Fairest, page 1
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
FAIREST
First edition. January 31, 2019.
Copyright © 2019 Rebecca Goodwin.
ISBN: 978-1386255420
Written by Rebecca Goodwin.
Fairest
Underland- Book Two
Rebecca Goodwin
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 1
Half asleep I shuffled past the dining room into the kitchen and stop short. The early morning sunlight pours through the window across the table and the casserole dish I put out last night is still filled with food and the serving spoon sticking up in the middle of it. “Are you kidding me?” I squeezed my hands into fists staring at the dish filled with food and rotten now from being left out all night.
Two servings had been carved out of the meal: one for my dad and the other for my stepmom. I’d slaved over the food and not even gotten a bite because my Chem Lab was yesterday and I’d run out of time.
All my step-mom had to do, was toss the lid on the casserole once the food was cool and stick it in the fridge. Seriously, how hard was that?
“You okay, Blanca?” Stepmom asked, not looking up from the magazine she was reading in the living room. “Be a dear and finish cleaning the kitchen, will you? And what’s for dinner?”
Would’ve been leftovers for tonight. I sighed and shook my head. No use arguing with her. It would only end up in a verbal fight that Dad would pick her side and I’d be grounded. Sometimes I wondered if that woman had placed a spell on him to get him to do whatever she demanded.
I glanced at my watch and cringed. If I didn’t want to miss out on dinner again tonight, then I needed to whip something up fast. My cooking class was tonight and the highlight of my week. Full day of regularly scheduled classes for a business degree ’cause Step-monster convinced Dad that taking chef classes wouldn’t take me anywhere and I’d need to get a real job. Which, I worked in a pet store after school and took night cooking classes in my spare time. Like I had much spare anything when I had to clean the whole house, do laundry, mow the lawn, and make meals. Of course, tonight’s supper would’ve been taken care of it the food had been put away.
“I’ll make something later, gotta meet David at the library to work on our paper, then work until sundown.”
“Blanca Marie Snow, you finish your chores before you go.” She huffed, tossing the magazine she’d been reading onto the floor, her voice turning condescending. “I will not have you push aside your responsibilities and rush through them all so you can go to that stupid baking class tonight. You already know how to cook, so you don’t need any more lessons.”
“Fine.” I brushed my dark hair out of my eyes and stomped to the dishwasher, disappointment and anger clashing inside my gut. When I jerked it open, the mound of dirty dishes not washed from yesterday greeted me.
“Oh, and I think the dishwasher is broken. You won’t mind calling in a repairman and washing them by hand in the meantime, will you?”
I didn’t answer but filled the sink with hot, soapy water and dumped the dishes into it. Then I scrapped out the noodle casserole I’d made into the trash. Later I’d have to ask Dad how my casserole tasted. Couldn’t ask Step-monster, she always said my food was terrible but yet always ate it and never wanted to cook herself.
“Where are my pills?” She strolled into the kitchen, tapping her bright pink nails along the granite. “You know the ones that calm my nerves and help me sleep?”
I squeezed the soapy rag in the water. “Sorry, no idea.”
“They’re the bright red ones. Look like candy apples…you should make that for Halloween this year in addition to the marshmallow balls.”
Like I needed one more thing to do in my life that wasn’t my idea. “Sure. I’ll look up some recipes when I have time.”
“Oh your dad’s home, let me ask him about my medicine. I swear that man likes to move my stuff around all the time.” Her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the living room.
To avoid hearing their nauseating whispers and kisses, I put my earbuds in and turned up the tunes on my phone. Music always helped me complete mundane tasks like cleaning quickly.
An hour later, I’d finished cleaning the kitchen, sent an email to a dishwasher repair company, and set some vegetables in the crockpot for a soup.
I was late meeting David at the library but he was used to my wicked stepmother’s antics. Hurriedly, I sent him a text that I was on my way and snuck out the back door. I didn’t care that I’d get yelled out later. But I had a life too outside of step-monster's demands.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, and my heart stopped.
“I told you,” I swallowed, “I’m meeting David and the library.”
“And I said you couldn’t go until your chores were finished.”
“What? I cleaned the whole freaking kitchen and dinner will be ready in a few hours plenty of tim—”
“Don’t argue with your mom, Blanca,” Dad reprimanded me.
“Why are you always taking her side?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“That’s enough, young lady,” Dad scowled, “you're grounded for a week. And no cooking classes. Meredith says they make you skirt your chores and she has to pick up the slack.”
My hands curled into fists. “Whatever, she doesn’t do shit around here. I do everything.”
His cheeks turned bright red. “Two weeks. No TV or computer either.”
“But that’s not fair.” I crossed my arms, my body felt ready to spring at my stepmother, and I didn’t trust myself not to choke her as angry as I was.
“Apologize to your mom.”
