*The foster*

birthday

Annies POV

I woke up with the sun shining in my face. I can't believe I had my first kiss last night. 

I get up, do my hygiene, and get ready. Today I'm wearing a brown sweater with cream colored shorts and brown converse. 

smiling, I run down the stairs. Finn is sitting at the table. I smile at him and he gives me a surprised wave. 

I grab a bagel and sit with Finn. 

"so did you sleep good?", I ask him. He looks up at me with wide eyes before clearing his throat. "uh, yeah yeah. you?" he takes a sip of his coffee and stares off.  "yeah great!". 

Jacob had gone to work, so it was just me and Finn. my school arrangements haven't been discussed yet, but public school seemed to be the answer. 

I look at Finn. "can we talk?" he looks at me anxiously. "yeah sure." he grins. 

we walk to the family room and sit down. before I can say anything, he starts speaking. 

" listen, I know I haven't apologized about lashing out on you a couple days ago. it was wrong of me to act so defensive over something...someone you don't know-"

"I do." he looks at me with a look I can't quite figure out. "what?"

I sit up. "my mother. I know the letter was about her. I confronted Jacob about it since I knew you would probably act out again." 

silence. An act so minimal yet so strong and telling. 

"Annie..I just....I don't know why we couldn't all talk about it together at a certain time...why-" 

he puts his head in his hands, an act I realized he does only when stressed or anxious. 

" I just can't believe Jacob told you. I mean don't get me wrong you needed to know the truth...but we were going to tell you together...I just..." he starts to anxiously look back and forth on the ground, his eyes wide with terror and...anger? 

I wasn't expecting him to act this way. he realized my confusion and collected himself. " I'm sorry I just...we didn't know when to tell you or what to tell you. Can we talk about this later?"

"Jacob told me she disappeared...where did she-" 

"ANNIE ENOUGH!" Finn lashes out. we both sit in shock and silence. " I'm sorry I'm.." he gets up and walks away quickly. maybe I should've taken Jacob's advice when he said to not provoke him with this subject. But she's my mother! I need answers. And why is Finn so defensive of her and her story? what are they hiding from me? 

I sigh. I go to my room and go on my phone for a bit. I wish I knew what Finn was thinking. or what Jacob meant when he said she disappeared. 

~A few weeks later.....~

GENERAL POV 

it was Annie's 16th birthday, and the whole household was preparing. Annie had never had a birthday party before. sure, the usual cake and candles with Lisa and some other kids, but never something  extravagant. 

the thing was, Finn and Jacob had decided to give Annie a party that she would remember forever. despite the incidents and emotional outbursts from the past few weeks, they all decided that those things were better discussed at an appropriate time and place. 

they all mutually and silently agreed to spend the next few days in a state of peace and fun. Annie realized that pressuring Finn was not the move. he needed time  and she was pushing too much.  

the men had hired planters, catering, a dj, and a photographer. Annie had never really liked to celebrate her birthday due to the misinformation about her past and her lack of social skills. 

parties were never really her thing. at school, they had hosted many events, but none that interested Annie enough to actually partake in. a boy had once asked her to a dance, but she was too nervous and awkward to accept it. when it came to birthdays, she would rather have some friends over and watch some indie films than have people she didn't know give her things and get drunk while she hid in the kitchen bored. 

Finn and Jacob both invited some celebrity friends and people from the industry they were close with, but people they knew Annie would appreciate meeting or had already been around them enough to be comfortable. 

it was 5 pm, and guest would be arriving soon. Annie decided to wear a brown psychedelic pattern shirt with a cream colored tennis skirt and leather thigh high boots that fit loose around her leg. she put her hair in two braids and wore some pearl earrings and layered a pearl and gold necklace duo. 

once she was dressed, she sat on her bed reading on new gossip columns. she looked up as her door opened. Shawn stood there smiling at her. he was dressed nicely, and he smelled liked soft cologne. he walked up to her and kissed her. she smiled as he kept holding her and kissing her face. 

"stop! Hah! I have to greet people soon!" she playfully pushed him and gave him a look. 

" yet you were sitting on your phone. hm seems as if you just don't want to be seen with what I would've done..." 

he smirks at her. her eyes widens as she realizes what he was referring to. she throws a pillow at him and laughs. 

" are you excited? I mean to see your friends and some famous people or whatever?"

she snorts. "or whatever? I don't think people like the cast of stranger things, Jessie Eisenberg, and Clairo are considered "whatever" ya feel me?" she smiles at him, rolling her eyes. 

"well you know what I mean"

"I am. yeah. I miss everyone, and im excited to talk to influential people." 

he looks at the floor. "and me?" he makes a joking soft face at her. 

"ugh yes you too. or whatever. anyways, get out so I can go talk to Jacob." 

"kicking me out of your room? what? you didn't last night when I snuck in to give u a goodnight kiss" he says mockingly. 

" stop playing and get out!" 

they both laugh and walk out. Shawn goes down to the kitchen to talk to Peyton the cook and Annie goes to find Jacob. 

Jacob and Finn were both in the back making sure everything was perfect. if they had known Shawn and Annie were alone in her room, they'd go ballistic. they knew Shawn was a good guy, but reputation still upholds when you're hollywoods top tier stars. 

hours had passed, guest had arrived, and Annie was laughing away with guest. everyone was having a good time so far. Annie was happy and that was what they wanted for their child. 

all was good, but sometimes a mask made of porcelain must break too.