Just One Rose

Taking a Leap

Chapter 7

After knocking on her door again, I hear Lexa sigh exasperatedly.

"What is this, the fortieth time you knocked? Well, come in. This had better be the last time though, today."

She was right. This seriously was getting old. Then a thought popped into my mind. Since she doesn't want me to knock anymore, then I won't have to serve her dinner! Snapped out of my thoughts, I heard rambling. Oops! I guess she wasn't done talking yet.

"Besides, I've waited long enough to practice on you so it's going to take me more time to finish."

Great. This is just perfect. I really don't need her to take forever but, welcome to the real world.

However, before another word could get out of her mouth, a noise was heard from down the stairs. The bells on the door jingled, signaling an entrance of a person.

"I'm home!" A voice rang from the ground floor. Papa!

Lexa pushed past me as I was about to exit.

"Me first." She said as she stuck her tongue out.

I sighed. I should be first. It is my dad anyways.

I carefully walked down the marble stairs of the mansion before I strode to meet my father.

"Father! How nice it is to see you again!" I gushed.

"How nice it is to see you again also," my father responded warmly. "And how are my daughters today?" He asked as he enveloped us all into a great big bear hug. It's not hard to confess that I was a little disgusted by my being so close to my stepsisters-especially Lexa. Speaking of which...

"Quite divine, actually!" Lexa answered nodoubtedly for all of us. I rolled my eyes. It hasn't been 'quite divine, actually' for me if you know what I mean...

"That's lovely, girls. I did hope you had a beautiful day so far. I am so glad to hear nothing but good so far." he said.

We all paused as he kept us close. We became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Slowly, but ever so slowly, I felt myself being pushed out of the bear hug that enveloped us all. I almost sighed, but thought better of it. Why don't these girls understand that he is mine. Not theirs. Ugh...I don't exactly like my life if you know what I mean.

"Well girls, I have a surprise for you all-"

Then Lexa interrupted him. "Is it presents? You know how I love getting gifts from your travels!"

He chuckled. "Well sweetheart, it is close. I am giving you the privilege to ask me what you would like! Doesn't that sound divine?"

Lexa and Luna responded with numerous giggles and 'happiness.'

Luna asked first. "Daddy, can I pretty please have a beautiful dress? I would like it soft as a feather but as tight as possible. I need to get my form!" She giggled.

Daddy looked wearily at Luna. "But of course, darling," he finally answered.

Lexa then looked up at him pleasantly when at the same time giving Luna the death glare. Don't ask me how she does it. Luna cowered under her gaze and whimpered. "Sorry," she mouthed.

Lexa asked, "I want a bucket full of jewels, if that isn't much to ask."

"That is perfectly fine, daughter, you all deserve only the best, he answered warily. He was probably thinking about how not good this idea was if his.

He then looked straight at me lovingly.

"And what would you like, dear Destiny?" As he asked me that, over a million things that I wanted, but could never bring myself to ask him for ran through my mind. Divorce Syvilia, new clothes, actually punish my stepsisters. I was in quite a predicament. On one hand, I could ask for a beautiful object such as fine jewelry like Lexa. But that would just give her a reason to hate me more and make my life even more miserable that thought possible. Bo I couldn't have that. So instead, I asked him for a simple gift, one that would not make my stepsisters jealous.

"If you could, I would like a soft, pink rose."