Adopted by Heathers: The Sequel

Can't We Be Seventeen?

"Happy seventeenth birthday, Sunshine!" I heard Elle call. I grumbled, rubbed my eyes, and got out of bed, reaching for my crutches with one hand and my phone with the other.

Then I realized. I didn't need the crutches anymore. It was June 30th, the day that I was supposed to be back to normal and not need them anymore. I gasped and smiled, dropping my crutches on the floor and motioning towards the door, where a small box was on the floor.

I knelt down on the ground and opened the box. Inside was my very first pride flag, the bisexual pride flag. I gasped and then noticed the small note underneath the flag.

Happy birthday, Sunshine. I love you. ~Jess

I smiled and hid my pride flag under my mattress, planning to hang it up the second I came out to Elle. Then I realized.

Junior year ended last Friday. I was officially a senior. Red would be pushing me to come out more than ever, and at the moment, coming out wasn't something I was mentally prepared for. I sighed, putting my mattress back in place and wondering how to tell Red that the coming out would have to wait another year or two. Maybe even longer.

"Hey, Kit." Red said, barging in my door. I laughed and said, "There's a door, you know. Maybe try knocking on it next time?"

"So...you're seventeen now! One more year until you become a legal adult! This is great!" Red said. I laughed, hoping she would notice I didn't need my crutches anymore. Then again, it took me two hours to realize Jess was walking without hers so many years ago.

"We're seniors, Red. We're gonna be graduating pretty soon." I said. Red laughed and then handed me a small box. "Hope you're free two Saturdays from now."

"Wait, why?" I asked.

Red kissed my nose (she had to stand on her tiptoes to do it, I was around 5'10" now) and said, "You'll just have to see when you open your presents."

I smiled and followed my girlfriend out to the living room, where Elle was trying, and failing, to put candles on a cake that was physically falling apart.

"Mom, what did you do to my birthday cake?" I asked.

"Overcooked it. Added too little water." Elle said as the smoke alarm started to blare. I laughed and then Red said, "You're lucky I bought Cat a cake."

"Red! You didn't have to do that! Thank you!" Elle said, taking the cake out of the packaging and then setting it on the counter. I laughed and then sunk on the couch, scrolling through my camera roll.

Until I stumbled upon a picture of Astrid and I. 

I burst into tears and ran into my room, throwing blankets (including my orange one) on me, along with sheets and pillows. My bed was basically just nothing but a mattress at this point.

"Hey Sunshine." I heard. It was Alice and Barrett. 

"We know you're sad so we brought lemon sorbet!" Alice said. I whined and threw a pillow at them. After two minutes I said, "Give me the sugar." Barrett set the sorbet container down in front of me and handed me a spoon. After I finished the ice cream, Alice wrapped me in a hug as I just cried my eyes out.

"Wasn't that supposed to be for all of us to share?" Barrett asked. Alice smiled and pulled out two more containers.

Elissa came in my room and I ran to hug her. After five minutes she said, "I brought Acadia would that work?"

"Cia!" I screamed. Acadia had turned four a few weeks ago, and I had missed her birthday because of this whole crash thing. But she was too young to know that.

The tiny blonde child I called my niece ran in and threw herself on me. She said, "I'm sorry about Astrid, you must be very sad! You loved her a lot, didn't you? And now you'll never see her again, that's awful!" 

"CIA NO." Elissa and Alice said as I started sobbing again and shoved Cia off of me. 

Barrett ran out of the room and screamed, "ELLE WE NEED BACKUP!"

"Backup is coming!" came Red from the living room. "Come on. Shirley, you stay."

"Why me?"

"SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT TO SEE HER DEAD BEST FRIEND'S GIRLFRIEND RIGHT NOW YOU IMBECILE!" Red screamed. I heard Shirley groan and then Axel, Red, and Cesca came into my room. 

Alice and Barrett smiled at me and left, and when Red realized the coast was clear, she kissed me. 

"Do you wanna go watch a movie? Your mom's got it all set up." Axel said. I smiled and nodded, grabbing my blanket for support.

I walked out of my room and shyly said, "Cuddles?" My family laughed and then they all piled on me, the half-eaten, underwatered, chocolate birthday cake still sitting on the counter. And Red's store bought cake sitting next to it.

Despite not having my best friend anymore, I think seventeen's gonna be a good year.

AN: I haven't used a theatre reference for the chapter title since the first chapter, shocker! It's just that thinking of a reference for EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER. was getting old. Hope you enjoyed and catch ya later!