The Summer Job | g.d

3 • Vegetarian

3 • Vegetarian

I abruptly jump up off my bed as I hear the overly loud and enthusiastic greetings. I grab my nice black dress out of my wardrobe and drape it over my desk chair. I look at the dust-covered desk realising how little I use it. I used to apply my make-up there but now I am lazy and just use the bathroom.

I slip out of the outfit I had been wearing all day and I quickly throw the dress over my head and shimmy down into it. I squeeze my stomach in sliding the dress over my body and popping my arms through the holes.

Easy.

"Clarke, the cousins are here!" I hear my mother screech from downstairs causing me to roll my eyes. Does she ever have a turn off mode?

"I'm coming!" I call back trying to hold all my sarcasm back as I quickly put some heels on and rush across the hall and down the stairs. I glance up looking over the very unfamiliar family at the door but put on a brave smile before walking up to them.

"And I bet you remember Clarke," my mother chimes making me want to vomit. I pull my brown hair over my shoulder before smiling at them.

"She's gotten a bit taller since the last time," Aunt Meg laughs as I do too and she pulls me into a rather aggressive hug. I pull back once we are finally finished and I put my brave face on again. I look down at the two little twin girls and I kneel down to their level.

"Hello my treasures!" I cheerfully say as I squeeze one of their cheeks, "You girls have grown up so much! I remember when you were little babies!"

"We're not little anymore!" Little Sarah giggles as I smile gleefully. Well, at least I think it was Sarah.

"You certainly are not!" I smile, rising back up off the ground before turning to the oldest cousin, Callum.

"Hey Cal," I smile, pulling him into a hug and cheerfully gleaming once I release him after maybe a couple seconds too long.

Who says acting is hard?

My mother oddly smirks at me as we turn to go sit down at the dining table but all I do glare at her to send her the message that I am being as fake as possible. I pull out a seat for my Aunty and Uncle and they thank me with a kind-hearted smile before I walk to take my seat opposite Callum and I send him a pleasing smile to which he returns.

"Alright, so I made us roasted pork with caramelised potatoes, does that sound good to everyone?" My mother squeaks as she places the huge lump of pork onto the table. I squeeze my eyes together making a disgusted face hoping she knows that I am vegetarian.

She glances up at the staircase, "Where is your father?" She mutters to me and I sigh, not wanting to get up and go find him. It was veering on six o'clock and he usually arrives home by five-thirty and I hadn't seen him yet tonight.

Reminded me of most nights.

"I'm coming, Jesus Christ!" I hear his loud growl from the top of the stairs as he begins to walk down. "Hello all!"

"Hello Darren," Aunty Meg and Uncle Bill say in almost unison. "How are you? How's the business?"

"I'm not doing too badly, the business seems to be out of the dry season which is why I get to go on this one month holiday with my family!" Dad smiles before taking his seat at the head of the table while I internally groan at his comment.

"Are you guys excited?" Meg chirps as she stares at Henry and I. I hadn't noticed Henry was sitting on the seat beside me but as I turn to him I see him gleefully grin and nod.

"Can't wait!" I say, putting on my fakest smile possible but they surprisingly brought.

"Someone's chirpy!" Dad mutters as he begins to cut the pork. He looks up to see my unamused face but as I see that the whole table stare at me I abruptly change my facial expression.