In Omnia Paratus (AU) - Book 2

Study.

The next day I woke up I was studying basically all day whilst Violet was out at a friends and everyone else was out shopping. Even though dad hates shopping. I had my AS exams and well, things were pretty stressful but I was prepared and I felt I was less stressed than well... everyone else.

Life at home was quieter than at dorm and well, that was better because I could study. Lily wasn't bothering constantly about lifting things. I swear you never notice how much you lift things until you can't.

Though I think it was getting better and I didn't get as tired after walking too fast. I avoided running anywhere and people often stared at me for that but in two weeks my month was up and if my muscles weren't back to normal I'd be taking drugs everyday for a month, until some sort of improvement.

It mainly about the stomach muscles anyway and they're doing okay, I think.

I hadn't told dad, nor Rachel and I think the only person that did know was Victoria and Lily. That's how I liked it though.

"Jen we're ordering Chinese do you want anything?" Rachel popped her head around the corner of my bedroom door.

"Yes please, just tell dad the usual, thanks." I smiled looking up from my desk at her.

"Okay should be here in 20 minutes." Rachel said shutting my door and leaving me alone again. In that 20 minutes I managed to phone Lily and catch up on everything at Ashford as most people stayed at Ashford this holiday but I'd been forced into coming home to help with the wedding planning.

When the food arrived I went down stairs to collect my stuff and then went to walk back up and dad caught me and stopped me. "No, come on you eat with us."

"Yeah we're not that bad." Rachel laughed a little.

"I have studying to do." I shrugged starting to go up but dad had me firmly in his grip.

"Take a break. Come on." Dad said and I followed them into the kitchen where I spent a lot of the time just trying to get violet to sit still and eat. It was like she was my child. Rachel wasn't doing anything apparently she's doing the whole tough love thing but it was bloody annoying when she's crying at you begging that you cut her chicken up.

"Dad." I said looking at him as Violet clung to my arm.

"V, get off your sister. Now." Dad said and she let go straight away and spent the rest of the meal sulking. Usually I'd care but today I just got up and left.

- - - - -

"You need to chill the fuck out." Lily said to me when I explained to her what was going on at home. "Your 2 week holiday at home has turned in to studying camp. You have 2 days left with you family, spend time with them and when you get back to Ashford you can study all you like."

"But I don't think--"

"Jen go out with your family." She demanded.

"Okay fine." I moaned at her.

"What are they doing today?" She asked.

"I don't know, probably nothing." I sighed.

"Go find out. Tag along." Lily laughed. "I'll speak to you later." She said before hanging up and I closed up my books and went down stairs. God was I going to regret this.

- - - - -

"I'm going back to school in two days, I thought I'd hang out with you. What's up?" I asked as I slumped left to Violet on the sofa. Dad and Rachel were going through things for the wedding. Could tell because dad was bored and watching TV and Rachel was staring intently at her iPad.

"We thought we might go to a few wedding fairs, not very exciting but there is free cake." Rachel said looking across at me.

"That's the only reasons why I'm going." Dad laughed.

"Sounds fun. Is Violet come too?" I asked taking over her when she was sat right next to me.

"Yeah she can help mummy with her planning and hang out with her sister, yeah Violet?" Rachel said looking down at her as she stared at the Tv watching her cartoons.

"Yeah." She responded not taking her eyes away from the TV. She snuggled up to me and rested her head on my legs as she watched the cartoon roll on.

"Come on then we're leaving in 5." Dad said standing up and turning the tv off which then caused Violet to moan and she then became interested in her big sister who she was using as a pillow. She asked me to put her shoes on for her and help her with her jacket. I was like a little slave, but I didn't mind it.

"Come on V." I said as she dragged behind me on the way to the front door.

- - - - -

The wedding fair was really cute and we did get free cake which was really good. Dad carried Violet for most of the time because she started to complain she was tired and Rachel didn't want her sulking the whole time.

I did take her to look at the pretty dresses at some point to give them break but she soon asked to be carried again so I found dad quickly and he took her.

"I like these." Rachel said showing me place card to which I decided to take an interest as I had OCD and things like place cards really excited me, the organisation was real.

"I like them too." I agreed. "I think you should get them." I said quickly picking up a packet. I knew we'd need more. Rachel agreed and picked up like 5 packets of them and went and paid, she'd actually bought quite a lot. But most of it was just one or two of something to take home and test next to her dress or the table clothes. It was ridiculous.

My wedding would be worse though, everything would have to be exactly where I imagined it to be or I'd freak out a little bit. Dad was going to take the stuff back to the car but Violet was asleep on his shoulder.

"I'll just carry the bag to the car." I offered smiling at dad quickly.

"No, no you stay with Rachel, you know more about this girly stuff just take Violet for a second while I put the bags in the car." He said quickly going to hand Violet over to me. I panicked not really sure what to say to him.

"I-I can't." I said quickly before Violet left his arms.

"Well, why not?" He laughed at me but I was not in a laughing mood.

"My arms really ache recently. I can't-- she's got heavier from when I last saw her." I mumbled making it up as I went along.

"Alright..." Dad said passing her to Rachel. "I'll be back in a sec." He frowned at me before we left and I continued to shop with Rachel around this stall of really cute wedding hair accessories.