"Mother truly knows best, my love."
"Be it your own or someone else's."
In which the world of two siblings turns upside down when their father brings home a new addition to the family.
18+
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DANA STUMBLED AWAY from her seat, her hands clutching her knees as her back heaved. The taste of the burger still lingered on her tongue as a reminder, ripping another gag from her mouth. She considered herself lucky that she wasn't able to break off a bite.
The sounds of multiple chairs scratching the ground echoed as the rest ditched their seats at once. Jim reached out to pat his sister's back, whereas Aisha and Maddie rounded the table to approach Dana.
"Are— are you alright?" Maddie sputtered, eyes widening. Aisha watched her with disbelief too.
"Dana... she wasn't being serious. I refuse to believe that you can't take a joke." Aisha said, peering up at Jocelyn who sported a look of hurt.
Dana gasped out a few breaths to keep the nausea at bay. She stood up slowly, her eyes closing for a few seconds before she opened them up again and glanced at Jocelyn.
No one could see past her offended facade except for Dana. That infuriated her beyond belief, and she knew no matter how much she tried, she couldn't expose her stepmother's true colors to her friends. Not yet. Now was not the time, anyway.
"I think I'm getting a fever. I guess I'll... I'll go lie down for a bit."
"Do you need help—" Dana held a palm out, telling Maddie to stay put. Her only concern at the moment was for them both to leave the house and come back after things with Jocelyn get resolved. Dana would never be able to forgive herself if something happened to Aisha and Maddie.
"It's getting late too." Aisha murmured upon looking at her wristwatch, then she gazed up at Jocelyn. "It was really nice meeting you. We'll be leaving now. And Dana—" She turned to the worn out girl. "Take care of yourself, dumb bitch."
Dana offered her a smile of farewell. She reached down to grab Jim's wrist to take him along, but he reeled his hand away and tore it out of her grip.
"I'm not done eating!" He whined. Never before had Dana developed the urge to smack him, but she did now. Her teeth gritted, and the only solution out of it was to let it be and deal with him after her friends leave.
The two patted her back as she walked past them and approached the dining room's exit. Before she stepped out, she heard Jocelyn say 'I'll walk you both to the door', probably to Aisha and Maddie.
Once she reached her room, Dana collapsed onto the bed like her body was made up of bricks. Her hand found her phone lying nearby and she turned it on. The picture of her, her brother, and her father was plastered as the device's wallpaper, fueling her sullenness.
