I pull down my mask again and leave the room to get something to eat.
"Hey kiddo, are you hungry?"
I nod and look in the fridge. He pats my back and smiles.
"What would you like to eat? It's almost dinner so whatever you want, I'll make."
"I can make my own food."
"She talks? Wow."
I sigh and grab some batter, eggs, and uncooked bacon.
"Go sit. I'll make you guys dinner."
"But I'm the adult here, not you. I'll make dinner."
I look over at him and lift my mask just above my mouth, pointing to the dining room table.
"Go. Sit. Down."
He nods and goes into the dining room while I cook dinner, humming a bit. Once I finish making pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon, I go into the dining room with multiple plates and set them down in front of everyone.
"Pretty much just breakfast for dinner. Nothing special."
I put my own plate down and fix my mask. I sit down and watch as Mark and my mom feed each other while ogling at each other. Gag me with a spoon.
~Flashback~
"Look at her! She's hideous! And she can't do anything right! All I did was ask her to make me dinner and she fucked it up! What even is this?! Toast and butter?! For dinner? You little-"
"Honey, stop it. Jesus, she's only 5. She's in one of the most important times for her development. Why would you ask her to make dinner in the first place, she could've hurt herself."
"Oh shut it, old man."
"Don't talk to me like that in front of our daughter."
I stay in my seat at the table and watch as mom stands up and slaps my dad.
"I don't need to listen to you."
"Y/n, go to your room. Take your food and go watch tv, I'll be up there soon to tell you goodnight. Ok, princess?"
I nod and go up to my room quickly, hearing mom start to throw things at my father. I close my door and lock it, trying not to listen to their fight but failing.
"You're so useless! You couldn't even give me a good-looking child!"
"Please stop... Our daughter is beautiful."
"She should just have a bag over her head!"
"Shut up! You can not talk about our daughter like that! You do realize she looks more like you than me, right?! You must just be jealous that Y/n is already so much more beautiful than you and she's hasn't even fully grown up yet! Now leave! I will not allow you to talk to me or my daughter like that! I've already failed to protect her from you so many times, she has scars because of you! Now leave my house!"
~Present~
I glance over at Mark's son, Jack, and find him staring at me. He quickly looks away and continues eating. I lift my mask and start eating a bit.
"So tell us about yourself, Y/n."
"Yea I'm sure they're 'dying' to know about you and how 'interesting' you are."
I roll my eyes and put my mask back on.
"I like drawing, videos games, and anime. That's all you need to know."
"Oh anime... That's like cartoons, right? Ones for kids?"
I smirk and stand up, finding the perfect excuse to leave this awkward dinner.
"How dare you? You uncultured swine! I'm offended. Anime is a culture! It's not for tiny little children! Goodbye!"
I walk away and laugh a little while running upstairs. Jack runs after me and taps my shoulder, rubbing his arm.
"S-sorry about my dad. H-he really didn't mean to offend you. He's a ni-nice guy, he just d-doesn't know too much about our generation and about our interests and stuff."
He blushes and I turn to look at him.
"Oh. That? I wasn't really offended, I just wanted to get away. I was pretty uncomfortable."
"So you weren't really mad?"
"Nope, not at all. Just an act. Tell your dad I said sorry and that I didn't mean it."
"Wh-why'd you wanna leave so badly."
"I don't like my mom and being around her makes me anxious."
I turn away and walk into my room, leaving Jack in the hallway alone. I jump onto my bed and take off my mask. At this point, the main reason I still wore the mask was because I could. My scars were pretty healed, just some discoloration that was a bit noticeable. I just didn't like taking the mask off unless it felt absolutely necessary. Plus, the mask has some sentimental value to me. I look over at my hand and smile. I connect my speaker to my phone and start blasting whatever music is on my playlist. I clean up my room a little and look at the window when I hear some rocks being thrown at my window. Connor? I open my window and look down. Connor throws another rock that almost hits my face and I glare at him from under my mask. He climbs up into my window and turns off my speaker.
