Clarissa Grayson Tate grew up in a wealthy home. From a far, her family looked perfect. To anyone who saw them in a picture or exchanged a few words with them at a party they were lucky enough to be invited to, they seemed like an annoyingly perfect...
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India and I made our way to the dining building, weaving our way through the crowd. I didn't see Derek or my brother anywhere. Derek is probably with his roommate but I have no idea where my brother would be. I haven't spoken to him in so long that I barely even remember what his voice sounds like.
"Hey, you Okay?" India asks. I nod my head and keep walking when Someone nearly knocked me over trying to get by. I was about to tell them to watch it when I looked up and saw my brothers face. I stare at him for a second not sure if he is who he is. The look on his face tells me that he is doing the same thing. We stand there on each other for a moment before he scooped me up into a tight hug. Hugging my brother didn't used to be uncomfortable for me.
"Issa! I didn't know you were coming this year! I thought for sure father and mother would have you stay home another year!" He says, his face buried in my hair.
"Nope I didn't need the extra year." I say. Slightly disheartened that he would think I needed it.
" I bet you didn't. Look at you your hair is so long and you're so thin! You look great kiddo!"
Kiddo. That's new. Since he left no one has called me kiddo. I've trained and trained to become half as good as he is and now that I am and maybe better, he calls me kiddo. He called me thin. That's three times in one day that I've been called skinny. I look over at India's surprised face. She shrugs and looks at me with sympathy.I told her about The many people that look at me and write me off as weak just because I have the body of a dancer, or cheerleader, or a volleyball player, or whatever people assume I look like. She knows that it ticks me off. I grit my teeth and move on.
"And look at you heart breaker. You've lost some weight yourself! Have you been swimming lately? Dancing?" I say being a bit petty.
Elijah looks down at me with an odd face. It's been a while since we've seen each other so he's probably surprised at the change in me.
"Anyway my friend and I are headed to lunch. Want to sit with us?" I ask. "No sorry I can't. I have to sit with the other S.O.'s." He says with a disappointed smile. "You can stop by our table and I'll introduce you to everyone though." His eyes lighten up and he hugs me again.
"I've missed you Elijah."
"I missed you too Iss." He says before kissing my temple and walking away. "Have you?" I mumble when he's out of earshot.
I stay in there for a second with a smile on my face before I look over and see India's ridiculously red face. I roll my eyes and raise a brow at her.
