PROLOGUE

10 years ago…

 I kick my feet excitedly in the car, eager to get home and surprise mum with my test score. 

 I look outside the rolled down and the cool, crisp air blows against my face, carrying the scent of wet grass and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers in bloom.

 Turning to Megan, I smile crookedly at her. She smiles back, but it instantly falters as mum meets her eyes in the front-view mirror and shakes her head softly, glancing at me with a foul expression. Her smile falls and she quickly turns her head away. 

 I look at the both of them, confusion plastered over my face, but I shrug it off and happily hum along to the Katy Perry song playing over the radio.

 The song abruptly stops as soon as I began humming, and I see that mum switched off the radio, but my focus moves away from her to our house which comes into view, and all I can picture is her proud face when she sees my score.

 We get inside the house, and I take the test sheet out of my pink Hello Kitty bag, and run to meet her at the kitchen island.

 "Mummy…", I begin.

 "WHAT do you want Ava? Can't you see that I'm busy?" she cuts in harshly. I step back.

 "I- I just wanted to sh- show you my test score." I extend the paper to her, my eyes focusing on my feet to hide the tears which were starting to form at the corners of my eyes. "Ms. Rosie says I got the fourth highest score."

 She laughs mockingly. "a 91." She sneers. "Megan! Let me see your test!"

 Megan scampers into the kitchen, handing it over to mum.

 "an 85." She looks back at me. "You must have cheated."

 "How about we go for ice cream as a reward baby?" she asks Megan, pride evident in her tone. Megan nods excitedly then proceeds to bolt out of the kitchen.

 I stare at her, hurt. "Wh- what of my reward?"

 "Cheaters don't get rewards." She clips.

 "But I didn't cheat mummy, you ca-"

 "DON'T correct me. Are you saying I'm lying?!"

 "N-no, but I-" 

 "Then shut up and go to your room! Nothing for you!" she stares down at me in disgust and I run up to my room, the tears breaking free from my eyes and leaving me to wonder what I did to make her hate me all of a sudden.