"Sooooooo... Are they hot?"
"Who?"
"Your new step bro and step daddy. Duh."
"They're both pretty decent I guess. They both have cute ears, never thought I'd say that."
"What do you mean they have cute ears?"
"They have cute ears. They look like elf ears."
"Oh... Can I see?"
"I don't have any pictures of them."
Connor grabs my hand and opens my door quietly.
"What are you doing Connor?"
"We're gonna look at your hot step dad and step bro."
"But what if we get caught? I don't want them knowing you're here."
"Don't worry about it. If that happens, I'll use my hentai skills."
"What does that even mean?"
"You'll see what I mean if we get caught."
"Let's just get this over with."
We walk down the stairs and see Mark in the kitchen, doing the dishes.
"He's a hottie. Mind if I take him?"
"Why would I care? It's my mom you'd have to worry about. Wait, why are we even talking about this? He could be your father."
"And?"
I shake my head and elbow him, causing him to scream out of surprise.
"Connor. You dumbass."
Mark looks our way and I quickly shove Connor onto the floor.
"S-sorry. I ummm... Stubbed my toe."
"That scream didn't sound like your voice."
"Well it was."
He walks closer to me and I tense up, trying to think of a way to hide Connor. I walk forward, so if Mark reaches me he won't see Connor, and look up.
"Are you hiding something, Y/n?"
"No."
"Why do you wear a mask?"
I look towards where Connor is and sigh.
"Why do you wanna know?"
"Well because it would help me know more about you. I'm a therapist and I would love to help you through any problems you might have. Your mother said that you had some concerning writings and drawings so I thought I could ask you to elaborate."
"No."
I walk to the fridge and listen carefully, hearing Mark coming closer to me and Connor going back upstairs.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to talk about my mask or my mental issues."
"So you admit you have mental issues?"
I look in the fridge before closing the door and run a hand through my hair. I turn around and look up at Mark, holding back a gasp as I notice he got closer than before.
"Goodnight, Mark. I'm going back to my room."
"Goodnight, Y/n. Tell that boy I said goodnight."
I tense up and bite my lip.
"What do you mean? What boy?"
Mark leans down and smirks, showing off his sharp teeth.
"That boy who tried sneaking up the stairs just a minute ago. I won't tell your mother but I expect something in return."
"Like what? It better not be anything perverted, old man."
"What? Eww, no. You're my step daughter, why would I-"
"You've never watched porn, have you?"
"Wh-what the hell, kid? Why would you even bring up a topic like that?"
I shrug and walk past him.
"You kinda brought it on yourself."
I go into my room and shut the door, putting my hand over my heart. Fuck, fuck, fuck. That was scary! I punch Connor's stomach and cross my arms.
"You dumbass. He heard you."
"Haha and? At least I got to see your hot step dad."
"It's so hard to stay mad at you."
Me and Connor hang out a bit more, mostly just playing games, until we hear a knock at the door.
"Get under my bed. And don't make a sound."
Connor nods, getting underneath my bed, and I open the door to see Jack.
"Oh hi. What do you need?"
"H-hey Y/n, I ju-just wanted to hang out, I hope you don't m-mind. And-and since you're my new step sister I wanted to get to kn-know you better."
"Usually I would say yes but.."
My phone vibrates so I look down and sigh when I see Connor texted. 'Let him stay I was in the closet for 14 years I can handle being under the bed for a few minutes, plus I'll get to see ur step bro'
"Actually, I've changed my mind so sure, you can come in."
He sits on the floor and blushes a bit.
"So what do you wanna know?"
"Well, what animes do you..."
Jack looks down towards where Connor is and I panic. Man, me and Connor are bad at being sneaky. I bite my lip and freeze. Well fuck. How do I distract him? I realize I took too long thinking and Jack pulls Connor out from under the bed.
"Hey there cutie."