New Chapter! And Two new reviews… plus… two people put my story on alert! I love people who put reviews. This is the first story ive written with teenage drama so please don't be mad if this isn't dramatic enough (as in the story not this chapter) anyway im gonna stop babbling but first … thanks to 711slurpeerocks and SyiRahzz-. Thanks for reviewing! Totally awesome people right there (: enjoy!

Chapter 4: UGH!

I walked slowly home, not wanting to face Dominique. I tried to picture all the times when I had done something wrong and Dominique punished me. Once, she had locked me in my room for two whole days, it was a total nightmare. I only went out at night, because Mitchie became worried and came to rush me out.

It was another few blocks to the house. I consciously ran my fingers along the area of my arm where Nate had touched. It felt warm and… something else that I couldn't explain. I had never felt that feeling before.

And the sparks that went on inside of me like fireworks, so strange and new. But I dismissed it as some weird puberty hormone thing. But I still couldn't help wondering, did Nate feel it too? I stared at my hand, remembering his strong grip on mine when we ran.

And how all the sounds were like a lullaby to me. They kept replaying in my head, the sound of our running, the way our laughs rang through the air. I grinned and tried to hide it as I strode across the driveway and made for my room.

"Almost there…" I muttered encouragingly to myself as I reached for the door.

"Mary!" Dominique called me from where she stood on the front steps, her blonde hair piled ridiculously high on her head. She tried to pose fashionably in her long sparkly pink dress that was covered in large oversized pearls that ended with a pile of purple ribbons at her feet.

I grimaced and tried to wipe the pained expression from my face. "Mary! Get over here!" she called, smiling at a few neighbors that jogged by. I sighed and rolled my eyes as I ran to where she was. "Dominique," I nodded my head politely.

She raised her chin and stared down at me, fluttering her heavily made up eyelids. I stared at the ground, a pained expression on my face. Slowly, I curtsied. Dominique chuckled to herself. "Good girl. Now, did you return the books?"

I could feel my face flush a deep red. "Oh, about that…" I fiddled with my hair. "Someone… stole… well… I mean… I lost them," I started, not daring to look up. I could almost imagine the crinkles at the end of her eyes as she narrowed them to glare at me.

"You what?" She shrieked. "You insolent brat! You disgusting ingrate! No more allowance for six months! I do not want you stepping into this house for the next three days! Stay in your room! If I see your face…" She raised a perfectly manicured hand and slapped it square across my face.

I could feel the place where she touched tingle, but not the same as the way I felt when Nate touched me. My cheek felt like it was swollen, and like needles were pricking at my skin. "Out!" she ordered.

I nodded numbly and turned to leave, not even bothering to keep my composure. Bitter tears of pain rolled down my burning cheeks as I ran to my room, slamming the door close behind me. I collapsed on my bed and cried into my comforter, letting out all of my fury I had kept pent up inside of me for as long as I could remember.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I shouted angrily into my pillow. I was tired of always being the servant, the 'charity case' the 'maid' for the evil twins. I wanted a life of my own where I was always free. I tried to imagine what it felt like when Dad was around, but that was too long ago, I couldn't remember.

Maybe when he was around, I felt tingly inside too. The way I felt when I was with Nate today. Which would explain why I wouldn't recognize the feeling, I simply couldn't remember feeling that way before. I sniffed and picked up my cell phone, dialing the first person that came to mind.

"Mitchie?" I croaked. The static was horrible and I couldn't hear her except for a few words. "Wait, bad static," I jumped out of the bed and went to stand by the window, leaning out and breathing in the evening air.

"Better?" I asked. "Yeah," I smiled. It was always so nice to hear Mitchie. "What's going on, Mary? Are you okay? Did she hurt you? Mary?" Mitchie bombarded me with questions. I waited patiently for her to stop and waited a moment for me to think of a reply to her answers.

"I'm grounded for three days, no allowance, I'm physically fine I guess, she slapped me and yes, I'm here." I could hear Mitchie shout something inconceivable over the phone, probably some promised to write a nasty song about Dominique.

"I'm coming over," Mitchie decided. "No! Don't, Dominique would kill me!" Mitchie scoffed. "She's evil Mary, but she won't kill you… at least I don't think she will." I wrinkled my nose trying to imagine Dominique wielding a big kitchen chopper. I couldn't imagine it— Dominique practically didn't want to do anything that might pose a danger to her manicures.

Mitchie hung up before I could say anything. I groaned and threw my cell phone on the bed. I was right, today was a long day.

Yup! This chapter basically just talks about Dominiques evilness. So… the next chapter introduces mitchie and… someone else! Gimme time! I got a drama scene taking shape in my head. Did I mention I love people who review?

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