The Price of Beauty

eight | rituals

"A family has its own rituals and its own superstitions." ― Tea Obreht

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AFTER A WEEK OF BEING at school, it was almost as if things were heading into a new normal. Of course, I didn't know what this 'normal' was, but it was pretty simple - go to school, listen to your friends' chitchat, gossip, and try to focus in class whilst doing that so you don't fail your classes. Oh, and make sure you always look a-okay - you don't want to potentially meet your crush looking like a mess. Not that I already had one, but it was important to be prepared. Then school would end and we'd go shopping or go to Eevee's place mostly, or go home.

Friday night meant another party at someone's house where no parents are at, so I missed out. I had told Eevee that I was still kinda scared after what happened on the first night, but there was a much bigger reason than that, which was how I felt about neglecting my family and how I've changed in a matter of two weeks. 

I decided that I should resume in joining the weekly Friday night ritual that we did at our home - a family dinner where either Aiden or I cooked that night instead of my parents, who probably had a long week, and then watching a family movie.

Tonight we rented the movie Boss Baby, featuring a weird baby who turned his brother's life upside down... or something. I don't really know yet - I haven't watched it. It seemed like a laid-back, relaxed movie good for the night out though, so I was excited to watch it with my family.

I threw up the pizza, trying to flatten it out. It landed on my head and slided off. 

"Eek," I said, laughing at myself.

"Need some help there?" Aiden called from his room.

"Ah, nah, tonight's my duty so.... don't help me. Thanks." I laughed.

I put down the round (or oval) pizza base and repeated the steps with three other pieces, then spread ketchup on it. I personally adore cheese, so I put mine with heaps of cheese and put bits of pepperoni on my pizza.

"DO YOU WANT OLIVES ON YOUR PIZZA?" I called to Aiden, asking him.

"UMMMM NO THANKS I WANT HEAPS OF CHEESE..." Aiden began, and then came into the kitchen. "Hey, that pizza better be mine." He pointed to my pizza.

"No way, that's my pizza, get your own cheese!" I squealed as he tackled it out of my hands. 

He pouted sadly and opened the refrigerator, taking out a block of cheese and grating it.

"Are you serious?" I laughed at his insolence. He was so stubborn in taking his 'own' cheese that he didn't even take the already grated cheese that was on the counter. 

"Hmph, yes I am." he turned away in a joking fashion for a second, then laughed, tackling me.

I laughed.

I put a few more bits of pepperoni on my pizza and put it in the oven, smelling it's lovely aroma as it cooked and sit in front of the TV, trying to get the DVD to work.

"How do I make it play the DVD?" I call from the living room to Aiden. Aiden always did it without me having to deal with it, so now that I had to, it was a complete confusion to me.

"Wait, I'm putting my pizza in," Aiden called, then came into the living room a minute later with his pizza still in his hands.

"See that thingy that says DVD?" Click on the button on it, it's rectangular-shaped, then put the DVD in."