Right or wrong?

Chapter 1

HI!! My friend @simplydarkness and I are writing a new story. It's our first so yeah no hard feelings.

Every Friday night, my mother makes it essential that all the women in the family have a 'gathering'. It used to be my sister,Tiffany,my grandmother,my mother and I. However, our grandmother died a few months ago because of cancer and it's just the three of us left. We were lying on a blanket at the backyard of our house.

Mother was in the middle so that Tiffany and I would stop pinching each other. When I made sure mother wasn't looking, I slowly inched my hand towards Tiffany in an attempt to pinch her.

However, at that moment, my mother destroyed my only chance.

"Pearlyn,Tiffany,look!'Mother began, pointing towards the stars."I have something important to tell you both."

"Whenever I face a problem, I come here and look at the stars. They give me hope. Your grandmother used to call them stars of hope," Mother finished.

Tiffany and I started laughing. Stars? Giving hope? Who created that? Einstein?

"No offence, Mum.But that's like the most craziest thing I have ever heard,"Tiffany said,still laughing like a mad woman.

I heard Mother sigh.

"Someday,you'll all face your own problems. Then,come here and look at the stars. Trust me,they'll give you help and you'll be thanking me later," she said.

Should I follow her advice?Frankly,my life had more downs than ups. I had a few good friends.However, I also had a few classmates who bullied me.In my school,everyone judged you by your ambition.Tiffany,who was flawless and natural in everything,who was extremely popular,who already had a five-month boyfriend,Harry, had no problem when it was her turn to tell the class her ambition.She said she wanted to be a model. Well, it was possible for her but not for me.She had everything a model had and she was a cheerleader.

Whereas, I was from the school orchestra. I proudly told everyone I wanted to be either an author or a runner. I had expected a standing ovation just like for Tiffany.Instead, I got the opposite reaction. Everyone started laughing at me.

I felt so embarrassed.People started bullying me ever since then.However, I still had good friends like Carly Hemmings who always stood up for me whenever I got bullied.

Tiffany was somehow never there when I got bullied.However, I had trust in her that she would stand up for me.

"Pearlyn, I didn't expect you to follow what mother said," Tiffany's voice brought me back to reality.Mother had already left and it was just Tiffany and I. This was my chance.

Shrugging, I pinched her before running back into the house.

'You're gonna get it!" I heard as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. However, as usual, my stubby legs were a great disadvantage.

My breaths came in faster and faster as I ran as fast as I could. She soon caught up with me and due to desperation,I entered the room nearest to me.It was my parents' bedroom.

Big mistake.Very big mistake. My parents were in bed cuddling and kissing each other occasionally.Dashing out of the room instinctively, I pratically threw myself across the hallway into my room just in the nick of time. Thankfully,Tiffany was not expecting me to do that. I panted heaily in relief,sinking down onto the floor while leaning against the door.

After I regained a controlled breathing rate, I shuffled over to my desk. Sighing at the pile of homework, I plugged in my earbuds to listen to my favourite songs and flipped open my History textbook.

I was halfway doing my homework when Dad called me down for dinner.

Mother had made us our favourite fried rice which I enjoyed the most.We were indulging on our scrumptious dinner when my phone beeped,signalling that someone had messaged me. I hoped that it was Carly or my other good friends and not the wannabes in my class who kept picking on me.My dad had a strict rule that no one was allowed to use their phone when eating.

More beeps followed the first one and my anticipation grew even more. Dad gave me a glare as I heard another beep.I felt heat rush into my cheeks. Embarrassment.

After dinner, I made sure I was alone in the dining room. Hesitantly, I checked my messages.

Most of them were from my friends. However, one message caught my attention. It was from Darsy, my bully. It said: You are only a fat slut, don't think we don't know only idiots would want to read the shit you write. Besides, what the hell makes you think you can run,turtle? I really pity your sister for having such an embarrassment like you. You can tell that she doesn't want to be your sister because of your friendless character, teacher's pet.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I ran to the backyard.

Maybe what Mother said could help. I stared at the stars while tears streamed down my face.

Through my slightly blurred vision, I could make out my grandmother's and grandparent's faces through the constellation of stars. The twinkling stars were faces of people who died in my family. Just then, I made out a face that have me the shock of my life. Tiffany's face appeared. I faintly remembered my mother mentioning that the stars only showed the dead. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe one of my ancestors looked like Tiffany. "Decided to take my advice,Pearlyn? " Mother asked as she sat down on the grass beside me. I shrugged as I tried my best to avoid eye contact with her, afraid that she would read my mind. "So, what has been bothering you? she asked me with concern. my worst nightmares came alive. My body stiffened as tension rose in the air. Mother must have noticed it. Anyway, she probably knew I was getting bullied in school. She once suggested that I visit the school counselor but I ignored her. "You know,you can consult Tiffany. She would be more than happy to help you, also she has many friends and you can learn from her," Mother said. What my mother did not know was that those who bullied me included Tiffany's best friends. Tiffany also did not know. I didn't bother to bring it up mainly because I didn't want Tiffany to lose her friends because of me. "Its okay,mother. Just tired,goodnight, I told her as I retreated towards the house. I just had to wait another seven hundred and thirty days. After that, I could escape to college and get new friends there.