Corinna grumbled as she cleaned the kitchen. She was sick of being the only responsible being in the house as her dad was acting like a hormone-driven teenager and her sister was a hormone driven teenager.

Cathy Biscoe was over as frequently as ever. She and her dad could be heard in the early morning..

in the late afternoon…

and late at night.

Caitlin on the other hand started to date Jackson Clarke and was completely oblivious to her twin’s ordeal. Jackson was the school’s number one man, and going out with him had definitely opened up a new social circle for her.

But she wasn’t entirely happy. Rumours had it that Jackson was seeing other girls in secret and going out with her at the same time. She tried to ignore them but it was just too much.

“Mmm gotta go babe, I’m going to the club with some friends.” Jackson mumbled as he pulled away.

“Friends?” Caitlin mumbled back drowsily.

“Yeah, you know, guy stuff and all that.”

Caitlin couldn’t help but think of the worst. Ding! It was time to go see another girl.

“Why? Can’t you blow them off just this once?”

“It’s the code, babe, they’d be mad if I blew them off.”

Caitlin sighed in defeat. As much as the rational part of her told her to tell him she knew that he was cheating on her, she kept silent.

“Okay I’ll see you later then.”

“Bye Cait.”

As soon as Jackson was gone, Caitlin called up Daniel Keyes.

Daniel Keyes was a common visitor around the house as well. Being the junior trackstar of the school, he was privy to the gossip as well. He was to be the next Jackson, the new “it” guy once Jackson graduated.  Joining the track team that Jackson led, he was one of the few juniors allowed into the senior social cliques.  As a result, Caitlin and Daniel had become close friends.

“Hey Dan.”

“Hey Cait, how are things goin’?”

“Track is a killer these days but everything’s great besides that.”

“That’s good, don’t let Jackson overwork you though, you need some rest too.”

Daniel laughed. “Don’t worry about me Cait, how’s it with you and Jackson?”

“You know the usual. Leaves me to go with some other chick, and I still end up sticking beside him. What else?”

Daniel’s brows crinkled in worry. “Again?”

“I don’t think i can keep going out with Jackson,” Caitlin admitted , her hands balling up into fists.

“What do you mean Cait?” Danny asked.

“These rumours, what if they’re true? I mean he’s supposed to be my boyfriend! Not any of those skanks!”

Daniel kept silent. It wasn’t the first time Caitlin had thought of dumping Jackson, but she always in the end stayed with him because she loved him.

“And, whenever I’m with him, I feel used Daniel! Like I’m just another girl he’s using!”

“I know Cait,  I think Jackson doesn’t deserve you sometimes.” he said as he gave Caitlin a hug.

“Thanks Dan, you’re always here for me.”

Something snapped in Caitlin as she hugged Daniel back. All she could hear was her own heart beating in her head and how close Daniel was to her.

“Cait? Are you okay?”

And she surrendered herself to the emotion.

—

Before Caitlin knew it, she was stepping out on Jackson with Daniel, sending the gossipers into a heat of frenzy. The hottest couple stepping out on each other? Did Jackson know? What is Caitlin thinking? A junior? These questions buzzed through the air, but Caitlin found she didn’t care.

Jackson never confronted her in the matter, and they continued to put up the facade of being the happy couple.

Daniel became a frequent visitor around the house, even more than Jackson.

Of course, Corinna heard all about her sister’s affairs courtesy of the constant badgering she got asking for the details.

“Cait, we need to talk.”

Caitlin slammed the diary against her chest in surprise. “Do you have a sense of privacy Corinna?” she snapped.

“Coming from the girl cheating on her boyfriend!” Corinna snapped back.

Caitlin’s eyes narrowed as she closed her diary. She put the diary back underneath her bed and stood to confront her sister on the matter.

“So what if I am? He’s cheating on me as well!”

“Have you lost it Caitlin? Do have no sense of shame? Dad didn’t raise you to be like this!”

“Has Dad even payed any attention to us lately?”

“Stop being such a brat Caitlin!”

“Me the brat? If anything you’re the one here throwing a temper tantrum.”

“Because a three year old would have more common sense than my sister right now!”

“Very funny sis, if you should be scolding someone, you should be scolding Dad. Have you noticed him lately? He’s even worse than I am.”

“What? When did Dad get dragged into this conversation?”

“Oh stop it!You know it as well as I do! Fooling around with that Cathy, she’ll end up pregnant soon and then he’ll have his hands full.”

You’re horrible Caitlin! How could you say that?!”

“It’s right there! You can hear them almost every night!” Caitlin hissed.

“That’s if you’re even home at night! Don’t think I don’t know about your late night parties Caitlin! You’re just lucky I didn’t rat you out to Dad yet!”

“Playing Daddy’s little girl, Corinna you make me sick.“

“And you? What are you doing? Sleeping around with every other guy and getting dead drunk every other night?

“You take that back you slut! You know for a fact that I don’t sleep around and I’ve only been drunk twice!  never asked for your help did I Corinna? I dealt with my hangovers just fine!”

