Kathryn got dressed with care the next morning. She wanted Sebastian to eat
his heart out just by the look of her. He thought he was smarter then her,
well she'd showed him.
She straigthened her hair looking at herself in her mirror. She missed him. They hadn't talked in what felt like forever, not even exchanged any sneer remarks. He was just ignoring her completly.
'And why should I care? He'll be out of my life soon enough' she stared into her own sad eyes. Harvard boy, Edward must be proud.
She put her hairbrush down as there was a knock on her door. She hated her heart for hoping it was him.
"Come in," she called, a smile hiding behind her cold surface.
Tiffani entered wearing a tight black dress with a jacket, she looked very tidy and Kathryn knew it was her 'intimidating look'.
"Good morning mother, was there something urgent you wished to talk to me about?" she powdered her cheeks a little just to do something and Tiffani sighed.
"Not too much powder Kathryn, it will make you look cakey."
Her daugther threw her a deadly glare but put down her powderbrush and turned to face her mother.
Tiffani paced a little around the blue room. She hated that it was blue, it wasn't lady like. It should've been a better colour, less boyish. "I've had a talk with Sebastian," she said and in the corner of her eye she noticed how tense the girl got.
"How fun, and what was so important you felt you needed to share it with me on a Saturday morning? I'm sure you have other places to be."
Tiffani shrugged. "Well, this is vital," she raised her eyebrows slightly to look powerful. "I'm sure you're aware of the fact that Sebastian has a history of cheating at school", she flicked her wrists and put her nose in the air, "one of the boys there told the principal about previous purchases of test answers from Sebastian's side."
'Only cause I payed him to', Kathryn thought rolling her eyes at how stupid people were. Sebastian didn't need to cheat, didn't they know that? And they claimed themselves to be their parents.
"I'm aware of this yes," she said watching her mother closely. They didn't have mother-daughter talks. What was this about?
Tiffani smiled. "I know you care for Sebastian, *don't* try to deny it. I have eyes to see with and I know very well that you two aren't as innocent as you plead to be."
A chill spread in Kathryn's bone. Tiffani wasn't a role model mom but she did have an obsession with keeping things in perfect apperance. Two stepsiblings having sex would be very much frowned upon by others and that her mother wouldn't be able to take. She'd have to do something about it.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kathryn stood up and walked over to her desk. In a drawer she had a pack of cigarette's hidden. She was dying for a drag.
Tiffani followed her moves. "Yes you do. You and Sebastian have been screwing each other," she shook her head like she couldn't believe it, "Edward might not notice such things but I do. I let it go on, god knows why, but ..." she shook her head again taking a few steps closer to Kathryn.
Her daughter watched her with attentive eyes. Tiffani placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure this have been very stressful for you. Being pressed in together with a strange boy while we've been traveling alot. Lord only knows what he's forced you into."
"He hasn't forced me into anything!"
"You don't have to lie to me Kathryn. I understand you. It's a mans world. They make the rules and expect us to live by them. Sebastian forced himself on you," she said it slowly as if to edge it into her daugthers brain.
Kathryn shook her head. This was insane. What was her mother trying to pull?
"No he didn't," she started. She pulled out the drawer and took a cigarette, lighted it before her mom's huge eyes and put it to her mouth. "I'm not your chaste little angel, mother."
The slap burned her cheek and the cigarette flew out her mouth. But she didn't complain. She'd provoked her mother but it had been worth it. Instead she clenched her jaw and stared into the ever so cold eyes.
"I don't stand that sort of behaviour Kathryn," Tiffani snapped angrily. She didn't care what her daughter did when she wasn't around. As long as she kept it discreete.
She took a breath and flattened her dress, throwing Kathryn's flat teenage stomach an envious glare. "I'm going to take care of this little problem, you won't have to see him again." She said like she was doing her daughter a favour.
Kathryn's heart stopped for a second. "What?"
Tiffani nodded. "That's right. Sebastian isn't going to be living with us much longer you see. It's quite sad, he had such a brilliant future. To think one little girl would ruin all that for him."
A guilt trip wouldn't work. Kathryn glared at the older woman, noticing all the little wrinkles that bothered the woman night and day. "You have no proof of anything mother. Sebastian and I are just very good friends."
"And I'd love to believe you Kathryn but I do have proof."
Laughable, proof? How could she prove anything? The brunette snorted confident. "What? Your word? I'm sorry mother but that isn't the most reliable source in the world."
"Watch your tongue young lady," Tiffani gloated, "I have something else. Something better." Her grin grew wide as she dealed out her triumph. "There's this tape a little girl sent me, are you familiar with the name - Annette?"
Kathryn tried not to show that she knew exactly what her mother was talking about. There was a tape she'd sent to Annette for what seem like a life time ago. A tape of her and Sebastian, in bed.
'That little bitch sent it to my mother?' she clenched her jaws. She'd clearly underestimated sweet, little Annette. She wouldn't do that mistake again. 'She's gonna pay' she thought to herself not noticing Tiffani studying her face.
