Summer 16
I groaned loudly at the feeling of my churning stomach. This stupid stomach bug has been going on for a while and it couldn't have been nerves, considering the project has been long done. However, I noticed I was comparing my picture frames that I made for mom to Leann's jewelry box. Maybe I was making myself sick from jealousy.
I sighed, glancing at the clock at the hands pointing to 10 AM. I might as well start getting ready for Mr. Barrett's class.
I pulled an outfit out of my dresser's drawers, slipping on my blouse. I blushed when I felt that it was slightly tight around my chest area. I hadn't gone into the dungeons for a while, so I had definitely gained a few pounds. However, I kind of liked the fact that I was catching up to Leann!
I slipped my Capri pants over and blushed in annoyance, groaning. Of course I had gained weight around my midriff as well. I'd have to find a way to lose that while still being able to keep my chest.
I grabbed a nearby pair of sandals, noticing that my feet looked a bit funny. They looked larger?
I felt a surge of delight, I thought I'd be done maturing by now! But maybe this was a sign that I was going to be taller, unlike my mother, whom I thought I had gotten my height gene from! Though I am a little taller than my mom without her heels.
I looked in my mirror, sighing; though my mom is short, she's very beautiful! I sometimes can't believe that she's my mom! I look so much like my dad, it's depressing! All of the portraits of the de Sainte-Coquille women that hung around the mansion were beautiful in appearance! Whether they were born into the family or married into the family.
I felt my eyes watering as I tried to compare my face to my mom's face. The only thing I could see that I inherited from her was my pouty lips.
I decided not to pity myself anymore and left my bedroom, trudging down the stairs. Mom looked up from her novel, smiling at me as I came down the stairs.
"Hello, my darling!" She exclaimed in a greeting.
"Hi, mom." I greeted back, taking the last few steps. Mom's smile turned into a face of pain and worry.
"Oh, Clara! I don't like what Barrett is making you kids do! Stomp running! Just look at your feet! They're swollen! I'll have to have a talk with him later!" She exclaimed, causing me to look down at my feet. They were, as mom said, large in width and swollen! I looked down in disappointment. I wasn't maturing any more like I had hoped. This meant that I was going to be short like mom.
"Come now, sweetie! Let's see if we can try to give your feet some relief before you have to go to school." She said, leading me into the kitchen, sitting me in a chair, propping my feet up on another chair. She grabbed a few books, placing them under my feet to elevate them more before she removed my sandals to massage them.
"Uh, mom? You really don't have to massage my feet. They feel fine!" I said.
"Even so, we have to get some blood flow going." She said, grabbing a jar of nearby cream that smelled of jasmine, massaging it into my feet. I felt my eyelids getting heavy as I heard her giggle.
"Well, I'm certainly glad you didn't inherit my sleep difficulties." She said, rubbing the cream thoroughly into my skin.
"Now, off to class! You don't want to be late." She ordered, giving me a kiss on my forehead as I stood up from my seat, stretching. I slipped my sandals back onto my feet, and grabbed my tote from next to the front door, leaving the farm for the academy.
"So, using melted gold to embellish…uh…" Mr. Barrett stopped his lecture, his face holding a blank and confused expression as we all heard someone holding back laughter. Our gaze turned towards Orland. He was blushing madly, covering his mouth to hold back his laughter, with tears rolling down his cheeks.
"W-what's so fun-?" Leonel began as Orland burst out laughing.
"Stop! I'm at school!" He exclaimed in a pleading way while still laughing, pounding his fist on his desk a few times. I don't think I've ever seen nor heard Orland laugh like this. Actually, I didn't think he was even capable of laughing.
"What did the Sylphs say to you?" Leann asked with her brows furrowed as Orland shook his head.
"I can't tell you." He said, his eyes darted between me and Leonel. "At least not yet."
The bell for the end of the school day rang as the four of us ventured out of the academy.
"Should the four of us hang out today?" Leann asked as Orland blushed.
"Uh, sure! I can be free for a few hours." Orland said as Leann looked towards Leonel and me.
"Clara? Leonel?" She asked as my best friend and I looked at each other before looking back at Leann.
"Uh, I'm free until at least six." Leonel said as I shrugged.
"I've got nothing else better to do." I said as Leann squealed in delight.
"Great! The four of us haven't hung out in a while!" Leann exclaimed.
We had chosen the port to hang out at as we began discussing random topics. Laughing and talking, just having a great time.
"Does anyone remember the last time we hung out like this?" Orland asked as Leann placed her hand on her chin in a thinking manner.
"I think we were still kids! But the last time I remember the four of us hanging out Clara passed out from exhaustion from studying for a test the night before." Leann said.
"Oh! I remember that! I carried her home after that and my shirt was wet from her drool." Leonel began laughing.
"After I gave her to her dad, she shot up and immediately asked 'Which one of you pooped out the goblin in the bath?'!" Leonel started laughing more as I blushed, laughing along with him.
"Wait, what?" Orland asked while snickering.
"You never told us that!" Leann exclaimed, laughing slightly.
