Chapter 3 Harper

CHAPTER THREE

Harper POV

The beating of the door had me tossing in bed lazily with my eyelids heavy with sleep.

"Harper!"

"Harper!"

The knock at the door was consistent as I slowly opened my eyes. My lips looked chapped and I'm sure I had eyebags from my lack of sleep last night.

It was Monday morning and it was a school day. Sunday I attended a weird club with my twin sister Clara.

I don't attend parties but I saw her sneaking out last night so she forced me to come along so I don't tell on her.

I stayed up in a different room and watched how people kissed, smoked, and joked while she excused me. I kept to myself Without dancing or talking to anyone till I dozed off asleep.

I felt Clara wake me up for our departure. Once we got home we sneaked into our various rooms and slept.

My eyes scanned the big bedroom that I've come to love and hate as I grew older.

It had a vase with a pink coffee table and two chairs, a vase by the side of the dresser. The walls were colored pink and by the side, I had posters of my favourite musical geniuses. You got that right Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. They are my absolute faves.

I could listen to their music all day with my ears plugged without getting bored or slightly irritated.

I jumped out of bed wearing my flip-flops. My milky skin complimented the milky colour of my favourite pyjamas and I loved it.

"I'm coming." A yawn escaped my throat as I walked to the door and unlocked the door with the keys.

The door flung open and standing before me was Mrs. Marshall.

My head buzzed in fear seeing her standing right before me in all her glory with her hands folded.

She looked great apart from the red lipstick that had been smudged. Mrs. Marshall had her blonde hair in a perfect ponytail, her eyes had a black eyeshadow with a dramatic mascara on her long lashes sticking out.

She wore a black and white striped suit with black shoes. I didn't need to be told she was ready for work and the look on her face had turned into an angry scowl.

Lord save me!

"Good morning Mom!" I tried to cover my fear and act ecstatic smiling and showing off my nice sets of teeth.

"Why are you waking up so late?" She pushed past me and walked into my bedroom with an air of superiority and command.

Don't get me wrong. She's my Mom alright but this woman standing here wasn't acting like a mother but a dictator.

It was time to bring in my acting skills and get ready for some class act. "I was busy with my assignments. It was difficult but I pulled through." I lied smoothly.

"Hmm.." Mrs. Marshall nodded and her hands picked up my alarm clock by the bedside.

"Why didn't you set your alarm?" She added.

I almost screamed in shock! She was going to get me grounded. There were rules to always set my clock by 6:am for school. My eyes looked up at the big pink wall clock up the wall and it was 7:45 am.

My room was covered in pink exteriors. You know the reason why I said I had a love-hate relationship with my bedroom.

My tissue paper was seriously pink!

"Are you listening to me, Harper?" Mrs. Marshall flicked her hand in my face to get me back to the present away from my thoughts.

"Yes ma'am."

"Why didn't you set your alarm clock? I won't ask that again." She asked sternly.

My fingers begin to fidget. "I forgot to set my alarm. I'll never do it again, please don't get me grounded." I fell to my knees trying to buy her sympathy.

Mrs. Marshall was the dictator of the family. My father Mr. Marshall was her boy toy as he bent to whatever she said or wanted.

My sister and I had to make sure we please Mom or get punished sadly my father couldn't be of any help.

Her words were law and order around the Marshall family.

"Speaking of groundedness. How was the last time?" I could feel the mockery in her tone.

"It was splendid. I had time to revise my maths assignments and read great books. I'm thankful you gave me that opportunity." I answered quickly as I knew complimenting her would boost her ego.

Way to go Harper! Smart girl.

"Your Aunt Matilda will be arriving later tonight. The bitch never calls or informs earlier before stepping her poverty-stricken legs to my house." Mrs. Marshall snarled.

I couldn't believe my ears. Did Mom just call Aunt Matilda a bitch?

Aunt Matilda was my dad's elder sister. She's married and has two boys Jeremy and Barnabas.

It's no news that My Mom and her don't get along but that was harsh.

"Wow! I'm excited to see her. It's been a long time since I saw her." I chipped in with dreamy

eyes.

"I don't know why she's coming here but I'm sure she's always hungry and ready to milk us dry." Mrs. Marshall snorts irritatedly.

"But Mom, she's our Aunt. We can help her. Her husband got into an accident and has been bedridden for years. She needs our support and funds."

I could barely finish my statement when I felt a hard slap land on my cheek.

The pain jolted through me as I was taken aback which got me unaware as I fell to the floor holding my cheek as tiny sobs broke from my throat.

I was on the floor with my hands on my cheek feeling the impact of the slap. It must have gotten red and swollen because of the force of the slap.

What had I said wrong to get humiliated and slapped by my mother over a harmless statement?

Mrs. Marshall crouched to the floor and poked her long red painted nails at my collarbone with a scowl on her face. "Let today be the first and the last time you'll ever open that stinky gutter mouth of yours to go against my opinion. This is my house and I lay the freaking rules. I'm law and order around here. Be warned!"