Sense of Reality (Alan Ashby)

That's When I Kill The Conversation

My homework finally over and done with, I booted up my laptop. While I waited for it, I emailed myself the photo from this morning. I logged onto my email and saved the photo, before printing it out and going to the bathroom to blue-tack it to the mirror. As I passed the kitchen, I smelt my mum's cooking. I inhaled deeply. Pasta.

'What time's dinner?' I asked as I opened the bathroom door.

'In a few minutes. Hurry up and set the table, would you?' My mum said, stirring the meat.

'Okay, Mum.' I replied, sticking the photo in the lower right corner, next to the one from five years ago. I observed the photos, memories surfacing. I suppressed them though, and continued back to the kitchen. I grabbed the cutlery and set the table, grabbing the chili powder and placing it in the middle of the table.

'The cheese, honey.' My mum reminded me gently as I opened the fridge, grabbing a juice box.

'Right.' I said, stabbing the straw through the sheet covering the opening, and placing the straw between my teeth, balancing the container on my hand as I pawed through the contents of the fridge. I grabbed the cheese and chucked it on the table, where it landed with a thud.

'Diana!' My mum scolded as I closed the fridge. I took a gulp of my juice and started serving out the pasta. I piled on the sauce and meat combination before taking them to the table. I picked up my juice and grinned at my mum.

'Dinner is served.' I said, smiling. My mum laughed and picked up her fork, stirring her meal as her other hand added cheese. I topped mine with the chili powder before reaching for the cheese. We ate in relative silence, a few questions bouncing back and forth.

Halfway through our meal, Mum brought up the topic of school.

'So, how was your day?'

'Didn't I already tell you?' I said, scooping another forkful of pasta into my mouth.

My mum looked at me over her own forkful, an eyebrow arched expertly accompanied with a sly smile.

'I want the truth this time.'

I sighed. How did mums always know everything? 'School was... Interesting. I've gotten Ashby's attention of all people and I've gotten picked on now that Jay's gone.' I explained, looking down miserably at my food and poking at it.

'Don't worry about them, honey. They're just jealous they don't have friends that they can trust like Jay.' I smiled at her words. 'That's better. You've barely smiled since you've gotten home.'

'That's because of homework, Mum.'

'Did you get it done?' I nodded, finishing off my meal, scraping the sides of my bowl.

After dinner, I washed and dried the dishes before retiring to the lounge room with my mum, watching reruns of Will & Grace. At ten, I felt my eyelids getting heavy.

'Night, Mum.' I said, stretching and walking to my room. I changed into my favourite pair of pyjamas and then went to the bathroom, scrubbing off all my makeup and brushing my teeth. I grabbed my brush and drew it through my hair, putting it in a braid so that it wouldn't tangle itself while I slept. I got into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

A/N

Long time updating and a short chapter! I'm so sorry! But I have the next one almost ready to go ;) Be ready for another update in an hour or so! :)

Title cred: Yeah Boy and Doll Face - Pierce the Veil