Sugar Coated Pain [Boxer!Calum Hood AU] PUBLISHED -- SAMPLE ONLY

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"I'M GONNA BREAK the heels off and stick them in Beverly's fucking eyes for making me where these," Noelle grumbled angrily, wincing as she took yet another step forward and felt the fronts of her stilettos pinch her toes.

Andrea snickered next to her. "Do it," she grinned, "We're in a room full of doctors. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Noelle huffed into her flute of champagne, taking a sip as she continued walking alongside her sister. She was sure both Beverly and her mother had something against her; the former for making her wear these shoes and the latter because she refused to let Noelle sit down instead of looking like she was enjoying the event. It was a charity auction held by the Board of Directors of the hospital their mother worked at, and instead of letting her daughters sit at their table, Malorie Simon wanted them to walk around and at least pretend they were interested in what was going on. Much to the chagrin of Noelle and her blistering feet.

Every step she took made Noelle wince in pain, mentally telling Beverly's beauty is pain mantra to go to hell, until at one point, Andrea let out a huff. "Alright, sit down, you look like you're about to die."

Noelle watched as Andrea stopped, reaching down to untie the laces of her black Converse. Andrea was allowed to wear whatever she wanted on her feet, since she was in a wheelchair, and Noelle always felt the biggest stab of guilt for being even the tiniest bit envious at her sister's feet being comfortable. Her sister couldn't even feel her feet.

She watched, confused as she slowly sat down on the seat behind her at an empty table, as Andrea undid the laces. Noelle's lips parted in realization as Andrea took off her shoes and socks, gratitude immediately swelling up inside her as Andrea said, "Gimme your shoes."

They were the same size, fortunately, so it made Noelle slipping on Andrea's socks and Converse under her long dress easy as Andrea strapped on Noelle's heels. The relief Noelle felt from being free of the horrid shoes was instant, letting out a sigh as she leaned back in the chair and breathed out, "You're a lifesaver."

Andrea grinned, hands on the wheels either side of her. "Pays to have a paraplegic sister, doesn't it?"

Noelle shot her a dry look, though she still felt the slight smile tug at her lips. She fixed her dress, the long hem covering her feet just when their mother made her way over. Malorie Simon wasn't too tall of a woman, something Noelle inherited from her, along with her hazel eyes. Her blonde hair barely brushed against her shoulders and her high cheekbones were a trait she passed down to all three daughters.

"Noelle, I told you—no sitting," Mrs. Simon reminded once nearing them, one hand holding a glass of wine while the index finger of her other made a standing up motion. "Up. Come with me, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

Stifling her sigh, Noelle stood up and gripped her own glass, watching as her mother smiled down at Andrea. "You okay, hon?"

"Yeah, Mom, terrific," Andrea smiled back, the hint of sarcasm in her tone going completely over their mother's head while Noelle bit back a smile.

Mrs. Simon then motioned Noelle to follow her and she obeyed, though not before shooting her younger sister a helpless look. One-on-one time with her mother wasn't something Noelle always looked forward to. Ever since their dad and Andrea's accident, their mother had become withdrawn, to say the least. Lost herself in her work, which is where she spent most of her time—which wasn't too unusual, since she was a trauma surgeon. But when it came to her daughters and any attention they may need, Mrs. Simon mostly focused on Andrea, as if her two older ones didn't exist.