I'm sick of it. I just want to scream. Just once I'd like them to notice ME.
Instead of perfect, genius, never-had-a-bad-hair-day Nina.
But that's never going to happen.
Because everyone in this family knows who's important.
And it definately isn't me.

"I don't think Tia's the one with the ego problem!" Jessica yelled after her, but Maria just shook her head and kept going. She didn't want them to see her cry. But she'd only walked about twenty feet when Ken rounded the corner and bumped into her.
"Uh, sorry," he said, smiling. "I was just coming to see you," Maria crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him.
"I'm exhausted, Ken," she said, hoping he'd take the hint and leave her alone.
"No problem," Ken said, backing up a little and holding up his palms. "Look, I know you're upset. I just wanted you to know that you can talk to me if you need to . . . I mean, about your parents."
Maria's whole body tensed. "Is that it?" she asked.
Ken drew back. "Well, actually, I was also going to ask you if I can get a couple of tickets for Saturday's performance," he said hesitantly. "So I can . . . come see you."
Maria closed her eyes and enhaled sharply. "You know what? Don't even bother coming," she said, holding up one hand. "I'm going to suck, and no one wants to see me anyway." She turned around and stomped back down the hall, staring at the floor all the way to avoid Tia and Jessica. I don't even know why I came tonight, she thought, pushing the dressing-room door so hard, it knocked against the cement wall before swinging shut again. This whole thing is pointless.