work experience ~ s.w

five

***

After working my usual 10 hour shift and another 2 hours of overtime I finally get the chance to go home. Zach usually sleeps over Mr Turner's house on Saturday night so I usually go to Sophie's. I knock on the door as she opens it almost simultaneously. I smile tiredly as I step inside her home. I look around to see all the beautiful Christmas decorations all in their usual places.

"Hi Viola" Sophie's mom, Laura says as we walk into the kitchen. "What can I get you to eat?"

"Something not served in a diner?" I laugh. I've had my dinner there almost everyday so by now I'm sick of it.

"How about a roast with all the trimmings?" She responds moving over to the microwave. She turns it on for a minute and 30 seconds before bringing the plate over to me. Sophie's mom is like my own- she looks after me as if I'm another daughter, she already has 3 of her own to deal with and yet she's still willing to make an extra meal for me.

"You spoil me Laura" I laugh taking the plate graciously.

"You deserve it" She beams as I sit at the table eating the meal as quickly as possible.

"Mom, is it cool if Viola and I go to a party tonight?" Sophie asks as she sits at the table next to me. She already had her dinner hours ago. She pulls out her workbooks before doing some of the work she's been set over the holidays. "Look I'm doing my homework and everything."

"Wow you really must want to go" Laura smiles. "Who's party?"

"Just a boy in school"

"A boyfriend?"

"He wishes" She rolls her eyes. I laugh to myself as I lick the gravy off the plate. What? Laura's cooking is heavenly, I can't waste it can I?

"I don't even know who's party it is?" I ask her.

"You know James? In my English class?" She asks.

"Yeah! Oh I like him, he's a sweetheart" I smile.

"You're such a granny" I laugh.

"Are his parents there?" Laura asks.

"Probably?" Sophie responds. "I don't know"

"I'll take good care of her Laura, you know I will."

"I trust you Viola, you're a good influence on my very impressionable daughter" She laughs. I nod my head in agreement. One time Sophie dragged me to a party at a lake house on the coast one time and almost got swept away with the tide when a group of hot boys suggested skinny dipping. I on the other hand stayed locked in the guest bathroom reading a book I found about the big bang theory.

"I'm not that impressionable" Sophie whines. I laugh but I know she is the exact opposite of what she protests. "Just because you'd rather read then socialise"

"What do I need friends for? I have you don't I?"

"You can never have too many friends"

"If you say so" I shrug. I put my plate in the dishwasher and signal for Sophie to get up with me. "Thank you for dinner Laura"

"You're welcome Viola" She smiles as we disappear upstairs. I push open the door to Sophie's room, instantly being hit with the smell of her tropical fruits incense and the warmth from her radiator across the room. I sit down on her desk chair as she rummages through her wardrobe. Seconds later my vision blacks out as I find myself covered in clothing. I pull the outfit off my head and change into it. I look at myself in the mirror at the black crop top and black jeans with knee rips.

"You look cute" Sophie says from behind me. "Oh that's for you on the desk" She says pointing to the small gift wrapped box in front of me.

"I didn't get you anything" I frown.

"You didn't have to silly" She laughs walking past me, dropping the gift in my hand. I open it revealing a dark red mac lipstick.

"Sophie no, these are so expensive" I say placing it on her desk.

"I want you to have it."

"Soph no"

"Please Viola, do this for me?" She beams. Eventually I give into her kindness and run the smooth stick over my plump lips. "See you look great. Let me take a picture." She exclaims. I nod and stand up against her cream wall. I look to the right as she snaps a picture, quickly bringing it to me to look at. It's an okay picture of me I guess, I'm not really a picture taking girl as you might have already guessed. My naturally curled brunette hair hangs down one side of my face as my blue eyes look away from the camera. My lips stay slightly pursed but not smiling as my arms hang by my sides. "This is so insta worthy"

"I'll just pretend that I know what that means" I laugh.

"Instagram" She says as if I should have known. She brings her phone to me and shows me the process of posting a picture. Within seconds I have about 100 likes thanks to all the hashtags Sophie has chosen. She scrolls through all the likers- the usual school mates and Sophie's family members but one name catches my eyes.

"Wait, go back" I say suddenly. She scrolls up slowly until I spot the name again. "That's it. Click it." We wait until the page loads. Sammywilk. It couldn't be?

"Who is this?" Sophie asks clicking on his most recent picture. A single artwork featuring the boy in question with the words 'Could Be' written over the top with a blue filter pops up on the small device.

"The guy I'm doing my work experience with" I tell her.

"How do you know that?"

"He was at the diner last night. He gave me and Zach a ride home. He's really nice."

"He's verified" Sophie states.

"And that means?"

"He's famous. He has over 1.5 million followers."

"Woah that's a lot"

"And you get to work with him? That's insane" She says absolutely flabbergasted. "you should totally get pregnant and take all his money"

"As if I need another child to care for" I laugh. "And that is so immoral"

"I'm kidding, I wouldn't actually do that" She shakes her head.

"Glad to hear it" I laugh. She passes me her phone to look through more pictures as she changes into a short, tight black dress. I pull my feet into her black vans as she steps into some black heels. We're completely different people as you can see. "Are we going?"

"We are indeed" She responds picking up her bag, taking my hand and pulling me out of the house.