CARMEN'S POV

"CARMEN! DINNER IS READY!" Catherine shouted for me. I closed the book that I was reading and walked downstairs to meet her. I walk passed the living room and saw Christina eating her dinner in front of the TV. "Don't you eat with us at the table?" she looked up. "Yea, I'll be there." I nodded and walked to the dining table, where I can see Catherine were already seated. "Where are mom and dad?" I asked Catherine. "Mom and dad went to Russia. They have some business to attend to." I sit on my usual chair and start eating. "Carmen, follow us later," Catherine said. I nodded. There's no point of saying no. They always win. Besides, they are going to meet Larissa. I'm looking forward to this visit. She's not like other cheerleaders. She's not bitchy like the rest.

Even Christina is bitchy and she's my own sister. But she's not. She actually talks to everyone. Maybe, just maybe, she's an exception for my 'I don't date cheerleaders' motto. What the fuck am I saying? Dating? I chuckled. "What so funny Carmen?" Christina smirked at me. "Nothing." I said and enjoyed my food. "Are you excited to meet Larissa?" I shot my head to meet hers. "N-o I am no-t," did I just stuttered? Both my sister released a loud raspy laugh. I wish I could sink myself like the titanic right now. "Eat up. We don't want to be late." Christina said bossy as ever. After we all finished, Catherine call for Paula, the housemaid. "We're going to meet a friend. If dad or mom calls say to call our phone." Paula nodded.

We walk to the driveway and Catherine stopped us. "Carmen, you drive. Use Chris's," I took the keys from Christina and drive. The car ride consists of the twins talking about dresses they saw at the mall and stuff. Why can't they talk about something else? I sighed. I stopped in front of a small white house. "I don't see any car," Christina turned to Catherine. "Did you call them and let them know we're going to visit?" Catherine nodded. "Let's just knock the front door to find out." I said as I got out from the driver's seat. I walk behind my sisters and just look around the neighborhood. This scenery is so different from ours. It's like anytime soon, someone will point a gun at us. We stopped at the door. Catherine was about to knock when a little girl open the door.

The little girl's eyes widen as she saw my sisters. "Wow. You're the girls from the magazine!" Catherine smiled at her. "Indeed we are. Is Larissa home?" but before the little girl could answer, another girl, probably in middle school, appeared. "Vivian! Don't answer the door if it's a stranger!" Vivian pouts. "But they're not strangers, Amanda. They ask for Larissa." Amanda eyes widen as well. "Please come in. Larissa is cleaning the table," she politely invited us in. As I entered the house, it looks spotless. For a small interior, they use the space as best as they could. I am impressed. "Miss Larove," a manly voice greeted my sisters. "Hello Mr. Vincent," Catherine greeted him. I bet this is Larissa's dad huh. He looked okay, brown hair, chiseled chin, small nose, buff body and amazing smile. Now I know where Larissa enchanting smile came from.

"This is Carmen, our little sister. She just transfers here from a boarding school in England." Catherine introduced me. I just waved my hand to him. He waved back awkwardly. "She's not the friendly type." Christina explained my weirdness. He nodded. "Don't just stand there, sit," he invited us. I took a seat next to Catherine. Larissa finally showed herself from the kitchen door with her hair in a messy bun, simple shirt and sweatpants. All I could think that moment, she look amazing. I feel a nudge and turned my head to see Catherine smirking at me.

Can she just stop with that smirked? So what if I have a crush on her. Wait! Did I just say it? Did I just say I have a crush on her? Yup, she's an exception. I'm sure of it. "The Larove sisters are in our house? This must be a dream." A voice startled us. I turned to see Amanda and Vivian from earlier, helping a woman walked out of a room. From her hair color and facial feature, this is Larissa's mom. "Hello Mrs. Vincent," Catherine greeted her and shakes her hand. The woman looked at her hand as if she just touched something valuable. "Oh my God! One of the Larove just touches my hand," they all laughed. I just smiled at her. "Larissa, please make tea or something," Mrs. Vincent said to her daughter. Larissa went to the kitchen and after a couple of minutes she came with a tray with beverages.

"It's not much. It's the only thing we can afford." Mrs. Vincent said to us. Christina took a sip. "It's perfect. Don't worry about it," I took a sip and let my taste bud enjoy the drink Larissa just brew. Amazing! My sisters continued to talk about stuff I have no idea about with her parents. Once in a while I will take a quick glance at Larissa. Before she notices it, I quickly look away pretending to focus on my sisters. I suddenly feel hot and decided to take off my leather jacket. I gave my jacket to Catherine to hold. I feel like someone was eyeing me. I turn to see the Vincent's sister's eyeing my scars. The permanent reminder of what happen that day. "Accident wounds, 3 years ago." I simply said. "Can I touch it?" Amanda asked me. "Sure," but before Amanda could walked to me Larissa grabbed her. "I'm sorry. She's too curious," Larissa apologized.

"It's fine really," I said and offered my arm to her. Amanda touched it and gasped. “Does it hurt?" I recalled the day. "Nope, I was trying to protect someone. But she died anyway." Amanda looked at me with her sad eyes. "I'm sorry." I gave her a warm smiled and pat her head. "It’s ok kid," she smiled and walked to Larissa. "What about that one?" Vivian pointed at my right wrist. "Viv! That's enough." Larissa half yelled at her little sister. "It's fine really," I turned to meet Vivian curious eyes.

