Sisters

“Tessa, I don't want to go," I groaned. My best friend, Tessa, had convinced me to go to a party, but in truth, I'm not sure I was ready.

"But it will be the perfect opportunity for you to get back out there," she said with a shimmy and a wink.

My recent break up with my boyfriend, Rick, of four years was still a little blurry on details, but it needed to happen. The relationship turned toxic in our sophomore year. He became controlling, he never liked me wearing makeup or dressing nice. On top of being controlling, when I told him I wasn't ready for sex, he found it elsewhere. Cheating onme I don't know how many times. I was done. I'd had enough.

I refocused and had a new interest. Kierran McAllister. New to our school, he was still a mystery to me. Not only was the guy drop-dead gorgeous, but his eyes were also intense and drew me in. Thinking back to a month before when he walked into my English class. His eyes fixated on me and I can't forget how my body came alive under his gaze.

"Anna?" Tessa snapped me from my thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"What are you thinking about? Your face is all flushed." She wasn't wrong. Suddenly aware of the heat in my cheeks I walked over to the mirror.

"Oh, um... It's nothing." I lied. "What are you wearing to the party?" I should have known I couldn't distract Tessa. She usually has a one-track mind and a keen sense of when something is bothering me.

"Oh no, you don't, Annabeth!" She scolded. "You were thinking about Rick again, weren't you? Sweets, it's been over two months! You need to get over him. It was you who ended it, remember?" Laughter spilled out of me. I couldn't believe she thought my blush was caused by thoughts of Rick. "Ana, you okay?" Seeing the concern in her eyes, I calmed myself.

"Yes, Tess, I am fine. I wasn't thinking about Rick, well not in that way." I rolled my eyes. "If you really want to know, I was thinking about Kierran McAllister." Tessa started fanning her face at the mention of his name. Walking over to my closet, I said, "If I go tonight, I need an outfit that would make him notice me and go crazy."

"Oh, my gosh really?" She starts jumping up and down and clapping. "It's finally happened, my Girl has finally moved on and of course with someone so sinfully hot. Oh, Anna, I'm so happy for you because he wants you too." I roll my eyes with how absurd she is being and scoff.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tessa. There is no way a guy who looks like that would want me when he can have any girl he wants. Besides, look at me. I'm scarred and definitely not worthy to be loved by someone like him, let alone anyone." I look down at the ground and think about the scar on my right breast. I came to accept this hideous scar as a part of my body and as my daily reminder that no guy would want a scarred and damaged girl.

It's also the sad truth that I either go back to Rick or I spend my life alone and become a Spinster with a hundred cats to keep me company. Going back to that cheating abusive asshole is not even an option. Tessa turned her dark blue eyes on me.

"Annabeth, you are beautiful and worthy of anyone who treats you right. Rick was a creep and yes, he did some horrible things to you, but you cannot let him define who you are. You are Annabeth St. James, my sister, my best friend and so freaking Amazing!

"Kierran would be a fool to not want you. I was watching the way he was looking at you in class; it's the way he looks at you every day. See, Anna? I notice these things. When you are around, it seems the only thing that has his attention is you. The boy has it bad for you. However, if he doesn't that's okay, you need to take time for yourself. Rushing into another relationship so close after the breakup might not be such a good idea."

Tess did have a point and it wasn't like I wanted a relationship with Kierran, but maybe I could just have him pay a little attention to me; the kind of attention a girl deserves.

"You're right,Tessa, but I can promise you nothing will happen between Kierran and me. Rick would see to that. Even if he did like me." Tessa's lips curve into a wicked grin and I can't help but let a little giggleescape.

"Something tells me that Kierran wouldn't let "Limpy Dicky" stop him from getting what he wants and that, my darling sister, is you!" Laughter erupted from me.

"Limpy Dickey, where on earth did that come from?" She grins again.

"Oh, I hear things." She answers. "Andrea told me in fourth period she overheard Porsche telling the girls on the cheer squad that the star quarterback couldn't get it up. She said it took her over two hours to get him off and it wasn't great."

