SECRETS

Chapter One

Catherine had it all. She was pretty, tall and had stunning blonde hair which fell perfectly in place. She was very smart, she topped the rest of the students in her grade. Catherine had it all, she lacked nothing.

Wait a minute. You didn't think I was Catherine, did you? No!  I'm not her but I do wish I were her sometimes. Okay, maybe all the times. Catherine is my elder sister. She's the model like daughter and I'm well, kind of the reverse.

I'm Christabelle Ralph, I'm 16 years old and I live with my mom and sister in a place which I'm sure you've never heard of.

I have very long blonde hair which falls perfectly in place  like Catherine's. Okay, if I were Pinocchio my nose would have gotten an inch longer right now. I am actually a brunette, my hair isn't all that long and let's just say I have a hard time making it fall perfectly in place sometimes,okay fine,most times.

My family is weird. Hold up, why do I keep lying? My family's not weird, I'm the weird one, the odd one. it's obvious Catherine and Mom are mother and child. Me? I am so different. For instance, I don't know how I got my dark brown hair, Mom and Catherine are both blondes. Maybe my dad has dark brown hair too,I can't be sure because I've never seen him, not even a picture of him. It's no big deal. He probably doesn't know he has a weirdo daughter like me.

I haven't said much about my mom have I? There's nothing much to say about her though. She's the kinda mom who wouldn't care if I get piercings anywhere. To be honest, I don't think she likes me much. What I'm about to say next could sound really awkward but it's true, I don't know what she does for a living. I just know she could be a bit popular cause I see her pictures in magazines.

Mom's boyfriend, Jesse Sidney always comes around and she says I have to be nice to him. Once I overheard her and Catherine talking about a possible marriage life with him. Does that mean I'm going to be Christabelle Sidney someday? I sincerely hope not.
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I knock on moms door before opening it.
"Hey mom. "

Her eyes immediately turn pale as she faces me to acknowledge my presence. "Oh Christy," she says.

Yeah. I'm not sure she's excited to see me.

"I'm going over to Shannon's. "

Shannon is my best friend and I so wish she were my sister instead of Catherine.

"Okay. Be back soon," she says, as she applies more make up on her face.

Yeah right, like she cares about how soon I return.

"I'll be sleeping over for a while there."

"Okay have fun. "

Well, I told you she doesn't care about me right?

I hurriedly pack a few clothes, a few seems insufficient so I add a bit more than a few just in case I decide to never return or something.

After packing, I find Cathy in the living room, I try to walk past her slowly so she doesn't notice my presence.

"Christy would you please help me get my mp3 player."

Too late.

Catherine's seeing me with a bag of clothes and getting her mp3 player is the first thing she talks to me about? How great!

"The mp3 player is not so far from you," I tell her.

She is actually closer to it than I am.

"I know it's not far from me, I have eyes."

"Then why can't you get it? "

"Because I'm filing my nails, I can't drop the nail file just to stand up and get it. Please help me, dear sister."

Did I mention that I hate my sister? I get it for her anyway.

"Where are you heading to little sister? "

"It's not like you care, Cathy."

"You're one awesome mind reader."

I slam the door as I leave.

I don't call Shan to tell her I'm coming over, she's used to my visits. Our houses aren't far apart so I walk to her house. When I arrive, Shan's mom is making lunch. My mom always orders lunch.

"Good day, Aunt Grace, " she pulls me in an embrace."

"Christy. You're just in time. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

Is it wrong to wish she were my mom instead?

"Thanks, Aunt Grace."

Shannon is drawing something abstract when I get to her room.  "Hey Christy, what's up? Are you sleeping over? "

"Yeah the usual, " comes my reply.

"Girls do you want your lunch up there or you'll get it in the dinning? " Aunt Grace voice echoes from the stairs.

"Mom,please get it up here."

Why wasn't I born into this family?

"Guess what? " Shan asks

"Ummm new crush? "

Shanon has crushes crazily, I don't even remember when last I had a crush.

"No, guess again. "

"Umm you have a new crush on someone who isn't imaginary? "

Trust me, Sometimes she has crushes on figments of her imaginations.

"No no no no, give it another try. "

I'm about to say something when Shan's mom comes in with the food.

"Okay remember my bro? The one I always tell you about? " She asks as her mom leaves the room.

How could I not remember? She talks about him everyday.

"The imaginary one?"

"Christy, for a thousandth time he's not imaginary. "

This food is so tasty. Why can't Shan stop blabbing and start eating?

"Christy, I'm serious he will be returning tomorrow. "

"Yea Yea ."

I wish my mom cooked as good as this.

"I'll prove it. We'll go pick him up at the airport tomorrow. "

"Shan, please not this time again."

"Please Christy, please."

"No."

"Okay I'll go to the airport alone because my best friend refused to come with me although I'd go with her if the case were reversed. "

"That's not going to work on me, Shan. "

"Pretty please. "

"Okay okay fine. But this Is the last time I'll do this."

I said that the last time we did this, and the last time before the last time and the last time before the last two times and all the other last times. I really don't think her so called brother exists.