“She isn’t my mom,” I yelled.
“Go to your room and don’t come out until you’re ready to apologize to Meredith.” He threw open the door and pointed inside.
I didn’t even look at him as I pushed past him and into the house. Here I was, almost twenty years old and I still had to live at home. I couldn’t afford to live on my own…and pay for college too. My job barely paid for my cooking classes and supplies. And I know my stepmom would cut off all funds if I moved out and I’d have to pay for food, college classes and everything else on my own.
In my room, I typed a text to David that I couldn’t make it, then tossed my phone onto my bed and paced. Running away and being on my own was sounding better and better. If I wasn’t here to do everything then Dad would see what a witch she was. But I’d have to quit my cooking classes and find a full-time job to make this happen.
The shrill of my phone made me jump. I plopped on the bed and answered.
“Hello?”
“Blanca, it’s Alicia. Would you come with me to my Grandmother’s next week?” my best friend since hight school asked. “I know it’ll be spring break and all, but my folks want to have her funeral. And I don’t know…I just keep feeling like she’s still alive…they still haven’t found her body.”
I clenched the phone tighter. Alicia had taken the news of her grandmother’s disappearance hard. “I know, sweetie. Of course, I’ll come with you.”
“Thanks.” Her voice cracked.
Now I had to convince my dad and stepmom to waive their grounding. But one way or another, I was going to keep my word to my friend with or without their blessing.
Chapter 2
Since I was going to be gone all week without a word to my step-monster or my dad and I’d be grounded for a year—yes, even at nearly twenty years old—I needed to see David before I left with Alicia. He’d taken me to my high school prom and we’d been dating ever since.
I sent him a text.
Sorry I had to cancel on you.
No problem, babe.
Drama at home. Wanna meet me early tomorrow?
No response as I stared at my phone. Was he tired of me being so busy and Step-monster’s craziness? Finally, my phone dinged but my heart sunk.
Can’t. Gotta cram for a test tonight and I’ll be up late.
K. Good luck.
I set my phone on my charger and tried to sleep. After midnight, I still hadn’t drifted off. I thought about sending David another text but what if he was sleeping? I just wanted to see him as I was leaving in the morning to drive to Alicia’s grandmother’s and would be gone the entire week of spring break.
Surely he’d want to tell me goodbye in person if he understood that I was going to be gone and then grounded for life when I returned.
Kicking off my covers, I then quickly brushed my teeth and hair, throwing on a pair of shorts and top. I opened my bedroom door. When the wood squeaked, I held my breath. I prayed that my stepmother had taken her sleeping pills tonight otherwise she had supersonic hearing and I swore could hear a pin drop from downstairs.
No one came bursting out of their bedroom, and I let out a
sigh. I crept to the front door, avoiding the two creaking stops on the way.
It wasn’t until I was in my car and halfway down the street that my coiled insides relaxed. I drove the three and a half mile to David’s house, my hands sweating on the steering wheel. First, I’d swing by and see if his light was one. If it wasn’t then he was probably sleeping. But I bit my lower lip as I hoped he was still studying.
Seeing his bedroom light on, I parked across the street. Excitement blossomed in my chest at the thought of seeing him. Our dates had been sporadic at best and I couldn’t wait to see the expression on his face when I surprised him tonight. Even though I felt a bit stalkerish, David had often told me that I needed to be daring, spontaneous.
I picked up a few pebbles from his mom’s garden bed then dashed up to his window. Taking a deep breath, I tossed one at the glass. They plonked off but he didn’t appear in the window.
Twice more I skittered the stones against his windowpane until the blinds went up and he stood there, peering out. His hair a mess like he had been asleep and my heart leaped in my chest. Then a shadow moved behind him, and I scrambled back thinking it was his mom or dad.
But Sandra Collins dressed in a lacy teddy appeared beside him. My heart folded in on itself, and I slipped into the bushes. She pressed her body to him and he kissed her, not bothering to lower the blinds back down.
Tears stung my eyes and my face felt like it was on fire. Out of all the pain in my life, I’d never been hurt this bad. It felt like someone had scooped out my insides and I was nothing but hollow inside. Not caring if he saw me, I ran back to my car, shaking. I couldn’t go home. I knew I wouldn’t sleep anyway. Instead I drove and cried around the city. I couldn’t go to Alicia’s either or Rose’s. This trip was to support my friend and her missing grandmother, not my guy troubles.
Partially blind through my tears, I whipped the car down the road to the neighborhood park. Neither of my friends would know what David had done until I could tell them without feeling sorry for myself. If he wanted to be with Sandra than that was his choice. I hiccupped a sob and slapped the steering wheel. How could I have trusted him to remain faithful to me when I wasn’t able to see him regularly. God, I felt like such a damn fool.