“If you call falling asleep in your cereal every morning just fine, I won’t cover for you any longer!”

“I never asked or needed your help Corinna! Never!”

“Then go ahead! Play your little games with Daniel and Jackson! See if I’ll help you anymore!”

“Fine!” Caitlin yelled back as she stomped out of the room.

—

Corinna sighed in annoyance as she shuffled through the clothing rack. She didn’t mean to blow up at Caitlin, but the gossiping was really getting to her.

She yanked an outfit out from the rack and  headed towards the changing booth. Sure her sister had turned a little loose, but Jackson was stepping out on her, she had every right to try and get back at him.

Caitlin might get on her nerves from time to time, but she was still her sister. She should apologize when she got back. And on a second note, these clothes didn’t suit her at all!

She hastily changed out of the clothing put them back on the rack and looked around for something to do. The pinging of the pinball machine going attracted her attention.

“Damnit!” the boy cursed angrily.

“You kind of suck.” Corinna replied as she gave the game a once over. The boy stopped and stared at her.

“Oh and you can do better?”

“Move over and I’ll show you.”

The boy laughed. “Okay, but don’t get all huffy if you lose.”

Corinna ignored the jab as she placed two loonies into the machine and started up a new game.

“Whoah, you’re kind of good.” the boy said as he backed up away from the pinball machine as Corinna viciously attacked the controls so hard that the pinball machine started shaking.

“I wouldn’t boast about something I sucked at.” Corinna replied as she hit another bumper.

“Point proven.”

Corinna sighed and let the ball drop to end the game. “Well, you weren’t that bad, I was just being unusally harsh.”

The boy smiled and laughed. “No it’s fine, I like girls with a bit of spunk to them.”

“Well aren’t you the sweet talker?” Corinna replied.

“Name’s Rogerson Biscoe, what’s yours?” the boy said as he held a hand to shake.

Corinna didn’t accept the handshake as her eyes widened in surprise. “You’re Cathy Biscoe’s son!”

“Yes, why? Did my mom do something?”

“No no, just that your mom is dating my father!”

“Whoah! You mean you’re Corinna O’Koren? Sister of Caitlin O’Koren? Who’s dating Jackson Clarke?”

Corinna winced at the list of names.  “Yeah, I am.”

“I haven’t seen you at school why? I thought I knew everyone around here already.”

“I’m in the business section of the school usually.”

“Ah, I see, I’m usually in the music section. No wonder I haven’t really seen you around.”

“Such a shame, it’d be weird if I tried making a pass at my mom’s boyfriend’s daughter wouldn’t it be.” Rogerson said as he frowned at the thought.

“Yeah it would be- wait what?” Corinna spluttered.

“You’re pretty cute, don’t tell me you haven’t looked in a mirror Corinna, you could rival your sister!” Rogerson laughed.

“You’re hitting on me.” Corinna stated slowly.

“Yes, I am.” Rogerson replied a twinkle in his eye.

“Um, well-”

“Haha, I’ll see you around Corinna, I’ve gotta go pick up my little sister.” Rogerson called over his shoulder as he left.

Corinna for once was stunned into to complete silence.

Corinna couldn’t push Rogerson out of her mind as she went home in a daze. Her cheeks flushed and her walk unsteady, she entered the house and headed towards her room.

“Congrats Dad! I knew you’d get that promotion!” Caitlin said as she patted Luke on the arm.

“Thanks sweetie. You should go and do your homework though, I want to see an A+ on your next report card!”

“Sure Dad.”

Corinna slipped by the two and headed towards the bathroom instead. She felt she was in dire need of some alone time.

Of course Corinna’s unusual demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by Caitlin as Corinna floated by. Caitlin made a note to see what was going on, but first there was the matter of homework.

She walked towards the bathroom and knocked on the door.

“Corinna! You you still mad at me?”

She got no answer. “Look ‘Rinna, I’m sorry ‘kay? Just it’s my business and I don’t need you meddling around in it. The gossipers are bad enough.”

The shower stopped as she heard Corinna exit the shower. “Yeah, I guess and I’m sorry for being a bitch about it. Just I don’t think Daniel deserves to be strung along like that.”

“That’s my business. We cool?”

“Yeah, we’re cool.” Corinna’s muffled reply came through the door.

“You gonna do your homework after showering?”

“Yeah why?”

“Just reminding you just in case you forgot after your interesting trip to the market!” Caitlin called out mockingly.

“Leave me alone Cait!”

Of course Caitlin had ulterior motives to apologizing to Corinna. She had a party to go to tonight, and therefore had no time to do her homework…

She knew that Corinna would do hers at night, and then Caitlin would copy it in the early morning unbeknownst to her sister. Hey what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her right?

Caitlin needed to keep her status and reputation, well what’s left of it, around school. Sure she might be called the two timing bitch at school right now, but she was still the girlfriend of Jackson Clarke and that was enough to keep her status up there.