My mom sat me down at the dinner table. Her eyes looked weary, but that tiredness was covered with a sheen of fake enthusiasm. I automatically put my guard up, expecting the worst. Were mom and dad getting divorced?

My mom daintily sipped a small cup of tea, and I watched her cautiously. She gently sat her teacup on the table, the porcelain clinking as it hit the maple table.

"Honey, I don't know how to break this to you, but..."

The pained expression on her face worries me, and I can't help but blurt out..

"Are you and papa getting divorced?"

A look of surprise dawns on my mother's face before she starts laughing. Hard. I wait patiently as she finishes her pearls of giggles.

"Good heavens! No, dear. Why would you think that?"

Relief washes throughout my body. Good. Whatever happens, it can be that bad, right?

"Actually, your sister, Bridgette is going to come stay with us for a while."

My jaw almost dropped open.

"WHAT?!"

Bridgette is my older sister. When she was 18, she completely ditched our family and ran away to live with her boyfriend, which broke maman and papa's hearts. She was a total snob about it, too. she didn't contact us for the longest time. Why would Maman let Bridgette come stay with us?

Wait. Nevermind. Scratch that. Maman is too kindhearted to turn my devil of a sister away, even after what she had done to us.

"Maman, when does she arrive?"

"In a week. I hope you're not too upset dear. Your sister needed somewhere to go."

" Yes, Maman. Where is she going to stay?"

"Well... nu ying, you have to understand, she has nowhere to go. We were hoping that she could stay in your room."

I sigh, but I have always accepted defeat easily. I manage to mutter a weak "Yes, Maman" before I slouch up to my room.

I sit on my bed, the fluffy pink periwinkle faux fur throw tickling the soles of my milk-white feet. I dial Chloe, someone who I know I can turn to, and put the phone to my ear.

"Hey Mari. Whatcha doing?"

"Just having the worst day of my life."

"What happened? Are your parents getting divorced?"

"That's what I thought at the start too. But it's even worse. My sisters coming to stay with my family, and she is going to stay in my room."

"You mean Bridgette, the girl who ditched your family for 3 years with no word?"

"Don't even say her name."

"Bridgette"

Chloe giggled. God, she could be so immature sometimes.

"Chlo." I sighed. "I really can't even right now."

"Okay. Fine . I'll back off. But, lemme guess. You went down without a fight?"

She knows me so well.

"Yes."

Now it's her turn to sigh.

"How many times have I told you that you need to fight back sometimes?"

"Clo, when my mom pulls her "oh, nu ying" I can't say no. You already know that."

She groans.

"What does that even mean?"

"Its chinese for baby girl."

"Oh. makes sense."

There is a moment of silence, and the awkwardness was almost palpable. Soft static hums, filling the empty space where our words used to be.

"So when is she coming?"

Chloe's words are tentative, like she is worried she is going to upset me.

" In a week."

"Oh. Ok. I'll...shit."

She trails off and swears like there is something that she just realized.

"What is it?"

"I was supposed to be at dinner with my parents 5 minutes ago. I gotta go Mari. Sorry about your sister. I'll talk to you later. Bye!"

"Bye Clo."

I toss my phone on the bed and sigh.

1 more week of freedom.