Ch 108 Queen of Mean

Queen of mean

“So, how’s the big super star?” said the Queen of Mean.

Janet had just pulled the night gown on and popped her head out of the neckline in time to see Jasmine’s snide expression as she-- with arms crossed rigidly in front of her-- leaned on the door frame leading to their shared bathroom.

How the heck was she to answer that? She sighed and ignored her sister, then jumped into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and snuggling in.

“Oh, I see; too much of a hot shot to talk to commoners,” Jasmine goaded.

“What do you want, Jazzy?” Janet said in exasperation.

“Not an autograph, that’s for damn sure,” she snapped.

“Good, too tired to write,” Janet mumbled turning over onto her side and flipping the lights off. Jasmine turned them back on and yanked the covers off the bed. 

“What the hell?” Janet yelled.

“Did you even talk to Luke?” Jasmine asked, her nostrils flaring like a bull moose ready to attack.

“Of course I talked to him. Sign language didn’t seem to work for us, being neither of us knows it,” Janet retorted, grabbing the blankets back and smoothing them out again.

“Ha-ha, so funny. God! You don’t care about me at all,” Jasmine hissed.

“I told you already. I did ask him if he’d give you a try and he said no, not yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, not yet?”

“I dunno. Maybe…he’s really stressing over this Gala thing. He wants everything perfect.”

“Which he would get if I was singing with him instead of you. You never take anything seriously!” Jasmine said.

Janet glared at her, but ignored the gibe. “He wants to get through with this before doing anything about adding members to the band. He needs a drummer right now, not another backup singer.”

Jasmine scrunched her face in fury and then inexplicably her eyes widened and a smile broke out over her face.

“You feeling all right?” Janet asked, watching her cautiously.

“What if I found a drummer for Luke?”

Janet made a face which clearly said, “Sure you will.”

“No, listen,” Jasmine said, sitting cross-legged on the end of the bed. “If I get him a decent drummer he’ll be obligated to let me sing with him and then he’ll find out how good I am and …”

“Bit full of yourself, aren’t you?” Janet said. “All of a sudden you’re the only one who can sing anymore?”

“We sing exactly the same,” she huffed.

This was true…at least it had been, before she learned proper singing. Luke and Alana had helped her fix that. They had told her how she had been breathing all wrong and sometimes singing through her nose. They taught her to use her diaphragm for increased volume and power. Luke had even explained by using Jasmine’s very nasal singing voice as illustration of the difference. Janet certainly wasn’t about to tell Jasmine that.

Of course, if Janet could learn, surely her sister could, too....if she was willing to listen. Big if there.

“Besides, I want this more than you,” Jasmine interjected.

This was also true. Janet had never dreamed of being a famous singing star like Jasmine had. Heck, she never even watched American Idol nor did she ever want to be on TV; humiliated in front of millions upon millions of people. It was sick, those people acting like ancient Romans at the coliseum with their thumbs up or down; fame or fed to the lions being the singer's fate.

“And you know a drummer? They have to be good, I mean really good and dedicated or Luke won’t even…”

“He’ll be good,” Jasmine said, jumping off the bed and gleefully hopping like a cheerleader after a touchdown.

“Who you thinking?” Janet asked curiously. She never once had seen her sister talking to anyone in the school band. She’d heard her calling them all geeks, so it wasn’t likely she even knew any of them by name.

Jasmine glared at her. “So, you can take the credit? I don’t think so.”

That hurt, but Janet refused to be dragged into her sister’s insane drama. “Whatever,” she said, rolling over and sighing into her pillow. “Good night.”

“Better not get too used to your spot light, Janet. It won’t last long after the Gala.”

Janet bit her tongue to keep from saying something nasty. Mean was Jasmine’s thing, not Janet’s. She’d done it all through elementary and middle schools and now she was the queen of mean in high school. Janet was witness to countless times when her sister brought both boys and girls to tears. 

The worst part was the sisters looked so much alike that kids often thought Janet was Jasmine.  Other times they assumed Janet was just as mean and refused her friendship because of it. It took some doing to get Tara Reynolds—the closest thing to a best friend she ever had-- to believe she had a twin.

Janet giggled recalling the skeptical look on Tara’s quirky face. 

“Really?” she sarcastically said. “An evil twin, huh? Sure you do!”

It had been hysterical when Jasmine walked up to her just then and asked Janet to give their mother a message that she would be staying after school. The look of astonishment on Tara’s face was priceless! While Tara never doubted Janet again, she did invent a silly sign Janet had to show before Tara would talk to her…just to make sure she didn’t accidentally speak to Jasmine. 

Poor Tara disliked—okay, hated—Jasmine that much. It was mutual though; Jasmine hated Tara. And now Jasmine hated Janet, too.

 

Janet bit her bottom lip trying not to cry and failed. She quickly brushed the stray tear off her cheek and rolled over onto her back, her eyes opened to the darkness, blinking back tears as they threatened. She never thought her own sister would turn on her and yet that’s exactly what she’d done and for what? 

Because Janet was asked to sing one time with Luke Tramaine? Okay, twice if you count the wedding.

There was nothing Janet could do about it. She just wished she wasn’t the recipient of her sister’s malice anymore. 

Then a thought struck her, a rather odd thought. She knew it was a bit selfish and perhaps a stupid thing to do, but she closed her eyes and spoke to God about it.

“Um...God? I hope I’m not bothering you too much… ’course I am but… if you can try to make this work out I’d appreciate it. Just…maybe convince Luke to give Jazzy a chance. That’s all, okay?” she whispered. 

She had been about to say Amen when it occurred to her to add something else; something far more important to all concerned. “While I got you here, if you could help out my parents get back together or something…please…if you can. Amen.”

