Violet De Cruz-Chapter 7

!SEVEN

Knock knock.

I yawn and look at my alarm clock. 5.45 a.m. Who knocks on my door at this hour?

"Who the heck is that?" I groan in a loud voice.

A girl, my height, wearing a pink miniskirt and a white tank top, walks in. I squint at the blurry figurse and rub my eyes. Bella. Wait, did I just see Bella? What is she doing in my house? It's probably just a dream, she isn't even...Oh, yes, Bella.

Now that Bella took the guest room next to mine, she's definitely going to bother me often. Very often.

"I need to use your mirror." Bella says smugly.

I rub my eyes. "Use your own. You already have your own room. If I have the right, I'll make you sleep on the living room floor. No, maybe the next to our car. Get out."

Bella rolls her eyes. "Too bad. You don't have the right, so I still get the room. I can't find any mirror in the guest room, I need yours. Now."

I eye her clothes, sleepily. "Why are you all dressed up."

Bella shoots me a "duh" look. "Getting ready for school? I must look good on my first day in a new school in a new city!"

"Oh," I sink deeper into the pillow and pull my blanket higher. "Your choice. Get out then. The family only wakes up seven!" I yawn.

Bella drops her crossed arms and frowns in an angry way. "Didn't you hear what I said? I said, I need your...."

That's all I heard from her before I fell asleep again.

***

My alarm rings at 6.50. I silence it by throwing it on my floor mat without even opening my eyes. I didn't seem to have enough sleep. I remember being interrupted somewhere in between.

I flip over and stare at my cupboard. The cupboard door, the one with the mirror, is open. Since when? Was there a burglar? Was that what interrupted me when I was sleeping? No, it's some pinky person. Yes, Bella. I seriously hate her.

***

I run down the stairs with my sling bag over my shoulders. I'm dressed in black shorts and a light blue T-shirt that has a yellow star on the front. I also have two light purple studs on my ear loops.

Weird. I actually wanted to put on my violet star earrings, but they were missing. I always keep my accessories in place, they never get lost.

"Mum!" I shout the moment I get to the bottom of the stairs. "Have you seen my violet star earrings?"

Mum turns from the juicer in the kitchen. "Goodness, Violet, you've already reached the bottom of the stairs, what's the point of shouting at me?"

I roll my eyes. "Have you seen it or not?"

"I have!" Vanessa shouts as she points across the dining table. "There! I have seen it! I just saw it, in fact!"

I trace Vanessa's finger, leading towards Bella. She was still chewing, bacon I presume, and suddenly she stops moving. There it was, my earrings, on her ear loops.

I stare at her with an angry, questioning look. All eyes fall on Bella. Even Mum's. Let's see how Little Miss Perfect will react.

Bella's eyes widen. I knew it, her same old big-eye-didn't-know-anything trick. "It's yours?" I'm so sorry! When I was using your mirror, I saw it fall on the floor. It didn't really look like your type of pattern so I just tried it on and forgot to take it off! So sorry!"

I cross my arms. "In my room, if it's not mine, whose is it?"

Bella shrugs innocently. "I don't know. I thought maybe your friend came over and dropped it."

Like, hello? We just moved in a few days ago, which friend can come?

Mum sighs loudly from the kitchen and comes out. "Don't bother, Violet. Let Bella wear it for the day then. Oh, yes, I forgot. Bella, you don't have a mirror in the guest room, I'd be getting a new one for you soon. In the mean time, Vanessa or Violet can just lend you theirs."

Bella smiles sweetly. "Yes, of course, I understand. Aunt, you can take your time, I am not so urgent for a mirror."

I don't know why, I have not eaten breakfast yet and I already have the urge to puke.

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 6

SIX

"Mum? I'm ho--" My voice trails off and I stare blankly at the girl sitting on my favourite couch. Bella.

She's sitting there daintily with her legs crossed and two big, pink suitcases are next to her, and also a light blue baggy carrier bag sitting on her lap.

When she sees me, she smirks. "Hello, cousin. You--" She notices my hair and scowls.

"Aww..." I give her a pitiful glance. "Poor little Bella not allowed to dye pink streaks, huh?"

"Oh, shush--" Bella starts.

"Girls?" Mum comes down the stairs.

Bella turns away from me and smiles. "Hello, Aunt Mindy, Violet's home."

Mum looks at me, then she turns to look at Bella. "Yes, sorry to keep you waiting, darling. It's snack time! You can put your bags upstairs first."

As Bella picks up her bags and stand up, I put up my hand. "Whoa, wait. Why is she here so early?"

