Lemon Drop From Heaven -SLOW-

Chapter One

My face was wet with tears. I felt my hand and wearily glanced at my wrist. It was covered with blood that was dripping on my new, white blouse. I had gone overboard, I was in more pain then I had been in before. My pocket knife was lying on the ground by my feet.

"Oh no, what have I done?"

Footsteps rang in my ears. Someone was coming up the stairs. I looked around, trying to find somewhere to hide. I was sitting in the bathroom on a stool that I had given my mom for Mother's day. I quickly jumped into the linen closet.

And then the bathroom door opened...

My brother walked in. I could tell because he sang as he walked in. Only he did that.

Unlucky for me he had to go to the bathroom. My wrist throbbed, the pain growing worse at the second. As if a million needles were stuck in my skin, or like a million spiders bit at my wrist constantly.

The pain was weakening my body, turning it to mush. I was the Wicked Witch of the West melting in a pool of water, ripped of my identity, thrust to the ground and called evil, just because I messed up once. I hadn't always been bad. I used to have a life, I used to have friends, I used to have Chiara.

・・2 years earlier・・

"Trist come on, you are so slow!" Chiara skipped in front of me. I never was one to skip along happily, I'm more of a walking type. "Last one to my house is a rotten egg!" She called. She always won but still I was convinced. And so I sped up until I was in a full sprint. As always she kept her distance and got there before me.

"Slow poke," she laughed and poked me teasingly "You always let me win."

We both knew that that wasn't true. She was just naturally faster than me, but I loved the way she would always reassure me. Telling me I was better than we both knew.

Chiara reached into her fridge and pulled out a pitcher filled with lemonade. She poured two glasses full to the brim and handed one to me, she took the other. We sat on her couch together sipping lemonade and chatting loudly.

Her house was beautiful compared to mine. It was big and built of brick, and when you entered, the first thing you'd see was a spiral staircase leading to her room. If you walked past the stairs you'd come to the kitchen where Chiara's mom kept her porcelain dishes and her beautiful collection of Matryoshka dolls.

Past that was the family room where gatherings were held, and behind that room was her parents bedroom and bathroom. They had a master sweet. Then came the laundry room and 3 closets in a row that branched off of her parent's room. In the back of the house were the stables. Chiara had 2 horses named Caramella and Noccioline (Candy and Nuts, Chiara came up with the names) Chiara got the entire upstairs to herself. It consisted of a bedroom, a bathroom, 3 guest rooms, a playroom and 2 closets.

Chiara was an only child. I would tell her over and over she was lucky, for I had 5 siblings. But every time she had the same response.

"Lucky? You're lucky! It gets lonely here alone. The house is so big, and it just makes me feel tiny and worth nothing. With siblings I'd never be bored! We would play all day together, we would ride Caramella and Noccioline together around the lake. If anything you're lucky!" And that would be the end of the conversation.

When we were little I would ask my mom if we could give one of my siblings to Chiara. She would always say no.

"But mom," I would complain "Chiara is lonely and we have too many people in our house anyway. Giving away one would be good, then everyone would be happy!"

After that I would be sent to my room to think about my siblings as they were sent in one by one so I could say sorry that I had tried to give them away. After trying to bribe my mom again and again on the topic and being sent to my room over and over I eventually gave up on the thought. My siblings were staying, whether I liked it or not.

"Trist? Hello? Earth to Trist" Chiara was talking about getting a pet cat. "Sorry," I apologized "got lost in thoughts again."

Chiara's blond hair glowed -she had put it up in a braid today though it usually fell to her knees- and her sky blue eyes shone like crystal waters. She was skinny with muscle and pretty and I always felt ugly in her shadow.

I had dark brown hair falling at shoulder length and hazel eyes that changed color to my mood. I was skinny but had no muscle, so I looked weak and delicate. Everyone in my family has blue eyes and red hair, truly I wouldn't be surprised if I was adopted.

"Do you think Ginger is a good name for a cat?" Chiara asked.

"Oh ya sure." I said dazed and inquiring on the topic of her natural beauty.

"OMG! Trist I saw Antonio today! OMG! I thought I was going to pass out! Did you see his new haircut?"

My heart raced. My palms started to sweat. I liked Antonio. I wished I could love Antonio. I hated the feeling of being helpless and nothing as he walked with so much confidence that I wouldn't be surprised if the very world revolved around his natural beauty and charm.

"I have to go!" I practically yelled. I raced out the door into the mid-day sun. Chaira didn't follow. I didn't care.