Chapter 4
"Oh my god. What are you all doing here?" I demand on reflex, seeing everyone in my living room.
"Um. Hi Paisley. I guess your Sue's daughter." Annabeth says politely. I nod, still wondering why they're here. "Your Mum invited us all to dinner."
I slowly nod.
"Hey Paisley!" Piper pipes up from the piano, "Do you play?"
Piano and guitar used to be my favourite pastime other than sports. My sister and I had a knack for memorizing all the pieces we played. I haven't in a while though, because it reminds me of her, and thats too painful.
"Yeah." I smile slightly, rolling up the sleeves of my sweat shirt. "I stopped a while ago though."
"Why?" Asks Nico, glaring at the window. He seems to glare a lot.
"Because. I dunno. I do play from time to time, but I'm not as, erm, fluent. I used to be able to recognize what key was playing without seeing it, but hearing it. Only a handful of people can do that. I'm a little rusty." The guitar is in my room, gathering dust along with the music sheets.
"Paisley!" My mum calls from the kitchen. I turn around and run into her. She grips my biceps. "Sally Paul and I were going to go out. They're here to keep you company, Ok. We'll be back before ten thirty. I love you. I have my phone if you need me."
"Okay mum." I say, giving her a quick hug, "I love you too."
I watch her walk out the door with Sally and Paul before walking back to the living room and sitting on the piano seat.
"Hey Paisley."Percy pipes up. "Play?"
I sigh, and swing my legs over the seat, so I was sitting properly. I sigh, putting my hands in place. I start to play the first song that comes to mind.
"Hey girl, open the walls, play with your dolls
We'll be a perfect family."
"When you walk away, is when we really play
You don't hear me when I say,
"Mom, please wake up.
Dad's with a slut, and your son is smoking cannabis."
No one ever listens, this wallpaper glistens
Don't let them see what goes down in the kitchen.
He'd hit me. He'd hurt me. He'd make me cry. He'd scare me. He'd make sure he left a mark that my mum couldn't see.
Places, places, get in your places
Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces.
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains.
The facade I put on was award winning. No one saw through it. Not one single person. I put on a mask, my smile. It was all false. Everything was false.
Picture, picture, smile for the picture
Pose with your brother, won't you be a good sister?
Everyone thinks that we're perfect
Please don't let them look through the curtains.
If they looked through the curtains, they would see everything. Everything that I wanted to hide from Mum. From my friends. My non-existent ones.
D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees.
(D-O-L-L-H-O-U-S-E
I see things that nobody else sees)
No body else saw he was hurting me.
At the end of the song, I rest my head against the keys, making no noise.
"Holy Hera. You said you were 'rusty'." Percy says, leaning back into his chair.
"That was," Piper pauses, "Awesome."
She had no idea how much that song meant to me. I'm staring off into space.
"Paisley!" Jason snaps, making me sit up.
"Hmmm." I say. The keys have left a dent in my cheek.
"What do you want to eat?" He asks.
"I can make something." I say, getting up, "Anyone up for spaghetti subs?"
"Spaghetti subs?"
"Spaghetti on hamburger buns with cheese. Then grilled." I say from the doorway, not bothering to check who it was.
"Okay. I'll help." Piper says, getting up and passing me before I can protest.
As we work, my mind is somewhere else. Piper shuts the oven, and looks at me.
"are you okay?" She asks, "We might not be the best friends, but we can tell somethings up."
"I-I'm fine." I say, "Just, that song held alot of meaning for me." i lean against the cool counter.
"Okay. But if theres anything you need, if you want a friend, anything, you know where to find us." Piper says. She has a way with words, I note. She seems to be able to read my expression well too. Wait, friend? I've never really had a friend before.
"Thanks." I say, close to tears. Ugh! Suck it up Paisley. Stop being a wuss.
"Whats New Zealand like?" Piper asks, almost desperate to pick up a conversation.
"Fresh. Theres always a plant in sight. Even in the city. Its quite beautiful." I say, before the oven beeps.
"Dinner."
My name is Paisley Oceana Brown, and I swear I'm a doll inside a doll house.
Fake.
Plastic.
Un-realistic.
'Perfect'.
I'd pretend everything was perfect. Nothing was wrong. I still do. I'm a doll, and I swear someday someone will see through me.
A/N
Its so short! But the plot is beginning to pick up now!
Who was Paisley talking about?
Why is she a doll?
I do not on PJO or HOO, Rick Riordan does. I also do not own 'Dollhouse' by Melanie Martinez.
Ok, before you ask, Paisley is only supposed to look like me. I'm not this stuffed up. No offence.
I'm supposed to be memorising my speech, so I'll go and do that now! Please review!