Corrupting Ms. Popular

C H A P T E R 1

I groaned when I heard the annoying beep of my phone going off. Why did someone invent an alarm? Wait, why did someone invent time?

I angrily switched it off and laid under the blankets for a few more moments to wake up properly. I could hear Will snoring across the room and I viciously pushed the blankets aside and threw him with a pillow.

He didn't even realize...

I stood up and since I was the mature one, I grabbed my blankets and threw it on top of him. That say he would have to fold them.

I looked at where our parents were supposed to be sleeping in one of the rooms we didn't have a use for yet and I noticed the blankets were already neatly folded which meant that my Dad had already left for work and Mum was already busy doing goodness knows what.

I tiredly rubbed my eyes as I left the room and started making my way to my room.

I was happy that my parents had told my brother that we had to share the part of the house that my room was in. He had to find another room and move all his stuff again. I had been skipping next to him and laughing my behind off. All he did was scowl at me.

Mum said that she would have my piano moved to one of the rooms and she would make sure that all of our things for our study rooms got moved and installed. I was actually happy I had a perfectionist as a mother. Everything was done right that way-but most of the time, the right way wasn't my way.

I walked into my room and I made a mental note to get all the keys from my Mum before tomorrow-which was when we started school. I knew that she would be out shopping for things and she always locked up as if it was a state prison.

I opened one of my suitcases and grabbed a pair of ripped jeans and my my white Adidas shirt and my Superstars. I grabbed a pair of matching underwear and my toiletry bag and started making my way to one of the rooms that had a working shower.

I walked in and was grateful that it was close to my room and then I started doing everything I needed to do. I found it frustrating that I had to wash my hair. I didn't like air drying it since it took forever.

So, in total the house had 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a lounge, a kitchen, 3 offices with bookcases, a game room, a dining room, a pantry, a laundry room, and then the open planned hallway.

I got dressed and tied my hair in a messy bun. I wasn't really in the mood to do anything today, but the sooner things got done, the sooner we could stop doing things. But either way, I would have to do it.

I walked out and tossed my toiletry bag into my room without really bothering to make sure nothing fell out.

I jogged down to the kitchen and as expected, my Mum was packing out all of the dishes and plates and glasses and I knew she would be busy for quite some time.

“Morning, Mummy.”

I greeted as I kissed her cheek and I picked up my 'to-do' list off the table. I wasn't surprised when I noticed that it was basically everything to do with shopping.

Grocery Shopping

Clothes Shopping

Decor Shopping

Stationary Shopping

Watch Your Brother

I smiled at the last one since I knew my brother got one that said he had to watch me. I knew he would be annoyed when he found out we would already start with errands today. He was the lazy but eager one.

“So, we'll go and get groceries first and then come and drop them off here and then go clothing shopping and then drop it and have lunch and then we go do the decor shopping?”

I asked and my Mum nodded as she reached into her apron and handed me two sets of keys. One had a infinity sign dangling between the keys and the other had a weed sign. I still didn't understand why she even tolerated his smoking. It was bad and she knew it, but who was I to judge her parenting skills?

I knew that the infinity set was mine so I pushed it into my back pocket where my phone was and at that exact time Will jogged into the kitchen.

“Catch!”

I threw the keys at him and he tried catching it but it bounced and he had to use reflex to catch it... But he still caught it... I pouted and did my best to contain the laugh that was trying to bubble out. His expression had been priceless.

“Really?”

He asked as he sat down next to me at the island table and then took his 'to-do' list. I could tell that he had woken up on the wrong side of the floor but I decided not to comment.

At least he had already showered and we could go. Unless he was hungry, then we would have to eat cereal.

I stood up and I heard him follow me. I took into consideration that it must've been the first night he slept on the floor. Spoilt ass.

We walked to his black SUV and I got in the passenger seat and once he was settle I opened the dash to take out the note book and pen in there and saw an old picture of Lexi...

I took out the note book and closed it again. My leg started bouncing up and down as a few images flashed in my head.

“You saw.”

It wasn't a question and I suddenly understood why he was in such a bad mood. Today was April 30th....

The day Lexi died...

The day everything fell apart...

I nodded and put my hand over his on the steering wheel above his white nuckles. He took my hand and then squeezed it before he let it go. I knew he blamed me, but he would never admit it.

I looked out the window and the GPS navigation kicked in and started directing us to the nearest grocery store. I knew we would have to go in a few times to buy all the things that Mum always buys...

I don't know how she has time to buy everything, let alone the hands. She still keeps the house spotless, usually makes us three cooked meals a day and somehow manages to do clothing shopping as well.

We pulled into a parking space and at the entrance since it was empty due to it being a Sunday. I guessed that most of the people around here went to church.

Each of us grabbed a shopping cart and walked in. We started going from asile to asile and when we weren't even halfway through the carts were full. Will stood while the Cashier rung everything up and I came back with a third cart. By the time I arrived with the fourt one we had everything we needed for now and I started taking the stuff that had already been rung up to the car.

