What Lies Beneath?

Part one

Insults such as skinny, fat, stupid, crazy, bitch, whore, slut. All of these words are basic slurs that men and women use against each other in everyday life. However, there are some phrases we hear that no one thinks are insults however they are. "You're pretty for a FAT girl" there's that word again, fat. "Are you going to eat that much?", "Maybe you should eat some more, your stick thin." This has to stop! I nearly lost my little sister to this, the fear she felt, the hurt all because of models on front pages, high school girls and boys wanting to have particular stereotypes of a girls body. None of it is right...I will now tell you my sister's story and please believe me when I say, I know this happens to men but I just want to share her story.I came home from band practise one day when I heard someone being sick in the bathroom, putting my bag on the bannister I jogged up the steps turning right to the bathroom. Knocking lightly leaning my ear against the door I ask "Is everything okay in there?" Hearing my younger sister call out I listen"Yes I am okay! I think I ate something that was off sissy" She sounded herself as I smile to myself unknowing of the harsh truth, unknowing of her mindset at the time. Strolling to my room I reside on my bed groaning softly running my hands against my face as I gently pull off my shirt and trousers picking up some jogging bottoms and a small V-line cropped shirt putting them on my body. Stretching and cracking my back"Ahhhh that feels nice" I chuckle to myself before walking downstairs now greeting my sister kissing the top of her head"You sure your feeling okay?" I questioned out of pure curiosity. I wondered if she was okay and again she reassured me that she was okay, which didn't change my worries but I just dismissed it as I always do.Later that evening, my mother had prepared dinner while I sat down at the table playing Queenie with my little sister, as we played the clever hard game we laughed but I noticed some of hers were forced, I didn't say anything in front of my mother and father, however, when my mother walked over with the jug of water I heard a simple-minded remark "Oh May for heaven's sake! Do cover that blasted thing up. What have I told you? Vest tops are for your sister, not you. Please don't make me sift through your closet again." I didn't like her simple-mindedness one bit, May was my sister and that was an unnecessary comment, something so half-witted and not needed was upsetting. May stood up "I'm sorry mama I got really warm in my jumper.." Our mother didn't like this, she turned"Tough, you won't let me take you to get it removed properly, therefore, you will cover it, do you want me to change you?"She asked treating her like dirt. I stood up "Come on May, I have a nice sweater you can wear it has some holes which makes it breezy" My mother just tutted to herself setting the rest of our dinner out. Taking may upstairs I sigh"You can borrow any of my clothes okay? You know that"I say softly and rub her cheek but she swipes my hand away as I pass her the sweater "thanks, but I'm okay she's right, it's ugly.." I glance at her and sigh"You're beautiful, scars make you beautiful and you just don't know it" I shake my head as we return downstairs and have dinner as a family. Again just a normal dinner for our household. Awkward, lousy, remarks made about my band even though I could do no wrong, but when my mother heard we were playing at the high school she was pleased even if it wasn't a proper gig.In the morning, my ears filled with ringing from the alarm clock I so desperately wanted to murder, my room felt rather warm, needing a moment to shed the sleep from my brain, to allow the visions of the night to give way to the day, to move from that which I shake the dream from my head and rub my eyes sighing. In a few minutes, I will be able to greet the sunlight, to see the colours as bright as the backlit images of the night sky, soon I will be able to adjust. Nonchalantly submitting to the chore of opening my eyes, I submit. Feeling my eyelids droop with heavy tiredness, squinting at the sharp rays slicing through my corneas giving me my sight. I turn lightly to see my alarm clock, the four numbers and semicolon blinking, I slap my hand against the button"Okay okay I'm up"I stretch cracking my back again and then my neck. Stumbling to my bathroom I get into the shower and wash up before tieing my hair into two plaits ow it smelt of honeycomb and vanilla bean. With a glimpse out I take my town in hand drying my body before wrapping it around myself. Walking out I see my sister in the same state as me and chuckle"Ready for school sis?" I ask and she shrugged. Again I dismiss it grabbing what clothes I wanted to wear, seeing her about to grab the hoodie but I did I hand it to her"Here" I smile. She shook her head "I don't need pity" she grabbed a different one walking out.Time for school. I stroll up to the garden gates, getting into my car and starting the engine. Waiting as May jumped in beside me, I drive towards the school. Pulling up finally waving"Have a good