After breakfast, Aunt Connie and I got into her new blue pickup truck and drove back to my house. At first we sat quietly, the radio off. But then my Aunt began to express her thoughts on her face. She looked as though she terribly wanted to say something, but couldn't bring herself to do it. It was agonizing to watch, so I repositioned myself and watched the trees whip passed the car.
"Your voice," I hear her whipser, almost sighing.
"What about my voice?"
"It's, it's amazing. I will never get over the sound of it, slightly echoing in the room. It was quite honestly the most beautiful thing that has ever crossed my path." We both sit there, waiting for something to happen. She said it not looking at me, but with the most truthful smile I'd ever seen. She kept her eyes on the road, as did it, thinking about what happened in the little guest room.
"Thank you. I-"
"You have to do something," she says, abruptly turn the wheel, jerking us into a nearby parking lot, "I can help you. Others crave to hear a voice like that. It's such a beautiful and pure sound, don't you want to share that with people?"
I sat there in astonishment, and I knew my face was getting red because she sat back and took a breath.
"I'd love to. I mean, yes I'm not the most likely candidate, but-" She began laughing. Not laughing like I told a funny joke, but a way of mocking my naive train of thought.
"That's the point, Viv. You are the perfect candidate for this. No body would expect such a fantastic sound to come out of a shy and introverted girl like yourself."
"Okay, I'll think about it. But, I really do need to get home," I agreed, motioning at the road behind us.
"Oh, right. I'm sorry, my thoughts went haywire for a minute!"

As we pulled up to the driveway, I thanked her for everything and walked in the door. To notify everyone I had arrived, I simply said my usual "Hi, I'm home," but what I really mean is "Yo, bitches! Your worst nightmare is back, I guess". I'd never say that, my dad would freak.
My mother comes rushing down the stairs, about to go in for a hug but quickly pushes the idea away. She just gives a short smile, and nods. I walk around her and go upstairs to my room. I see Nicole's bedroom door open and from my perriferal I see her stop whatever she was doing to stand there and stare at me passing by. Her face blank. I couldn't guess what she was thinking even if I tried.
I remember that she had a dance recital tonight, which must have been why my parents had been talking about her last one. I blatantly give a loud sigh and scuff into my room. Shutting the door behind me, I recall the package I never got to fully go through. I was still wearing the teal crop top, so I took it off an exchanged it for an old tye dye tee. I put the crop top next to the box. I just ordered a bunch of clothes online, I really did that a lot. That's probably the only other time my family sees me, except meals and any sort of trip.
The box held the clothes I'd been waiting for all year- the cute stuff you can get away with because it's not too hot, not too cold, perfect for fall. The contents of the box included new pairs of jeans and leggings, a ton of adorable sweaters, a few crop tops (both short and long sleeved), some socks, and it came with a note that read:
"Everything you ordered is here, except the onesies. Those should be coming in a week."
I paired black leggings and a nice light blue sweater with little roses on it and quickly detangled the mess you call hair and put it into a messy bun. I slipped on some short tan boots.
I headed down to the kitchen to see what everyone was up to, only to walk in and silence a room.

Later that evening, we went to the theater to see Nicole dance in yet another recital for the four billionth time. I do love going, it just gets tiring. It's like a chore sometimes, but nontheless, I enjoy watching the dancers fumble mid set.
About an hour in, there's a break to go and get coffee and some snacks. I made my way to the table and back without bumping into anyone I know, bringing some coffee and two tiny cookies with me. As I sit down, I hear a familiar voice beckoning me. I turn to see Nicole, waving frantically, screaming my name. I get up without hesitation and make a beeline toward my sister. She starts to walk away, wanting me to follow. I end up in a closet at the other end of the theater with her.
"You have to sing." She looks like a clown, her make up smothered all over her face. She is breathing heavily and looks dizzy.
"Nicole, you're crazy."
"No," she says, taking a breath, "I'm not. Our soloist has bronchitis and can't make it. I know that you are probably still upset about the other night, just listen to me, okay? We are supposed to dance to her singing, and since she cancelled during rehearsal and, since you said you could sing, I told my instructor that my sister could do it I'd have to ask her first. So, here we are. Will you?"
I was so surprised, I could barely speak, "Um, uh..."
"Please Vivian. I can't believe I'm saying this, we need you to do this for us."
"Why can't you just ask without being such an asshole?"
She gasps, "Vivian!"
"Don't you 'Vivian!' me," I say, mimicking her tone, "Yes, I'll do it. But not for you, for the rest of your little dancing monkeys. Because they clearly admit to needing me, and you will never admit how much you actually want me to do this right now." I walk out of the closet, and intend to head back to my seat when someone grabs my arm.
"Hey," Nicole says, she hand cold and shaky, "I need you to do this for us, and me."
"See? Was that so hard?"
She smiles and leads me down the hallway to the back of the stage. Everyone is frantically running around, getting dressed for their next set and touching up their make up.
"Hey!" A short, stout and hairy man comes out from behind a curtain. He walks up to Nicole and rapidly shakes her hand.
"Is this the sister?" His voice sounds like he smokes three packs a day.
"Yes, Vivian this is Mitchell our instructor, Mitchell this is my sister Vivian who said she wouldn't mind singing for us."
"Hello, nice to meet you. Okay, perfect we have to change your outfit to match the set, um..."
"Oh, right, I forgot," I say, charming and sarcastic, "I'll sing for you guys, on one condition."
Nicole blushes with worry. "And that condition is?"
"We don't change my clothes, and I just sing."
The man doesn't give a second thought before he agrees and hurries Nicole off to change.
"So what's the song, anything I know?"
"Maybe, it's 'Lay Me Down' by-"
"Done, when are we going on stage and is there background music?"
"Great, about uh, five minutes and depends. Do you need or want background music?"
"I'd prefer to go without it, thank you."

They announce the slight change, but I ask them not to say my name. I hear sprinkles of gasps around the theater, even some from the dancers, when the spotlight goes on. My sister runs over with the mic, whispers "break a leg" into my ear and hurries off as I wish her the same. I lift the mic my my dry lips and open my mouth.