After successfully navigating my way through conversation with a group of old men, I relax. I finally have a moment to myself.
"Dinner is ready," my mother calls. Well, that moment is done.
I walk to the table slowly, just so I can have sometime without making conversation with a widower. My father stops me before I can take another step.
"Aira, I've seated you next to Mr. Iver and Mr. Clarke's daughter, Janet," he says. "I know you and Janet are the same age so I thought that might be nice."
I internally cringe since I like neither Mr. Iver or Janet. Mr. Iver for obvious reasons and Janet because she hates me for some reason.
My father guides me to my seat and motions for me to sit down. I sigh.
"Aira," Mr. Iver says. "I trust you've been enjoying the evening."
"Ummm... yes," I say. I try to scooch mychair away from him. While I'm doing that I bump into Janet.
"Watch where you're going," Janet hisses.
"Thanks for the advice," I say, flashing her a big, cheesy smile. "I'll take into consideration."
She huffs a bit and honestly, I don't care. She hasn't thought about my feelings since she's been so rude to me. I don't know why either. We used to be friends. Until one day, she decided that she didn't like me anymore. I idn't bother me all that much. It actually taught me an important lesson: some people will turn on you in an insant. Those people aren't worth my time.
I eat my dinner quietly. I try to make sure my mouth always has food in it so I don't have to talk to Mr. Derek Iver. He tries to anyway.
I spot Janet glaring at me so I smile. You know what they say, happiness is the best revenge. They also say to kill 'em with kindness. And on top of that I'm doing what they say by doing both and killing two birds with one stone.
Once the meal is over, I complain of an acute headache to my mother. Not a lie, because sitting between two people you don't like and eating a meal with them gives you a headache. She looks concerned and asks me if I have any other symptoms. I tell her no and head upstairs.
Finally the night is over.
YOU ARE READING
The Search
Fiksi IlmiahIn the distant future, everyone must be married by the age of nineteen. If you are not married by your nineteenth birthday, the government chooses your spouse. This is a fate Aira is dreading. She's also dreading her parents choosing her husband. Bu...
