Cassandra's Dead Sister's Bucket List ✔

-10-

·Cassandra·

There was something in my eye—something that kept blurring my eyesight. The pad of my little finger slides carefully under my eyelid, successfully removing the small particle that was causing the blurriness. I was never good at doing my eyes. Jazmin always helped me with that.

"Are you done already?" Katie knocks at the bathroom door that is to my right.

"Not really!" I confess nonchalantly. My head tilts, assessing my looks in the mirror. Is this outfit slutty enough?

"I need to pee!" Jon barks from his room, right behind the door that is to my left.

I sigh, annoyed. I used to be a single daughter now I have three annoying siblings. Having survived this for a week is a major accomplishment. To be fair, I don't feel like going home. The truth is that I would rather stay here-far from reality.

Katie knocks softly on my door. "I've got an exam tomorrow. I just need to brush my teeth so I can sleep."

Bluntly, I slide the door open, forcing her to stumble upon me. She exhales sharply—her anger on display. Then, she stares at me with her mouth hanging open.

Ignoring her shock, I side-step her and walk out of the bathroom.

"Where're you going dressed like that?" Her tone sounds drenched with concern but I keep distancing myself from her.

The seamless, spherical mirror on her desk has just the right size to check my makeup. I bend a bit to have a better look.

"Tobias has a party going on tonight," I shout, assuming she is in the restroom.

The contour brush tickles my cheekbones pleasurably leaving traces of shiny copper red dust. Ugh, the light in the bathroom was so much better than this one.

The wooden floor squeaks. I look up and Katie is standing next to me. Ay, pero qué pesada esta mina! The sole fact that she invokes my mother tongue even when my family seldom uses says a lot.

"But tonight's a school night," she declares.

"And your parents aren't home." The black eyeliner glides skillfully around my eyelids.

"Cassie-"

"Didn't you have to brush your teeth?" I ask.

Her mouth moves, but her words just don't come out and I'm running out of patience here.

"Yeah. I- I mean, what I mean is that it's not safe to go to one of those parties on your own. And you'll catch a cold wearing that," she finally speaks.

I cast down my eyes to scan my looks. I tuck down the red lacy sleeveless shirt I'm wearing but still, it doesn't cover the ring in my belly button—which was kind of the point. And the black leather short skirt is not the shortest one I own. The black bra below the see-through shirt looks just adorable. Who cares about cold weather when you look hot?

I click my tongue. "I don't need a mum, but thank you." I apply the vermillion lipstick to my lips.

"But that's too-"

"And this." I stand up, gesturing to my outfit. "This shouldn't be a reason for me to be in danger. We're in the twenty-first century. My clothes shouldn't justify anyone's sick, perverted mind-"

"Yeah, b-but-"

"I can wear whatever the hell I want, Katherine." I grab my phone, stomping my way out of the room.

A current of cold air crashes against my chest after opening the bedroom door.

"Cassie," she calls me and I stop in my tracks. The fear lacing her tone of voice freezes me. She can't be that scared. This is the first world, what could happen to me?