Storm's POV

I click my pen as I stare down at my Maths homework, which is a page full of word problems. Usually, I would get annoyed when people at school click their pens but now I can finally understand why they do it. It's soothing. It's a way of dealing with all of your nervous and jittery energy. I manage to find the solutions to each and every question. When I meet new people, I can give the impression of being dumb because of the lack of effort I put into the activities I do.

That's probably why all of your teachers(except from the one that teaches you Drama) are always disappointed in you. That's probably why Mum and Dad are always at work. They're trying not to show you how crestfallen they are. They know you have potential but you're not showing it.

As if it's going to silence the disheartening voices, I shake my head vigorously. I may not know the reason why my parents never want to be around me but I know for sure that I haven't disappointed them. The miniscule amount of time they spend with me is the same as with River, the model child who sets the standards.

If only I could solve real-life problems just as easily as these Maths ones I've completed now!

If I could, I would solve the problem of Mum and Dad not showing my older sister and I much love. Is that why River is normally really bitter towards me? Because we're both in the same boat: we both have parents who ignore us. She wants to leave this boat, whether or not that leaves me stranded in the middle of the ocean. Maybe I deserve it as she's older than me, therefore, she has been waiting longer than I have to be rescued by Mum and Dad. However, it looks like she's given up because she has been behaving less sour towards me recently.

Another problem I would try to fix - if I had the ability - is my failing friendship with Stella. She still hasn't returned from her suspension and although she's not at school, she has left a mark on each and every one of us. Some rumours say that Stella's been excluded while some people disagree with the first one but support the theory that she's never coming back. Others think that she might have packed her bags and left Minehead without hesitation and of course just like every other school, there have been nonsensical rumours that I won't even waste my time believing.

But, what if some of them are true and I will never see Stella again?

Stop it, Storm! You're being ridiculous!

What if I have to accept reality: my friendship with her is over?

Of course it's not! You just have to be patient!

The only piece of homework I have left is English. Yes, I am still trying to think of the perfect topic to base it on! Should I ask River for help? Just as I'm pondering this question, my older sister knocks at my bedroom door.

"Come in!"

The door opens.

"Wow, sis, I'm impressed! You've finally learnt that you need to knock before entering someone else's room!" I exclaim, applauding her," Should I give you a certificate?"

"I don't need a certificate to know how amazing I am!" River brags.

I roll my eyes at her boastful manner.

"What do you want?" I ask, my tone now has become dull.

"It's nice to see you, too! I'm going Christmas shopping!" River announces.

How could I have forgotten? We're very near to the Christmas holidays and I haven't even given presents or cards a thought! My thoughts must be shown on my face because my sister gushes out of shock:

"It can't be! Storm Jackson has forgotten about Christmas!"

"I have not!" I lie.

"Then, have you bought me a Christmas present?"

"No, do you know why? It's because you don't deserve one!"

"Santa's going to take you off the good list."

"I'm thirteen! I don't believe in Santa anymore!"

"Only because when you were ten, you found out the hiding place of the Christmas gifts! You should have seen the look on your face! Because there was no point in lying anymore, Mum and Dad decided to tell you Santa doesn't exist and of course, your ten-year-old-self didn't want to believe it!"

River starts to giggle. Why did I start feeling bad for my insensitive sister earlier?

"Alright, you've had your laugh! Now, can you leave me alone? I have homework to do!" I say.

"Bye!" River calls before shutting the door.

A minute later, I hear the front door slam before the engine of her car is started.

Finally some peace and quiet!

I search up on Google some presentation ideas for school to give me some inspiration. I try topics like endangered species, the negative effects of homework and the disadvantages of social media but none of them seem right when I start writing. When my brain eventually gets tired and my bin is overflowed with paper, I decided that's enough for today and I will try again tomorrow. Instead, I go downstairs to lie down on the sofa as I start looking for photos that I can use to create a Christmas card.

It's when I'm looking through my photos do I realise that I have very few family ones and neither of them are suitable to put on the front of a Christmas card. This is because someone is either not smiling, not looking at the camera or is making a weird face. I decide to call River so that I can ask her to send me some photos(I know I can just wait for her to come home but that will be just wasting time - I haven't even bought any presents yet!). I open my 'Phone' app, tap on my sister's name and click on the phone icon to call her.

I almost fall off the sofa when River's phone, which I've just realised is on the other sofa, starts to ring.

She may be smart but she is forgetful!

I get up from the sofa I'm currently seated on to go and retrieve my older sister's phone.

River never allows me to look on her phone but it's not like she's going to mind. I'm just looking for photos to send myself!

Her phone asks me for her password. I try her name, age and birthday but none of them work.

What would River set as her password?

I type into the space where I'm supposed to enter the password:

Smart girl

I'm not surprised when I'm taken to River's home screen.

Typical River!

I tap on her 'Gallery', not knowing I wasn't going to find just family photos...

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"I'm home!" River calls after closing the front door behind her," Storm, can you come and help me with the shopping bags?"

I don't move. I'm frozen.

"Storm!" my sister calls my name again when I don't answer.

Her high heeled boots click-clack down the hallway and into the living room, where I'm perched on the sofa.

"You do realise that when somebody calls you to to help them, the polite thing to do is obey," River states.

I don't look at her; I stare into space.

"Earth to Storm!" my older sister clicks her fingers in front of my face to try to get my attention.

"What's up with you?" she asks when I don't respond.

How can she ask that?

"I need to talk to Mum and Dad. What time are they coming home?" I question.

"I don't know. You can talk to me," River tells me, flashing me a reassuring smile.

I'm not going to fall for your tricks ever again!

"I don't want to talk to you!" I snap.

"Wow, that's a nice way to talk to your sister!" River huffs.

"I can no longer call you my sister!"

"What's up with you?"

"I've found what you've been hiding, River Jackson..."

Author's Note

Over 800 reads and 300 votes! Thank you for all your support!

What do you think River's been hiding? Next chapter will be told through Stella's POV.