Kind of Problematic

Emma hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen. The rest of her family were already in the kitchen. She instinctively assumed the slumped shouldered stance she usually had around them. Emma did not have a good relationship with her family.

Her mother was a hard driving working mom. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that she never seemed to care much for Emma, and only bothered to talk to her, when she felt Emma had done something wrong. Emma had long ago learned to hide whenever she heard her mom calling her name. Her father was another issue. He wasn't technically abusive...she didn't think. But he was harsh. He was the sort of dad who had continued to spank Emma for doing bad things even after she was too old. He was controlling towards the rest of the family, but seemed to forget about Emma lot. Then there was her twin sister Zoe. Zoe was everything Emma wanted to be. She was the top of every class, elegant, charming, athletic, and beautiful of course. She had always looked down on Emma; just like everyone else. Emma was the runt of the litter, and Zoe had even joined in on some of the bullying in school. Emma guessed she didn't want people to lump her in with her looser sister.

Wait...I guess Zoe isn't the only beautiful one anymore. Actually, I think I'm even hotter now!

The only member of the family now there was her older brother James who was away in college. Not that Emma minded. James was the apple of her parents eye; the golden boy who could do no wrong. Emma knew better.

Emma didn't know what to expect after her father's reaction earlier. Would they notice how she had changed? Would they treat her different? Would they even remember how they had treated her?

"Move twerp!" Said Zoe as she pushed past Emma to leave the room.

Her mother glanced up from her phone long enough to give Emma a glance. "A little too much makeup Emma. I've told you not to over do it."

Her father just sat at the kitchen table reading something on his laptop.

I guess not. Same old family. I definitely look different, but to them nothing has changed.

"Sorry." She said automatically to no one in particular.

"You girls better get going, or you'll miss the bus." Said her father as he sipped his coffee.

"Owen is picking me up in his car." Said Zoe carelessly with a flick of her hair.

Emma gritted her teeth. If she had gotten a ride to school from a boy, her parents would have lost their minds.

"Fine." Said her mother. "Just tell him to drive safe. Emma! You heard your father. Why are you just standing their like a sheep?"

"Sorry, mom." Emma hurried out the front door.