The Arrangement

〄4.Kapitel fem〄

     My father is of a very average build. He isn't that tall, nor is he short. He isn't skinny, nor is he chubby. He's just average. Even in appearance as well. His balding head just further makes him appear like an average lawyer father. I'm not saying that he doesn't do an above-average job at his law firm, because he does. He's literally partaken in so many things involving the royal family, that it makes me sometimes question just what he actually does. The royal family aren't bad people, per se, but they also just haven't been the clean-nosed type since the princess passed away many years ago.

     Now what I really wasn't prepared for today though was the fact that Mejken has made a surprise visit. It's not unknown that she is quite literally almost always attached to my father's hip. It just blows that she's here right now. Especially after my father had told my mother that she was indeed not going to be with him today. She was supposedly supposed to be going to visit her family that live an hour away. Clearly, that didn't happen because now I'm having to listen to her squeaky, nasally voice that makes me want to stuff cotton wads into my ears.

     After an exceptionally loud snort from her, I remove my eyes from my full plate of food to look at her. She is pretty, that's undoubtedly unquestionable. Her friendly blue-green eyes find me looking at her and she gives me a little smile. I give a fake one back, which seems to appease her enough before she goes back to the conversation happening around me. Her shoulders are petite with a grey cardigan draped over them. The way it glimmers under the lights, I'm guessing it's cashmere. Her platinum blonde hair brushes against the cardigan as she leans back to laugh more. 

     What are they even talking about? How can it actually be this funny? The worst part is, that I don't even think it's a fake or a forced laugh. Looking back at the plate in front of me, I pick up a blueberry muffin while trying to tune back into the conversation.

     "--and then Mej decided that it would be a good idea to go down one of the steepest parts of the trail," my father's smooth baritone voice says while chuckling. I have to hold back the urge to roll my eyes, already wishing for this brunch to be over. Glancing over at my mom, her shoulders are tense and one of the fakest laughs I've ever heard from her escaped her mouth. Her light blue eyes dart to mine quickly, and I give her a little face to show just how bored I currently am. She tries to force back a smirk as she attempts to change the subject.

     "So, Sam," she starts, her head returning to my father and Mejken's general direction. I attempt to finish off the last bit of my muffin while she starts a new conversation, but a piece has its own agenda and plops down onto my bare leg. This is why I'm not a fan of short shorts, skirts, or dresses. I tend to be very clumsy and messy. The last thing I wanted was for part of my leg to be sticky because of my uncanny ability to drop nearly whatever is in my hand, at any given time. Even though the honey that made the muffin sticky, to begin with, is very good for the skin, it's just not a fun time. Nobody likes being sticky... and if you do, trust me I will be silently judging you from afar.

     I grab my napkin off the table and run it along the side of my glass of water. Before proceeding to rub the sticky part of my leg with the condensation-dampened area. I didn't score that well in my table etiquette classes for a reason. Hearing my name, I immediately start paying attention to the conversation once again.

     "Well, Poppy is eager to know what her surprise is."

     Like hell I am. After what I saw earlier with my mom, I'm more concerned than anything now. Part of me is still convinced that I have some silent disease that's going to take me out in the next couple of months and that they've just been hiding it from me so anxiety didn't take me out first. My lips curl into my mouth from the anxiety now building in the pit of my stomach as I listen, but keep acting like I'm cleaning a spot on my leg.