Living with the Millers

Chapter 10 - First Day of School

Chapter 10 - First Day of School 

This was the day I had been dreading the most.  More than my first day here, more than meeting this huge family, more than the barbecue I had been forced to endure.  Although granted, it wasn't that bad once I was drunk out of my mind.

I had woken up with the worst hangover ever, by the way.  I had swore to Ben I was never drinking again, and he was never to let me drink again.

I woke up that morning feeling extra heavy.  The past few days the weight had been better, almost bearable, but for some reason I was feeling more depressed than I had been.  Maybe it was because it was six o'clock in the morning and I knew I had to spend my whole day locked in a high school, surrounded by a bunch of teens I knew would be judging me.  I had spent hours the night before trying to pick out the perfect outfit for my first day of school, but it was impossible.  Finally I had given up.  Who cares if I didn't make any friends?

I told myself I didn't.

Reluctantly, I forced myself out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom.  The tiled floor was cold on my bare feet, making me shiver as I turned on the shower.  Before getting in, I sent out a group text to my sisters, telling them that they'd better be awake already.  That was our latest system of communication since this house was too big.  We had been using the intercom, but there wasn't enough privacy with that thing.  Anything that was said, the whole house heard.

It was hard to get out of the shower ten minutes later.  The water was so hot against my skin it burned, but I welcomed the sting because it prevented me from thinking about other things.  Groaning to myself, I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a towel.  The mirror was foggy, so I wiped it with my hand, staring at myself in the mirror.  I looked exhausted with deep, dark circles under my eyes and a frown across my lips.  I shook my head, quickly reaching for my makeup bag on the counter.  Looking like this on the first day would not do.

I heard footsteps approaching my room before Cora burst in, almost slipping on the wet tile. "Shi," she gasped as if she had been running, "Is this okay for the first day?  I want to make a good impression."  I smiled slightly as I looked her up and down, trying hard not to laugh.  At least one of my sisters still valued my opinion.  Cora was wearing a black v-neck t-shit and a pair of white skinny jeans.  It was plain, but simple.

"You look beautiful as always," I smiled at her, laughing as she rolled her eyes. "Hey, I'm your sister.  I wouldn't lie to you, right?"

"London said I look like a middle schooler," she groaned, wiping a hand over her face.  She looked so distraught by this that my heart clinched.  

"Here," I said, motioning for her to come closer.  When she did, I quickly ran my mascara wand through her long, curly lashes, and put some lipgloss on her lips.  I let her put on some blush and smiled at her. "There, no more middle school Cora."

"Thank you, Shi," She said, wrapping me in a hug. "You know you're doing a great job, right?"

"Huh?" My stomach clenched.

"With this, us, everything," She whispered, still clinging to me. "Sometimes I feel like I can't make it another day, but then I see you, and you're always smiling or laughing or encouraging us to be happy and I just...I don't know how you do it, but you're doing a great job, and I don't think I could do this without you."

None of my sisters had talked to me like this before.  I mean I knew they loved me, I knew that we held each other together and made each other better, but they had never voiced these things to me.  Don't get me wrong, I had never expected or needed recognition or a thank you, but hearing the words leave Cora's mouth made my heart beat a little bit faster.  It felt nice, especially with how I had been doubting my abilities as the oldest sister.