Page 138 - The Life of A Teenage Girl (Stories About Finding Your Way)

CHAPTER 1

I
never thought I’d end up dancing with the one person I couldn’t

stand. Life’s strange like that.
It’s just me, my mom, and my older sister at home, though. My

mom always says, “Jorelle’s the quiet one—always thinking, never
talking.” And maybe she’s right. Sometimes my Uncle Charlie drops

by on weekends or breaks, usually with expensive gifts he tries to play

off like they’re no big deal. He’s got money, but he doesn’t act like it.
Honestly, he feels more like a dad than the one who left. My real dad

cheated and walked out on us. We don’t talk about it much, but when
we do… it still hits like it just happened.

That morning, I was halfway through getting ready when Mom’s

voice echoed from downstairs, calling for both me and my sister. I
threw on a pair of fitted black tights, a clean white cropped top with a

preppy edge, and some new socks before putting on my Converse. As
I made my way down, the warm, sweet smell of pancakes, waffles, and

hot chocolate drifted through the air. It wrapped around me like a soft
hug—one of the few peaceful parts of my morning routine.

“I’m here!” I said, sitting down at the dark wooden table.

“Where’s your sister?”
Before I could answer Mom, my sister, Jirelle, came downstairs

wearing a crop top with a box-pleat skirt.
“Here,” she said, adjusting her outfit and hair.