chapter 1
Six months early
My life wasn't always this miserable yes it wasn't perfect in fact nothing close to perfect but at least I didn't have some group of teenagers harassing me because we come from completely different worlds.
The path that led to where I lived was covered with yellow and red leaves evident that the trees had all lost their leaves, it was autumn and the environment was getting cooler
" Claire don't forget practice is by eight k" Zoey chanted smiling ear to ear at me, I rolled my eyes nodding and mentally scolding myself for agreeing to Zoey's madness, she had made me audition for a singing group at school and I got accepted, what's worse is the fact that they are known for coming back with no trophies at all, I often wonder why they are still a thing
"Whatever!" I replied jogging to my house which was in sight
"If there is no food at home feel free to come over! " she shouted from afar
"Sure!" I shouted back stopping right in front of my door before taking a deep breath, I placed a knock.
"Who is there!" I heard a scream from behind it
"Someone is at the door, Kaylee!" The same voice spoke
" And what am I supposed to do you in the sitting room, not me!" Kaylee screamed back. I rolled my eyes getting agitated, can one of them just answer the door I placed another knock this time louder
" Hey! am coming do you want to break down the door! " the door flew open unleashing an angry middle-aged woman
"Silly girl knock like that again and I will make sure you lose your hand, fool!" she cursed glaring at me
"Sorry Aunty" I said framing the most sweetest voice I could muster just to irritate her and it worked she scrunched her face in disgust her eyes holding the same scorn I very much remember.
"Whatever....by the way there are dishes in the kitchen and after you are done with that, mine and Kaylee's clothes need washing" I walked inside and went straight to the kitchen opening all the pots for any crumbs of food but all that was left was grease smeared in the empty pot I rushed to the living room my gaze falling on my aunt
"Aunty!....there is no food left," I said in a soft tone trying not to annoy her but she paid no attention to me her gaze still on the screen in front of her.
" aunty...I am hungry" I said again, her grip tightened around the remote she was holding as she threw it at me, the hard object landing at the side of my head, I fell to the ground my eyes wide in shock
"Have you done what I told you to?!!! And you are here talking about food.... idiot you ruined my mood!"
" I wasn't the one who used those plates to tell your lazy daughter to wash the dishes! " I shot back holding onto the corner of my head that erupted with pain
" how dare you talk back at me you brat!" She walked up to me and grabbed my hair, I winced holding onto her hand trying to get my strands off her fist
" I am hungry I haven't eaten since last night I just want a little food" I choked out as tears formed in my eyes
" am I your mother?!, why do I have to be responsible for you!, your father couldn't even leave a single dime for you but instead gave all his properties to his friend and forgot his own sister! And you want me to take care of his spawn?!" She shouted with so much anger
" do as you are told in this house and stop being so greedy for the fact you still have a roof under your head thanks to me!" She screamed pointing to herself
"Now get out!" She released my hair and walked out, and tears rolled down my cheeks, I cleaned them but they still kept streaming down. this was my life sad and pathetic though it wasn't always like this. I was once someone's child living a luxurious life until one day everything burnt down to dust taking everything away from me. my aunt took me in and ever since then, I was treated like nothing while she guarded her daughter like a golden egg, but what is my fault if my father didn't leave a dime for her or even me, his daughter. perhaps he wasn't preparing for his death or he didn't just care about what would happen to me when he's gone. I cleaned my tears and went to the kitchen to do the dishes, I had to be quick so I could move to my school work. when I thought I was finally done her golden egg walked in
" oh your back" she sang in the highest pitch that made my blood boil
" yes" I forced out, she smirks standing
beside me
" oh someone looks hungry, do you want something to eat? " she said dropping her used plate on the sink I frowned completely ignoring her
" I have a box of cookies in my room do you want some ?" she asked putting some strands of my hair behind my ears
" look I know I might be a brat but am not that cold-hearted to leave my cousin hungry "she said giving the most innocent look she could muster, she left the kitchen and came back some minutes later with a box of cookies
" take!" she stretched it towards me I stared at her for a while before slowly collecting the box
" th....thank you " I stuttered she smiled in reply
" please do my laundry for me when you're done....thanks " she added before leaving I washed her plate, and did the laundry before settling down on the floor beside her bed in the room, we both shared a room but my clothes were placed in a box while hers in the closet. I opened the box of cookies completely famished only to see nothing she played me again, I mean what was I expecting? Daily I ate once but now that Aunty Sage lost her job there was no way she would starve herself for me. my life was only guided by three rules listen, stay quiet and obey it was the only way I could live peacefully in this cruel world but it was starting to get unbearable. I tossed the empty box aside and silently cried myself to sleep.
Many days passed and trust me it was quite bearable since I spent my days reading books to distract myself and if possible I would live in a library it had a world of its own there they were happy ends, I sat on my blanket which was usually on the ground whenever I was ready to sleep. I had a book in one hand and chips in the other, I used my last dime to buy this since there was no food for me as usual. after what had happened that night I decided I would look for a part-time job and lucky me Zoey's mom needed help in her little burger shop so I got free food and a salary which is more than enough for me.
" Where is my happy ending" I muttered spacing out, suddenly the door flew open as a happy sage barged into our room
" we are moving" she announced smiling ear to ear, I frowned confused
" To a new house?" I asked not taking my gaze from my book
"No girl...we are moving to Italy!!!!!" Kaylee snapped her eyes from her phone throwing it to the other side
" Italy? As in Rome, Italy in Rome?!" she screeched jumping off the bed I rolled my eyes unable to ignore her blonder
"Rome is in Italy not the other way around " I blurted out
"Shut up bitch!" she shot me a glare before facing her mom
" Why? How? when "
"Why? Because I got a new job and it's in Italy, how? because I have a friend who lives there and got her hands on connections when? Next week" she speed talked giving a proud smile that made me curve the corner of my lips
" what? Next week ahhhhh!" Kaylee screamed jumping up, for some reason she was obsessed with Italy, its artists, lifestyle and movies. but wait next week? just when my life was starting to make meaning everything just had to make a drastic turn
"But what about school and....." I tried saying but she cut me off
" That is not a problem they are schools in Rome you just have to change it..... Rome high here I come!" She cooed. I sighed with my head bowed listen, stay quiet and obey. And like that, we moved to Rome, new everything.
New environment, people. I left everything behind, my friends, school, everything.
In less than three months we were settled in our new apartment it was more spacious than the last one and this time I had a room. how? well, let's just say I improvised I mean Sage would never let me be happy. I chose to change the basement of our house to a room, it was a lot of work but it paid off as I could even have alone time and not see that brat and her mother all the time. Soon we got enrolled in a school and in no time I started school... well just me cause Kaylee refused, she wanted to attend Rome High International School the school for the proud and rich. according to her, she didn't want to attend some St Teresa high for the poor and pathetic, well good for her. As for me, I was contented, at least Sage is paying tuition fees, I can't afford to be picky. things just have to go smoothly so I can fulfil my dream of being a detective but you see some people are just born unlucky and I was on that list.