Twisted (title pending)

Twisted ((Chapter Two))

**Note: There's some cursing in this chapter. Just so you know :) Also, this hasn't been edited. Sorry for any stupid typos or anything else you find XD

Chapter Two:

I felt a ridiculous urge to tap my fingers on the floor as I waited for Corrie to change. The urge got stronger and I started to feel anxious, too. Giving in, I tapped my left hand’s index finger rhythmically, to the tune of a song I had heard on the radio earlier. Soon it was bothering me that my other index finger wasn’t tapping, too, so I started tapping that one also. I knew I was being silly, but I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as my anxiety abated.

Just then Corrie came out, wearing the other pink outfit I had picked out. It actually looked nice on her- kind of classy but casual at the same time, if that was even possible. Very cool.

“What do you think?” she asked, standing in a ridiculous pose that she probably thought was hot or sexy.

“Much better,” I approved. “It looks nice.” She grinned from the compliment and went to waddle off to pose for Lenora. I followed her out and realized that I still hadn’t made my pasta. I started to walk into the kitchen but stopped as I heard Lenora’s conversation with Corrie in the living room.

“Ella picked it out for me,” Corrie said. “Don’t you just love it?” I felt a surge of pride, something that didn’t come often.

“Oh, honey, Ella picked that out?”

“Yes, mommy. Why?”

“Honey, you shouldn’t let Anabella pick out your outfits.” Lenora’s tone was somehow disparaging and honeyed at the same time.

“Why not?” Corrie asked, sounding injured. That was probably the first time she ever defended me over… well, anything, honestly. “Don’t I look good?”

“You look fabulous, dear,” Lenora rushed to assure her. “It’s just that… Anabella isn’t there to help with clothes. She’s there to clean and cook and such.”

I felt my temper rising and I knew that if I didn’t stop listening soon, I’d be marching in there yelling at Lenora. The last time that happened was just after the accident, when I blamed Lenora for what happened. I shut that memory out of my head and continued listening.

“But mommy…”

“No buts, Corrie. I simply won’t allow Anabella to do something like that for you. You know she probably enjoys it. Don’t think of her as your sister, sweetheart. Think of her as the help. It’s only because of our charity that she’s still here, and she has to work for it. She shouldn’t help you with something like picking out clothes. Get Anne to do it for you.”

“Yes, mommy,” Corrie said. She- and her mother- sickened me. Ever since dad died, I’d been treated like- for lack of a better word- crap. I couldn’t stop myself from storming out of the kitchen and into the living room where Lenora was still on the couch, though this time she was guzzling down a large soda. She must have made Anne get it from he fridge for her because I hadn’t felt a mini-earthquake shake the house, nor had I seen any footprints embedded in the wood flooring.

Yes, I was being cruel. And I was enjoying every second of it.

“Lenora!” I yelled. “Why do you hate me so much? What the hell was that for?”

Ooh. Bad move. Her little piggy eyes narrowed.

“Don’t talk to me that way, Anabella,” she warned me.

“Too late. What the hell, Lenora? So I’m here on charity now? What am I now, some kind of servant?”

“You’ve always known the terms of you staying here-”

“Tell me why you hate me so much or I’m walking. You know full well that after I walk out that door, you can kiss my ass because I’m not coming back to cook and clean for you slobs. Just, what the hell? Treat me like crap any more and I’m walking, Lenora. The clock’s ticking. Explain.”

I was surprising myself with the force of my rage. I had hated Lenora for years but kept it all bottled up- my father probably wouldn’t want me screaming at his second wife like that- but I couldn’t stop myself. Years of hate and anger were pouring out of me now and it was too late to stop them.

I saw Corrie and Anne peeking around the corner, wanting to hear how their mother reacted to my outburst. Lenora seemed to be trying to think of a coherent sentence.

“Corrie. Anne. Go.” They fled, the obedient scum they were. I knew I would feel bad about calling them that later, but for now the force of my rage was directed at Lenora.

“Anabella, you know your father designated me your guardian. I’m not doing anything illegal here,” she said spitefully.

“Lenora, that’s not an explanation. I would expect even you to know that.”

Either she didn’t see the insult in that statement or didn’t care, because nothing about her expression changed. Suddenly her face lit up with a ghastly kind of glee- the kind of smile an evil dentist would give you just before digging around in your mouth with sharp pointy things.

“Did you ever know your mother, Anabella?” she asked. I almost rolled my eyes. Yes, Lenora. I knew my mother. We were absolute best friends. No, you idiot; I never got to meet her!

I held that in and settled for an expressive glare.

“You look just like her, you know. With your dark brown hair and light blue eyes.”

I felt slightly complimented by the fact that Lenora had compared me to my mother, but I knew it wasn’t intended as one. Lenora would never compliment me, just like I would never call her ‘Mom.’

“So?”

“I always hated your mother.”

Was Lenora jealous? I was amazed; maybe she had actually felt something for my poor father. I had always assumed she was a gold digger, after his generous checkbook. After Mom died, quite a few women were. That was back before Lenora was fat, and back when she actually seemed nice. After they got married she showed her true colors- but never to my father. No; he always saw the charming Lenora, the one that made him think it was impossible that she treated me like dirt when he was gone. I almost longed for those days- everything was fun and games until he left on business. At least there were fun and games, though.

“You’re taking out an old grudge on me.”

“Not entirely, honey. We need someone to cook and clean and you just happened to be left to my care.”

“You selfish bitch.”

If Dad had been alive, I would be grounded for using foul language. Normally I never cursed to anyone- with one outstanding exception.

“Call me what you like. It’ll only make your situation worse. Now go get me some pizza. Reheat it for me, too. One minute and ten seconds in the microwave.”

I felt like I was burning. I felt my hands shaking, and I didn’t move. No way was I going to work for her anymore. My head hurt and I wanted to scream and punch something. Preferably Lenora. Not that she’d feel it, with her rolls of fat.

“I hear you want to work on the Homecoming float for the drama club.”

Oh no she wasn’t. Anne, the tattle- tale. My previous happiness at being included vanished and I found myself wanting to punch Anne too.

“If you expect to even touch the float, you’ll help me until the parade. Now, the dance is another story. Maybe if you’re good.”

Silently, I weighed my choices. The float was my chance to finally make some friends and get out of the house. It wasn’t worth resisting. I turned around and headed back to the kitchen, stomach grumbling. The float was too important to lose; I couldn’t throw away my only chance at a bit of freedom just to resist Lenora’s demands. I took out the pizza, numb, hating myself for giving in but knowing that I had to.