Chapter 14 Olivia
I sniff as my door creeks open.
I turn to see my little sister. She looks nervous... She should be! She lied and had me beaten for her own entertainment... And she had the gal to yell at me last night because she didn't get cake! Can't she see what Beth is doing to her?
"What?" is all she asks, focusing on her pink toe nail polish, like it was suddenly the most fabulous thing in the world.
"Why did you do it?" I demand. I'm not moving from my spot. My body hurts too much right now. Standing up is just too much work from me at the moment.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she insists, folding her arms around herself, as if to protect her from my rage. Does she not know me at all? What the hell kinda trash has Beth been filling in Liv's head?!
"Don't give me that shit! You told Aunt Beth I stole my own money when you know damn well I was at work all day long, slaving away to keep you safe! Now TELL ME why you did it!" I demand.
Olivia shrinks away from me. "Why should I listen to you?!" she demands, becoming defensive all of a sudden. I can see it in her eyes, she's scared of me, but she's so damn defiant. I wish she would open her eyes and see what is really going on! But she's so selfish and blind.
"Because I'm trying to keep you safe! Why don't you ever listen to me?" I growl out in frustration, but wince because I'm still in pain. Does she not see me right now? Does she really feel nothing other than fear? This is not what my Mom wanted.
"THEN MAKE MORE MONEY! THAT IS THE ONLY THING YOU ARE GOOD FOR!" she yells at me. Of course this is what Aunt Beth has drilled into her. Liv was never a sweet little girl, she was all about the money. But she's gonna learn quick not everything is going to go her way.
I have the urge to slap her in the face. But I don't, because she's my sister. And because Mom taught me better. I'm not going to change into Aunt Beth no mattered what the hell she throws at me.
"Then I guess I'll leave you with Beth to become her slave when I leave," I shrug and look back in the mirror, trying to fix my face with a tissue, pretending I'm ignoring my sister.
"What are you talking about?" Liv gasps.
"I guess you will never know. You don't love me, so why should I love you, Liv? I've tired my whole life to show you I loved you and you don't seem to care... So why should I care when she beats you like I know she will when I finally leave?" I ask, pretending to be uninterested.
"You- you would leave m-me here with h-her?" her voice trembles.
"Why wouldn't I?" I shrug again. "You seem to love Aunt Beth and all you ever do is yell at me! I haven't done a damn thing to earn any of your anger, and yet, you told Beth I stole just to watch her beat me."
"It was Ava's idea," her voice is almost too quiet to pick up.
"And I suppose that makes it okay? You just love having your big sister beaten up. You think its funny. But should I laugh when she does the same thing to you? Isn't that the 'golden rule?" I ask plainly.
Olivia's eyes flood with tears. "She would beat me? Just like you?!"
I laugh. "You have to ask that?" I say, turning around and facing her. "She doesn't love you, Liv. She is using you. Why do you think she hurts Charlie? It's because she doesn't fall for her lies."
"An-and y-you'd l-leave me h-here wi-with Aunt B-Beth?" she practically trembles.
Finally I stand up and pull her body into mine. "No, Olivia. I still love you. Even when you are being a bitch. You are my little sister and I would never leave you with her, even though sometimes I wish I could. I'm not cruel like that!" I sigh and hold her as she sobs into my shoulder.
Maybe there is a chance for us to be a family after all?