The Ugly Stepsister Read Free Page B

drawer and pulled out some cutlery.
    Ellie bit back the remark she wanted to make. The whole idea of the makeup was to look terrible. She shouldn’t complain when she achieved her goal, but it was difficult when Tom made negative comments about the way she looked. He was heart-stopping gorgeous. Who wanted someone who looked like that thinking they were gouge-your-eyes-out ugly?
    She wandered into the dining room and sat in the chair Tom pointed at. She watched as the table was transformed. A linen tablecloth, a fancy jar of maple syrup, ice cream in a cut glass serving bowl, matching cutlery, white bowls at each place and a white serving plate with hot pancakes.
    It didn’t take Ellie long to fill her bowl and her eyes closed as she savoured her first mouthful. She opened them to find Sam watching her again. She decided his brown eyes reminded her of puppy eyes. She glanced at Tom. His brown eyes certainly didn’t bring to mind a baby animal. Ignoring the unnerving stare of Sam, she had another mouthful.
    “Is it okay?” Sam still watched her.
    She nodded. “Heavenly. If you keep feeding me like this I’m going to have to ask which bedroom do I get when I move in?” She grinned at the look of panic that flitted across Sam’s face. Maybe it wasn’t nice of her, but it was good not to be the one feeling out of their element.
    “Mine.”
    Ellie laughed at Tom’s answer. “Dream on, sweetheart.”
    “But I would have to insist on the makeup going and you learning what shampoo is for.”
    Ellie shrugged. “Then I guess I won’t be moving in after all. I like my makeup and there’s nothing wrong with my hair. Washing your hair too much can be damaging you know.”
    “Not washing it at all is taking the theory to the extreme.”
    Sam sat quietly, his attention on Ellie as he ate his food.
    His constant stare was starting to bother her. “Where did you learn to cook like this, Sam?”
    “Dad. He’s a-”
    Tom interrupted his brother. “He loves to cook. Made us both learn. Sam’s the one with a talent for it.”
    “I won’t argue that. These’d have to be the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted.” Ellie scooped another spoonful into her mouth.
    Sam blushed, but continued to watch Ellie. She was glad when she’d eaten as much as possible and could escape. It was well past time to get away from Sam’s unnerving gaze. It was starting to make her feel guilty again. Like she’d kicked a puppy or something. She pushed back from the table.
    “If I eat another bite I’m going to explode. Do you want my bowl in the sink?” She started to rise.
    Sam shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ll clean up.”
    Ellie shrugged. She wasn’t going to beg him to let her help clean up. She wasn’t an idiot. “Is your computer hooked up to the net?” When he nodded, she asked, “Mind if I use it for a few minutes. I want to check my emails.” Sam nodded again, still staring at her, and Ellie nearly growled at him in frustration. “Any passwords on it? Or will I be able to use it without a drama?”
    “No passwords. It automatically goes online when it’s turned on.”
    She barely managed not to roll her eyes. Had she ever been this awkward? Maybe in grade one. Okay, and possibly in grade two as well. She shied away from her thoughts, preferring not to remember those years. They’d been bad enough living through once without reliving them. “Thanks.”
    Ellie hurried downstairs and into Sam’s room. She took out her phone while she waited for the computer to start up and sent a text to Lauren.
Going online.
When she signed into her messenger, Lauren was waiting for her.
     
    Ellie says: Missed you.
    I want a kitten says: It’s so not fair. One time we mess up and we’re punished for life.
    Ellie says: Just think if she’d caught us the night we had boys in your room
:D
    I want a kitten says: Okay, one time that she caught us messing up.
    Ellie says: Pity she had a cold and got up to take something for it.
    I want a