Chapter Fifty-Nine – Sicko.
I knocked on the gate once again. The height of the iron gate was intimidating Chloe as she frequently went backwards from it.
She was almost five feet tall, as she always said. She looked more. Not to add her confidence.
A butler, appeared outside the guard room. With a weird hat on. Reminded me of a ‘chapeau’. Don’t ask.
“Um.. here to see Isabella please?” I called out with a Spanish accent I never knew I had. Chloe nodded approvingly. I thought she’d laugh.
“Never seen you here before. Are you Isabella’s friend or bully?” the man had a better Spanish accent.
And did he just say bully? Who’d visit her to bully her? Did she have people who bullied her?
“We came to meet her sir. I am Mrs. Bob’s daughter, Kiera Martinez” I stressed on the last part.
The man looked unconvincing and it was already looking embarrassing yelling for someone to open a gate for you.
A honk sound from behind us made me jolt.
“Well, what do you want?” Isabella slammed her door open and shut, coming out if her car. I was no longer surprised seeing my age mates driving cars. Reuben, thanks.
“Here to see you” I feigned a friendly voice.
She stood with arms on her waist, “Why?”.
“Let’s go in. I think you’d like why” I winked playfully. Chloe cringed besides me.
Isabelle waves at the burglar and he returns inside the guard room. The gate opens slowly.
“Walk in. Your cursed feet aren’t getting in my car” Isabella spat.
“Who wants it’s stench” I replied dismissively.
She was shocked at my sudden lack of friendliness. I hurried inside before the gates closed.
“What exactly are we going to ask her?” Chloe reminded me that we didn’t have a plan. Yes, we didn’t.
I shrugged, “Let’s get in. All I know is, they should stop bullying my mom”.
“So you know who I am right?” I started when we were sitting in her small parlor.
The mansion was literally big enough to hold her own mini-house inside it.
“A girl probably invited by some sicko to ruin my birthday” she had a hateful look.
“The sicko is you then” I brought out the invitation letter she had sent to mom.
I explained how she, being the glorious sicko she was, invited me to, yes, ruin her birthday.
I wasn’t expecting her not to know me. Was glad she didn’t.
“You’re Kiera?” was that softness in her voice?
She looked betrayed. By who? Maybe Cara. And she looked regretful. Well, I needed an apology so alright.
“I wasn’t expecting an ambush by my so-called cousin. At least I know the kind of person you are. I totally understand why my grandfather ran away years back” I rolled my eyes, looking away from her face.
She kept mute. I felt like in a movie where the villain’s great master plan just got exposed and thrown to nothing.
“So in summary, I ask, as your last deed as a cousin, to convey this message to your grandfather. To release my grandfather’s properties to my mom” I slapped the invitation on her table.
Mirabella barged into the room with her hand full of toys. I eyed her.
How could I have missed she was the sister of Isabella. With their Barbie royalty like names. And the deceptiveness.
“What are you doing here? She has no party” Mirabella kept her hands on her waist, letting the toys fall to the ground.
That was no way to talk to elders. Neither was it her calm and sweet tone she had used to talk to Gladys that day. All deception.
“We are done here, little miss” I stood up with Chloe.
“You’re shirt is worn wrongly though” Chloe sneered as we left. Mirabella looked down at her shirt and sighed.
“Why bring them in here? Dad told you to quit trying to merge our families together. You don’t listen” I heard Mirabella say to her sister.
She had a very strong tone with a deep Spanish accent.
I stopped walking to listen but one, of the numerous butlers, ushered me outside.
“I just wanted our family to be…” I didn’t hear the last parts of Isabella’s words.
To be what? Ruined? Didn’t sound like it. Together? Most probably. But why?
“She looked guilty though” Chloe brought me from my thoughts. I nodded, I had noticed.
“She might have really not known is you. Still doesn’t mean she should be rude to anyone. She’s such a Missy” Chloe rolled her eyes.
“She should take my request seriously. I couldn’t make it sound like a threat” I said, disappointed at myself.
Someone had to remind them that they were with the property of someone else. My mom wasn’t hearing of it when I tried talking to her about it.
Chloe patted my shoulders. With a smile. I raised my shoulders. Either ways, I had made it clear we still needed the properties.

•••
“Kiera Bob Martinez” our form teacher called the attendance. I raised my hands. She smiled and ticked whilst calling someone else.
“Morning” Sheena said flatly to me.
I had been her seat mate for so long but she had been acting like I didn’t exist. She wasn’t angry then did look angry now.
“Morning?” it came out as a question.
She smirked but said nothing afterwards. Was she trying to make up? Or bring up the Jasper and I hug. I had time for either case.
“Sorry for being a jerk lately to you and Chloe. I called Chloe yesterday to apologize…” she muttered. I honestly could barely hear her but I titled my ears to get the little I could.
“Oh, it’s okay. We get confused from time to time. Staying I’m the confusion is the wrong part” I nodded.
I was sure it was a glare that she had shot at me before it magically transformed to a wide smile. That was fake.
“Thanks for accepting my apology. We’re friends now?” she still had that wide smile that was becoming dry.
“Yeah, I guess…”.
We stayed quiet till the end of the role calls. That was when Chloe came to school together with Cara. That was weird.
Everyone gave them weird looks. The teacher cleared her throat in displeasure also.
Maybe what was weirder was that she and Cara had identical scarfs tied around their necks. With identical disgusted faces.