"Why can't she?" Mum retorts. "Tracy needs to stop by at the mart before heading to the airport so she sent Bella here early, do you have a problem with that?"

"You know what?" I stare at Mum. Bella stares at me. "Yes, I do have a problem with that." With that, I run up the stairs. Then I realise I forgot something and I turn back to give Bella a glance. "You better not enter my room or touch anything that belongs to me in this house!"

***

Knock knock.

"Come in." I say as I flick through a old fairytale book that I loved when I was young. It's so old now. The book cover is still hard and firm, but the book's yellow and dirty.

"Violet?" Mum walks in. She eyes the book. "Oh, the fairytale series, I used to read it to you. Looks like you dug it up from somewhere."

I shut the book. "You used to read, not anymore, those times are over so tell me what you're here for."

Mum sighs. "Violet, when are you ever going to change your attitude?"

I put the book on my lap. "I don't think you came in to say this."

"Oh, yes, do you mind if Bella shares your room?"

I stare at her.

"Violet?"

My mouth drops open.

"Answer me!"

My eyes widen, I throw the book aside and scream.

Mum winces. "I got it, okay?"

"Get out!" I shout. "That girl is never, ever getting to my room, so don't tell me about sharing it!"

***

Bella is always a good girl when adults are around. The moment they're gone, the devil inside her comes out to play, and it's one serious devil.

We've got a small white table in front of the TV, there are no chairs because you're supposed to sit on the floor. So there Bella is, sitting cross-legged on the grey furry rug in the living room (that I chose) with a plate of chicken chop with potato salad on the table in front of her, and with her eyes glued to the TV.

"Why isn't Bella joining us at the dining table?" Dad asks.

I seriously think Bella heard that, cause' her head turned less than a centimeter (and yes, I saw it), then it turned back.

"I don't want her to!" Vanessa and I snap at the same time, then we laugh.

Dad frowns. "That's not very nice, we should get her to join us." Bella is concentrating on the 'Bratz' cartoon on TV, I don't think she would even want to join us, except to make my parents think she's so good.

Why does she still watch that anyway? Oh yes, I think I know. She's a brat herself. That's the perfect explanation for a girl like her who is already my age. And I think I said that out loud.

"I think she's a brat herself."

Dad frowns, again. "We weren't even talking about that!"

I drop my fork. "Oops."

"I have no idea what grudge you two hold against Bella," Mum says as shes comes in with a pot of mushroom soup.

"Don't tell me." I pick up fork and hold up my hand. "She's such a nice girl."

Vanessa starts laughing so hard that food flies out from her mouth.

"Vanessa!" Mum howls.

Bella turns with wide eyes.

Mum changes her a-mum-who-is-going-to-kill-her-child look to a welcoming smile. "Bella, mushroom soup?"

I just found out the special talent in my family. Acting. They really do it so well, I nearly believed them.

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 5

FIVE

I grab my books from my locker and tidy the piles of the others. As I lock it up, two blondes approach me. Britney, Lola and Sharon pop up behind me as well. What's with the people hear? Appearing suddenly all the time.

The two girls come closer. I take a good look. One of them is the irritating senior from yesterday. Next to her is a girl who looks around my age and has that same smug face. What are they? Sisters?

"Ugh." Britney says in disgust. "Those sisters again." So, I was right.

"Who are they?" I ask, and I think I made it sound dumb.

"Who are they?" Britney repeats. "Did you just say, who are they?"

I roll my eyes.

"Practically everyone knows them," Lola informs.

Britney flicks her wavy fringe. "Sally and Sabrina. The sister group. Sally is a senior."

I huff. "I know. An annoying one."

"Don't mess with them," Sharon whispers, "they're not very nice when you go against them."

Before I can reply, they've already stopped in front me. "Oh," Sally gives me a dirty look. "You."

Sabrina squints. "Who? Newbie? Oh, welcome."

I don't entertain people like her. From her face, I can see clearly not she's a serious smug one. I shrug off her welcome and turn away. I see Sabrina's jaw drop. "Did she just do that to me?" I hear her tell her sister.

***

"Oops."

I stare at the cream puff that just landed on my lap, on my new shorts actually. I look up into Sabrina's face.

"Sor-ree." Sabrina shrugs. "It was an accident, you know, it just slipped off my plate."

I shrug too. "Yeah, of course I understand." I push the cream puff off my lap, it lands on the floor, or rather on Sabrina's shoe, the cream splats out.

Sabrina's eyes widen. "It's new! Oh my gosh! It's neeeewwww!"

I grunt. "My shorts are new too, darr-ling. And by the way, it was an accident, you know, it just landed on the wrong place."

