TAINTED LOVE // Tate Langdon

four

The walk home to my house wasn't anything special but I made the best out of it. My parents wouldn't ever dare to get me a car, even though i've legally had my license for about 6 months now. They don't trust me enough. Probably think i'm gonna take off— I don't blame them.

The route to my house goes through the woods. Yes, that's sketchy, but this is also LA and everythings sketchy here. Also, it's nice to actually see some sort of nature once and a while, even though it's pretty populated with tourists.

I walked through the forest, slowly, appreciating everything about my surroundings. I admired the way the sun peeked through the trees ever so slightly, but not enough to cast an immense amount of light. The air still smelled like smog, though. I wouldn't be surprised if everything in this forest died in a minimum of five years.

My phone started to ring, interrupting my trance. Of course, the caller ID read "Mom (life bearer/destroyer)".

"...Yes?" I asked, annoyingly. The women never gets off my goddamn back.

She sighed into the phone, "Avery. It's 3:30 and it only takes 15 minutes to walk home from school. You got out at 3, where are you?" My mom asked. I swear she's about one more phone call to me from a heart attack.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, chill. I'm literally a minute away." I said and ended the call. This wouldn't be a problem if she would just let me get a car. She and my dad bought my older sister a brand new fucking car when she was fifteen with her PERMIT. Yeah, that's right. I have my license and they won't even buy me a goddamn car, but when my sister was an underaged driver, they bought their princess a new bentley.

That's another thing wrong with me. I have a gorgeous and successful older sister. We take "living in your siblings shadow" to a whole new level. I blame all of my confidence problems on my sister and my parents constant need to praise and compare her to me. She's 18. Attractive. Alluring blonde hair. Like for real. We don't look a like at all, let alone like sisters. I'm probably the only kid that convinced THEMSELVES growing up that they were adopted. My sister's about 5'10, as skinny as a supermodel who never eats, but curvy in all the right places. She's probably the prettiest and most photogenic person I know and that's hard for me to say because she's also a complete BITCH. Like the worst kind of bitch there is. The pretty bitch who's fake nice to everyone but you so you're the only one who sees through her plastic. Serious. Think Regina George. That's probably the closest comparison I can give you. Have fun with that.

So you're probably thinking, "You have a pretty sister, so what?" Well, yes, I couldn't agree more, but that's where I come in. My sister and I are polar opposites and that's where my self consciousness kicks in. I'd kill to look like her. I'm 5'3 1/2. Pale as a mother fucking snow storm. No, a blizzard. Better yet, a white out, yes, i'm as pale as a WHITEOUT. It's probably because I never go outside, especially in summer. Don't start thinking i'm some vampire or shit. I swear though, I burn every time i try to tan, yet, of course, my sister miraculously tans. Continuing on, I am brunette. Like strangely brunette. Think— Wednesday Addams. Never dyed my hair in my life. The worst part is my whole family is blonde. That's right. Mom, dad, and sister. ALL blonde. Except me, of course. It's like the Addams family meets the Hiltons when we go out in public together. That should sum it all up. Genetics is bullshit, man.

I approached our victorian looking typical LA house. Remember how I said my parents just loved to move? Yeah, well that was never a problem for my sister, only me. I heard many voices giggling and talking loudly before I opened the door. I stepped foot into my house to see my sister and about 10 other girls. Yup. She already made friends. On our goddamn first day of school.

My sister looked up at me and threw me a sharp glare. I took that as, "Get the fuck out of here Avery I don't need a loser ruining my new friendships."