The Moonwalkers

A party of four

I wore my birthday dress and came went downstairs to show the others. To my surprise, there was a cake on the coffee table, topped with fifteen lit candles.
Since when did they plan that?
"Happy Birthday Charlie!" Chris wished cheerfully.
"When did you guys plan this?" I asked, going towards them, loving how the dress glided behind me. "Aww, you shouldn't have..."
"Oh just sit down," Charlene pushed me down on the sofa, then handed me a plastic knife. "Let's cut the cake first."
They sang me Happy Birthday and I blew all the candles at once. Then I cut a slice of the cake and gave it to Mom, then Chris, then to Charlene.
To my surprise, Chris suddenly whipped out a wrapped gift.
"Oh, what's this?" I asked, taking it. "Where did you get the money to even buy this?"
"I have my savings too, ya know?" Chris rolled his eyes. "Just open it."
I slowly ripped the paper off and looked at the box in my hand it was a perfume set that came with shower cream and lotion.
"Wow, nice!" I exclaimed, trying to open the box. I finally got it open, and tested the perfume. It had a really nice sweet flowery scent that sorta reminded me of the sea too.
"You chose this scent?" I asked turning back to him.
"Char helped," Chris grinned. "Go ahead, open the rest!"
I did, and turns out, I got lots of amazing gifts. I'm astonished at how they managed to rig so much up despite the circumstances.
"How did you guys buy so much?" I asked. "As it is, moving out of town drained our savings."
"We planned this beforehand," Mom smiled. "Now, don't you worry about money now. Everything is under control."
"But how?" I asked.
"Don't question," Charlene smirked, handing me the stuff I received. "Go put all of this away. We need to start preparing for the party."
I piled my arms up and started making my way towards the stairs. I went up and right when I reached the end, the new handbag that Charlene got me fell. I groaned and put the things on the ground to pick it up. I heard the others talking downstairs and couldn't help but overhear.
"Don't tell her about my new job, Mom," Charlene said in a low voice, but loud enough to be heard here. "Chris, you too,"
"How long can we hide that?" Mom asked in a worried tone. "Tomorrow's the full moon at that! We need to tell her before that, or else it might get disastrous!"
Again with the astrology thing. Why is she so obsessed with the moon phase?
Wait so Charlene's got a new job? How is she handling both college work, and work work? Oh no... poor Charlene!
I look down at the stuff I just received and hoisted them up into my arms. I went to my room and put those on my bed before running down the steps to confront them.
"Why did you guys hide it from me?" I asked, putting my hands on my waist.
The three of them stared at me in shock. Chris slowly turned to Charlene and gulped while Mom made eye contact with them before turning to me.
"Wha- What do you mean, Charlie?" Mom finally said.
Great, so they're playing dumb. "You know full well what I mean, Mom." I frowned and turned to Charlene. "Char, why didn't you tell me about your new job?"
They visibly relaxed. Chris, being the King of Exaggeration, heaved a huge sigh of relief and sank deeper into the sofa.
"How did you know?" Charlene asked in surprise.
"I overheard you guys talking from upstairs," I sat down next to Chris, giving him a backhand since he occupied two spots. He instantly sat straight. "Even for this, you guys have to see the moon? Seriously?"
Charlene gave me a sheepish smile. "Are you going to school tomorrow?"
I grin. "I dunno, should I?"
"Up to you," Mom shrugged.
"I think better not," Chris smirked. "And I think I better stay home too."
Mom was about to object, but she fell silent when Chris made a face at her, nodding his head towards me.
"Fine," Mom sighed. "I'm on leave tomorrow too."
"So I'm the only one who's forced to go to school and work?" Charlene frowned.
"If you want, you can go get yourself an MC too," Chris smirked.
"Sure..." Charlene smirked. "But what's the occasion?"
"Preparation," Chris said. He noticed the weird look I gave him and quickly turned back to Charlene. "For the party."
So in the end, all of us were staying home.

I changed out of my dress and decided to save it for the party. I didn't wanna stink it up before that. Otherwise, it will need to be tossed into the wash.
I lay on my bed and looked around my new room. Though I've been living here for almost two weeks now, it still feels sorta new. It would need some getting used to. It still feels as if I'm here on a vacation. A vacation that involved school and work. And we're never going home since this was home now.
My phone vibrated on my nightstand, and I rolled over to reach for it. I sat up and looked at the notification board to see three new messages. I opened the texting app and frowned when I saw who sent those messages.
Dad.
Hey Cupcake
Happy Birthday
🥳🥳
I rolled my eyes and pressed the power button on my phone before tossing it back onto the nightstand. What's the point in wishing me a Happy Birthday now after disowning me?
There were a series of dings from my phone, and I eventually picked it again to read the messages.
Honey are you okay?
Are you one of them too?
Charlie?
What does he mean by that? Of course, I am! Is he trying to win me over for custody? Heck no! I'm never gonna go back to him, especially after I witnessed my usually strong mother begging on her knees for him to accept her. I'll never forgive him for making her fall apart like that. Only the day before did he embrace her with such love and even kissed her. And then the next morning, boom! Mom was begging for his love. He kept calling her a monster, but at that moment, he's the one who seemed like one.
I can never forget that.
I felt tears streaming down my face and sat up. No, I shouldn't cry. Not on my birthday at that.
I switched my phone off and wiped all the tears off my face with the back of my hand. I went to my table and turned my laptop on to play a game.

***

We all slept in, and only woke up at nine-thirty. It feels like Saturday, even when it isn't.
"Charlie, how do you feel?" Mom asked during breakfast all of a sudden. "Are you okay?"
"Of course I am," I said, shoving a slice of bacon and egg into my mouth. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You sure about that?" Chris asked leaning in suddenly, making me shrink away from him a little. "You don't feel any different?"
"The only difference I feel is you weirding me out," I frowned, pushing him away with a frown. "Why do you exaggerate everything?"
Chris shrugged and sat properly on his chair again. Charlene and Mom were staring daggers at him.
"Is something wrong?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Nah everything's good," Charlene smiled. "Just... if you feel anything, please tell us, okay? Don't feel afraid."
Wait what? "Okay..."
I just finished my breakfast and headed for the kitchen to put my plate away. Everyone were still a mess, clad in ugly pyjamas.
"So when do you guys wanna start decorating for the party?" I asked, entering the dining room again.
"In a while?" Mom shrugged, downing her cup of coffee. "Charlie, we barely woke up."
"Fine," I chuckled.