EMILY

The Dinner

Emily's POV

"What happened Emily? You sound so tense." Alicia said from the other side of the phone when she heard me.

"Tense is putting it mildly. I'm freaking out Ali." I said in exasperation over the phone.

"But why?" she asked.

"Dad has invited Chloe and Justin to dinner tonight. And he wants me to join them too." I stated, moving to and fro in my room. "It's my worst nightmare Alicia."

If if was upto me, I would never stay in the same room with them. But Dad had specifically asked me to give them company. He is completely unaware of all the bullying I have suffered because of Chloe.

"Look.. Just calm down. We'll think about something." Alicia tried to console me but that didn't stop me from hyperventilating.

"I don't.. I can't.." I tried to form a sentence but couldn't.

"Do you want me to come over?" she offered.

"No. It's fine. I'll manage." I responded.

I am not fine.

"Em.. Do you want me to talk to your dad?" she proposed.

"No Al. Chloe is my sister. I'll have to face her someday, if not tonight. I think it's time I deal with them on my own." I sighed.

"Are you sure?" she asked again.

"Yes." I mumbled.

...

After taking a long, relaxing shower, I changed into black high-waisted jeans and a grey crop sweater. The dress hugged my figure well, not too tightly, not in a baggy way. My stomach wasn't that big of an issue. The bigger problem was my thick hips and bigger bust. Some girls would love to have that I guess but I didn't. The reason was years of insults I had to endure by my sister because of that.

I applied some foundation to cover my freckles and then pulled my hair up in a messy bun, with few blonde locks bracketing my face. Light natural makeup and a pinkish lipstick made me look quite presentable.

After doing some mind relaxing exercises, I made my way to the kitchen where Dad was busy making food for the dinner. Well, by making, I meant placing the ordered food in the serving containers. The delicious aroma of chinese food reached my nostrils and I inhaled deeply. There were noodles, dumplings, a weird looking soup, chicken manchurian, kung pao chicken, fried rice and one more gravy thingy.

"Wow." I said, tasting a dumpling.

"Not yet Em." Dad stopped me, saying the food was yet to be reheated and I should wait for Chloe and Justin first.

A knock on door caught me off-guard. I could feel my heartbeat skyrocketing and my breaths turning deeper.

Dad went to open the door. After few minutes, he returned, followed by Justin and Chloe. Chloe was dressed in a white mini skirt and plum crop top, both were too short for a dinner. While Justin was wearing all black, looking handsome as ever.

His eyes raked over my appearance before finally resting on my face. His face looked emotionless, like every other time. When I turned my face back to Chloe, I found her glaring hard at me with her kohl-laced eyes.

"I'm so happy that you agreed for the dinner." Dad said to Chloe with a huge smile on his face.

"Don't bother dad. It was not my choice anyway." she replied bluntly and all the color left Dad's face.

I couldn't even blame her for her behavior. Dad chose me and she was stuck with mom. And our mom was not an easy person to stay with. For her, job was always more important than her family. Many a times, Dad tried to ask her for Chloe's custody but she never relented.

With a sad face, Dad led us inside the lounge and we four sat down. Dad and I on one couch and Emily and Justin on another.

"So Justin, do you treat my daughter well?" Dad asked Justin to lighten the mood.

"Better than you did." Justin said in a dry tone.

"Umm.." Dad looked embarrassed by his tone. "I.. I'll check the food."

After he left, both pair of eyes shifted to me and I gulped. When she didn't look away, I started, "It is just a dinner Chloe. At least try to behave."

"I don't need you to tell me how to behave." she scowled. "Besides, karma is a bitch. He is getting back what he did to me."

"It was not his choice and you know that." I argued despite Justin's gaze on me.

"Like I fucking care." she said and stood up. "I need to freshen up. This family drama is too much for me."

"Do you want me to show you the bathroom?" I asked in a hesitant voice.

"No thanks Em. I'll find out the way in YOUR house." she stressed on the word your and stomped out of the lounge.

Not wanting to be left alone with Justin, I decided to go to Dad. But when I was about to leave, a hand gripped my wrist and Justin pinned me to the wall. His brown eyes glared into mine and I saw anger and desperation in them.

"What.. What are you doing?" I asked, trying to move away from his hold but his legs was holding me static. He was too close to me. His one hand was holding my hands still while the other held my waist captive.

"You just love to push my buttons." he said. I sighed when his calloused fingers drew circles on my bare waist and my eyes closed on their own.

"Jus.. Justin." I said in a deep voice when I felt his lips on my jaw.

He continued his slow assault and I felt myself losing more and more into his touch. I was hyperventilating, my heart was thudding in an intense speed.

His mouth moved downwards, kissing all the way down to my neck. I moaned when his lips grazed over my soft spot, shivers ran down my spine and my knees started wobbling. If he was not holding me, I would have fallen down.

No.

It was wrong. Whenever I let him come this close to me, he had always insulted me and I couldn't bear it this time.

Using all my self-control, I pushed him away. He lost his balance and stumbled backwards. When be gained balance again, the fury in his eyes returned and he almost growled.

"You are a bitch Emily." he fumed and I fought back my tears.

"And you Justin, you are a coward." I mumbled, almost on the verge of crying.

Before Justin could say anything, Dad's voice emerged from the dining room. Rubbing my face to cool down the heated skin, I made my way to the dining table where Chloe was already sitting. She observed me for a moment before walking to Justin and then kissing him passionately in front of Dad and me without any shame. Justin responded to her kiss without any hesitation with the same lips that were all over my neck few minutes ago.

And the worst thing was, I felt my heart shatter all over again.

The dinner was uncomfortable like I had expected. Justin's hands were all over Chloe throughout the dinner. Even Dad looked pretty embarrassed by their behavior.

After the dinner, Dad took Justin with him towards the lawn while Chloe stayed with me in the kitchen. When Dad was out of sight, Chloe started talking, "If you tried that again, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

"W.. What?" I stuttered.

"Seducing Justin. You will never be enough for him Emily. He is mine, just mine." she said in hushed whispers.

"I don't want him Chloe." I countered.

"It doesn't matter what you want." she seethed. "He won't ever love an ugly bitch like you. Have you even looked in the mirror yet? The jeans look like they are about to tear off your fat ass."

Without listening to my response, she exited the kitchen and I just stood there, with tears streaming down my cheeks.

That night, I once again cried myself to sleep. Just like many other nights of my life.

God, I hate him.