random story I wrote for a test :)

“Done yet?” My brother yelled

“Just one second” I yelled back. I wanted to look perfect, I had heard plenty of stories about stepdaughters thinking that their evil stepmothers would wickedly torture them and bask in the sweet sound of their tormented screams. I was not one of those stepdaughters. I’m sure Karen isn’t that bad. “Ella! We have to leave now!” I sprinted down the stairs and sprung into the car’s backseat.

“You promise to behave?”

“Yes Mom” we chimed. Although I thought she was the one who needed to promise to behave, she and dad couldn’t stay in a room without fighting for five minutes. The moment I stepped out of the car I was immediately ambushed and engulfed in a flurry of glitter, scarves, and thick, aggressively sweet perfume. “Hi! you are so beautiful!” “and Nico, you’re so handsome!” Karen squealed. I briefly glanced at Mom and Nico and saw twin expressions of revulsion etched on their faces. They obviously loathed the rose perfume Karen wore. It didn’t do my sinuses any favours either, but the least they could do was try to hide their disapproval. “You’re rather pretty too” mumbled Mom, making no attempt to mask her sarcasm or smug grin. Karen awkwardly smiled, flustered. She welcomed us into what used to be my house before my parents divorced 8 years back. My father’s past relationships rarely lasted for more than 6 months but 3 years back Karen broke that pattern. My mom had been convinced she would last a year at most and she still considered her one of dad’s flings, But I knew FOR SURE she was there to stay. Suddenly Someone picked me up and spun me rapidly, jolting me out of my thought spiral. I laughed hysterically and hugged My father. “Dad!”

“Hey, Jellybean!”

“Don’t call me that I’m 16 now!” We laughed and entered the living room.

“WHOA!” “Everything looks so different!” Nico exclaimed

“I know right!” Karen chirped “Your father picked out the drapes”

“Since when do you like green, William?” Mom asked

“Since I met Karen,” Dad answered simply

“ What have you cooked for us, Karen?” Nico asked, probably sensing the frigid cold tension in the room. Mom loosened up, and Karen soon struck up a conversation with her about gardening. This wasn’t the perfect meeting that I imagined but better than what most people got. We went to the kitchen, chatted the rest of the evening, and got to know each other.