as a trophy. She went after him and she got him.

"I have work to do, Anna. Move," I said, my voice flat.

Anna stepped closer, pulling Robb by the arm so he was forced to face me.

"Work? You mean playing with dirt and test tubes? Look at you. You look like a homeless person who wandered in through the vents."

Robb shifted his weight, his eyes darting from Anna to my backpack. He looked like he wanted to say something, but Anna’s grip on his arm tightened.

"Don't bother, Robb," Anna mocked, giggling. "She’s allergic to fun. And mirrors. Honestly, Christie, it’s a miracle you share the same roof with me. No man is ever going to look at a girl who smells like a hospital. Run along to your little cave and stay there so you don't embarrass us."

Robb let out a dry, forced chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess some people just aren't built for the spotlight."

The betrayal didn't sting as much as it used to; it just felt silly. I didn't argue. I didn't have the energy to explain that while they were drinking champagne, I was solving problems that actually mattered. I tried to push past them, but a maid came rushing up the stairs, breathless.

"Miss Anna! Miss Christie! Your mother is calling for you both immediately. The special guest has arrived, and she insists on introducing her daughters right now."

Anna’s face lit up.

"Finally! He’s here. Christie, for the love of God, go put on a dress. You cannot walk out there looking like that."

"I'm not going to the party, Anna. I'm leaving," I said.

"The mistress was very specific, Miss Christie," the maid interrupted nervously. "She said both of you. Now."

Anna groaned, grabbing my arm.

"Fine. Come as you are. Maybe if people see how pathetic you look, they'll appreciate my beauty even more. Just stay in the back."

We walked down the grand staircase. The ballroom was a sea of fancy jewelry and expensive dresses and tuxedos. As we descended, the chatter died down.

I felt the like a hundred gazes suddenly focused on us. I was wearing faded cargo pants, a grey hoodie, and scuffed sneakers. I stood out like a smudge of grease on a white sheet.

My mother, Diane, was mid-sentence with a group of wealthy donors when she spotted us. Her smile didn't just fade; I can say it totally collapsed.

She marched over, her heels clicking aggressively on the marble floor. She grabbed my shoulder and yanked me toward a darkened corner near the kitchen.

"What is wrong with you?" she hissed, her voice vibrating with rage.

"I told you to be ready. I told you this night was important for the family image."

"I told you I wasn't coming, Mom," I replied, pulling my shoulder away.

"I have an experiment running at the lab. I only came down because the maid said it was an emergency."

"An emergency? Your existence tonight is the emergency!" She pointed a manicured finger at my chest.

"Look at you! You look like trash. I cannot introduce a daughter who looks like she just finished cleaning a garage. Go back upstairs. Better yet, go out the back door and don't come back until everyone is gone. You are a disgrace to this family's reputation."

"Gladly," I said. I turned on my heel, ignoring the tears prickling my eyes.

As I walked toward the exit, I had to pass through the center of the room. I heard the whispers rising like a tide.

"Is that the sister we never get to see?"

"I heard she’s a bit... troubled."

"How embarrassing for Diane."

Anna was standing in the center of a circle of guests, her voice loud and clear.

"I'm so sorry, everyone. My sister has been having a very hard time lately. We try to help her, but she refuses to take care of herself. It’s best if she just goes to her 'office' where she can’t cause a scene."

I didn't look back. I pushed through the heavy oak doors, the cool night air hitting my face. I ran to my sedan, the engine groaning as it turned over. I needed to get to the lab. I needed to be somewhere where I was Christie the scientist, not Christie the ugly nerd.