"I want to feel bad for Porsche, but she deserves it since she knew he was still with me." A look of disgust appeared on my face. "It's also very disturbing and now I'm going to have nightmares about that tonight, so thanks, Sis."

"I also heard...." I cut her off

"Please stop, Tess. I don't need to hear any more about Rick's sex life. I'm disgusted by him already."

"Okay, you're right. I got sidetracked. I only brought that up because I wanted you to know that you aren't missing out on anything. Now Kierran, he looks like he could be a sex god."

"Tessa! Weren't you the one just seconds ago telling me to take things slow?" She shakes her head of her thoughts and looks at me.

"Yes, I did say that, and I mean it. Move at your pace, not his and don't let him pressure you as Rick did. You can't keep everything from me, Sis.The walls in the house aren't soundproof."

Shit, she wasn't supposed to be home during those times. I glance over at my sister and wait for her to say more about what she heard in my room, but she just says, "I love you, Annabeth, and it broke my heart to hear what he would say to you. It took everything I had in me not to come in here and pummel the jerk-off's face. I also wanted to come in and just comfort you." Tessa was fighting back her emotions.

"I needed to step up and take you away from him. Remember what we used when were younger to ease our pain?" I nod my head. We would build forts and hide. We would hold each other's hand and tell stories of what our futures would be like.

"I felt like I was losing my sister these past few years. You would tell me everything and then you just stopped talking and hanging out with me. I wasn't sure how to bring you back, and I was just about to stage an intervention with Mom, Dad and a few friends who you've shut out too."

She wipes the tears from her face, and I'm stunned that she felt like this. I could kick myself for being so selfish. How could I do that to my sister and my best friend? Tessa has always been the only one I could truly talk to. No wonder I was so stuck in myself and my own world. I had shut everyone out without even realizing I had done it.

"Tess, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize what happened. I promise from now on I will be here for you, okay? Tomorrow we will have a girl’s night like we used to." She lights up and she smiles.

"I would love that. I get to pick the movie. That last movie you picked kept me up for a few nights." I laugh when I remembered the movie.

"Oh, come on, Underworld wasn't that bad! If you remember you kept talking about how you wanted to have vampire babies with Theo James.

Tessa's ocean blue eyes take on a glassy look and I assume she is imagining having those babies. "Well, do you blame me? Theo is one fine specimen of a man. Anyone would be crazy to not want his babies!”

"Oh Tess, what am I going to do with you?” She giggles and my heart swells with happiness for her. I haven't heard her do that in such a long time.

"For starters, you are going to come with me to the party and have a great time. It's time to let go of the past, Annabeth, and to look forward to the future. You've been holed up in this room for the past two months and it's starting to stink." She curls her nose as to prove her point.

“It does not stink!" I shriek. My room is the cleanest room in the house since I can't stand messes and anything out of place. Yes, my family gives me shit for it, but I don't care. It works for me. "If anyone's room stinks, it's yours, miss." I point a finger at Tessa. She grabs my finger and drags me into her room.

"Okay, it doesn't but I need you to come with me. I really want to see you put on a cute outfit and get all Sexified so you can feel good. It's time to ditch those god-awful clothes Rick made you wear. We'll just say this, you are shedding a layer of dirt."

"Sexified? I'm pretty sure that's not a word.” I giggle.

"I made it up." She smirks. "Now sit your ass down so I can do your hair and makeup."

"Yes, ma'am!" I mock salute and sit on her vanity bench.

"Anna?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful with Kierran and most importantly your heart. I don't want to see you hurt because I don't know if you or your heart can handle it again. I'm not saying you're weak; it's just Rick screwed with your head so badly."

"I know he did, and I will be careful. I promise."

"Good! Now on that note you are almost ready, and you look hot. If Kierran doesn't notice you then he is blind and crazy.”

"In that case, I need the perfect outfit; one that screams here I am so come and get me." Tessa's face lights up; she takes my hand and pulls me toward her closet.

"I have the perfect one!"