I packed everything and went back for another cart and by then Will was putting his pin into the card machine. I could tell that the Cashier was happy. They probably got a bonus for serving large clients.

I took the second cart and a few minutes later Will came out with one of the Cashiers helping him push the other cart. We loaded the stuff and I shook my head when I realised that the entire SUV was filled with shoping bags. We really did need to make a stop at the house...

Once we were settled in the car and driving home, the clock on the dashboard showed that it was already 11:27. I decided that it would be better if we did the stationary shopping first since we are starting school tomorrow.

When we stopped at the house there were people scattered about the place and I realised that they were trying to trim the grass and there were people on ladders and as soon as we stopped infront of the front door, woman rushed out and took the shopping bags inside. They speed they were doing things at was scaring me and I decided not to go inside, since it must look like some chicken farm in there.

We got on the road again and I decided to talk to Will about what happened, even though I knew it might result in an argument.

“You know it wasn't your fault...”

I stated softly as I looked at him and I saw his eyes cloud with tears before he composed himself. I noticed when he clenched his jaw and I knew he was on the defensive immediately.

“But I could've stopped her... I could've saved her... I could've saved you...”

He stated and I felt all of the old memories and my suppressed emotions coming back. I felt something pull in my chest, because he blamed himself for me and blamed me for her.

“I could've stopped her, too. I had more influence than you did. I knew before you did. And I did nothing. And I will sit with the guilt of that for the rest of my life. But she would want you to be happy... Without her...”

I stated and wiped away the stray tear that fell down my cheek. It was in the past. I didn't need to think about it... But he was making it so hard.

The rest of the car ride was quite and I couldn't have been happier when we pulled up to the mall. It was busy, but not as busy as a mall should be.

I hopped out and went ahead of him. I had spare keys to the car so I didn't have to look for him if I wanted to put things away.

I walked into some stationary shop and realised that it had all sorts of pretty decorating things so I walked out with an entire cart filled with things for my room and locker. I just couldn't resist myself.

I loaded it into the car and then went to Just Jeans, Victoria Secret, Nike, Adidas, Forever 21, Top Shop, Super Dry, JD and New Look. I went into some fancy dress store and bought some things and then I went to the car.

Will was already waiting in the car and when I got in I smiled at him and we started making our way home. It was already 6:32 p.m. and I was grateful that I had stopped at Starbucks earlier. I wouldn't have survived the day if I didn't.

“I bought some things for you. I thought they would look good on you. And besides, the amount of clothes you buy compared to me is nothing.”

I stated and he nodded as he passed me a packet from Foschini-the one place I didn't go.

“Thank you.”

I opened it and saw about 20 different jewellery sets. I smiled at him and he nodded. He was always so antisocial when he thought of her.

When we pulled up to the house I saw that the rusted iron fencing had been replaced and looked brand new and the messy lawn had been trimmed, the porch was tiled and there were flowers running beside the driveway. The house already looked a million times better. The windows were replaced and I wouldn't be surprised if my Mum had the entire house painted-but she didn't.

The gutters had been replaced but they were dark in colour so that they could match the colour of the house. I couldn't wait to see what my room looked like.

I walked in and Mum came to me and Will with a satisfied smile on her face.

“Your rooms are done. Its just up to you to unpack and decorate it the way you want to. There is a roll of plastic bags on your beds. Old clothes in there, including shoes. Now go.”

Will ran and pulled a funny face when he beat me to the top of the stairs but I grabbed hold of the banister when he slipped and fell on his ass. The look on his face was so comical, I wish I had recorded it.

I started laughing and clutching my stomach. He groaned when he got up and rubbed his head. Clearly that was one good fall. Where were the security cameras when you need them?

“I forgot to tell you, the floors are polished.”

I heard my Mum laugh as she walked away and I walked with Will to our rooms. The chickens scurried past us and I moved out of the way. Yes, I just called the woman chickens.

I went to my room and I had to say it looked beautiful. The floors were polished and gave the room a modern touch. I took my shoes off and put them next to the door before I skid across the floor in just socks.

I lost my balance and laughed when I fell with a loud thump, but I stood up again. The walls were painted a rough white and looked as though they had been sanded down to make the bricks come out. It gave the room a rugged look and there were white borders and I ran my hand along it and felt that it was dry.

There was a four-poster bed with dressing tables and that was all that was in the room. I smiled and went to the bathroom.

It looked like a proper bathroom now. The toilet was new and the shower looked fixed. There were drawers installed under the basin and the large window above the bath had blinds covering it-bless my soul.

I couldn't have done it better myself. I walked back to my bed and ran my hand across the beige sheets and jumped down on it.

I put my keys on the side table and set my alarm even though I hated the thing. I had a routine that I needed to stick to...