Popular Deception

Chapter 1: Unexpected visit.

Chapter 1: Unexpected visit.

Do not ask me how when I arrived at home, I was greeted by a barbecue set on fire with dad trying desperately to stop it, a set of broken plates courtesy to mom and a baby boy hanging on the stair rails.

I threw my backpack on the floor and dashed towards my little brother, jumping over the mess my mom created in the process. As soon as I was under his dangling feets, he let go and landed safely in my arms.

Leo smiled sheepishly at me before skipping to his room. I shook my head at him. He needed to stop watching Spiderman.

I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a large jug, a towel and a pair of gloves and threw the gloves at mom who was trying her hardest not to cut herself while removing the broken plates.

I filled the jug with water, dashed outside the patio and emptied it on the barbecue,instantly extinguishing the fire. I gave the towel to dad whose face was covered with charcoal and barbecue sauce. My eyes narrowed when I saw their attire. A dark blue dress which she wore only for business meeting for mom and dress pant, a classic shirt and an expensive looking apron for dad.

Were they organizing a party or something?

"Go change. Your sister is coming from England in half an hour," he said.

Shit.

"Ohh, and she's bring company," he added.

Double shit.

"Is Christopher coming home too?," I asked.

I was not willing to bear my sister gushing about her accomplishments all through diner with my parents complimenting her nonstop without a backup plan.

"No, your brother will come in a few weeks. He still have exams to finish. But he promised to call you tonight," he answered.

I sighed. He was the only one to understand my attitudes towards our sister. He had it harder than me sometimes. Being the eldest child of the family by four minutes was not pleasant everyday, especially with parents as strict as ours. And the fact that they always went easy on his twin was not helping anything.

I nodded and left to my room. I took my time to dress up- there was no hurry. I wore a simple cream blouse, my favorite jeans and my usual converse- nothing could force me to wear high heels, not even my parents.

At exactly eight thirty -ponctuality was another thing she had which I didn't- the doorbell rang. I ran to the door, followed closely by Leo. Mom glanced at my oufit disapprovingly. Her hopes of seeing me in a dress and heels flew out of the window.

If it wasn't already obvious my family was very, to say the least, classy and some could even say posh and it was really a shock that I was so different from them. Sometimes I was forced into outfits that didn't exactly go with my personality and I lived with it. But right now I was at home and it was just my sister visiting, who I'm sure would not mind me appearing at the door with my pyjamas on. It was parents who were making a big deal out of nothing.

Mom applied a last touch of makeup while dad fixed his tie. I smoothed my brother's shirt. We stood next to each other like he perfect family we were supposed to be. Dad opened the door and the first thing I saw was Cassie and her dazzling smile. Her long dark brown hair in a neat ponytail and her hands full of luggage.

I couldn't help but smile at her. As much as she irritated me sometimes, she was still the first person to teach me how to ride a bicycle, the person congratulated me even when I came home without a prize for the science fair, she was still my sister.