Soul Swapped

Chapter 3

Sarah

A few hours before…..

Today’s not my lucky day.
I woke up way early in the morning, more like at the crack of dawn . Courtesy of my big useless brother.

“Nobody’s gonna take you away from me. Babyyyy!!!!! You’re the one for me !!!! Babyyyy!!!!!”

God ! My ears were bleeding along with my brain. I was dying for sure.
My brother , Bradstone James Kindred, in short Brad who’s only six years older than me was the freaking cactus of my life. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my brother but I equally hated his disgusting singing. His voice was so coarse and so loud I didn’t even know how he managed girls fanning all over him.

Wait! I did know.

Because he looked just like the son of Adonis as firmly believed by the large percentage of woman population out there.

Gross!

He was the lead vocalist of this music band whose members were equally no-gooder , just like him. I had heard their gigs a few times and it made me almost run back to my therapist.

Almost!

In the meantime he’s still singing.. more like screaming his brains out ruining my sleep. My sleep!!!
I tried to ignore the sound but it just got louder and louder.

Way to start my day bro!

Dragging my ass out of my bed ,I ran down the stairs charging  towards my dear brother’s room and preparing myself to give him a big piece of my mind. His voice got louder than before even with his door closed.

Fantastic!!

I knocked on his door drumming both my fists a hundred times a second like a hysterical woman.

“Open the door you jerk!!!! And stop singing!!!!!” I screamed at the stupid door.

Abruptly he stopped and everything fell to silence . Finally. Peace.

He opened up the door looking down at me like I was some dog poo.

“Yes?” his perfect jaw ticked with irritation.

“You ruined my sleep doofus..by your awful awful singing.. if that’s what you call  and it’s only 6 in the morning Brad. What the hell were you thinking?” I seethed still feeling sore about my unfinished sleep!

“I got a show tonight and I’ve to be on my A-game you know. This is my only shot. And you just killed my mojo.”
Brad said fuming at me.

Oh! He’s going to need way more shots if he continued to sing like a broken donkey.

I sighed.. “Can’t you sing… I don’t know...  a little bit softly?”

“ Softly? I make rock music sis. Not some shitty jazz or something”

“That’s not music Brad. That’s more like a blasphemy!”

“ You’re just jealous of me Sarah . Admit it.” Poking his finger right at my face.

“In your dreams buddy.” I scoffed.

He really had some serious issue if he thought I was ever going to be jealous of a Banshee. Sheesh!

“Good morning kids!!” a deep voice came out from somewhere behind me.

I rolled my eyes.

Our little squabble ceased on Dad’s appearance.  Obviously he had no problem with Brad considering his bedroom was soundproof!

I turned around to see my Dad freshly showered and ready for the weekend. But his face which was usually adorned with a deep scowl now sporting a huge smile.

Well that’s weird!

Dad was actually smiling. At 6am no less. So either one of his enemies rounded up dead or he’s imagining those deaths in the most brutal manner possible.

Nicholas Ryan Kindred never ever smiled.  Not at us nor at anyone. A little curl at the end of his upper lip at times maybe but never a full-blown smile. But thinking about it now, his mood had been more or less this good recently.

What on earth is up with him?

Looking back at my brother’s scrunching face as if he’s thinking really hard about something , I could feel  he had the same question coming right on his mind.

Brad nodded at my Dad, apparently his way of greeting back. I mumbled a morning already too tired for the rest of the day.

“ I’ll make blueberry pancakes for breakfast. You both up for it?”

Say what now?????

We were too shocked to speak. Even the word “shocking” felt like an understatement. The only breakfast we had known all our lives was those sugary cereals . Dad never prepared any kind of breakfast for us. Let alone a fancy one! Brad recovered first somehow laughing sheepishly as if this whole ordeal was fun.

No. It’s definitely not fun!

“Totally Dad! Sarah loves blueberries.” He teased me poking me a little but Dad didn’t seem to hear it.

Still I did love blueberries.

“Okay! Chop chop then. You both freshen yourselves up and be there at the table by 9. Hmm?” He gave us a smile . Again.