As long as I lived at home, I would never be free of my dad and step-monster’s rules, never be able to live my own life. I’d deceived myself into thinking that it didn’t matter. That having money to pay for my culinary classes while obeying their every whim was enough. If I’d been on my own, I could’ve spent more time with David. Then he wouldn’t have gone with Sandra.
Fresh sobs wracked my body, burning my throat. A hollowness settled into my chest. Like an open wound that would forever be with me, forever to remind me that love was a ruse.
Chapter 3
“God, what happened to you?” Rose stared at me from her door.
“Hello to you too.” I shrugged. Sleeping in my car wasn’t the wisest choice I’d made recently. My eyes hurt and I’m sure they were puffy but like a true friend, she didn’t comment.
“Are you hungry? I’ve got toast and peanut butter.” She gestured me inside. “Dad’s out this morning, working. Gotta a call last night of a Mustang that’s needed for a wedding later today that won’t hold a charge but the battery has been replaced a few days ago. Probably the alternator.”
The door clicked closed behind us and I followed her into the kitchen. Normally I made a full-course meal for breakfast but despite being hungry, I doubted I could manage more than toast.
“Are you all packed for the trip?” She handed me a plate and set two pieces of toast on top. “Or let me guess, your stepmom nightmare has done something awful and you can’t go.”
“Something like that.” I cleared my throat. I wasn’t ready to tell her or anyone about David. It was too raw and the words felt like glass shredding my throat. “I—uh—I’m grounded.”
She slapped her hand against the counter. “That bitch! Did you stand up to her finally and she threw you out? You know you can stay here with me and Pop as long as you need.”
I took a shaky breath. “Thanks. Kinda snuck out last night cause I’m going on this trip with you and Alicia.”
Her grin made her dark eyes twinkle. “Mischievous. Now that’s something I can get behind. Let’s finish our breakfast then I’ve got an extra duffle bag you can use and you can borrow mine and Alicia’s clothes—”
“Do me a favor.” I touched her arm. “Not a word about this to Alicia. She’s been upset ever since she found out about her grandmother, and I don’t want to add to her troubles, okay?”
“Sure. But promise me when we get back you’ll address all of this. Life is too short to let that crazy lady ruin yours. Think about my offer. Stay here until you get on your feet and can live on your own.”
“What about you?” I took a bite of my toast. “You’re still living with your dad.”
She waved a hand. “That’s different. My dad’s old and after mom died…he just needs someone to take care of him. I swear if I wasn’t around he’d forget to wash his clothes or eat. But we give each other space. He doesn’t bug me and I stay out of his business too.”
“Wish my folks were the same.” I forced myself to finish the food then we spent the rest of the morning trying on clothes to ensure they fit me and packing.
“Ready to go?” Alicia unlocked her truck, pushing her blonde hair out of her eyes.
“Yes!” Rose let out a little yell. “College town here we come. Fresh guys an—”
“You do know that it’s spring break and most of them will be gone, right?” I asked.
Rose pouted. “Don’t ruin a girl’s dreams just ’cause you’ve got a steady boyfriend, the rest of us want some action and loving too.”
My heart seized and I looked away before she could see the pain in my expression. Let them think I was happily seeing David and that he was the love of my life. This week wasn’t about my troubles. I didn’t want to bring my friends into my messy life. Both had already enough to deal with. Alicia moreso with her grandmother missing. Besides I needed time to process this and figure out what I wanted to do. Tell him off? Text him that it was over? Forgive him if he begged. Not sure I could do that. At least not right now because the wound was too raw, too sharp.
I let Rose slide in first then I climbed in.
As we pulled onto the freeway, my pulse raced. All of my emotions surging into a tsunami that no matter what I tried to do, burst out. There was no stopping the words. “David and I broke up.”
“What? When?” Alicia frowned.
Rose asked. “Is that why you showed up at my door at dawn?”
“Yeah.” I looked ahead at the road. “Kinda caught him with Sandra.”
“That weasel. I knew he was no good for you.” Rose gave me a hug.
“I agree with Rose, any guy that does that isn’t worth your time.”
As much as I appreciated my friends’ support, I wanted to forget David and enjoy what I could salvage of this week. “Hey, let’s crank up the music and get this trip off right.”
I flipped the switch and sang along despite my head pounding from not sleeping. Soon the highway stretched out before us and I couldn’t stop my yawns.
“Let’s take a break from the radio,” Rose suggested and turned it off.
Soon, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and drifted off to sleep.
I awoke with a start when the truck stopped and Alicia got out. Blinking, I frowned as we were parked in front of a house that looked like it needed a fresh coat of paint on the chipped shutters and wood frame.
Alicia stood staring at the house with the stairs wrapped around half the porch, her shoulders slumped.
I opened the truck’s door. Beside me, Rose yawned, rubbing her eyes. I walked toward Alicia. “You okay?”
