Chap-5*Bossing Around*

“What the heck do you think you are doing?” I bolted, snatching her phone out of her hands to see what she was doing with it. She was wearing a bikini and was recording herself, saying things that made my ears red.

“Nothing.” I could hear her heart racing fast in her chest. She was in the process of taking off her bikini when I arrived. She had now grabbed a sheet from the bed and wrapped it around herself.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” The rage was making me sick. I thought I was going to explode at any moment. Her mind reasoned that sending such a video in a group chat would be acceptable. I slapped her hand as she tried to get her phone back.

“You are no one to boss around this place. You just got here a few weeks ago and you are already interfering in our lives.” She yelled as she took her phone back. I noticed how vigorously she was shaking.

“You are a minor doing all this. Do you know how much trouble girls get into when they act out of peer pressure? Not only that, do you not know the rules? If Mr. Mayor finds out about this, your fate will be no better than that girl’s fate.” I was yelling out of my senses while she was glaring at me, waiting for me to finish yammering.

“You are a fool to think I’m a minor. Mr. Mayor knows my real age, so better go lecture somebody else.” Her words were mixed with heavy breathing. I stood there in silence for a moment, in confusion. I didn’t know how to react to her claims. And I mean, I guessed it when I saw her that in no way she was younger than me, but why would my father lie to me about her age?

Obviously, to help himself out of the case against him.

“What is going on here?” Before I could question Zoe again, her mom arrived. She glanced at both of us for a moment, and then her eyes landed on Zoe. “Why are you wearing this?”

“I was just checking to see if it fit, but then she charged at me, accusing me of shit.” Zoe lied shamelessly. My jaw dropped to the floor as she abruptly shifted the blame to me.

“Mind your language when you address your elder sister. You better be careful when you play with the laws of this town, little brat. You know, you need a permission letter to wear a bikini.” Mia, who I thought would act like a typical stepmother, acted as a genuine mother should act. Her respect has been growing inside my heart, and that was also the reason for the end of my hopeless loneliness.

But it didn’t change the fact that I had to ask her a few things, especially after what Zoe claimed.

“Yeah! I have to get a permit that will allow me to wear a bikini whenever I want. Do I have to show him too, as I wear it?” Zoe argued, not even afraid of her mother.

“And don’t worry, he won’t say anything to---“ Mia’s interruption cut Zoe off in the middle of her sentence.

“One more word, one more word.” The warning was enough, I could tell.

Zoe shut up but gave me a glare before storming into the bathroom to get dressed.

I walked out of her room, thinking about the rules and the permit requirements. It was hard to figure out if this place was a prison or a cult.

“Zoe told me she is not a minor and that Mr. Mayor also knows about it,” I said, and Mia gulped.

“Isn’t this what every minor says? They want to be adults so badly that they don’t even consider themselves minors.” Mia’s smile returned after she gave me a perfect excuse.

“You have eaten nothing. Change your dress while I get you something to eat.” Mia’s kindness was the only thing keeping me intact and alive in this place called a house.

“You don’t have to. I’m really blessed to attain your kindness alone.” I shoved my hair into a loose bun and tied my hands to my chest.

“You are my daughter too, Phoenix. I’ve always wanted a daughter like you.” She said, smiling genuinely. Everything coming out of her mouth was melting my heart. I gave her a smile and tied my hands behind my back. My posture was constantly changing, making me look nervous.

“I’ll go change my dress now,” I said.

“And Phoenix!” She called my name, stopping me in my tracks. “Thanks for looking after Zoe. You know she is not a bad girl, just a little out of hand.” It must be hard for a mother to constantly cover for her daughter. But I didn’t want her to feel like I was judging her.

“You don’t have to thank me. She is my sister too, and I’ll make sure she stays safe.” I took her hand in my hands and reassured her.

I went into my room and had just showered when I heard a knock on the door. Putting the wet towel away, I shook my head and spread my wet hair over my shoulders before I went to the door.

“You haven’t filled out the forms of citizenship yet?” My father wasn’t very fond of asking me how my day went here. He hadn’t checked on me ever since I moved in. We would only interact when he had to remind me of rules or forms to fill out.

“Oh! I forgot.” I slapped my forehead, not thinking too much about it.

“That is not something to forget about. Do you want him to get mad at us?” Derrell’s tone changed abruptly, and his eyes expressed anger that shook my body.

“I will fill out the form today. Don’t freak out.” I sighed and muttered exhaustedly. I don’t get why they were so obedient to that mayor. I get that he was in charge of everything and could do anything, but what if I put off filling out the citizenship forms? Will he drag me out of town?

“Don’t delay it again,” Derrell warned before he stormed out of my sight.

So, the plan was that I was going to visit the Mayor’s mansion.