You practically kick open your door. Setting down your spaghetti onto your desk you get to work. You grab your sketchpad from your desk and open it to a blank page. You’ll show that bitch. What the fuck did she even know about the art contests anyways? She hardly paid any attention in class let alone to what ever extra curriculars were happening in school. You begin with warming up. Drawing simple shapes over and over again. Circles behind circles behind circles. She’s always on those damn internet boards anyways. It’s probably why her brain is so fucking rotten. It’s where she picked up all her stupid phrases after all. What the fuck even was “goyslop” anyways? You hear the click of your room door closing and look up. ”Hey Amby.” You don’t answer your triceratops friend as you look back down at your sketch pad. ”Whatcha doin?” You grunt. “Warming up to do a sketch.” ”Oh? Right now?” “Yea. I’ll need to work quick if I’m going to have something ready for that contest at school.” Sera cocked her head to the side. ”The contest? So...you are gonna enter it?” “That’s what I said isn’t it?” You didn’t need to look up to hear your friend’s exasperation as she took a seat on your bed. ”You don’t have to let Cynthia’s words get to you.” You stop for a moment and look up at Sera. “I’m not. I’m just proving to her that what she said was wrong.” ”By entering a contest you didn’t even want to be in in the first place?” Sera raises an eyebrow as she slurps down some of the noodles your step mom made. “Hey. I can TELL her she’s wrong all day, hell I DO tell her she’s wrong all day.” You look back down at your sketch pad. “But you gotta be able to back it up you know?” ”Amby…” You furrow your brow, refusing to look back up at her. ”You know she’s just saying shit. I mean who even cares?” “It’s not even like that!” You say as you flip the page over to practice poses. You could practically hear the ‘are you sure about that’ face shes burning into the back of your head. “Look. She runs her mouth all the fucking time. If it isn’t about whatever anime she’s watching or...fucking Finland for some reason, it’s about me!” Your friend shrugs and goes back for another bite of her meal, speaking with her mouth full. ”Sho? She’sh bluffin’” “Ugh. I know she’s talking out of her ass.” You place your pencil down and turn around to face her. “But I can’t let that basement dweller fucking constantly talk shit! You know how fucking long she’s been doing this for. It’s like all she knows is snark!” ”Y’all don’t even have a basement.” “YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!” A sigh of exasperation leaves your friend’s snout as she places her food to the side and leans forward to look you in the eyes. ”Amby...She’s a bitch. This has been established for...as long as I’ve known you. Which has been my whole life. And I get it. I’ve got siblings too. But you know what I tell my siblings when they try to put me down? I tell them to shut the fuck up before I unleash my inner trigga on they bitch asses.” She finishes her sentence with an exaggerated snap. You sigh and turn back around to face your sketchbook. Staring at it for a few seconds you feel a hand on your shoulder. ”Cynthia’s a bitch Amby. What she said tonight doesn't make her any more or less of one. You already said you didn’t see the point. Don’t let CYNTHIA of all people give you one.” You sat there and thought about it for a minute. Staring at the blank page in front of you, you realized you didn’t even have an idea for what you would paint. Sera was right. You really shouldn’t let Cynthia push you to do anything. She WAS a bitch, but that didn’t mean you should let her force you to do anything. On the other hand though. You’ve gone on for far too long just letting her walk all over you. You were the older sister damn it. And besides, why not prove that you can fucking knock this contest out of the park? You’re a natural artist! Just like your mom. Allegedly... You shook your head and looked back up at Sera. “Regardless. I’m entering that contest. And I’m gonna win it.” The triceratops sighs and returns to your bed. ”Alright. In any case what ever you do I’m behind you 100 percent.” You smile at that. ”I still think you’re giving into her.” Before you could respond a very half hearted knock was heard at the door. “Yes?” The door opens and the green bitch herself walks in. Sera gets up and puts herself between you and your half-sister. ”And just what the hell are you doing in here?” Cynthia snarls, shooting Sera a mean glare. ”It’s my house. I can do what ever I want.” Sera rolls her eyes and scoffs. ”But it’s not YOUR room.” ”It’s not YOUR room either!” Before the two could continue their back and forth you look out from behind Sera and interject. “Cynthia what do you want?” “I’m...sorry for insulting you tonight and ruining our family’s WONDERFUL dinner.” She forced her apology out with a painfully obvious grimace. “I’m sure you are.” ”Hey, I’m here to apologize!” “I don’t want to hear it right now Cynthia. Could you just leave me alone for the rest of the night?” Your sister rolls her eyes. ”Fine, but give me your plate. I need to do the dishes.” You look over to your half eaten food, would be a shame to let some of mom’s spaghetti go to waste. “I’m not done with it yet. I’ll bring it out later.” ”Guhhhh, fine. I’ll be in the kitchen. Don’t take to long.” She pulls your door closed leaving you and Sera in peace. You groan and lay your face down onto your desk. ”You OK Amby?” “Yea...I just need to clear my head is all.” ”Wanna continue our game in the living room?” “No. We’ll be able to see Cynthia from there. I’m tired anyways. Let’s just watch a movie in here while we eat. I wanna sleep.” ”No problem girl, I got you.” The two of you relax for the rest of the night, eating the rest of your now cold spaghetti. Making a point of avoiding eye contact with Cynthia when you eventually had to walk in and give her back the plates you and Sera brought into your room. You didn’t pay too much attention to the movie Sera put on after that. You were stuck in your own head trying to figure out just what you would do for this contest you were going to enter. Ideas ranging from portraits to landscapes enter your mind. Even a few ideas for more abstract work. As you drifted to sleep with nothing lighting your room except for the glow of the TV you drifted of to sleep with your mind filled with color pallets pushing Cynthia squarely out of your mind. [POST-NOTES] I'm releasing both chapters in one day as a primer. Others should roll in weekly as previously stated. And so no one is confused, the story will mostly take place from Amber's perspective. It'll switch around sometimes but should be mostly from her. Anyways, like last note, tell me what you like, tell me what you hate, or just leave some support. Or tell me to go fuck myself, w/e man.