Star of my Sea-
Stella’s POV
As soon as I hear Dad’s car draw up on the drive, my stomach turns. I’ve been forced to sit in the front room, to “greet your cousin” and then, if all goes well, refrain from stabbing her.
Dad comes in, babbling to her: and I hear her heavy sigh, the clipping of wedge heels, and then the door opens and dad’s standing beside a tall, blond girl—pretty in an artificial, shampoo-commericial way.
“Hey, Stella.” She has an air of confidence that irritates me.
“Liana,” I stand, arms and legs crossed, “you’re looking well.” I let a slight, sarcastic smile touch my lips.
“You’re…” she looks me up and down, with a look of distaste. “Yeah, you too.”
Giving her a look of disgust, I sigh heavily, and direct myself at Dad. “Can I leave?”
“Uhm, okay. Be…be back for seven. Dinner.” Dad says.
I slam out of the house, down our pebbled lane, and into the arcade where my friends, Alicia, Steven, Clare and Kara are waiting.
“What took you? We’re going for smoothies!” Alicia grins, red hair shining.“Urgh, that stupid cousin of mine, that’s what!”

“You wanna talk about it?” Kara says, concerned.
“No, I do not want to talk about it as a matter of fact,” I snap. Then I see Kara’s face, all crumpled. “Oh, God…I’m sorry Kara. She’s just so…pretentious and snobby and…” I burst into insults about her, mentioning the bleach blonde hair, the D&G studded shorts, the Abercrombie tank and her Jimmy Choo wedges.
“God. Is she hot?” Steven asks, totally serious.
I glare at him, and he grins apologetically.
“Roger’s coming today,” Clare grins.
“Shut up.” Only those four know about my, uhm, love for Roger.
“Looking forward to it?”
I shoot her a look and we head off to Peggy’s Parlour.
But who was standing at the counter, with Roger, only Liana.