Free I Forgot to Tell You by Charis Marsh Page B

why I’m not pretty.”
    Taylor looked down at the back of her sister’s head and hugged her. She didn’t know what to say. “I’m not prettier than you,” she said slowly, “we just look different.”
    â€œOkay,” Alison said, moving out of Taylor’s arms. She obviously didn’t believe Taylor.
    â€œUm, Ali, I really have to learn this for tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay, okay, I’ll go.” Alison jumped off the bed and left, closing Taylor’s door behind her. Taylor drew a deep breath in and then exhaled. Okay, focus, Taylor. Learn this. She began going through the first part of the first act variation again.

Chapter Five
    Alexandra Dunstan
    Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are. Kurt Cobain <3
    Alexandra sat on the living room floor, bodysuits laid out around her.
    Beth came hurrying through the hallway, passed the open door, and then walked back. “What are you doing, Alexandra?”
    Alexandra looked up. “Going through my bodysuits. I wanted to adjust a few of them.” She looked down at the wine-coloured one in her lap. “I wanted to maybe sew this one in the front, put a gather in?”
    Beth looked around the room. “Could you please do this in your room?”
    â€œUh, okay — why?”
    â€œWe have guests coming over.” Beth looked toward the door.
    Alexandra began hurriedly gathering up the bodysuits. “Okay. Who?”
    â€œJustin’s bringing his girlfriend over.”
    â€œOh.” Alexandra slowed down, gathering up her bodysuits.
    Beth came into the living room and sat down on the couch. “It’s Anna.”
    â€œAnna?” Alexandra looked up a Beth, confused. “Her name is Anna?”
    â€œYes. He’s dating Anna Valarao.”
    Alexandra stared at her mother, her mouth actually dropping from shock. “What? No! He cannot date Anna Valarao! That is not okay! You told him that it’s not okay, right?”
    â€œI can’t tell him that, Alexandra,” Beth said, annoyed. “He can decide on his own who he wants to date, and so far she seems to be good for him. She’s better than that Bridget.” The way Beth said “Bridget” made the name have twice the syllables it ought to have had, and gave it a significance normally reserved for the name “Jezebel.”
    â€œBut it’s Anna!”
    Beth shrugged. “If it bothers you that much, then you can discuss it with Justin.” She stood up. “But please move the bodysuits out of the living room.”
    Alexandra grabbed the bodysuits, ran up to her room and threw them on her bed, then ran to her brother’s room and knocked on his door. Realizing he wasn’t in his room, she called his cellphone.
    â€œLexi. What’s up?”
    â€œAre you dating Anna Valarao?”
    â€œUh — yes, I am … look, is that all you called to talk to me about, Lexi? Because this sort of isn’t a good time …”
    â€œYou can’t date her!” Alexandra said. Her voice sounded a lot louder and higher-pitched than she had intended it to.
    â€œUm, Lexi, I’m hanging up now. By the way, she’s right beside me, and she could hear that.”
    Alexandra lost the connection, and she set the phone down on her bed. This was terrible. This was worse than terrible, this was awful. She ran downstairs, cornering her mother in the kitchen. “Is she coming for dinner?”
    â€œYes. And no, you cannot skip dinner.”
    â€œThat’s not what I wanted to ask. Can I invite someone over?”
    Beth considered. “I suppose that’s fair. As long as you are polite.” She rethought. “And as long as it isn’t Tristan.”
    â€œWhy not Tristan?!”
    â€œI’m not stupid, Lexi. I do not want you and Tristan making that girl miserable while she is here. You need to put your differences aside. I think she might be good for