Blackmailed Into The Band

Christmas with the Racists

" Merry Christmas," My aunt Linda cheered as I opened the door for her. As soon as she saw me, her smile faded like it did every year when she realized I was still a disappointment.

I don't get along with others in the family because I'm me. Everyone finds me horrifying, especially the guys, who are sexist and racist and believe that women should be quiet and respectful at all times.

My mom and dad completely disagree with those nasty views. They taught me to be whoever the fuck I want to be, even if the rest of the family disagreed.

After everyone arrived, I felt my hands start to sweat and I took a seat beside my dad, who was laughing with his brothers. All of my cousins were in the living room, watching Christmas specials while the older females helped my mom in the kitchen.

" Alexa, why don't you help your mother out?" Linda asked.

" Alexia," I corrected. Linda hated my name as much as she hated me. " And mom doesn't need my help," I said, picking at a string on my Christmas sweater.

" You do realize you're a lady now and that means you should start learning to cook, right?" She asked before turning to my dad. " It's no surprise you've raised her this way," She said, shaking her head.

My dad stopped laughing instantly. If he wasn't wearing a Santa hat, I would of been terrified.

" What's that supposed to mean? If Alexia doesn't want to help, she doesn't have to," He said.

I smiled at him.

" Alexa is a girl," Linda gasped. " You must treat her like one. You can't raise her to sit around and do nothing-"

" Fine, I'll go help my mom," I yelled, standing up and leaving.

I could feel my dad trying to hold his laughter in and I could feel Linda covering her mouth in shock at my tone. I left the kitchen and joined my cousins in the living room. I never fit in with them either.

The girls my age were into expensive dresses and online shopping and getting hot dates while the guys were into the heavy metal scene.

I guess I was too, except I wasn't welcome because I'm a girl. I could name all the bands they knew, as well as some of their most popular songs but they'd think I looked it up or something.

I sat by myself on the couch and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I logged onto Twitter and saw that we had 30 followers on the band account already.

" Alexia?" My cousin Martin approached me.

" Hi," I said blankly.

" I heard you started a band," He said, sitting beside me. I moved my legs out of the way.

" I didn't start one, I'm in one. Who told you?" I asked.

" Everyone knows," A few of the other guys replied.

" I figured. Have you heard our stuff yet?" I asked, hoping I could make some friends here.

" No, but I heard Aidan O'dell is the lead screamer," He said. A few others joined us, lured by Aidan's name.

" Yeah. He's really talented," I said, wondering why they liked him so much.

" What do you do? Play guitar?" Asher, another cousin, asked. He was just like his dad, as sexist as they can be.

" No," I laughed as I realized I'd never touched a guitar in my life. " I scream."

Everyone stopped talking and even the girls looked away from their phones to give me a wtf look.