Her chest felt tight and this time she didn’t bother stopping the tears. 

******

“French toast! Awesome,” Stevie said, taking the plate out of Janet’s hand and grabbing a handful of sausages from the skillet.

“Hey, you pig! Save some for Dad,” she yelled, just as Jeff walked into the kitchen.

“Save what for me?” Jeff said, then he saw the food and smiled. “You better save some of that for me!”

 “Ugh,” Jasmine said, upon entering and seeing Janet helping herself to the food she’d just made. 

 “We’ll see how long Wes likes you after you eat like a pig.”

Jeff frowned, but being his mouth was full he couldn’t say anything. He looked at Janet’s face and frowned more. He swallowed and asked, “Honey, don't you feel well? You look tired.”

“The life of a super star is soooo exhausting,” Jasmine snidely remarked, pouring herself some orange juice. “And then you make matters worse by eating that garbage.”

“What’s wrong with this food, Miss Priss?” Stevie asked irritably.

“One word…carbohydrates… and fat,” Jasmine said.

“That’s three words, dummy,” Stevie said.

“Stevie, be nice,” Jeff said.

“What about her?” he shouted. “Jazz has been bitched out all week.”

“It’s complicated for girls,” Jeff said in a low voice, but apparently not low enough.

“That’s sexist, Dad. It’s not always PMS, you know,” Jasmine snapped.

“I’m sorry, Jazzy. I stand corrected,” Jeff blandly replied.

“You’re sitting, Dad,” Stevie smirked, for which he got a playful punch on the arm.

“Where’s Tristan?” Stevie asked.

“In the living room watching cartoons,” Janet answered as she sat down beside her father.

“So, he’s dressed and everything?” Jeff asked.

“I helped him a bit,” Janet said, shrugging. "I was up so..."

Jeff smiled at her then kissed her cheek. “You’re so much like your mother,” he whispered.

She half smiled and tried to eat, but somehow couldn't.

Just then Troy and Wes came in with Cindy leading the way.

“Good morning, everybody!” Cindy said, brightly.

“Good morning, Cindy,” Jeff said, grinning. He watched the sparkle ignite in his son’s eyes when they fell on her. “Would you like some breakfast?”

“No thanks, Mr. Fummel, we had cereal,” Wes said, going to Janet and kissing her cheek. Then he looked at her and his smile vanished. “You feeling okay, Babe? You look sick or something.”

“I’m fine,” Janet said, promptly losing what little appetite she had. She offered the rest of her food to Wes. 

He took the plate, but set it aside, still looking worried. “Maybe you should stay home if you don’t feel good.”

“I’m fine,” Janet said. “Just didn’t sleep well.”

“Guilty people often have that problem,” Jasmine interjected.

“She’s got nothing to feel guilty about,” Wes said, fearing her father would think he had something to do with it. “Uh…I’ll just have to make sure Luke doesn’t keep you so late tonight.”

“I just…I’m fine,” Janet insisted, getting pink in the cheeks.

“What do you think, Mr. Fummel?” Wes persisted, touching her forehead. “Should she stay home? Luke will blow a gasket if she gets sick before the Gala.”

“By all means, let’s worry about the grand dame of the stage getting the sniffles,” Jasmine huffed.

“Wes, stop that!” Janet said, pushing away his hand and fighting back tears as she did so.

“Baby, I think Wes is right,” Jeff said. “You’re all flushed.”

“I’m not,” she said, her voice cracking.

“See? I knew she didn’t have it in her,” Jasmine said, her tone one of triumph. “If you can’t deal with the stress of stardom you…”

“Shut the hell up, Jasmine!” Jeff shouted.

Everyone froze. Cindy’s eyes were fuller than the moon. Stevie gaped open-mouthed, his sausage-filled fork suspended in front of it. Troy swallowed the piece of toast he stole off Stevie's plate when he had been looking at Cindy and stared from one to the other as if they were a tennis match. Wes sat perfectly still while Janet wiped a tear off her cheek and sniffed as quietly as she could. 

Never had Jeff spoken so harshly to any of the kids. It wasn’t that any of them hadn’t given him reason in the past, but it wasn't his way. However, Janet was crying and he knew it was Jasmine’s doing. He could only take so much.

“Sure, defend your precious Janet Baby, your favorite. You always do. She wasn’t the one who stood by you when Mom tossed you out. She froze you out or have you forgotten that, Dad?” Jasmine retorted.

“That's hardly relevant right now. You’ve been unbearable ever since your sister was chosen to sing, chosen by Luke. She didn’t do anything wrong and you’ve been nothing but nasty when you should be happy for her. I didn’t say anything because I actually thought you’d get over this petty jealousy, but I see now I was wrong,” Jeff said, his voice dangerously low. 

“You will stop now. Not one more spiteful word out of you to anyone or you’ll be seeing a great deal more of your room and not much else, including friends and boyfriend for a whole month. Got me?” 

Jasmine glared at him.

“Do you understand, Jasmine?” Jeff said.

“Sure,” she spit out. She then turned to Troy. “Let’s go!”

Troy opened his mouth, then shut it again and followed her out.

For a full minute everyone seemed to hold their breath.

“I’m sorry,” Jeff said. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“She had it coming, Dad,” Stevie said. “Come on, Cindy, if we hurry we can catch the bus.”

“But...Wes? Won’t you take us?” Cindy asked.

“Yeah, I’ll take you,” he said, watching Janet start to clean up. 

“Honey, Go on. I got this,” Jeff said, taking the dishes from her. He hugged her tight and whispered, “Don’t let her get to you.”

“Too late,” she mumbled, slipping out is his arms, grabbing her school bag and leaving the kitchen.