Touch Me. Victory Storm

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СКАЧАТЬ suffer the guilt of watching me stuff myself without saying a word.

       I thought differently, but that was my problem.

      “ - It's only a piece of cake, not a lump of butter! Alice interjected, leaving me speechless. No one ever dared contradict my sister or mother when it came to calories or body mass index.

       - There will be cake again tonight... That's why I was saying it, Ava stammered, struggling with Alice's murderous stare, before taking her leave and running off.

       - Why didn't you tell us it's your birthday party tonight? asked Kira cautiously, even though I knew she was hurt.

       - It's just nonsense with my family. We celebrate both my birthday and Sandy's, who turns five tomorrow. Today afternoon, my mom threw a mega party for her, with all her kindergarten friends and girlfriends. But tonight, there will be a cocktail party just for close friends.

       - Do you have any other friends?

       - Not mine. My family's.

       - What about your birthday party?

       - In theory, it's tonight, but I already know that the star is still Sandy. The real party is this one. With you.

       - We would have planned something even bigger, if only you'd let us.

       - No, please. I hate parties and I hate being the center of attention! I was immediately frightened.

       - Why didn't you invite us tonight? suddenly asked Alice who had been silent.

       - I... I... I don't want to lose you.”

       I couldn't finish my sentence and before I could stop myself, I found myself hiding my face in my hands.

      “ - What's wrong? asked Kira worriedly, rushing to take me in her thin arms, which would drive my parents crazy.

       - I don't want to lose your friendship, I managed to say between sobs.

       - Why are you afraid of that happening?

       - Because I know my family and I know how good they are at making people wonder at drawing them into their glittering world, to which I have no access.

       - But what are you talking about?

       - Come to my parents' house tonight and you'll understand.” I capitulated, wondering if it wasn't better to find out right away how strong our friendship was.

      2

      

       FELICITY

      “ I understood this was a birthday party, not a beauty pageant,” Alice whispered to me as my mother devoured Kira's exotic beauty with her eyes.

      “ - My father is a fashion consultant and agent for several little girl models, including Sandy. My mom was Miss Oregon for two years and made it to the finals of the Miss America pageant twenty-seven years ago. Ava helps out my dad and is trying to make it as an advertising model. Bethany, on the other hand, is working to become the new Miss Oregon, but for now she is a beautician and has no intention of continuing her education, just like Ava. Sandy is only five years old, but she's already won four beauty pageants and her Instagram account has over a million followers, thanks to the efforts of my mom who manages my sisters' public relations. And then there's Sissi. She'll be a year old soon and my dad has already gotten her a contract in a diaper commercial," I explained, showing her the family gathered in various parts of the house, decorated and lit up for a photo shoot. “

       I saw the bewildered expressions of my friends, while my sisters and mother ran from place to place looking for the perfect shot and pretending to eat a piece of chocolate cake or toast with champagne. There was even an area set aside for changing from long evening gowns to tight-fitting sheaths adorned with sparkles and sequins.

      “ Everything is beautiful, but when is it your turn to blow out the candles or have your picture taken? asked Alice, noticing how focused the photographer was on Sandy in front of the most lavish cake ever.

       - There is no turn for me.

       - But your party...

       - This is my party.

       - But you're not there, Kira murmured apologetically.

       - And that's how it works. Here, parties are only for shootings. The fun party with friends has already happened and that was for Sandy. This on the other hand, is not a party but a real modeling shoot, which involves all my sisters and my mother.” I said, pointing to my family sitting in front of the fireplace.

       My mother had a cascade of golden brown hair that fell gracefully over one of her bare shoulders. She held Sissi in her arms, dressed like a princess in peach, like my mother's shimmering dress. Ava was a carbon copy of my mother, and they could be mistaken for sisters given the facial and skin treatments my mother underwent every day. Their only difference was their eyes: my mother's were blue and Ava's were light brown, almost golden, thanks to special lenses she always wore. Bethany stood next to my mother, strapped into a silver dress that left little to the imagination. She, too, was beautiful with her straight blonde hair and blue eyes highlighted by perfect, bright makeup. Next to them was Sandy, with her blonde curls, hazel eyes like mine, skin treated with a pearly self-tanning cream, little mermaid dress and gold heeled sandals.

       Despite my beautiful dress, I was not among them. Not by chance, nobody had come to compliment me or ask me to pose with them. They couldn't risk losing followers and showing that in the middle of so much beauty was hiding an ugly duckling who, growing up, hadn't metamorphosed into a beautiful swan.

       I didn't even take offense when my mother insisted on including Kira and Alice in the shots. I knew it would happen, but I had to hold back my laughter as I watched them run away. Alice looked like someone just out of a cockfight and Kira was so shocked by all the pretensions of perfection that she finally retreated.

      “ I promise not to get offended if you don't invite me to your birthday party with your family next year, Kira blurted out as she cleaned her clothes of a shower of glitter thrown in the air for a photo.

       - I don't want to either. I feel exhausted. In ten minutes, I was asked to do all kinds of poses and smile at the camera, but I didn't even get a piece of cake, Alice added tiredly.

       - At my house, the cake is only for pictures, not for eating. No one wants to get fat or get pimples.

       - They don't even eat your desserts? exclaimed a shocked Alice, who loved my cooking.

       - They don't eat anything I make. They say they're afraid of getting fat like me and that if I want to get people to try my food, I should set a good example by losing at least ten pounds.

       - This is a crazy family! exploded Alice.

       - Well said, young lady!” thundered a voice behind our back.

       We turned around and saw my grandmother, with her perpetual perfect bun taming her now gray hair, her inseparable pearl necklace and a beautiful canary yellow suit. She looked like the Queen of England.

      “ Grandma, at last! I greeted her with СКАЧАТЬ