Lovely friends

Kaia

I didn't realise that I'd ever say this, but I miss having Ruby around. Without her, it's been hard being comfortable around my parents. Like I ever was.

The thing is, Ruby was always the one conversing with my parents at breakfast or dinner time. I always just sat there and listened. That's it. So, not having her around is very weird.

"Any updates on what we talked about?" Warren asked.

He seemed to have finished his breakfast. Mum also looked at me expectantly.

"Uh, not yet. It's been hard getting close to..."

He hit the table hard, which startled me. "That's not an excuse. I trust that you'll make progress the next time I ask you?"

"Yes." I tried calming myself down.

"We're relying on you, Kaia. Don't disappoint me like your sister has." He said, looking at me intently.

Father was not joking. If I messed this up, I don't even want to imagine what he'd do to me. I have to get close to her. No matter what.

Mother also got up from her seat to escort him to his car. I no longer had an appetite. I, too, got up and entered my usual car, with Quint driving me to school.

I regret ever saying that I was jealous of Ruby. It's a lot of pressure trying to please these parents of ours. Why did I even agree to this? To please them? To have them acknowledge me as the better daughter? Just why?

I got to my seat just in time before the bell chimed.

"Kaia?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why didn't I see your quiz script when I was marking them?"

"I don't know but I'm pretty sure I submitted it."

"Are you trying to tell me that your script grew wings or something? Why don't you just admit it. You didn't submit your script."

"But sir, I did submit my script."

"Are you saying that I'm lying?"

I shut my mouth. But I'm sure I submitted it, so how could it just get lost? Mr Fitzgerald returned the marked quiz scripts to everyone, except mine, of course.

"Nadia, keep up the great work. You're a new student, right? I'm impressed."

Mr Fitzgerald was supposed to be complimenting me, not her. If not for my missing quiz script. Why's nothing going the way I want?

I clenched my hands tightly, trying to calm down. There'll be other tests I can beat her at. Yes.

With my mood now sour, the lessons seemed to be stretching on for too long. Finally, lunch break came. I just wanted to go home.

"Hey, you okay?" Hazel asked.

I exhaled tiredly. "I'm not. Nothing's going the way I want."

"That's not good." Gina replied.

"By the way, where were you guys? You missed school for two whole days and didn't say anything."

The two looked at each other. "We're sorry, Kaia. But, we had no choice." Gina said, looking guilty.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Hazel sighed. "Our parents forced us to stay out of school for those two days because of your sister's scandal."

I scrowled, trying to understand what they were saying.

I scoffed once I understood. :Your parents didn't think it was a good idea to be anywhere close to me whose sister was in that scandal."

"You understand us, right? We had no choice." Gina said.

I scoffed. "Of course, I do."

"Then, why do you look mad?" Hazel asked.

"I just know I wouldn't ghost either of you just because any of your family members were involved in a scandal." Their demeanors were shaken as they tried to defend themselves. "What lovely friends I have."

I brushed past them, heading to the staff room. It seems I was gonna have my lunch a bit late. Earlier in class, Mr Fitzgerald said I met him during lunch break in the staff room.