Blood Red, Snow White

Chapter 2: The Birthday Party Surprise!

 "Did you call your sister yet? Is she coming?" Eleanor Audley asked her daughter, Airedale.

"She is not picking up the phone, mother. She better be on her way here. She can't miss my birthday party!", Airedale said as she checked her phone again.

Eleanor Audley is Mia's adopted mother and Airedale is Mia's adopted sister. Mia was adopted by them when she lost her parents in a car accident. Mia thought she could now have a family again but it turns out to be another nightmare for her. As cold-hearted as they can be to Mia, her foster mom does not harm Mia physically. Rather, she seeks to punish and abuse her mentally by often making Mia take most of the blames of her daughter, Airedale. Mia is used to being tortured and would not mind their ill-treatment as she does not have anywhere to go if she rebels back.

Every morning when Mia was staying with them in the same house, Mia would prepare their breakfast before going to school. She would wake them up and prepare herself last for school as the school bus would arrive on time to pick Airedale and Mia up from the house. Mia's high school memories aren't the most cherishable part of Mia's life either. Airedale use to take the spotlight more often from Mia no matter where she goes. That is when Mia turned all her attention to Suga, her high school crush whom everyone wooed upon as he is a smart and handsome exchange student from Korea. Suga and Mia got closer during the summer camp that was held in their school. Suga used to share his music taste, books, cooking recipes and sometimes would just sit and listen to Mia without judging her. Airedale couldn't stand this so she and her evil friends decided to break them apart by putting up an act where Airedale would kiss Suga and record it. Mia fell for this trap and did not speak to Suga for a week till he got transferred back to Korea. The summer camp was the last time Mia spoke to Suga.

Eleanor saw that a car was approaching their house and stopped right in front of the house. Airedale saw Mia getting down from the car but then she noticed that the car sped away as soon as Mia got down from the car and closed the door.

"Guess Ray isn't attending your birthday", Eleanor said to her daughter.

Airedale looked disappointed as only Mia approached her in the kitchen. Airedale had a secret crush on Ray ever since Mia started dating Ray. She thought she could have her way with Ray without Mia's knowledge but Mia was smart enough to move away from her foster family as soon as Ray paid her family debts. Mia knew all about Airedale's plans to snatch Ray from her just like how she did to Suga during the summer camp. Mia's foster mom was also into this as she thought if Airedale who is her daughter got into a wealthy family, they could have more money. Money is the only way to speak to Eleanor and Airedale. Eleanor and Airedale tried to persuade and convince Mia to come back and live with them as a happy family but Mia knew she would be falling into the evil plan her foster mom and sister are up to. Now, Airedale thinks whatever Mia has, she must also have it or not Airedale destroys them.

"Happy Birthday Airedale. Hope you would achieve everything you want in your life", Mia wished Airedale as she approached her.

"Oh, thank you. You shouldn't have bought me anything but since you did, I will take it", Airedale said as she took the gift Mia bought her.

"How is Ray by the way?", Eleanor asked Mia.

"He is good as usual. I am fine too", Mia sarcastically said to her foster mom.

Eleanor faked her smile and stood there with her glass of wine in her hand. Mia looked around and she realized that no one was there so she decided to take a tour to just jog her memories of being in the house.

"No one here yet?", Mia asked as she walked towards the hall.

"Airedale did not call many people. She does not want any crowd this time", Eleanor lied to Mia.