"This is when I try to protect Christina from getting hit by someone," I said and turn to see Christina and Catherine smiling.Why they both smiling? Because I never told anyone where my scars came from but I don't know why I feel safe with them. "Can I ask you guys something?" Amanda said to me and my sisters. We all nodded. What is it like to be a Larove?" my sisters and I exchanging looks and smiled at her. "Well, it's hard to be us," Catherine said.

***

LARISSA'S POV

Amanda's curiosity is getting out of hand. "Well, it's hard to be us." Catherine said and the other Larove nodded their beautiful head. "Tired? You all get to stay at home and do nothing at all!" Amanda exclaimed. "I really want that. But I am grateful for what I have now," yes, we do. Even though sometime we wish to be rich, we're all grateful for what our parents can provide. Christina chuckled. I was surprise. She never chuckled in her life. Well, since I knew her. "No kid. We have to earn that privileged." They do? I thought they just spend everything like there's no tomorrow.

"To have whatever you want, you need to earn them. For example, like helping our mom with her little flower shop. Or just travel with dad to meet investors or us promoting our mom's other shop. That's how our face ended up in the magazine," Catherine explained. So they work for what they want? I never thought of that. Gina and Carrie never worked a day in their life and both of them is from a wealthy family. "For real? The other kids in my school just ask for whatever and they got it the next day." Amanda just said my thought. Christina laughed. "That's mean they were raised wrong. They were spoiled too much. In our family, discipline is number one. But someone here, Carmen actually, never follows orders." Carmen turned her head to meet her sister. I chuckled.

"Excuse me, if it's not for my wild and rebellious act, you would be dead by now," she said and showed her sister the scar again. Christina smiled. "That's true. It's good to have a sister who masters martial arts," Carmen knew martial arts? That's explained everything! "You guys ever go to Disneyland?" Vivian asked them. "We did. Carmen hates it." After Catherine said that, Vivian walked to Carmen and hit her head. I was surprised and afraid she would hit my sister back. But instead she just played along with my little sister. "Why you hit me?" Carmen pouts at my sister. Aww, she looked so cute pouting like that. Vivian put both her hands on her waist and glared at her. Wow, Vivian can glare! "No one should hate Disneyland!" Carmen raised both her hand, surrendering.

"You guys ever travel overseas?" Amanda asked them. Carmen raised her hand again. "I just transfer from England," she stated. "Other country," Amanda said. "We went to Paris for our birthday," Catherine said. Amanda's mouth dropped. I remember. The twin's birthday bash was always spectacular. Last year they went to Paris, all expenses paid by them. They invited the whole team, but I didn't go because my mom was hospitalized. "I never go to Paris. We never even go outside town but we understand why," Amanda smiled at dad. "Oh! Remember the Rome trip? Where Carmen nearly kills a dude because he was checking us out," they both laughed at Carmen. "You guys had been everywhere!" Vivian exclaimed. "Next time we will bring you all," Carmen said making Vivian excited.

"Really! Can we daddy?" she begged our dad. "Honey, we can't afford it," dad said with a sad tone. Vivian stopped jumping and breathes a low 'okay'. "Nonsense, we can pay for it all. Besides, we can use our family private jet," Catherine said. Vivian and Amanda's eyes widen. "You have your own jet?!" they both yelled. The twins laughed at them. "It's hard work to charter a plane. So our dad just bought one," Carmen said. How rich is the Larove honestly?! "Do you guys have any great experiences you can share?" Christina smirked at Amanda's question. "There's a time we force Carmen to wear a two piece bikini. She had a fever after that day," Catherine laughed. Carmen face reddens. "That's a great experience because ..." Amanda dragged the question, wanting to know more.

"She went swimming and her bra untied itself. She was braless when she came to shore," Christina and Catherine couldn't control theirs laughed anymore. Carmen just blushed. Amanda's face redden, trying to control her laughter also my parents. I released a small chuckled but stop when her face turned to me. She smiled. I smiled back. "Anyway, back to business." Christina turned to her serious self. "We actually have a proposition to make." She continued. Catherine turned to me. "Larissa, we would like to hire you to be our personal helper. All you have to do is have lunch with us at our table, walk with Carmen every day and practice cheer routine. You have been skipping a lot! We will pay you; let's say ten thousand dollars a month. What do you say?" Catherine said.

I don't know what to say. I just stay silent. My mouth open and close but no words came out of it. "We take that as a yes," Christina said and wrote a check. "Sir, this is her first salary," she handed it to dad. "No miss. This is too much." Dad declined politely and smiled. "Please take the check." Dad didn't so Christina handed it to mom. "Please, we insist. It's for the medical care and everything you need." she placed it in mom's hand. Christina turned her head to me. "Carmen will pick you up tomorrow," the three sisters stood up. "See you tomorrow Larissa," Carmen said and they all bid us goodbyes. When I heard the front door closed, I turned to meet my dad's eyes. "This is one crazy day huh," he said to me. I just nodded. What just happen? Did they just hire me to be their help? "Ten thousand dollars... this amount can take care of 2 months of mom's treatment." Amanda said beside me. It's true. Mom needs it. I looked at mom's face, she look happy. All I have to do is be their help right? I can do that. Can I?