Soulmates

Chapter One

     "Marciline, I'm very proud of you," Marciline's father praised one night during dinner, a pleased expression set on his face. After being met with a confused expression from her daughter, he continued. "You got into advanced theatre. Three times in a row."

     Marciline gave a nonchalant shrug, the left side of her mouth quirking upwards as she cut her chicken. "I guess. My teacher hates me, though, I know it. She's going to give me detention for no reason."

     "Maybe if you behaved better in school, you wouldn't get into trouble. You never learn from your mistakes, and your behavior at school is highly inappropriate," Marciline's step-mother quipped from the other side of the table, irritated eyes set upon her daughter.

     Marciline's eyes flicked to her step-mother, feeling a spark of tension flash between the two. She clenched her jaw, the grip around her knife and fork causing her knuckles to turn snow white. Her eyes narrowed before returning her attention back to her father.

     "Whatever," Marciline said with the roll of her eyes. She stood up from her chair, setting her silverware onto the plate with a metallic clink. Dropping the plate in the sink, she washed her hands. "I'm going to my room. If you need me, you know where to find me."

     "You didn't finish your food," Her father called out after her.

     "All of the sudden, I lost my appetite. Goodnight, I love you, Dad," Marciline responded, emphasizing the last word as her eyes fixated on her mother before entering her room, letting it click behind her softly.

      Her step-mother huffed once she left, turning to her husband with an expecting look. Her lips were pursed and her face was painted with an annoyed expression as she chewed her food.

     Marciline's father sighed, his forehead scrunching. "Give it some time. She will come to her senses. Hoeever, you have to realize that you're her step mom, and she's adjusting to that change. Also, you have to lighten up on her. You know how much she has been through the last 5 years," Marciline's dad explained, gesturing with his hand.

     Her step-mother sighed, shaking her head. She pinched the bridge of her nose, setting her silverware aside. "Grief does not give a young lady an excuse to act the way she does. She's disrespectful, rude, and unforthcoming. Our daughter puts no academic effort into school, and causes trouble constantly. She's no good, and I will take action against this behavior if it continues."

     Marciline's father shook his head, reaching out to intertwine his fingers with hers. They conversed in hush whispers until they finished their dinner. They entered their room shortly after, closing the door and leaving the rest of their conversation left to theory.

     What a bitch...I miss my real mom. Marciline thought to herself, leaning against her door as she stared at her ceiling with clenched fists.

The next morning, Marciline was greeted with the cacophonous noise of her alarm clark blaring throughout her room. Marciline groaned, lifting her head only to thwump it down against the pillow in annoyance. She let out a groan before sitting upwards and turning it off.

Rising out of bed, Marciline walked to her bathroom across the wood floor. She felt chills against her body, mourning the loss of her warm bed.

Upon entering the bathroom, Marciline turned on her shower and stripped off her clothes, feeling the hot streams of water wash over her body. Once she was done showering, she dried her hair and straightened it, watching her long strawberry blonde hair fall into place. She dug through her drawers, fishing out a skinny tube of mascara and her medicated chapstick, applying them haphazardly.