Who's ready for another short chapter?
But seriously, sorry for the shortness again. I only have about 2 (maybe 3) chapters left that I want to write, and I swear, they will be nice and long for your enjoyment!
But until then, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!
"This week, on – no… no, that's doesn't work," said Chris to himself as he stood in front of the living room mirror. "Try a higher pitch," he said, thinking out loud. "This week on – no, that sounds stupid. More enthusiastic? THIS WEEK ON-"
"Daddy?" interrupted Lindsey.
Chris moaned. "Lindsey, I'm busy," he said rolling his eyes.
"I just need to talk to you for a quick sec," said Lindsey.
Chris looked back to his reflection. "I'll be right back, gorgeous," he said to himself. He spun around and seated himself on the couch. "How can I help you?" he asked.
Lindsey took a seat on the couch next to her father. "I wanted to discuss something with you," she said confidently.
"Discuss what?" asked Chris.
"Tomorrow night,"
"What about it?"
Lindsey took a deep breath, then paused. "Well… it's the prom-"
"Does Gwen have a date?" asked Chris.
Lindsey paused again, trying to find the right words. She knew that Gwen had an argument with Duncan, so she was all on her own. "Umm … no … but-"
"I'm sorry honey," said Chris as he stood up. "You know the rules," he added as he walked back to the mirror.
"But, Daddy-!"
"No buts! That's the rule," said Chris as he adjusted his hair. Lindsey let out a frustrated groan, then stomped up stairs. She too was not very fond of her father.
Gwen could hear Lindsey coming up the stairs. As a matter of fact, she heard the whole conversation through the vent that connected between the living room and her bedroom. She didn't like her sister being hurt, but she didn't want to give into commercial ways of high school either. Gwen sighed and scanned her room, thinking about what she had become. A once fun, happy, popular girl. Now, a social outcast. She was coming to the end of her scan when her eyes landed on that picture she had refused herself to look at since eighth grade. She also denied herself from be ridding it completely, and kept it as a reminder of what happens when pressure finally gets to you. Gwen stood from her bed, and, after all of these years, allowed herself to look at the picture of Trent. The second she opened it, a tear flooded her eye. Although it was just a picture, his green eyes still pierced her heart as they did many years ago. She ran her fingers along the burnt edges, secretly wondering if that voodoo spell actually worked. She let out another sigh, and headed to Lindsey's room. It was time she told her sister the truth.
Lindsey sat on her bed, running her fingers through her long hair. Her mind was full of hatful thoughts towards her captive family. Yet, as in her good nature, didn't let it bother her too much. She understood there was a reason why Gwen was so protective, she just didn't know why. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in!" she called.
Gwen peered through the door, and cautiously walked in. "Hey," she said gently. Lindsey nodded back. Gwen took that as an invitation to come all the way in. Sitting herself at Lindsey's desk, she took a deep breath. "I know you really wanted to go to prom-"
"No kidding," said Lindsey, rolling her eyes.
Gwen gulped down her words again. She had a small speech in mind, but her train of thought was now lost. "Listen, I know you're bummed, and I feel like I owe you and explanation –" said Gwen quickly. But then she began to stumble over her words as the truth didn't quite want to come out yet.
Lindsey looked at her strangely. "Well?" she asked.
Gwen let out a big sigh. "You remember … Trent?" she asked. It took every ounce of her being to say his name again. Lindsey nodded. "You know how he was my boyfriend in grade 8?"
"Yeah, just before mom left," said Lindsey. The two sister shared a moment of silence. Their mother had left them a few years ago. It took a huge toll on the family, and they didn't quite make it out okay. Their father had become over protective of his two daughters, and Gwen… well… let's just say it took a toll on her as well.
"So, what happened with you and Trent?" questioned Lindsey. Gwen turned her head.
"We – uh,"
"Broke-up?" asked Lindsey.
"No … well … yes … but before-" stuttered Gwen. "We-"
She didn't have to finish her sentence, Lindsey had already figured it out. "He took your v-card?" she exclaimed.
"That's a nice way of putting it," chuckled Gwen "All of my friends were doing it, and made me feel stupid for still being a virgin. So I ... gave it a try. Only once though," she promised.
"I can't believe it!" said Lindsey hysterically. "Then what happened?" she asked.
"I told him I didn't want to do it anymore, and he broke-up with me. A day or two later, I heard he had hook-up up with Heather," said Gwen. "He moved away a week later, and never talked to me again,"
"Dick," was all Lindsey could say. Gwen laughed, and nodded a little.
"After that, I swore that I wouldn't be what everyone else wanted me to be, so I changed," said Gwen, looking over her own appearance.
"How come you didn't tell me?" asked Lindsey.
"I guess … I was a little embarrassed," admitted Gwen. "And I felt like, I wanted to let you have your own experiences instead of following mine,"
"What experiences?" asked Lindsey. "You never let me do anything! You help daddy keep me here, and never let me experience anything!"
"Because I wanted to protect you, Lindsey-"
"You're such a hypocrite, you know that? You say you want me to experience things, but you're keeping me home from, what could be, one of the best nights of my life!" yelled Lindsey.
"Lindsey, listen-" pleaded Gwen.
"Get out," muttered Lindsey.
"What?"
"You heard me. I said 'Get out'!" repeated Lindsey more forcefully. Gwen stood from the desk and walked to the door. The sound of her footsteps were soon followed by the sound of a slamming door.
Gwen lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The picture of Trent was finally torn up completely, and tossed in the trash. The burden of the picture was finally off of her shoulders, but she still didn't feel any better.
She rolled over and contemplated what Lindsey had said. She was right. Gwen had been holding her back. She may have been trying to protect her, but she never realized that she was actually hurting her.
With a shaking hand, Gwen took her cell phone off the nightstand. Without a second thought, she texted Duncan; 'Meet me at prom tomorrow night.'
I feel like I tried to explain a lot in a short amount of time, but I wasn't quite sure how to space it out within my story. What did you think? Please let me know so I can improve :). *Criticism is welcomed.
