The Ugly Stepsister by Avril Sabine Read Free Book Online

“Your father rang. Something about next weekend. Told him you’d be home tonight if he wanted to talk to you.” She shrugged and headed for the bathroom.
    Ellie picked up the card of tablets and returned them to the top of the fridge. Noticing it was the last card left, she made a mental note to pick up more when she went shopping.
    While Ellie was outside dropping the two bags of garbage into the wheelie bin, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Tom.
Home safe and sound Ma.
She smiled as she returned it to her pocket. She’d waited to send the text so he didn’t know how close she lived to the shopping centre. She was in the middle of washing dishes when her phone beeped. Drying her hands on her pants, she checked the message.
Wrong gender. Are you sure you go to school?
Ellie laughed before she returned to the dishes.
    A little over an hour later, she surveyed the living area. A towel covered the stain on the sofa and would hopefully soak up what had smelled like scotch and coke, the floors were still damp from being mopped and every window was open to clear out the smell of stale alcohol and smoke. The bathroom had been cleaned, she shuddered as she recalled the mess in there, and she’d eaten a sandwich for dinner. She’d been surprised to find four pieces of bread still in the fridge. She wistfully wondered what Tom and Sam were having for dinner.
    Ellie shrugged. There was no point in stressing about it. Until recently, living with her mum had been the best choice. She still thought it was better than moving in with her father. As long as she kept the house clean, stayed away on weekends and didn’t bring home trouble, her mum didn’t care what she did. She could pretty much live her own life. It was just a pain that her years of staying with Lauren on the weekend were over. But she was sure she could figure something out. Eventually. She didn’t have a choice. There was no way she could live with her father full time.
    Snatching up her bag from near the front door, Ellie stopped at her bedroom door, which was just past the bathroom. She used the other key on her key ring to unlock the padlock on the barrel bolt she’d attached to her door, swinging it shut behind her as she turned on the light.
    She’d learned the hard way that when people were drunk they’d enter any room that wasn’t locked and make themselves at home. Once she dropped her bag on her bed, she turned to pull clothes from her duchess. She desperately needed a shower. Her hair was driving her crazy, her makeup felt five centimetres thick and she was sick of wearing the same clothes.
    After a shower, Ellie sat at her laptop and turned it on. She towel dried her hair while she waited. It was a few minutes after eight. Less than an hour and Lauren would have to go to bed. Leaving her towel draped around her shoulders, she signed into her messenger.
     
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: You were ages.
    Ellie says: Had to clean up the mess.
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: Was it bad?
    Ellie says: At least no one threw up on the floor this weekend.
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: Eww.
    Ellie says: I know!
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: You sure it’s worth it?
    Ellie says: Alternative- Dad, Pamela, clone 1, clone 2.
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: Okay, you’re right.
    Ellie says: Exactly. I’d rather clean up vomit every day of the week than listen to Pamela saying, isn’t there something else you should be doing? I’m sure I didn’t spend my childhood sprawled in front of a tv/listening to music/on the computer. Must you sit like that? What are you wearing? And my favourite one of all, must you always try to be such a disappointment to your father?
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: I hope I never have to meet her.
    Ellie says: Did I tell you I organised to stay there next weekend?
    Kitten, kitten, kitten says: Yep. You’re crazy.
    Ellie says: Probably. But until I can figure out something else, they’ll have to do. I couldn’t live there full