Chapstick Boi

14 - Sister Diss-er

Demi's POV

"You told her what?!" Without any valid explanation, Rhea plonks herself in the passenger seat after keeping me waiting for almost fifteen minutes eating into our driving time.

"We're gonna drive Jordan to and from Enrapture until the program ends." She fastens her seat belt, turning the air con on her at full strength. "You mean I'm gonna drive us." I point out dismissively in hopes of shutting down the unnecessary chatter.

It has the opposite effect. "It's a nice thing to do, they don't live far from us and it's easier this way." Why is she putting up such a fight for someone she doesn't even hang out with? Rhea is the kind of person who makes her own problems seem bigger then they are, blowing them up to the point their totally out of proportion.

"What? You usin' this to get back at me or somethin'?" She rolls her eyes at my accusation, quick to rebuttal the argument. "No, I'm doing this to be nice."

"Nice my arse-That's my water!" I snatch the ice cold glass from her sweaty grip, resulting in the bottle spilling on the car floor, "Perfect, way to top off the day-" I hate sharing my things.

"That was your fault Demi, learn some patience!" She bites, recovering the cylindrical container which has lost majority of its liquid. "Says you." I mumble, multitasking the steering wheel and signalling while gulping half the water that remains once she's passed it to me.

Mom's been lecturing us every chance she gets about our poor relationship as step siblings. Together we plan a basic response to allow a cooling off period from her constant badgering but she always catches on too fast to comprehend.

"Why?"

"Why what?" She drawls making no effort to hide her irritation, tying her long ponytail into a tight knot bun. "Why'd you offer such a thing? Hm?" I'm not sure what I expected but speechlessness wasn't one of my predictions.

She crosses perspired arms and hangs her head the way you might precede something cringe worthy. "Do you have a crush on her?" I provoke noticing a nerve had been struck.

"No, it's not that. I mean, she's gay and I'm straight but it's something more..." Rhea isn't the philosophical type, to hear her say something so sincerely honest was befuddling.

I realized this wasn't something she had considered willy nilly. "More like?" We're getting somewhere, this enough to report to mom with the possibility of shutting her up forever.

Wouldn't that be nice?

"Am I an idiot?"

"Of course." I answer blandly without missing a beat. She flicks my ear, laughing breathy. On the rare occasion we do play fight I'm in the habit of letting her win because it feels like my obligation as the older sibling.

I can't describe why. "I meant, am I stupid for not realizing I only surround myself with people who care more about their social lives than their friends?" Sure as hell wasn't predicting that at all.

Was she hit with a common sense stick? If so I got a list of people who could do with a good judge like that. "Are you feeling alright?" I ask legitimately concerned, placing a flat palm on her sweaty forehead, whining, "Gross." on contact.

"Demi." She warms, smacking my hand. "You're one to talk."

"Well, I figured you liked them. You have similar interests, you hang out a lot... am I missing anything?" Rhea can't seem to think of more to add, sighing forlornly.

"I dunno, I've been questioning a lot lately and it feels like I've been kidding myself by hanging out with Ash just because she's popular and spending time with Lisa for her connections with people." I'm at a loss for how to respond. Cheer her up? Lie? Say 'I dunno'?

They need pills for this. "If that's how you feel, better to find out aged eighteen not eighty." I smirk while she giggles. Clearly that was the right thing to say.

Her green eyes meet mine before I return to focus on the road revolving under us. "Thanks. I'm sorry I didn't ask if you we're alright with it first." Rhea says apologetically, trying to guilt trip me. It won't work.

"Things've been a bit confusing lately and I tend to take things out on you, not on purpose though." She adds considerately, unwrapping a half melted mars bar.

The face she makes is hilarious, pure disgust for the chocolate stringing to the aluminium foil. "Here." I accept her offer aware of her hatred for melted sweets, "I'll never understand you." She wipes her hands as if she might contract a disease.

"Calm down, its not like the flavours changed. Still the same bar." I brake abruptly at the sight of a sudden lane changing vehicle, honking my horn. "Prick!"

It's strange how easy it is to converse with her now. Why had it been such a struggle previously?

"Say what you want I'm not converting." Gobbling up the sticky brown candy. we've made a fifty five minute trip -slightly extended due to traffic- fly by finally communicating on mutual grounds.

"Listen, I know we don't get on the best of terms but this wasn't so bad..." My voice tails off when I turn to an oblivious Rhea, grinning widely at her phone screen. "...if I had a sex change do you think Denver or Dennis would suit me better?"

"Hmm? Yeah sure, the second one." Of course she'd ruin our progress. Typical self absorbed Rhea.

"What you smiling like such an idiot for?" I ask deciding I earn the right to know what made her so quick to drop the conversation. "I just got a text from Jordan, her mom said yes and Jayden's coming with, is that alright?"

No. Obviously not. Is any of this alright? Biting my tongue and turning into our cobblestone driveway a wicked thought occurs to me.

"What do I get in return if I do?"