"You're a lot like me Kathryn" her mothers said it like it was a good thing. But Kathryn cringed at the words, sometimes she felt like her entire life had been a slow struggle to break away from the patterns of her mothers lifestyle. She didn't like to think that she was anything like Tiffani Mertuil-Valmont, alcholic with nothing but gossiping to do all days. She herself had ambitions, she was taking her life somewhere.
Tiffani noticed the cringe. "We both know what we want and we do what it takes to get it. Did Sebastian even cheat on that test that triggered a very *sudden* flood of previous bad news that had never reached me or Edward before."
Her daughter moved away from the desk, turning her back at her mother and folding her arms across her chest. "Well he got caught didn't he. That implies he was cheating."
"You're smart, I thought you well." Tiffani smiled with a superior look on her face. "But I'm still smarter Kathryn, don't forget that. I'm only doing this for you. I don't want you to ruin your future because of something as tiny as a crush," she sighed, "who will ever want to marry someone who's had an affair with their brother?"
"Step-brother," Kathryn tried to keep a straight face as she turned to face her mother again. "What have you done?"
Tiffani remained silent.
"Cut the crap and tell me!" Kathryn screamed. She'd lost her patience, she wanted to scream louder.
Tiffani took her time. Slowly taking one step closer. "I've talked to Edward. We've agreed that Sebastian's troubles are far to much for us to handle. He needs help."
Kathryn couldn't believe her ears but her mother just continued.
"He'll be leaving soon, to a school for ... troubled teens."
"What about Harvard?" Kathryn asked in shock. She'd never thought her mom to be able to pull something like this.
Tiffani shrugged. "He can re-apply next year. Edward wasn't to fond of that of course but ... I had my way," she lowered her eyebrows. "Don't underestimate me Kathryn, I don't like being decieved."
Their eyes met and Kathryn hated her mother more then ever this very second. If she'd only had a knife she would've put it in her mothers gut and twisted it around.
She had to take a couple of breaths before she could say anything else. Her mother seemed to be loving every single moment of her victory.
Kathryn shook her head a little. This meant war.
"You'll regret this," she said simply and moved over to her window. "Leave," she demanded firmly and to her surprise her mother obeyed her wish.
"I'll see you at dinner Kathryn, we'll be having guests over. Dress nicely."
The door closed and Kathryn shut her eyes. Sebastian being sent away? She hadn't meant for that to happen. She'd just been mad at him, wanting to show him who was the smartest of them.
She looked out the window. Had she done it? Had she gone to far?
She straigthened her hair looking at herself in her mirror. She missed him. They hadn't talked in what felt like forever, not even exchanged any sneer remarks. He was just ignoring her completly.
'And why should I care? He'll be out of my life soon enough' she stared into her own sad eyes. Harvard boy, Edward must be proud.
She put her hairbrush down as there was a knock on her door. She hated her heart for hoping it was him.
"Come in," she called, a smile hiding behind her cold surface.
Tiffani entered wearing a tight black dress with a jacket, she looked very tidy and Kathryn knew it was her 'intimidating look'.
"Good morning mother, was there something urgent you wished to talk to me about?" she powdered her cheeks a little just to do something and Tiffani sighed.
"Not too much powder Kathryn, it will make you look cakey."
Her daugther threw her a deadly glare but put down her powderbrush and turned to face her mother.
Tiffani paced a little around the blue room. She hated that it was blue, it wasn't lady like. It should've been a better colour, less boyish. "I've had a talk with Sebastian," she said and in the corner of her eye she noticed how tense the girl got.
"How fun, and what was so important you felt you needed to share it with me on a Saturday morning? I'm sure you have other places to be."
Tiffani shrugged. "Well, this is vital," she raised her eyebrows slightly to look powerful. "I'm sure you're aware of the fact that Sebastian has a history of cheating at school", she flicked her wrists and put her nose in the air, "one of the boys there told the principal about previous purchases of test answers from Sebastian's side."
'Only cause I payed him to', Kathryn thought rolling her eyes at how stupid people were. Sebastian didn't need to cheat, didn't they know that? And they claimed themselves to be their parents.
"I'm aware of this yes," she said watching her mother closely. They didn't have mother-daughter talks. What was this about?
Tiffani smiled. "I know you care for Sebastian, *don't* try to deny it. I have eyes to see with and I know very well that you two aren't as innocent as you plead to be."
A chill spread in Kathryn's bone. Tiffani wasn't a role model mom but she did have an obsession with keeping things in perfect apperance. Two stepsiblings having sex would be very much frowned upon by others and that her mother wouldn't be able to take. She'd have to do something about it.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kathryn stood up and walked over to her desk. In a drawer she had a pack of cigarette's hidden. She was dying for a drag.
Tiffani followed her moves. "Yes you do. You and Sebastian have been screwing each other," she shook her head like she couldn't believe it, "Edward might not notice such things but I do. I let it go on, god knows why, but ..." she shook her head again taking a few steps closer to Kathryn.