Sabrina shrieks and slams her tray on our table, then she heads to the toilet. Just before we can start laughing, Sally storms over. "Look," she glares at me. "I've tolerated you enough on your first day and now you ruined my sister's new shoes, you're really gonna pay for that."

***

"You kidding me?" Britney stares at me. "Another new girl? Your cousin?"

"Cool." Sharon grins. "I bet she's as nice as you."

I pick up Lola's pink pen. "Lend me."

"Is she nice?" Britney narrows her eyes at me.

I rummage through Sharon's pencil case and pick out a sparkly scarletn pen. "Lend me." I stare at Britney's pencil case with keen eyes.

Britney sighs and puts her hand on it to protect it. "You've not answered my question."

"You'll see."

"No," Britney whispers to lola and Sharon. "I bet she's not nice."

I grab Britney's pencil case and take whatever I want while Britney gossips. I start sketching on a piece of paper torn out from Britney's fancy purple notebook. I use all their colour pens and decorate on the paper: Welcome, Bella. :D

"Get what I mean?" Britney ends her talk.

"Yup." I answer.

"You do? You weren't even listening!"

I grin at her. "Thanks for the pens and paper."

"Noo! Not my notebook paper!'

"There," I pass the piece of well-decorated 'welcome paper' to Lola. "You three can present this to her tomorrow."

"Eww?" Britney peeks over. "Bella?"

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 4

FOUR

Moving was a seriously horrible idea. My head is spinning right now. I don't believe what I just heard from Mum. Bella, as in, that Bella, is coming over?

"Yes," Mum repeats. "Bella is moving in for half a year."

"You must be kidding me," I shake my head.

"No, no, no!" Vanessa screams. "No way! No, No way!"

On second thought, I don't think my younger sister is anything better than Bella.

"Yes way." Mum stares at Vanessa. "Tomorrow, around evening."

My mouth drops open. Vanessa pretends to faint. Tell me I didn't hear what I just heard. That can't be true. It really can't.

"Girls," Mum chides. "This is not the way to behave when your sweet cousin is moving in."

Sweet? The total opposite I would say. She's a total fake. Drama queen, literally. So good at acting. To think that I am even related to her.

"But, why? Mummy, why, why?" Vanessa whines."Why can't Uncle Bob and Aunt Tracy take care of their own daughter?"

I smirk," Maybe they can't even stand her."

"Enough of that! Bella is such a nice girl and not only my daughters can't be like her but they speak ill of her!" Mum snaps.

"She only has a nice mask." I state.

"Violet!" Mum growls. "I didn't even ground for what you did this morning and I might have second thoughts now!"

"Why, Mummy, why?" Vanessa continues in a kittenn-like voice.

Mum throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. "Bob's going to France for his business and Tracy's going with him, they don't intend to bring the kids there to start a total new life for them so they want Bella and her brother to stay here. Since we just moved, they think it will be good to have Bella to start school with Violet, and I agree. Tim will be going to boarding school, only Bella's coming then."

I step back from Mum. I don't believe what I just heard. Not only is Bella living in my house, but she is also going to my school! That's my worst nightmare, really the worst. It would really have been better if Tim was here since he himself can't stand his sister so whenever he's around, Bella's totally defeated. Now he's not here, my nightmare may never end.

***

I don't know how I ended up falling asleep while leaning against the beanbag in my room, but now, I really woke up after the bad dream. I barely fell asleep for ten minutes and the shock woke me up again. The 'Bella' shock. I was thinking about how I was going to handle her when I just closed my eyes and slept, then, I thought of Bella right in front of me with her stupid smile, saying, "Hi, cousin!" That woke me up.

That was scary, and I'm speaking the truth. She's always been jealous of me, I know it alright. Yet, she handles it in a way that annoys me much. What's going to happen this time? Ruin my school life, my daily life, my everything probably.

I push the thoughts out of head and look down at my phone. Suddenely, I feel so sick of my old ringtone. Makes me think of Bella again. She tried singing it last time at the family gathering back in Escondido. Robert called me while all the cousins were playing 'Cluedo', and that started off her singing side, which is really awful.

I still remember her, practically screeching, "Slipping down the slide, I did enjoy the ride. Don't know what to decide, you lied to me. You looked me in the eye, it took me by surprise. Now are you gra--"

That's when my 19-year-old cousin, Ryan, put up his hand with a disgusted look on his face. "Shush, Bell, are you gonna play or not?"

