Being replaced by the one you thought was your forever—it left a bitter aftertaste.
To amplify matters, in two months, I’d be twenty-five years old. As my mother reminded meeveryopportunity she got, she’d been married for five yearsandhad two kids by twenty-five.
Interrupting my internal lament, three loud bangs resounded throughout my apartment, and I scowled at the door. Thirty seconds later, I was still debating answering it when I heard the muffled voice of my older sister, Kelsey.
“Gwen, answer the door. I know you’re in there. I can smell the Thai.” She let out a heavy sigh at the end, and I wrinkled my nose. Betrayed by the comfort food.
She always seemed to pop up when I least wanted company.
Huffing with aggravation, I stood, abandoning my Thai food on the coffee table. I padded over to the door, opening it reluctantly.
Kelsey took in the baggy t-shirt and boxers look I was rocking. “Really, Gwen?” she said dryly, rolling her cornflower blue eyes.
“Oh, please, throw your opinion upon me,” I deadpanned, standing aside to let her walk in.
Kelsey was my Irish twin, born eleven months before me. She was a lot like our mother—very big on rules and appearances—and right now, my appearance wasn’t working for her.
My sister had always been the popular one, the pretty one. Being so close in age was brutal, especially in high school. I was that kid—braces, glasses, pimples. No boobs. At least, not until the twelfth grade.
I was a late bloomer. But thankfully, my tits eventually came in, and my skin stopped breaking out, and I ditched the horrible red tortoise glasses I’d worn since the ninth grade for a more flattering pair—my beloved black and blue Tiffany specs.
I started watching makeup tutorial videos and practiced all the time, perfecting my application skills, playing up my eyes and my lips. I also developed a better fashion sense, which I’m sure helped. Now, my closet was stocked with outfits that were fashionable and fit me properly, not the black cargo pants of my past.
But presently, all bets were off. My hair was piled on top of my head in a messy bun, and I was shamefully wearing an old band t-shirt from my high school days.
She tapped her perfectly manicured finger against her lips, her critical eyes on me like I was a problem for her to solve. Her focus shifted to the chestnut nest atop my head. “It’s Friday night.”
“I’m aware.” I gritted my teeth, adjusting my glasses. It was one of my many nervous ticks. Charming.
“I’m worried about you, Gwenny,” Kelsey sighed. I could hear the judgment and concern in her voice.
“Don’t be.” I waved away her remarks, laughing a little. It sounded fake to me, too.
“You always do this.” She frowned, crossing her arms. “You sink into yourself and hide. And I’m not going to let you do that anymore. Get ready. We’re going out.”
“I really don’t feel like going anywhere,” I told her. “I just wanted a chill night.”
“You can have your chill night tomorrow,” she said decisively. She grabbed my hand and started dragging me toward the bedroom. Releasing her hold on me, she stomped to my closet. “Go shower. I’ll handle the wardrobe.”
“Kelsey,really—“
“Don’t.” She spun around, raising her finger at me threateningly—the same thing our mother did when she was lecturing one of us. “You’ve been moping over Erik foreight months, Gwen. It’s time to move on. I want my sister back.”
I gaped at her, wanting to argue, to dispute her claim. But she wasn’t wrong—I was wallowing. It was easier than putting myself out there or enduring the disappointment of being let down, having your hopes and dreams for the future crushed.
But I wasn’t any happier, and I knew Kelsey wouldn’t give up until I’d let her think she’d won. I threw my hands up in exasperation. “Fine, I’ll go!” Turning on my heel, I stomped to the bathroom.
* * *
“Rememberwhen we were still in high school, and we’d sneak out to watch the battle of the bands?” Kelsey asked as I applied a coat of my favourite red lipstick—Outlawby Kat Von D.
Setting the tube of lipstick down on the counter, I put my glasses back on and assessed myself, making sure I didn’t have lipstick on my teeth and that my winged eyeliner was even. Turning around, I leaned against the counter and folded my arms across my chest. “Yes…”
Kelsey stood in the doorway with her phone in-hand. “There’s a band playing at the Watering Hole tonight, and the reviews of their music are pretty positive. We should check it out.”
“All right.” I nodded, the nervousness I felt in the pit of my stomach easing some. Kelsey preferred clubbing to live music, and I’d been busy expecting the worst from tonight, so I figured that’s where she’d drag me. I could get behind a live band at the Watering Hole.
I grabbed my black clutch from my closet and stuffed my keys, debit card, and phone into it before following her to her newer-model, white SUV parked in front of my beat-up Mazda on the street.
