Bare

two - that guy on Riverdale

Livia

I always thought about how in the movies, every time a family feud occurred, someone ended up reconciling with the other saying 'he's my brother' or 'she's my mother'.

I never understood why being related by blood to a person, made it okay for them to hurt me.

Shouldn't it make it worse? That they hurt me despite us sharing the same blood?

Maybe this is why, family never meant anything to me.

People will hurt you anyway, whether it is intentional or not.

It's your choice to allow them to do so or to put a stop to it.

'

"One more, Mark, c'mon!" I whine.

"Miss Wazen, you've had enough." Mark replies, trying to suppress a smile.

I wasn't drunk but I didn't bother convincing him. I'm just so bored.

I barely know anyone here and I've had enough with the awkward conversations with relatives whom I didn't even know until now. Especially my dad's family who came from Lebanon, and said things like Aaebelik [a saying in Arabic to wish for the person's turn in something, in my case it was marriage].

Anna looked beautiful tonight. It's not just because she was the bride but her dress was so elegant, her makeup light and simple.

She was a living proof of the quote 'Less is more'. We didn't have a chance to sit and talk yet for obvious reasons but I am genuinely happy for her.

She has lost a lot of weight though, just for the wedding and it saddens me.

See, since we were young, Khalid was hard on us when it came to food. He wanted his daughters to have the 'ideal' body; when I went through puberty, my boobs got bigger and he wasn't happy about it because I wouldn't be able to model for him, seeing as models had small boobs. I also passed through a time where I gained extra weight and he never ceased to make me feel like shit about it, pestering me over how I should be as skinny as Anna.

It was a major contribution to fucking up my relationship with him.

Not that I'm sad about it.

"Can I help you serve other people drinks then?" I propose, having some experience in bartending.

"There are others taking care of that, it's their job."

"But I want to help. If I can't drink, others should." I insist, putting my purse aside and stepping down from the barstool.

My feet are aching. I'm not used to wearing heels. It should be fucking illegal.

"Miss Wazen, if your father sees his daughter serving drinks at his other daughter's wedding, he won't be happy about it." Mark tries to reason with me as I make my way behind the bar.

"Well he won't see me then." I take off my heels, moaning at the sudden relief I felt. "I'm too short without those, and this counter is soooo tall. No one can see me."

He chuckles at that, running his hand through his blond hair. Cute.

No hooking up tonight Livia, my inner consciousness a.k.a inner bitch reminded me.

I didn't even think of it!

Yes you did. Even if you didn't, I just did so it means you did because we're the same-

AHHHHH STOP. BRAIN PAUSE.

"Fine, you can stay here, just don't go serving drinks and all that shit." He leaves.