The Sea of Dreams

Chapter 2- 'Life's so hard when you're grounded'

Chapter 2- 'Life's so hard when you're grounded'

Mum grounded me. For a 2 weeks. I thought that was kind of harsh, but she was pretty determined, I didn't dare argue.

The rest of the night went like this:

After my little rant, Dan looked at me and must have sussed from the expression on my face that he really shouldn't push it, unless he wanted one of us to go ape-shit crazy on his ass. He held out the bottle and said, "um, my Mum told me to give you this, for inviting us..." 

Mum turned to me with an evil glint in her eyes and smiled sweetly. Too sweetly.  

"Ariana, I'm a bit busy here, you take it, and while you're there, why don't you entertain our guests?" 

I stared at her as if she was a mad woman. Was she kidding me? After all that she was still going to make me go out there and interact with them? What is wrong with her mind? But I kept my mouth shut, I think it'd gotten me into enough trouble as it was, and led Daniel back into the dining room. 

I took my seat, he took his, and, even amongst the chatter in the room, I could feel the awkwardness between us. He kept staring at me, as if trying to figure me out, whilst I struggled to divert my attention elsewhere. It was making me feel really uncomfortable. 

Rubes nudged me, and it was only then that I noticed how pretty she looked tonight. Especially with her new green dangly earrings which framed her elfin-like features and made her bright green eyes pop. And she was wearing a skirt.

That wasn't a dark colour.

Instead of her usual jeans.

Wierd.

She never dressed up usually. 

"Hey," she whispered, "what's up with you and the new guy, huh? He keeps looking at you," she gave me a very suggestive look. 

"Uh..." but before I could come up with a really lame excuse, my idiotic brother burst into the room, deciding to grace us with his presence. I noticed Rubes perk up slightly but I'm not sure whether that was due to the fact that my brother had turned up (I doubt it, no-one likes Xander), or the fact that Mum was putting the food in the middle of the table. That girl eats more than me, and that's saying something. 

"Honey, I'm hooome!!" he declared. 

"Xander, you've been home, holed up in your room, all day." I deadpanned. 

He frowned and slumped into his seat, opposite Rubes,  

"Spoilsport." 

"Whatever, anyway, I'm hungry, Xander, pass me the potatoes?" 

"No." he said pouting and crossed his arms over his chest. 

"Oh my God you are such a child!" I exclaimed, "Grow up- for a 17 year old, you are so immature!" 

"Say please then!" 

"Xander, what the fu..." 

"Ariana, don't be so mean," Rubes hissed from my side, cutting me off. 

I frowned. Rubes was normally the first person to join in with teasing Xander. 

Xander's frown deepened "I'll tell Mum what you said..." 

I raised my eyebrows, and everyone on the table started laughing, and I joined in. For the first time ever, I was grateful for my brother for his stupid ways, because he lightened the mood considerably and the evening went smoothly from then on. It was actually a really fun night. Apart from when Matt 'accidentally' flicked gravy at me (how is it possible to accidentally flick gravy?) and it landed in my hair.