Bella went kind of red and went back to the game quickly. I shake my head now, why am I thinking of her again? No, I shouldn't. I finally decide to change Avril Lavigne's 'Get Over It', since I don't want to end up thinking about Bella sing instead of the real star.

I slump back down on the beanbag. The news about Bella seriously flushed any happiness I ever felt today. She's a nightmare queen.

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 3

THREE

I glance at my timetable. Maths. Sigh. It's not like I hate it a lot. It's just that Maths seems to bring me bad luck. Something always 'crashes' into me during Maths.

I make my way to locker 25 which is labelled with my name. I peel off the sticker and dump it in the bin.

I stare at my locker blankly. Keys? I don't remember getting it.

"Violet!"

When I turn, I see Sharon's face right in front of me, panting away. In her hand, was a small bunch of keys. "I.....am.....sorry.....this.....is......is yours....."

I take the keys from her. "Thanks."

Sharon looks at her watch. "Oh no! Biology! Why does this always happen to me? Biology is totally my unlucky star!"

I grin as see her run off again. Unlucky star. Am I gonna be one? Why do I get an awkward feeling that something bad is going to happen. Really bad.

***

Maths is bad. I knew it was.

Mr Clark, our Maths teacher with neardy black spectacles, keeps on giving me evil stares. What's his problem? My looks? My hair? My work? No, definitely not my work. I always maintain my good grades despite the fact that I fool around a lot.

"Violet," Mr Clark says as he walks past my desk. "I hope your grades will be looking as good as your hair." Now I know what he's heading at. He's one of those who does not approve of dyed hair.

I give him a smile that looks more like a smirk. I didn't mean to though. I quickly turn my gaze to the worksheet that he gave out. Oh, easy. I practice this topic often.

"Time up!" Mr Clark annonces. "Check your answers against my answer sheet. Any full-markers?"

He's got this look on his face that shows that he totally knows that there are no full-markers. Looks like I am going to disapoint him in a positive way.

"Me?" I ask-answer.

Mr Clark looks over and his eyes widen. "Let me guess," He chuckles softly. "It was Carrie who said that, right?"

Carrie, is the girl who sits next to me, at least she told me she was. People from the back said she scores the highest in class.

Carrie shakes her head softly. "I made two careless mistakes."

Mr Clark looks at me unwillingly. "Violet De Cruz?"

I give him a "duh" look. "I'm pretty sure that I know my own score." I tell Mr Clark.

Mr Clarks clears his throat.

***

This is wrong. Just totally wrong. I'm friend-less for the first time in my life. Is it just me or are people here cold? No body ever ignored me in Escondido. Since I was born I had friends. I'm not trying to be proud I just feel...lonely? Moving really was a bad idea. I could have been with my old friends.

Well, I'm not totally friend-less. I've got Sharon...Who is a little hyper. She's been bouncing all about me. Talking, asking and stuff. I went for lunch with Sharon and two girls. What's their name again? Yes, Britney and Lola. They asked if we wanted to join and Sharon agreed, telling me that they were popular people but that didn't seem like it to me.

I feel weird in this place. Out of place maybe. Moving was a bad, bad idea.

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 2

TWO

When I step out of the office, a blonde hair girl who tied her hair up into a real tight ponytail is staring at me with lazy eyes, leaning against the pillar with her jaws moving slightly. Bubblegum.

She yawns. "Violet De Cruz?"

I raise an eyebrow.

"Must be you," the girl beckons me with a slight wave of her arm while rolling her eyes. "I'm your senior. Follow me to your homeroom."

"You think I need your help?" I ask with a slight tone of challenge.

"Look, you're just a newbie," she smirks. "Don't challenge me. Follow. Don't speak. Or else."

"Or else what?"

She sneers, "Or else you're in trouble."

I sigh sarcastically and walk past her. "Bring it on then."

***

I find my way to homeroom 2, without that senior. Everyone stares at me as I walk in.

The homeroom teacher looks up and her eyes widen. "Have you met Mrs Benson?"

"Yes."

"Well..." She eyes the class. "Sit with Sharon."

I turn to face the class and frown. Who is Sharon? She expects me to know?

A girl, most probably Sharon, smiles and waves at me.

I put on a blank expression and sit next to her.

"Hello," she beams. "I'm Sharon. Very nice to meet you. I hope we can become best friends."

I shrug. "Nice try."

Sharon blinks.

"I don't make best friends easily." I tell her.

"Oh, ok." Sharon says softly. She pushes something to me. "This is your timetable. By the way, I love your hair." She smiles.

