It's been three weeks since my dad's funeral. And I could say that things are going smoothly. Okay. Not that smoothly.
Here I am, picking up my little sister. Who, apparently has a knack for causing trouble. She kept stealing glances at me. She knows that am pissed. I definitely am. I was supposed to be meeting a very important person today, but I got a from Nikki's teacher. It appears that Nikki was involved in a fight with a popular girl in school. So of course am pissed. I had to reschedule my life changing opportunity .I clenched my hands tightly on the driving wheel.
"It wasn't really my fault ya know " She muttered rather calmly, so unlike her.
"Really!" I snapped " You seriously expect me to believe that ?"
"Yeah. She had it coming anyways ", She stated. I could feel heat surging inside me. Too bad murder is a crime. I could kill this bitch sitting beside me right now, and dump her body by the road. Then I would be totally free from headaches.
"It wasn't her fault. Aunt Anny". Oh . I forgot. There's another bitch sitting at the back of the car. Lucy . My sister's best friend and partner in crime. I've always wondered how they became friends. Lucy is like the calm waters, that glides softly over stones. And Nikki ? . Nikki is like a tsunami. And believe me, when I say tsunami, I mean the one that uproots houses and destroys properties on it's path. You get the picture right?. They are complete opposites of each other. One is fire, the other ice. One is soft spoken, with voice like a sweet lullaby. While the other, has a billion answers and excuses for every word, and with a voice like thunder.
"Nikki was only defending me ", She continued "Catarina was making picking on me and making fun of my looks . She said I'm fat because, am greedy and that my parents were over feeding me with junks". Clarification. Lucy isn't fat , or over weight . She's just a little too curvy and thick for a girl her age. She hit puberty a bit earlier than most girls. And high school teenagers are mean. I've had my own share of bullies, though it wasn't as bad as some unlucky kids. I had popular friends. Friends with power, So I was saved from bullies. Except those asshole basketball players, who thought punching a girl on the shoulder and picking on her was called flirting.
"I don't know why she thinks that being popular, gives her the privilege to pick on other kids ", Nikki grumbled. I could see her fisting her hands into tight balls. "I also don't get how being skinny is attractive. I mean, it's just bones , no flesh, covered with tight cropped tops and mini skirts ".
I almost bursted out. She's right though. Most young girls want to be skinny. And in the society we live in, being slim is the ideal shape. It's what's attractive. And for some girls like Lucy, who's a bit insecure about their shape, it's a big deal.
"Okay. It's nice that you were standing up for Lucy. But how did that girl end up with a bloody face and a broken nose?"
"She gave her a reverse punch", Lucy whispered from the back. I must have hit the brakes pretty hard, because the car came to a hard halt. Causing us to jerk off our sits. Good thing we've sit belts. I turned my head to face my sister, then Lucy. There's fear clearly written on their faces and am sure Lucy was definitely rethinking if she said the right thing.
"She did what !"
"I mean... Sh.... she punched her. Gently on the face b...by mistake " She stammered. But I wasn't having it. I heard the first one, and that's what am taking. Nikki gave her best friend a look the clearly said 'what the fuck '.
My mom thought it was a good idea for all of us to learn some kind of skills or sports. Beatrix is good at throwing the javelin and also enjoys surfing. Evan loves baseball. I wasn't very athletic, and still isn't. I tried sprinting once in elementary school, broke my ankle. Tried high jump, dislocated my knees. Decided I should give judo a chance, never went back after the first day. My dad thought 'Maybe she'd love swimming ' . I drowned and went back home with a concussion and hydrophobia. My uncle took me to try ice hockey, slipped on ice and couldn't get up. So you see why am not very athletic. I finally gave archery a try, good news, I didn't die on my first day .
Nikki, on the other hand, was the most athletic. It wasn't enough that she was learning ballet, she decided to try gymnastics. Then one day, she suddenly developed interest for martial arts.
"You used a reverse punch on that poor girl? Didn't I tell you not to use your..... whatever you call it, on poor defenceless citizens ".
"I didn't mean to. I was mad.... and it just happened."
"No matter how angry you were, violence is never the right approach. And we all know how hard your punches are."
"Yeah. She's lucky, she's got a broken nose and not a brain damage "Lucy joked.
"Shut up Lucy", I hissed "Nikki you are suspended from going to your ballet and karate classes ".
"But I've already been suspended from school ", she grumbled." Isn't that enough punishment?"
"No it isn't. And Lucy you are -"
"I've been suspended too. Aunt Anny "She begged. I shouldn't have looked at her face, now I'm doomed. It's hard to resist it. She such a cutie.
"Okay. I guess it's enough punishment for you ".
"Why do I get triple punishment and she doesn't?" Nikki asked.
"You're the one who punched a girl ", I stated. That seemed to shut her up. Am being an adult after all !.
* * * * * * * * * * *
I dropped Lucy off before turning down our driveway. Her house was on the same street. Nikki was still fuming, but I couldn't care less.
There was a black limo on our driveway. It looked strangely familiar. Where had I seen it. My skin pickled . My stomach bolted. I had this strangely familiar yet unfamiliar sensation. It wasn't a good feeling. Something was wrong. Standing beside the car, was a man. Tall. Dark. He was smoking a cigarette. He glanced at me as I stepped out from the car, but I couldn't read his expression. His eyes were shielded with dark glasses. My stomach tightened more. Nikki slammed the door of the car hard before storming inside. I followed behind her. She climbed up the stairs to her room, stomping her feet all the way. She didn't even remove her shoes. The the door slammed shut behind her. She was making it obvious that she was pissed. Well she wasn't the only one.
I could hear voices coming from the living room, but it got suddenly quiet. Mom came out from the living room.
"Was that Nikki ? "She asked and I nodded.
"What happened ?"
"She got in a fight, got suspended for a week. And I gave her extra punishments" .
She looked at me, pinched the bridge of her nose, then sighed. Her expression changed, her brows folded, then she held my hands gently. I don't know why but my heart beat quickened. I searched her face questioningly.
"Someone's here to see you "
"Me ? Who ?. Is something wrong?"
She didn't respond immediately. Then she squeezed my hands tightly.
"It's about your father. I think you'd better come in". she said, walking away towards the living room. I followed behind her, my heart in my mouth now.
Then, my eyes met a pair of compelling beautiful but cold hazel eyes. Sitting on the couch, wearing a tailored black suit , looking like sin itself. Confident. Intimidating. Dominating. My breath hitched, I felt dizzy, like the air was being sucked out of my lungs. Who the hell was this man.