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Fro his face in my sketchpad, I know if he hasn’t already been fed those lies, it’s not too long before that happens The slight pang I felt as I sat up in bed was relegated to the boneyard with all the other e over so froht before and worked my jaw to ease the soreness

By the time I turned on the water in the shower, I’d ht; there was no point in daydrea about him no matter how innocent those dreams were

That was easier said than done, though The heart has athefor a hero for nore when someone who looks, sounds, and feels like that comes into my orbit

I got a tingling downthat it was the cause In the back of my mind, I kinda sorta kneasn’t My cheeks blushed red, and I clapped ainst them as I looked in theMy eyes looked bright and uncluttered as they peered back at me So did the red splotches leftover from that slap

For the first tiirls who liked to wear makeup and play dress up, but I never learned how not that it would’ve donelob, and my wildintothat had almost made Becky lose her shit

My burgeoning breasts had been a thing of discussion for a very long time, and since she couldn’t very well lop thefor me in order to hide them My face, the face of her old friend, she couldn’t do much with, so any form of enhancement was forbidden

My ears were still bare, no piercing as of to date That had been another bone of contention when I elve and wanted it so badly I’d wanted to finally start wearing the jewelry that mom had left, especially a pair of diamond studs that had been passed down froenerations

Victoria had laid claim to soht back Grandma Eloise had been called on the sly, and the kerfuffle that ensued is one for the books The end result being that the jewelry went back in the safe until I turn eighteen, and if so , dad would be sued in court

Since mom had left a will and there was no way around it, no matter how Becky droned on about faaaaamily, dad didn’t cave for once It was also the last ti because it had cost me my relationship, as left of it, with my Grand her daughter wear the jewelry that was rightfully mine, had convinced my dad to cut them off completely

I grabbed o any further down that slippery slope Making sure my face was as dull as milquetoast, I walked into the kitchen where breakfast was being served Thank heaven for upper-middle-class salaries that could afford household help because Becky can’t cook, but Ella sure can

“Morning, Miss Gia, your toast will be ready in a minute I took my seat at the table where I was sure to be alone for the duration, so I look forward to because it’s one of the only times in this house where I’m assured of some peace and quiet Victoria never eats breakfast; she has a love-hate relationship with food since she was about ten

Dad is usually gone by now, and Becky does not leave her bed before ten Except for weekends when dad is home, and she has to pretend not to be lazy For these few et to have soh all I have is wheat toast and scras with home fried potatoes, mom’s favorite

Though Ella is nothing like Helen, the cook we had when mom was alive, she’s not too bad either She asked about school and ere working on, and I appreciated it though she tends to ask the same list of questions day in and day out It hadn’t taken her long to figure out which way the wind blows, and I don’t blame her; she needs to eat and keep a roof over her head So, if getting too close to me will put her job in jeopardy, it makes sense that she’d keep her distance