Unlikely - Daryl Dixion

Carah

My name's Carmen Clayton, and my life is a mess. "A C?!" My dad threw my transcript onto the marble counter. His brown eyes were more angry than disappointed.

I forced a smile and clasped my hands together. "No, Daddy, it's a C+." This made my dad slam his hand on the counter in frustration. That poor counter has taken more beatings than I have. I was especially grateful during midterms.

Not that my dad physically hurt me—there's nothing wrong with me, really. I like to think I'm normal. Sure, my dad owns a successful dentistry and my mom manages hotels in three different states, but that's beside the point. I hardly get any allowance to brag about, and I don't even have a car. My nanny, observing from the corner of her eye, placed scrambled eggs in front of my father, who thanked her before turning back to me. "Why can't you be more like Justin?"

Ugh, I rolled my eyes at the mention of my brother. My brother, who has a car, mind you.

See, it's normal for every little sister to occasionally dislike her brother. I shrugged, taking a sip of the coffee that my nanny had made for me. "Because I'm stupid," I pouted. When in doubt, just play dumb. My father opened his mouth, but was cut off by a green-eyed blonde in a tank top.

"You're not dumb, Carmen; you're just lazy. If you spent half as much time studying as you did at the mall, you'd be just like Justin." Ladies and gentlemen, that's my mother, Daphine. She strutted into the kitchen and pecked my dad on his bald spot. For the record, I'm not failing in my field of study because I'm dumb; I LOATHE IT. If I could set math and science on fire, I would. I wanted to major in fashion, but instead, I have two older brothers—one a lawyer and the other an aspiring doctor.

"Mom, you can't even speak. Daddy had to give you a lecture about your spending habits. At least I budget," I said, trying to make a point. The balding man chuckled, causing my mom to lightly nudge his side.

"Oh, hush. You know I keep the hotel running smoothly," she quipped, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. What did that have to do with anything? It was hard to take her seriously, especially since she had just spent the weekend on a shopping spree in New York.

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the familiar frustration bubble beneath the surface. I didn't understand why everyone couldn't just accept that I wasn't meant to follow in my brother's footsteps. Justin was a perfect little robot, programmed to succeed. Meanwhile, I was an artist stuck in a world that didn't appreciate creativity.

"Why can't you just try a little harder, Carmi?" Justin's voice echoed in my head, dripping with condescension. I could already imagine his perfect smile and the way he rolled his eyes whenever he passed me and my sketchbook.

"Why is everyone so obsessed with my grades? It's not like they define my future!" I snapped, almost regretting my words when my dad's expression shifted. He looked like he was about to launch into another lecture about responsibility and potential.

"Because it's about discipline. You have a future ahead of you, one that can take you anywhere if you just apply yourself," he said, his voice steady but tinged with desperation.

My frustration reached a boiling point when my phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the tension in the room. I glanced at the screen and seized the opportunity to escape. "I have to go Sarah's waiting," I announced, rising from my chair.

My mother, Daphine, raised an eyebrow, while my father, still fuming over my grades, looked ready to protest. "How long is this road trip?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes but managed a reassuring smile as I leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. "Just 3 days," I fibbed smoothly. I then turned to peck my mother and finally my watchful nanny on their cheeks. "Bye, kisses love you mean it" I added hastily before grabbing my bag and heading for the door. As I exited, I could hear them murmuring behind me—whether in concern or skepticism, it didn't matter.