Well, the truth is that I had requested to get my hair streaked purple in my glossy black hair when I was 13. That was really a major request to my family. Not to me though. I had ever thought of following my best friend Melanie's older sister, Melissa, to get a ring on my tongue when I'm old enough. I think I better not do that when I am still under the same roof of my parents.

It took Dad more than two months to agree to my request. I had gotten impatient by then. Mum got totally freaked out and lost all trust in me. I was always her good girl, until the hair-dying. She think I've changed. Actually, I have. I changed since she thought I changed.

Just to tell the truth, I'm a total freak about my name. Almost everything I own is violet or purple. I mean, come on, since the name is going to stick with me for life, I should just suit it well. Of course, I own objects of other colours, but violet is the striking one covering up my room.

I dressed myself in a purple graphic shirt with dark blue skinny jeans and violet star sneakers this morning. This didn't get Mum too happy. She seriously expected me to wear the light blue lacy dress. Way out.

Violet De Cruz-Chapter 1

ONE

I run my fingers through my long, straight hair. I am all ready.

My name is Violet. Violet De Cruz. Sounds weird but I can't do anything. I am 16 this year and I am going to a new school since we just moved.

I strongly disagreed to moving but I can't do anything either. I never get the say. Actually, I never got the say ever since Dad agreed to my major request when I was 13. Since then, Mum practically stripped me of the right to decide in this family.

"Clock's ticking!" A voice shouts from downstairs.

"Alright!" I shout back, annoyed.

Mum stares at me when I get to the kitchen. I stop walking.

"What?" I demand.

Mum eyes me, top to bottom. "I told you to wear the dress."

"That dress? No way am I wearing that on my first day." I shake my head. "First impressions, you know."

"Violet---" Mum starts.

"Come on," Dad shoots Mum a look while grabbing his bag. "Don't make them late on their first day."

***

As Mum locks up the front door and Dad starts up the car in the garage, I stare out of our front gate.

"Aren't you excited?" Vanessa beams at me.

The loud engine of the motorcycle that just stopped in front of our gate turns my attention away from my litter sister. I narrow my eyes at the figure on the vehicle. The cyclist removes his helmet.

"Robert!" I gasp in delight.

He grins. "You know how long the journey took me?"

"Don't tell me," I shake my head in disbelief. "You came all the way from Escondido?"

"Yep. Just to send my buddy on her first day."

"Well..." I turn to look at Mum. She's glaring at me with daggers in her eyes. I think it's true that eyes can kill, or maybe just my mother's eyes can.

I hesitate. What's there to lose? Okay, maybe I'll lose the good side of me in her impression, but I've lost that quite some time ago. I throw my bag over my shoulders, grab a helmet from Robert, and jump---landing myself right behind him.

Robert speeds off before Mum can scream.

I put on my helmet and hug Robert's waist. "Thank you, buddy."

Somehow, I know he grinned.

***

Robert screeches to a stop in front of my school gate. All eyes are on us. Has any student arrived in school like that before? I doubt so.

"Cool place." Robert breathes.

I raise an eyebrow. I would rather go back to my old school, with all my friends and Robert.

A few girls walk past the motorcycle as I get off and they wave at Robert. Robert smirks and winks at me. "Bye, buddy. Mel's been planning to visit soon, so I'll see ya in no time."

I shrug. "Guess so."

I can't bear to leave Rob, but I have to. The only people I can blame is...Dad? Mum? They made us move anyway.

As I stroll into the school lobby, searching for the principal's office, the 'sticky eyes' are still not leaving me.

"Look at her hair!" I hear someone whisper.

"Cool."

I spot it. The principal's office. Right. First impressions. I push back my hair and sling my bag properly before knocking on the door twice.

"Come in." A sharp yet cool voice says.

I walk in.

A middle aged lady with jet black hair tied into a neat bun looks up from a stack of papers. She removes her reading glasses.

"Good morning, Mrs Benson." I greet.

"Morning," she replies as she flips through a file. "Violet? Take a seat."

When I sit down, Mrs Benson eyes me in a friendly way.

"Okay," Mrs Benson smiles. "You're in Grade 11, homeroom 2. You'll get your timetable later."

I nod politely.

Mrs Benson's eyes widen suddenly. "Oh yes, your parents told me about your hair..."

"Is there a school rule against it?" I ask.

"Well..." Mrs Benson bites her lip. "Not really. But from what I know, only around two or three seniors in this school have dyed hair."

I shrug. I think I shouldn't have done that. "I have to keep my hair colour."

Mrs Benson sighs. I seem to see a look in her eyes that she expects me to appear in her office anytime soon, most probably out of trouble.

"You may go to your homeroom now then." Mrs Benson says suddenly.