"You jerk." I said while laughing, pushing Leonel into the water from the pier. He shot up from under the water.
"Gah! Cold! Cold! And I think a fish swam up my shorts!" He exclaimed, climbing back onto the pier.
"Oh, damn! I lost my hat too!" He exclaimed in a slight panic, feeling the top of his head.
"Huh, you have really nice hair, Leonel." Orland said as Leonel blushed.
"You really do! I'm so jealous! I wish I had voluminous locks like that! Now I'm curious as to what you look like without your hats when your hair is dry!" Leann exclaimed.
"It is pretty thick. And you can see more of his curls without the hats." I said as Leann's eyes sparkled.
"And it's so healthy looking too! What do you do, Leonel?" Leann asked, as Leonel's face color deepened.
"Ah, I don't really do much." He said in a flustered tone.
"Maybe you should cut back on the hats." Orland said
"Ah! B-but if I don't wear a hat I look even more girly." Leonel said nervously.
"Well, we're looking at you without a hat now and you look the same." Orland said while shrugging.
"One day! Just go without a hat for one day! I'm really curious as to what it looks like dry now!" Leann exclaimed as Leonel sighed.
"Fine. I'll come to school hatless tomorrow." He said in defeat as Leann squealed in delight.
"Anyway, it's getting late." Orland began, standing up from his seat, stretching "I think we should head home."
"Ah! You're right! It's already a quarter past six!" Leann exclaimed, standing from her seat, Leonel and I standing up as well as we made our way to the park
"I'll walk you home." Orland said to Leann as he looked over at me, "Uh, by the way, Clara?"
"Yeah?" I asked as he blushed slightly.
"Mom said that she wants to talk to you, whenever you can. Preferably some time after the dance festival." He said as I nodded.
"Alright! I'll make it a point to talk to her." I exclaimed as Orland and Leann took their leave, leaving Leonel and me at the park.
"Uh, shall I walk you home?" He asked as I smiled at him, shaking my head.
"Nah, I know how your mom gets if you arrive home after her. Which you should probably get going now if you wanna beat her home." I said while giggling as he smiled back, chuckling as well.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He said, walking away.
"Later." I said in farewell, rushing in the opposite direction.
"Oh! There you are, Clara!" Mom exclaimed, "I was getting worried."
"I was just hanging out with Leonel, Orland, and Leann." I said.
"Oh? That sounds nice! You four haven't done that in a while." Mom said, sautéing something on the stove.
"Dinner's almost ready! I hope you're hungry." She said as I nodded, my mouth began to water as I smelled something sweet and spicy.
"What are you making?" I asked.
"Ah, some fried vegetables and yellow tail." She replied as I furrowed my brows.
"Really? It doesn't smell like it." I said as she glanced behind her shoulder at me for a second.
"What does it smell like?" She asked.
"Sweet, and kind of spicy…like cinnamon or nutmeg spicy." I said.
"Oh! I bet it's this!" Mom began, grabbing some oven mitts, and pulling something from the oven.
An apple pie! I hated apple pie, but this smelled really good! So good in fact, that I wanted a huge slice of it!
"Sorry, Clara. I know you don't like apple pie, but I wanted to use the last bit of apples before they went bad." Mom explained as I shook my head.
"No! That's fine! It smells really good actually! I might have to have a slice." I said as mom smiled slightly.
"You can have a slice after dinner." She said, placing plates on the table as dad walked into the house, taking a whiff of the food.
"Everything smells great!" He exclaimed. "Let's just hope Clara comes ba-and there she is!" He exclaimed, noticing me peeking out from behind mom as I blushed. Being short really was a disadvantage.
Mom placed a small slice of apple pie in front of me as I took a small bite. My eyes widened as I felt my taste buds dancing! The warm, syrupy apples had a burst of sweet, and spicy flavor, the flaky buttery crust seemed to melt in my mouth. This tasted amazing! How could I have hated this in my youth? I took another bite, and another, each bite getting bigger. Mom laughed.
"You're just like your grandfather! As you know, he's also a big eater." She said as I took the last bite. I felt so happy. This was the best thing ever!
"Wow, what did you put in that, Rosalind? I've never seen Clara dance while eating." Dad said as mom giggled.
"Do you want another slice, Cla-?"
"Yes, please!" I exclaimed, interrupting my mother.
"Seriously, what's in this, Rosalind? Or maybe…" Dad gazed at me while pondering.
"Who are you? And what have you done with my daughter?" He asked me in a joking manner.
"Still your daughter!" I exclaimed while rolling my eyes.
"Alright then, I'm going to ask a question that only the real Clara would know!" He exclaimed while laughing.
"Okay, shoot." I said confidently.
"When is my birthday?" Dad asked.
"No one knows. Not even you! And considering you don't know yourself, were you even born?" I asked as dad laughed.
"Don't worry, Rosalind! This snarky girl is still our girl!" He exclaimed as mom sat another slice of apple pie in front of me.
"I never doubted it for a second!" She exclaimed, snuggling my face as I laughed.
"Mo-om!" I scolded as she planted a kiss on my cheek.