I'm No Cinderella

Chapter 7

That weekend I went back to my parent’s house, and this time mom treated me better than the last time. It’s probably because she’s finally proud that something good is happening in my life. She followed me all the way to meet with the car dealers to get my car – as I have already gone to the bank during the week.I’d be getting my brand new car in about a week’s time and I can’t wait for it.

“So did Leah call you yet?” mom asked me as we reached home. Leah was not really related to me by blood, but she was like a sister to me. Her parents were my parents’ best friends since they were younger and they died when she was fifteen and left her to my parents to take care off. She is currently in the UK studying and working.

“She did text me because I was at a meeting when she called, but I haven’t got the chance to call her back,” I answered as I carried mom’s shopping bags into the kitchen.

“Well she said that she might be coming back in a couple of month’s time,” mom said, “she’s just spending some time with her friends before coming back here.”

“That’s awesome,” I said, “I can’t wait to see her.”

Leah and I were very close when we were younger – until we both went off to college. We kept in touch and occasionally met up and she’d come home every holiday. When she went to the UK to continue her degree, we barely met each other as she couldn’t come home as often enough – but we still emailed each other. Leah was what I’d call independent. Because she lost her parents, she learnt not to rely on others too much. I really look up to that trait of hers. We were both the same age, but I somehow know she’s more successful than me right now. She had always wanted to study overseas, so while she was in college, she saved her money working part time waiting tables and used that money to go to the UK. Her character was just like mine, and I guess that was why we were very close when she stayed with us. I really miss her a lot.

My brother Edward was at home that weekend, and that was a surprise to me. He rarely stays at home, unless all his friends were not around, and that is like never.

“What are you doing at home?” I asked him, ruffling his head as he frowned while not looking up from his video game, “Shouldn’t you be out in the town painting it red or something – whatever you guys call it these days.”

“She grounded me,” he said, as if my mother was the enemy. I looked to the kitchen and back at him.

“Why, what did you do?” I asked him, as he paused the game and looked carefully to the kitchen and then at me.

“I might have not told her the truth about something,” he whispered to me, as I leant closer to listen, “And she found out about it.”

“Oh, what was it?” I asked curiously.

“Well, the other day she found a lighter in my jeans pocket,” he said as my eyes grew wide, “She confronted me and I said it was my friend’s and I was just keeping it for him. But two days back, she found a box of cigarettes which I hid, and now she thinks that I’m lying to her about not smoking.”

“Are you smoking?” I ask him.

“Not a lot, Sam,” he said, “Just a puff here and there.”

“Edward!” I gasped, “Smoking’s not good for your health. You should know better than to start smoking.”

“God, you’re starting to sound like her!” he cried and as he stood up, “It’s my mistake to even talk to you.”

He stomped off before I could even say anything. Teenagers these days; they get mad at every little thing. I went to the kitchen to look for my mom who was busy making lunch.