day!" I sigh as she didn't answer and ignored me. I usually don't eat in the morning and this morning I thought I'd change it since it was my morning to bring in the doughnuts. After dropping my sister off I drive down the road to the local Dunkin' drive-through, ordering the coffees and doughnuts we had when someone would get them for us. Paying I then make my way to where I and my band practise. Kissing my boyfriend, Jessie, on the lips I smile"Hey babe, sorry I'm late I brought doughnuts and coffee since it is my turn today" I chuckle as everyone crowded grabbing their coffees and their doughnuts while I shake my head"You animals"I snort and then blush deep red as my cheek flush with embarrassment. Our band name was London Revival. We had Cheryl who was the lead singer, pretty little blonde, perfect in every way but sometimes too perfect, Jessie was the lead guitarist, he was beside Cheryl and he was amazing at what he did, he brought life to our band, finally there was the bass player, Zacharias, but we called him Zach and I called him Zachy since he was my chest friend and my soul crush. Sure I had a boyfriend but he was a jerk sometimes, but I tried breaking up with him and it nearly broke our band apart...I couldn't deal with that weight on my shoulders. And me? I wasn't the main part of this band, I played the drums and I was a background singer. Anyway..back to what I was saying... Grabbing my drum set from its case I set up my area and sit down on my stool tapping my drumsticks together with a smirk" who's ready to practise?" I chuckle as they all walk towards where they had already set up. After six hours of playing, songwriting and laughing we pack away"We're ready for tomorrow right? We've practised for months on end and I think if we play like we practised they'll want us back! We've got this" I cheer as everyone cheered with their fists in the air. After packing away we went out. Waving goodbye to everyone I smile happily and get into my car, removing the bag from my shoulder I place it on the floor of the passenger side. Looking at the front as I begin to start the car I see droplets of rain falling on the windscreen, it looked perfect, it seemed perfect. I had all of this excitement built up, I knew what I had to do. Seeing as though I had an extra twenty minutes until I pick up my sister I drove to a nearby spot, the rain now bouncing off my windscreen like a child on a trampoline, I remove my jacket stepping out into the rain. Slowly making my way to the centre of the area I lie on the ground with my eyes closed. Rain thrashing around me and I gave no care in the world. Titans fiery wheel in the sky shone against my skin no more, I felt the watery bliss washing away my worries. For now... I felt bliss. Each raindrop kissed my skin with the love of nature.Soon, reluctantly standing I shake my head from side to side like a wet dog shaking all of the rain from me, yet appreciating mother natures love. Grabbing a towel from my boot I dry my body and set it on my car seat getting into my car. Driving back to my sister's school I wait outside as I turn my music up a little, not too loud but a little. Seeing no one for at least 30 minutes I sigh" she is probably at home." And so she was. I returned home to a yelling mother and a crying sister"Mom, leave her alone for once okay?!" I sigh walking over"I know she skipped school but tonight there's the fashion show and the show on okay? We need to get ready" I took my sister away from all of the drama shaking my head and getting undressed"Go get ready, I put your dress in the wardrobe. But you're going to tell me why on earth you left school, you coulda called. I'd have picked you up and I would have told mom you were ill or something" This caused my sister to turn quiet for a moment before crying and hugging my semi-naked body, I hug back sighing"Wait here okay?" I sit here on my bed locking my bedroom door, walking to the bathroom I grab a dry towel and begin to clean myself up before getting dressed into my outfit for tonight. Putting my hair down I dry it and sit down"Okay speak" I look at her in the mirror as I begin to straighten out my hair and curl it. At that time, she also got ready. "I was practising at school for the show..but when I put my dress on it revealed my birthmark and my teacher saw that..she saw that I had tried to burn it off sissy" I turn to her shocked burning my finger in the process "What?!" This...This is not what I expected. Standing up I put the curling iron down and walk over to her turning her to see she wasn't lying, it was burnt. I sigh and hug her"Sissy you never do that again, I will help you okay?" I grab my first aid box from under the bed getting some burn gel and applying it"Here, now I will put a flat bandage around it, you can wear one of my cardigans and I will be there, in future don't listen to mom, you are beautiful and smart and just as amazing as any model. You'll see. I have a surprise for you later." I smirk as she looked puzzled, but I could see the relief in her eyes merely from opening up. This is what I loved to see. Having finished by the time