We were once 5

Memories

31st October 2021

Dear Diary,
God I can't believe it's finally Halloween! My favourite day of the year after my birthday! :)
My plan today, hang out with my friends and watch creepy horror movies. Emily and Rachel let us down for some party at Em's boyfriend's. So it's just Helena, Jane and I! I really wanted to go at the party too at first but I've never been to real party before, and I don't want Em and Rose to think I couldn't set a mood or anything. And clearly don't want to embarrass myself in front of him. Imagine the man of my dreams finding up I can't stand alcohol, well, I've never drank some so I don't know that for sure, but who knows...
Oh mama is calling me, I should go.
Bye bye,
Iris <3

"Rose! Sirius! Where are you?" I hear my mom calling.
I run down the stairs to meet my parents holding up a serious face. A thousand question run through my head. What's going on? Is it about dad? Are they getting a divorce? Did she catch dad? Does she know? Oh god what am I going to do! Is he moving out?

Since I caught my dad texting inappropriate messages to some chick I don't know, I keep being paranoid, scared that my mom finds out. He promised he stopped but I don't believe him. I know there still is something and if I ever 'accidentally' find proof again, I will never forgive him.

"What is it mama?" Asks Sirius as he enters the living room, his headphones on his ears, listening to some blasting music I can hear from where I'm standing, right accros the room.
"Sirius, please take ur headphones off, we've got to talk." Says my mom.
Sirius takes them off and gives me a confused look. I discretely shrug before staring back at my dad.
"We have something to tell the two of you." Says my dad with a serious face.
"Oh no! There it is! He's leaving us!" I think.
"Your mother and I are going to the restaurant tonight, I want the two of you to behave. If I receive any kind of complaint from the neighbours or if something happens to any of you or this house, you are both grounded for life. Is it clear? I am not having another Halloween like last year. Am I being understood?"
Few, that's what it's about.
"Yes papa." I answer.
Every year at Halloween, my parents go to a fancy restaurant and we have to house all to ourselves to watch horror movies. Last year, I went to Emily's house and Sirius decided to throw a party without telling me. Let's say the house was a total mess when my parents came back and my brother was dead drunk. He was grounded for 5 whole months and deprived of pocket money until Christmas. It was the best day of my life.
"Rose, when are your friends coming?" Asks my mom.
I quickly look at my watch before answering, "In 10 minutes mom, but Helena will most likely be late, so we won't start the movies before at least 8:00 pm."
"Okay, well while you're waiting, I want you to clean your room."
I groan but negotiating with my mother never works so I just leave the living room while my brother chuckles.

30 minutes later, my parents are gone, Sirius is at the same party as Emily and Rachel, and I'm in my living room with two of my best friends starting at the screen hugging their blanket tightly as the killer makes his way to his next victim. I grab my remote and pause the movie.
"Hey!" Protests Jane. "What's that all about?"
"Girls, we've seen this movie like, what, 5 times? Don't you want to do anything else?"
"But... it's a tradition." Says Jane.
"Oh come on! When it's not a scary scene, Helena is on her phone and you grab the closest book and start reading. I mean, I've seen you read my dad's architecture book. This is low."
"So what? It doesn't mean we don't want to watch the scary parts." Says Helena.
"I know, but it's ruining everything, I have to enjoy the movie on my own, it feels weird having you two doing something else next to me."
"Aw hunny it's fine don't worry." Helena says, she looks at the two of us before adding, "Plus, I have juicy gossip for you two. We can just postpone movie night for later!"
Helena is about to start her story when I receive a call from Rachel.
"Guys, wait let me answer that." I say while I put the phone on loudspeaker.
"Hey girly," I say through the mic of my phone, "how's the party going?"
"Rose! Do you know where Emily is? I can't find her, And she's not answering my calls." She says in a panicked voice.
"Hey Rachel, chill, when was the last time you saw her?" Says Helena
"Like 10 minutes ago, she said she was going to meet up with a guy. But I can't find her anymo."
Beep— Beep— Beep—
The call ends as she finishes her sentence.
"What the fuck happened?" Asks Jane.
"She probably lost signal." I reply, "I'm sure she'll find Emily, she's probably hiding somewhere. So, Helena! You said you had some juicy gossip!"
And little did I know that this Halloween night was the last one I will ever enjoy, the day Emily died.