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Chapter Six

'Hey mom I'm home!'

My mother peeks through the kitchen window and grins. 'Aww hello, sweetie! Did you have lunch?'

I throw my back pack. 'Yeah I did, but I'm hungry again. What's the food for today?'

'Chicken Pox.'

What the hell?

'Um.....come again?'

'It's chicken pox, dear. Your all-time favourite!'

I scrunch my eyebrows. 'You mean chicken curry.'

'Oh yes! Silly me.'

She laughs softly and gets back to work.

'Well, well, well. You're back, then?'

I turn and see Father stand in the corridor. I smile and run upto him to give him a hug.

He chuckles and wraps his arms around me.

'So, princess had a good day at school?'

Bah.

'Well, yeah! Uh.....yeah I did.'

He kisses my hair and leads me to the dining table.

To my utter disappointment, Norrie sits on the chair directly in front of the window.

And, as usual, she's painting her nails.

Too busy for style.

Father removes his arm and gently addresses Norrie, 'Nor? Can you please take this up to your room? This is a place to eat.'

'We're not eating yet.'

I try not to roll my eyes. Norrie is such a choosy jerk.

'Oh by the way, SKYLER,' she says with a grimace, 'your friend messaged me on my phone. Tell her not to bother me again.'

'Was it Flame?'

'I won't even care if it's the local garbage-collector'.

She stares at me with disgust, pushes herself backwards, and trots away from the table.

Note to self: Mentally bury Norrie Snapgrass alive.

'You really need to change her.'

'Listen, Vanessa, I know how you feel. But she's your sister, and you have to show respect. Even if she's mean or arrogant. That's how good children are.'

I throw up my hands. 'Respect? That's what I have been doing for freaking 17 years! She's always rude to me, bullying me, if not physically then mentally. She doesn't care if I get hurt, and doesn't even smile or spit a thank you when I perform some chores for her. And she's not even my step-sister. She's a stranger I have been living for years!'

'VANESSA.'

'WHAT!? YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! AFTER ALL THAT HAPPENED, AFTER ALL THE LIES SHE'S GIVEN TO MY FACE, MY FRIENDS. SHE CAN'T TOUCH ME BECAUSE SHE'S NOT MY SISTER!'

Mother covers her face. 'Vanessa, I know we adopted you. But after all we've done for you, can't you call us family? We love you, we care about you.'

I break my gaze. 'Well, if you really care, if you really love me, you can at least make Norrie understand.'

Mother starts to cry and father wraps a shoulder around her.

I shake my head. 'I still don't get it. Norrie's your real family. Arianne's your real family. I'm not. Why are you keeping me? Why am I important?'