So Much for my Happy Ending
Chapter 1 Corinne
"Dad! Tell Fletcher to let me in the bathroom. I'm going to be late for work." My voice was shrill with irritation.
Typical morning on a typical day. It wasn't even five thirty in the morning and I felt like killing my brother. You would think that after eighteen years of living with my brother, I would learn a measure of patience for dealing with him… but you would be wrong.
Fletcher was the token golden child. He was five years older than me, and you would think that having your 23 year old son living with you would make you realize he isn't the greatest child you could have but you would be wrong.
Fletcher and my dad were like best friends. And oddly enough they usually were thought to be brothers more than father and son. They were both tall, around six foot six. They kept their dark hair cut in a buzz and even worked out together. Being five foot five usually gave me the benefit of being invisible when they were around. I was halfway though junior high before people believed me and Fletcher were actually brother and sister.
"Fletcher…let your sister use the bathroom, son."
My father's voice was typical when dealing with me, apathetic and bored. There was something about me that brought out the irritation with my father. I'm sure it had to do with the fact that my mother died giving birth to me. Add the fact that I was everything a father didn't want for a daughter and I could understand his refusal to talk to me…and look at me. But just because I understood it, didn't mean I wasn't hurt by it.
So yeah, I'm pretty much the poster child for what you don't want in a daughter. I'm a girl, but I can't befriend one to save my life. I love reading, but trying to read the so called classics, always makes my brain hurt. My family was comprised of striking beauties, but I was non-descript. I knew my father thought all girls were supposed to like makeup and fixing their hair, but I barely ran a brush through my hair before pulling it back into a pony tail.
The bathroom door finally opened and my brother and his annoyingly handsome face emerged.
"Here twerp. I was done anyway." Fletcher stepped out of the bathroom looking just like our father. It was always unsettling.
"Sorry. I just haven't been feeling good lately." Another one of my faults, incessant apologizing, but it was true I've felt like crap the past few days.
Brushing by Fletcher, I locked myself in the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I took a deep breath. Something felt off with me…but I still looked the same. Round, non-descript face, boring eyes, and disgustingly mismatched lips. Besides my weight, my lips were a hug source of contention. My top one was normal, but the bottom one was thick and pouty. And trust me; while it may sound exotic…it's not.
My high school years had been spent in baggy jeans and shirts. I would have willingly committed homicide to have been able to wear skinny jeans or denim skirts – and not look like I was pregnant. Besides my body I really didn't think I was grotesque or anything. I just wasn't…noticeable. The one picture I had of my mother made me curse recessive genes.
I could not find a trace of my father anywhere in my face. I was short and plump, but Embry was tall and muscular. I was…LATE!
"Corinne, hurry up or I'm going to leave you here." My brother yelled from down the hall. I was going to be late!
Taking the quickest shower, I ran the brush through my hair and grimaced at my reflection. My brother really would leave me, making me late for the fifth time this month. Mrs. Newton was a nice lady, but I think even she would be mad if I showed up late again.
Working for Mrs. Newton was actually not that bad. I had worked for her during high school and now I would continue my work while going through community college. After community college I was going to the first four year university that accepted me – the farther away the better.
It's not that I hated the reservation, or even Washington, but I was tired of this place. It was the same thing every single day. Nothing excited ever happened. I wanted a chance to start over, to become someone new. Not just plain Corinne Call.
Fletcher was starting the engine to his truck when I came running out. I could call it a truck in my head, but to Fletcher this wasn't his truck…it was his baby. He and his best friend, Wes, had worked an entire summer to restore the engine and had named it…Vera. Yes, he believed his truck was a woman. Don't ask, trust me. It took me a long time to learn where Fletcher was concerned, less is best.
We were on the road to Forks when my brother turned down the radio.
"So I'm going to have the guy's over tomorrow for the game. Do you mind making us some snacks before you go to your room?"
I kept my face carefully averted as I read in between the lines of Fletcher's question. Make us food and then get lost. Neither I nor my friends want to hang out with you.
"I guess."
Not like I had anything else to do. My college classes wouldn't start until the fall and I got off work at five every day. Even if I felt like taking a walk down to the beach or up the trail I still would have enough time to cook something.
Refusing to look at Fletcher, I concentrated on the sky. It was that perfect time when night was giving way to day. Everything looked different, even when you knew it was the same.
Getting out of the truck in front of my job, I wondered how much longer I could do this before I went insane.
A/N So yeah, this is the first chapter and it will take a few to get into the story line. Read and Review!