we were finished talking, I smile and put the cardigan around her"Here, you look gorgeous" I smile. We leave for the school as all our family goes in my car, arriving we walk in. Our parents go towards the audience and we go towards the stage. I meet my band and kiss Jessie as my sister walks to her group of friends as they all smile seeing her. first the fashion show. Flounces of homemade dresses, hats, scarves, anything you could think of as they walked out, people cheering them on widely. After everyone clapped and the group bowed at the audience. May's confidence still wasn't high, she seemed to be sad again, someone must have said something. Nonetheless, Cheryl went out first, then Zach then myself and Jessie as we all set up. Sitting down as I look up at them nodding softly. Tapping my drumstick " Our first song is one that is going to be sung by our drummer. Millie Barker! "1...2...3!" I smile as the music started straight away, Leaning towards the mic I began to sing"She just wants to be, beautifulShe goes, unnoticed she knows, no limitsShe craves, attention she praises, an imageShe prays to be, sculpted by the sculptor" I turned my attention to my sister while I continued, seeing her paying a lot of attention."You know, covergirls eat nothingShe says, beauty is pain and there's beauty in everythingWhat's a little bit of hunger?I could go a little while longer, she fades awayShe don't see her perfectShe don't understand she's worth itOr that beauty goes deeper than the surfaceSo to all the girls that's hurtingLet me be your mirrorHelp you see a little bit clearerThe light that shines withinThere's a hope that's waiting for you in the darkYou should know you're beautiful just the way you areAnd you don't have to change a thingThe world could change its heartNo scars to your beautiful"May's eyes teared up as she began to cry from the song, right now I hoped it was good tears."And you don't have to change a thingThe world could change its heartNo scars to your beautifulWe're stars and we're beautiful" Finishing the song quietly as everyone began to cheer, they loved the song as Zach laughed patting my back" they love you" He smiles, he was hiding something, however, I didn't question it. Now setting up for the next song which would be sung by Cheryl. Looking at them as the audience settled finally. smiling softly as I began the introduction to the song. Not paying attention much to her singing as I focus on making the beats right to her voice and just as we practised everything was going smoothly. Perfectly even. That was until Zach leaned to me"I have to tell you something" he spoke but not too loud" It's about Cheryl and Jessie" he said. My stomach dropped. Why did I already know what he was going to say? I had seen them flirting for months yet I had fully ignored it. "They are sleeping together behind your back...I'm so sorry Mil" he sighed and kept playing. The anger in me rose, I couldn't stop what I was about to do. I began to bang a lot harder against the drums, overpowering Cheryl. Zach turned to me and he turned his mic up and begun to sing and play his bass guitar loud " You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl, I wish that I had Jessie's girl!.." he continued but I couldn't hear as I still played it was as though I was stunned." I'll play along with the charadeThat doesn't seem to be a reason to changeYou know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot 'Cause she's watching him with those eyes And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it!And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night You know I wish that I had Jessie's girlI wish that I had Jessie's girlWhere can I find a woman like that? Like Jessie's girl I wish that I had Jessie's girl Where can I find a woman... Where can I find a woman like that?" He continued until the song finished. Jessie seemed very angry and Cheryl and he looked at me before walking off stage.I and Zach stayed getting the audiences to love. I look at Zach and get up as I go to him but realise it's a mistake so I grab his microphone "Thank you, everybody, we are London revival and we are reviving your eardrums! I hope you enjoyed it and that will be all from us" we bow before leaving. The curtain closed and I pack away my things. Looking at Zach" I didn't love him...I just got angry because he broke our band apart last time and now..now I'm free" he stopped me talking and smashed his lips against mine. The emotion. The fireworks. Everything I felt couldn't be explained. I kissed him deeply blushing and holding his neck. My sister came running on the stage" sissy- I..oh wow! Finally!" She giggles as I blush and laugh pulling away" Yes sis?" I smile. She hugged me" thank you! Mom said she's going to get my birthmark treated and healed and then she's going to buy me crop tops and vests. She said I'm beautiful" she was tearing up again.So I had done it...I kissed the person I loved, I made my sister confident in herself and I changed my families views on beauty. I'd say that was all good for a days work.

A/N: If you guys want a part two vote! Comment! Anything!