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.
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