A Porcelain Heart – A Neverland Story
Written by N.L.P.
Chapter Three - Cashing in Her Frown
The gin wasn't as strong as it should have been. A grimace shaped her lips into a more unnatural form than they already were in. A mental note was to go and try a different brand tomorrow. Her form was supple, if not exactly young, sitting in a chair by the door. Her frame seemed focused on the glass in her hand, momentarily forgetting the anger that was sitting in her chest. Not for long though. Standing she turned to see one of the many pictures of the little brat in the house, she kept them up for when the government officials came by unannounced to give their golden child a surprise visit.
Fuming with hate she turned away from the black and white photo, it wan an artistic one the girl had sent her upon request- Rose did whatever she was told as long as her aunt kept up her end of the deal and left her alone. The woman standing there looking at her niece's picture was considering if the contract was breeched, her skinny ass was supposed to have been home over half an hour ago.
Another gulp of gin would calm her down.
Controlling herself she sat back down, crossing her legs and pushing back her long hair out of her face. No one could deny that Miss. Nikki had a body to her, but her face seemed to be misplaced, wrinkles spread out from her eyes like deep crevices, her cheeks looked rather gaunt, and her lips, recently re-botoxed, seemed to protrude from her face in a strange way. Perhaps that was the reason looking upon an image of Rose that hate arose making her nauseous. Rose was young and beautiful, her eyes so bright in contrast to Her Aunt's cold and dull ones. Or perhaps she hated her so much because she was like her mother, Loved by everyone who ever met her.
No one ever thought Nikki was a delightful young lady like her big sister, only Amy was ever nice to her. Often she would think it was because she was required as a sibling to spend time with her, or because it would make her seem all the more kind and caring. What Nikki feared the most was that her sister actually pitied her.
Thoughts of a haunting past washed away with the turning of a key in the lock. Draining her glass quickly Rose's Aunt sat back down in her chair, composing her self frighteningly. The first glimpse of the girl was a shock. It seemed for a moment as if her mother had climbed out of her grave and walked through the door. Amy always wore her hair long though, and she was shapelier than the gangly thing that was standing uncertainly before her now. Rose spoke first.
"The Ferry was delayed nearly an hour, I have my ticket times printed out, I got here as quickly as I could." Opening the bag on her back she took out all the documents of her travel and stepped forward carefully to hand them to her aunt. Just then the sedation of the gin wore off, anger exploding inside the woman. The girl was a liar, she was a fake!
Standing swiftly she reached forward and smacked the fragile girl, papers dropped to the floor and the golden haired child dropped to the floor hold her face and making no sound. Legs were crumpled under her. "Don't you ever dare make excuses in front of me again." Walking around the girl's back she hooked her hands under her arms, pulling her up to her feet.
Looking into the girls eyes there were no tears, just hate, a deep loathing that made her aunt smile gently. The side of her face was red and four small scrapes from her fingernails were bleeding slightly. "You will take responsibility for everything that happens to you. Because it is your fault." The smile turned into a grin. Turning suddenly her aunt smacked the side of her face again, the same spot now bearing twice the amount of scrapes, but she didn't fall, she didn't flinch. This time the girl was ready. "That was for being late."
Laughing Aunt Nikki gave her a kiss on that cheek. "Welcome back kiddo. Now get your ass up stairs and don't come back down until noon tomorrow, I'll be gone by then." Looking back over her shoulder as she walked away She saw rose staring at the same picture she had but a while ago.
"I don't want to see your face."
Content with herself Nikki went to find the rest of that bottle of gin.