Chapter Eleven

Chelsea's POV

"Good morning kids," Dad shouted from outside my door. His voice was loud and I reckoned he was probably standing in the hallway. "It's the first day of school!"

" Time to wake up." Mom's voice sounded right after. She was probably just walking past him and felt the need to chip in a word.

Right beside my room, there were sounds of something crashing on the floor and a moment later, a door was pulled open. It was Jasper's room and his voice soon sounded as he groaned, "But, it's just 6:55."

Dad gave a scoff and I could practically envision the 'don't argue with me boy' expression on his face as he retorted, "And we agreed to be ready at 7:00."

"Ugh!" Jasper groaned and the door was slammed again. He was probably gone to get ready.

Dad called out again, "Don't forget to get John ready too. You're his foster father now since he sleeps in your room."

Jasper probably didn't hear that as he didn't jump right out back to argue about how he wasn't good at raising kids. Or he did and just decided not to retort knowing he could never win against our parents.

There was a little more movement and as expected, Dad knocked on my door. "Chelsea." He called out. "Princess, are you up?"

I immediately turned towards the door and called out, "Yes dad. I'm getting dressed."

"Oh." He muttered. "Great. Remember to dress well. We don't want to seem tacky on the first day of school, do we?"

Yeah. Leave it to my dad to care about fashion. Even mom doesn't act as he does.

I chip back to him. "Roger that."

"Good."

A moment later, I could hear the sounds of his footsteps as he left my door. He was probably gone to get ready for work too or to assist mom in fixing breakfast.

A smile crept up at the edge of my lips as I took another look at myself in the mirror. I had gotten dressed already.

I was putting on a pair of blue wide-legged pants and over it, I wore a black barbiecore. To match it, I put on a pair of black platform shoes to match the belt bag around my waist.

My hair was also pulled up in a high ponytail. My face was also bare and my lips were only a bit rosy from the gloss rubbed over them.

All in all, I looked attractive. Not the kind of attractive that seemed eye-catching. But the kind that would make anyone take a second look.

I had always dressed that way and all of my clothes were color flashes. My attire that day was considered one of the most monotone-colored clothes I ever had.


And, I had a hard time picking what to wear.


Although I was emotionally scarred and didn't want to deal with anyone, I knew what the basic rules of life were. Ninety-five of a hundred people judge you by your appearance.


And I had my fair share of being popular in my previous school and being part of one of the social cliques to know I needed to make a good impression. To have a smooth high school life and avoid being targeted.


It made me seem self-conscious. But that was what reality was.


I soon walked out of my room and when I shut the door, the door of Jasper's room was also pulled open. He stepped out in his bathrobe and called out, "Mom, I can't find John's underwear. Why don't you come tend to him?"

His words immediately got me shaking my head. He was trying to push the chore to mom. She didn't even answer though.

As I walked past Jasper, I chimed in. "It's probably in the blue bag in his closet."

He immediately looked toward me and he gave me a stinky eye that told me to shut up. But, his tone was ever tolerant as he said, "I've checked there. It's not there."

" Oh. What about the shelf by the side of his wardrobe?"

"Or..." I mouthed, " The black underwear pouch at the top of the cupboard. Surely, it's in one of those?"

Jasper looked at me funny and he seemed to realize that I was intentionally messing with him. He gritted his teeth, realizing he couldn't escape getting John ready.

"Yeah, it should. Thank you for being so nosy, Chels." He said through gritted teeth.

And then, he slammed the door back probably facing the tune now.

I leaked a laugh at this and called out, "No need for thanks."

Well... I just liked messing with my brother. He usually did worse though and my comebacks were never as savage as his.

I walked down the stairs and I found Mom laying on the table. Dad was in the living room trying to fix his tie as he paced. He seemed as though he had just gotten dressed.

"Babe..." He called out, referring to mom. "I'm unable to make heads or tails of this thing. Come help me fix it."

I could practically hear mom sigh. And as usual, she retorted with a slogan known by everyone in the house. "Reasons why you should be thankful you have such a hero like me."

I leaned by the wall and watched as mom left the dining table. She walked towards him and tiptoed to help him with it.

Whilst she did this, dad responded with a smile on his face, "If you are the hero, then who am I? Don't you think you are mixing things up?"

Mom smiled cheekily. "Of course, you are the damsel in distress."

By then, she had fixed his tie. She placed her feet on the floor once more. But this time, dad reached a hand out to her waist and pulled her closer.

Then, he kissed her on the lips. And almost immediately, I lifted a palm to cover my eyes. No one wanted to watch their parents showing off affection right in front of their eyes.

Jasper's voice sounded right behind my ear soon. "Eww... Stop spraying dog food."

The two immediately separated and Mom returned to the kitchen looking a little embarrassed. Dad looked in her direction and fixed Jasper a hard glare that I translated as: 'You're guilty of ruining my love life.'

We rarely chanced upon both of them kissing or snogging. They were usually very private as they were one of those parents that advocated influencing their children in a good way.

"Time for breakfast." Mom soon called out.

I jolted out of my reverie and watched as everyone began to assemble in the dining. Then, I also joined them at the table.