"'How much longer can I deal with this? Why is this happening to me? My own sister, how could she?' I wish this was still my reaction, but now, I know she's right. I'm not anything close to perfect. Carrie's right. She's right." I thought to myself walking into my bedroom after dinner. My stomach willed me to go back to finish my barely eaten plate, but I couldn't go back just to face Carrie's look of disgust and disapproval. So instead, I lied on my bed begging my stomach to cease its unending protest just as Lily entered my room my uneaten plate of jambalaya in her tiny hands.
"You didn't like my cooking?" She asked me sadness evident on her face.
"No, it's not that. I'm just not really hungry." I quickly answered while my stomach decided to make its presence known.
"Well, you're hungry now." She replied giggling bringing my plate to me. She put the plate on the bed in front of me before climbing on herself. "Eat!" She commanded me. I looked at my plate hesitantly. "If you don't eat then I won't eat." She said as seriously as a five year old could. My hesitation was gone in a second as I grabbed the plate from her eating until nothing remained.
After Lily left my room, I went downstairs to the kitchen my empty plate in hand. My mom was at the kitchen sink finishing the dishes.
"Hey, you finished your plate. I bet Lily was happy." My mom said as she saw me enter the kitchen. I noticed she sounded happier than she had since my dad left last year.
"Yea, she was." I replied chuckling softly. There was the silence I have now gotten used to since my dad left and our entire family bond changed.
"Allie, can you do me a favor and take Lily to the park? She has been begging my all afternoon."
"Sure, I can do that." I said giving her a small smile.
"I had asked Carrie to, but she was busy as always." She sighed rolling her eyes. I just nodded in agreement. Lily bounded down the stairs.
"There you are peanut. Allie is going to take you to the park. So go get your shoes on." My mom told my baby sister who squealed in delight as she ran to get her shoes. I told my mom goodbye walking down the street to the neighborhood park.
"Let's play hide-n-go-seek." Lily suggested "You count I hide."
"Do I get a say in this?" I asked laughing
"Nope! Now go count!" She commanded me. I began counting and chuckling when I heard her scurry away to find a hiding spot.
"Nine, ten. Ready or not here I come." As soon as I turned around I expected to see her as I usually do, but this time was different. I scanned the park before spotting her perched on the shoulders of a guy who looked about my age. I ran towards them realizing I knew him he was one of Carrie's many friends. His name was Alex.
"I'm so sorry." I apologized as soon as I was in earshot.
"Aw, looks like she found you small fry." the laugh clearly evident in his voice as he put Lily back on the ground.
"I thought for sure she wouldn't find me." Lily grumbled pouting and stomping her foot on the ground. "I'mma go play on the castle." Her annoyance was gone as fast as it came. I turned towards Alex.
"I'm sorry. She is not usually like that, I promise."
"No, it's fine." He said laughing. " Man, she was not kidding when she said her sister was really really pretty." I could feel my face heat up at his compliment. I was also very confused.
'How can he think I'm pretty?' I asked myself. My thoughts were interrupted when he stuck out his hand towards me.
"I'm Alex." I placed my hand in his and shook it lightly.