Now it’s freaking me out!
Dad left for the kitchen whistling lightly. I cocked my head at Brad. He just shrugged at me which could only mean he had no idea whatsoever and went to his room. I got back upstairs with a thought niggling at the back of my mind.

Why Dad’s acting like he actually cares now?
        _______________________________

The mystery behind my Dad’s great mood came smacking right at our faces during breakfast.
His new girlfriend was moving in this town. And our beloved Dad needed our help moving her in. Like we had no other work to do. I had my dance practice with my troupe and there’s no way I’d miss it! Looking at my elder brother I waited for him to say something to Dad. After all he had his precious gig tonight. But he just kept eating,  grumbling “ tastes like shit but I’m hungry” under his breath.

Ugh! He’s such a baboon!

Keeping my mouth shut, I contemplated on how to dodge this situation.  I didn’t want to waste my whole day helping Dad’s new love interest.. aka...
Suzie.. 

I did know her. Not that I’d seen her before or anything. More like I knew of her!

A few months back I had eavesdropped Dad speaking  to someone in a lovey-dovey way I was never familiar with. The exact words I heard was..
“Suzie darling… I miss you too much…”

Instant barf alert!

Just recalling that back now was making me sick.

Dad gained his playboy image right after the divorce. So Brad and I were pretty aware of his debacles but never cared as long as it didn’t come to bite on our asses. However this time it’s different. Dad had never introduced us to any of his girlfriends before. I remembered telling Mom the exact details of Dad’s saccharine conversation with dear Suzie and regretted the very second moment. Mom’s still hung up on Dad and she whole- heartedly believed that he’d come back to her albeit the chances being slim to none.

But Mom being Mom started crying and begged me to find out who this Suzie was. I tried to check Dad’s mobile  to figure it out  but couldn’t even crack the password. I sought out Brad’s help too. But he was too chicken to do it! I searched for her on social media as well but nobody by her name was mutual friends with Dad. Ultimately I stopped my digging and consoled Mom that Dad would never be serious about anyone.

But it seemed I was wrong.

I didn’t expect their relationship to be so serious that he’d try to bribe us with burnt pancakes!

Mom’s so gonna lose her marbles!

“Sarah eat up. We are already getting late and  I don’t want to delay more. “ Dad grumbled.
I focused on Dad watching him scowl at me.
His face has already got tired of his smile. Huh!

I snickered on that.

Well here goes nothing!!

“Dad.. I think it’d be better if I don’t go.” I told him in a serious tone.
He set his fork aside and focused on me.
“ And that’s because???” he pried.

“I have a cheerleading practice with my girls” I sought to go with the truth.

“Schedule it for later” he said coolly.

“No, I can’t." I said quickly.. “ My school has already started and we’ve our soccer game in next two weeks. I have to practice my form Dad. Plus I have to finish my homework as well.” I stressed on.

“ I’m quite aware of it Sarah. It’s me who pays bulks and bulks of money for your tuition and dance. Remember? “ He scoffed.. “Besides it’s not like you’re aiming for scholarship. You can spare a day . Today’s Saturday. You’ve tonight and a whole day tomorrow to complete it.”

The only mantra spinning my head right now was to keep calm. He’s trying to rile me up . But I tried again.

“Brad’s going too Dad.” Hearing his name my brother lift his head up wondering why I was dragging him into this... “ It’s not like you’ll need me or anything. "

“You’re going and that’s final. If you don’t want to miss your Prom you should better start listening to me. “  he sneered at me.

“What????”I gasped. Prom was something I was eagerly waiting for.
He didn’t just blackmailed me with Prom!! Wow I can’t believe he’d stooped this low.

“You heard me. You’d get enough time later to prance around with your gang. Now get ready soon” and the case was closed.

I stayed quiet because if I opened my mouth now I’d either cry or start a screaming match. Dad took my silence as affirmation and returned to his scraps on plate.

Finding no other option I got up from my chair and looked down on him, hating him to make me feel like dirt every single time.

Brad met my eyes , matching their sadness with his. 

“Finish up your breakfast Sarah. “ he said quietly.

“It’s not like there’s anything edible in here to eat anyway!” I fired back stomping my way up to my room and slammed the door shut.

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A/n : This is a long chapter. i hope you all enjoyed it..
XOXO