Beauty & The Nerd

Chapter 2 - "Do you see me?"

Chapter 2 : "Do you see me?"

After finally arriving at home and collapsing on her bed - Mille recalled the day's events and let it unfold before her. I remembered when I was on the subway with Lisa on her way home and realized just how awkward Lisa was being. It was almost as though Millie was invisible as her friend completely ignored her and texted on her phone the whole time only looking up ever so often to smile or even, smirk at Millie.

Millie's room was best described as a pink-explosion-like-mess. Most teenagers like Millie didn't bother cleaning their room and with good reason, it was a total bore. Why sit at home and clean when you could be out getting a manicure or hanging out with your friends? or better yet, your oh-so-gorgeous boyfriend that all the girls wanted but only Millie could have.

Lisa appeared startled when Millie first announced a year ago that she was dating the school jock/hottie Matthew. Her beautiful blue eyes looked concerned, no, annoyed. Millie couldn't put her finger on what the expression meant exactly but Lisa tried her best to appear indifferent and whipped her long blonde curls back "I'm happy for you" she smiled and landed a forced pat on my shoulder. Millie only became friends with Lisa when she finally rose to popularity last year but Anna was her true friend since they were in Elementary School.

It hadn't always been as easy as it was now for Millie - once upon a time she was an invisible nobody. No-one cared...

No-one.

Then, last year before it was time for school to shut down for summer, Millie had the most perfect idea and although it took a lot of convincing her father, he eventually agreed. Millie decided what better way to worm my way into popularity than to use my wealth? she chuckled reminiscing about those days. She had thrown an end of year lavish summer party with sky dancers, champagne, and a special guest appearance from the one and only Justin Bieber. How did I manage to get champagne at a high school party you may ask? That's easy. My father had a way of making the headmaster agree to whatever I wanted and you know what they say, with wealth, comes power. Instantly, everyone became aware of Millie, the girl who brought Justin Bieber to our school and started the end of year summer party tradition. During the whole party she noticed Lisa and Matthew standing in the corner of the room and Matthew's eyes transfixed on Millie's and she simply smiled. Two weeks later, they were dating and she rose to popularity within a day while it took some people years.

I popped my head out of the door and was met by the usual scenery and deja vu in my home. Everyday it was the same. My mother busied herself with cooking and cleaning while my father sat in front of the TV - drinking. I sighed and wondered into the kitchen instantly met with the delicious smell of my mum's secret recipe baked chocolate chip cookies. My brother remained without expression and simply stared at his surroundings. Some days, when no-one was watching and he visited me in my room I'd hug him tightly and cry into his arms but he just looked at me with his bright blue eyes and said nothing. I shake him "Adam please speak!" and beg him but he just looks indifferent. Those days, I'd realise just how much I love him and just how important he is to me.

"How was school sweetheart?" my mother asks giving me a polite smile. "It was fine, mom" I murmur wanting to cut the small talk.

"Dad needs help, Mum. He needs to realise that it's not okay to block out your family" I looked at her with a firm expression but she simply shrugged.

"Millie, your father is an adult and he still has a job. Ever since..." she trailed off, forgetting that my brother was standing a mere inch away.

"that...incident" she continued "It's just hard for him. Don't push your father's buttons. Things are hard for him already."

I rubbed my forehead trying to calm myself down "Stop making excuses for him! He's shutting us out, Mom." tears streamed down my face before I had the time to control and get a hold of myself.

I felt disgraced with myself.

I...am...stronger...than...this. I repeated in my head over and over in my head like a mantra. The words however, took a life of their own and suddenly, it was like I couldn't control my own tongue. "He doesn't see me, mum. I am invisible. When was the last time he actually spoke to me properly? huh?" I demanded. I knew I was taking it too far and he could probably hear me but he didn't move an inch. I could imagine him still sitting there, staring into the TV, unable to face his daughter.

"Coward!" I said aloud then clasping a hand to my mouth as the thought was meant to be in my head. I imagined the vision of my father from years ago and the pictures in the photo album of me sitting on my father's lap when I was a little girl. Clasping his hand as he took me to visit Cinderella in Disneyland. Where has my father gone? is a question I often asked. I missed him. Ashamed of my outburst, I decided to walk out of the kitchen and banged into someone's hard chest. I looked up at my father's expression that was empty and pushed him away, running away, to my bedroom, to safety from this dysfunctional family.