Invisible

SISTERS

I HEAR TWO CARS PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY, and Jeremy rolls off of me, stands up.

“Fix your hair,” he says, “you look like shit.”

He smirks, walks out of my bedroom. I turn over onto my back, watch the ceiling. I hear the front door close, Anna and Michelle’s voices calling my name. I quickly pull my jeans over my hips, button my shirt, and stand up. Then I run into my bathroom, slam the door.

“Emma?” Anna calls, “Are you in here?”

I stare at my reflection, see matted hair and empty eyes. I sigh as I reach for the brush that’s lying on my vanity.

“Yeah,” I respond, “I’ll be out in a second. Wait downstairs for me.”

“Alright.”

I force the brush through the tangles, try to figure out exactly how this will work. I pull my hair back into a ponytail – the only solution I could come up with – before I make my way downstairs, into the living room.

“What took you so long?” Anna asks as I walk toward the sofa, sit between her and Michelle.

“Nothing,” I say, “What happened with your roommates?”

“Ok, so I get on the expressway and they call and tell me everything’s fine. It’s like what the hell I already wasted fifteen minutes worth of gas!” She grunts, rolls her eyes, “Michelle, don’t ever apply to be an RA… The job is ridiculous.”

Michelle and I laugh as Anna stands up, handing a movie to me.

“Best Disney movie ever!” she says, “And we’re watching it.” I smile when I see the title. Mulan, all about women empowerment.

If only that were me, superior to Jeremy, unafraid to stand up to him. If only I could be the outspoken, overachieving person I used to be.

Anna walks out into the foyer as I turn on the DVD player. “Popcorn?”

“Left cabinet,” I respond. She folds her arms.

“I already knew where it was, so I’ll just take that as a yes.”

She smiles, walks into the dining room.

“I saw this movie already,” Michelle says, “At school.”

“You did?” I ask, turning the movie on, the menu popping up.

“Mm hmm. Our teacher let us watch it but we never finished it.”

“What’d you think about it?”

“It was awesome! Especially when she climbed—”

I tune her voice out as I watch Jeremy walk into the dining room, disappear into the kitchen. Then I hear Anna laughing, can imagine her blushing as he plays with her hair. She’d normally hate it, but I guess since she’s known him for a while…

I’ve known him for a while.

I still hate it.

His body was pressing onto her.

I shut my eyes, try not to scream. I don’t know why that thought keeps fucking with me. It doesn’t make any sense. He will not do anything to Anna or Michelle.

I’ll make sure of it.