Her daughter watched her with attentive eyes. Tiffani placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure this have been very stressful for you. Being pressed in together with a strange boy while we've been traveling alot. Lord only knows what he's forced you into."
"He hasn't forced me into anything!"
"You don't have to lie to me Kathryn. I understand you. It's a mans world. They make the rules and expect us to live by them. Sebastian forced himself on you," she said it slowly as if to edge it into her daugthers brain.
Kathryn shook her head. This was insane. What was her mother trying to pull?
"No he didn't," she started. She pulled out the drawer and took a cigarette, lighted it before her mom's huge eyes and put it to her mouth. "I'm not your chaste little angel, mother."
The slap burned her cheek and the cigarette flew out her mouth. But she didn't complain. She'd provoked her mother but it had been worth it. Instead she clenched her jaw and stared into the ever so cold eyes.
"I don't stand that sort of behaviour Kathryn," Tiffani snapped angrily. She didn't care what her daughter did when she wasn't around. As long as she kept it discreete.
She took a breath and flattened her dress, throwing Kathryn's flat teenage stomach an envious glare. "I'm going to take care of this little problem, you won't have to see him again." She said like she was doing her daughter a favour.
Kathryn's heart stopped for a second. "What?"
Tiffani nodded. "That's right. Sebastian isn't going to be living with us much longer you see. It's quite sad, he had such a brilliant future. To think one little girl would ruin all that for him."
A guilt trip wouldn't work. Kathryn glared at the older woman, noticing all the little wrinkles that bothered the woman night and day. "You have no proof of anything mother. Sebastian and I are just very good friends."
"And I'd love to believe you Kathryn but I do have proof."
Laughable, proof? How could she prove anything? The brunette snorted confident. "What? Your word? I'm sorry mother but that isn't the most reliable source in the world."
"Watch your tongue young lady," Tiffani gloated, "I have something else. Something better." Her grin grew wide as she dealed out her triumph. "There's this tape a little girl sent me, are you familiar with the name - Annette?"
Kathryn tried not to show that she knew exactly what her mother was talking about. There was a tape she'd sent to Annette for what seem like a life time ago. A tape of her and Sebastian, in bed.
'That little bitch sent it to my mother?' she clenched her jaws. She'd clearly underestimated sweet, little Annette. She wouldn't do that mistake again. 'She's gonna pay' she thought to herself not noticing Tiffani studying her face.
"You're a lot like me Kathryn" her mothers said it like it was a good thing. But Kathryn cringed at the words, sometimes she felt like her entire life had been a slow struggle to break away from the patterns of her mothers lifestyle. She didn't like to think that she was anything like Tiffani Mertuil-Valmont, alcholic with nothing but gossiping to do all days. She herself had ambitions, she was taking her life somewhere.
Tiffani noticed the cringe. "We both know what we want and we do what it takes to get it. Did Sebastian even cheat on that test that triggered a very *sudden* flood of previous bad news that had never reached me or Edward before."
Her daughter moved away from the desk, turning her back at her mother and folding her arms across her chest. "Well he got caught didn't he. That implies he was cheating."
"You're smart, I thought you well." Tiffani smiled with a superior look on her face. "But I'm still smarter Kathryn, don't forget that. I'm only doing this for you. I don't want you to ruin your future because of something as tiny as a crush," she sighed, "who will ever want to marry someone who's had an affair with their brother?"
"Step-brother," Kathryn tried to keep a straight face as she turned to face her mother again. "What have you done?"
Tiffani remained silent.
"Cut the crap and tell me!" Kathryn screamed. She'd lost her patience, she wanted to scream louder.
Tiffani took her time. Slowly taking one step closer. "I've talked to Edward. We've agreed that Sebastian's troubles are far to much for us to handle. He needs help."
Kathryn couldn't believe her ears but her mother just continued.
"He'll be leaving soon, to a school for ... troubled teens."
"What about Harvard?" Kathryn asked in shock. She'd never thought her mom to be able to pull something like this.
Tiffani shrugged. "He can re-apply next year. Edward wasn't to fond of that of course but ... I had my way," she lowered her eyebrows. "Don't underestimate me Kathryn, I don't like being decieved."
Their eyes met and Kathryn hated her mother more then ever this very second. If she'd only had a knife she would've put it in her mothers gut and twisted it around.
She had to take a couple of breaths before she could say anything else. Her mother seemed to be loving every single moment of her victory.
Kathryn shook her head a little. This meant war.
"You'll regret this," she said simply and moved over to her window. "Leave," she demanded firmly and to her surprise her mother obeyed her wish.
"I'll see you at dinner Kathryn, we'll be having guests over. Dress nicely."
The door closed and Kathryn shut her eyes. Sebastian being sent away? She hadn't meant for that to happen. She'd just been mad at him, wanting to show him who was the smartest of them.
She looked out the window. Had she done it? Had she gone to far?