dark red || morticia addams

FOUR

DARK RED

"It's my mind that's wrong"

✧

ARABELLA smiled happily at her best friend, as she joined in singing happy birthday. The flaming candles lit up Layla's face, showing her wide grin.

"Hip Hip, Hooray!" Everyone cheered.

If Arabella weren't so distracted by her friend's birthday, she probably would've been stressing about Parent's Day. Layla's parents were already here, arriving earlier for her birthday. Arabella wished her parents would be normal like everyone else's. Her strained relationship with them caused more problems. They probably wouldn't even show up, or worse; they would. Who knows, maybe this Parent's Day would make Arabella and Wednesday's mother mix paths again.

"Bella, could you message me the invite list for tonight? I just wanna read it over to see who's coming" Layla asked Arabella. Layla had her birthday party tonight. They decided they needed a second party, one that was mostly just friends.

"First drink of alcohol as an 18-year-old, how does it feel?" Arabella laughed.

"Feels the same when we finished that whole bottle in the library last year."

Enid joined in on the laughing, pulling Layla in for one last hug.

Arabella helped them pack up the cake and birthday presents to take them back to our dorm.

"Are you sure you aren't nervous your parents might be coming today? You've made it so far without them, make sure they don't mess it all up?" Layla spoke as she unlocked the dorm room.

"Honestly, I am a bit nervous but I think I'll be fine. Sending me here's the best thing they've done." Arabella replied to her, an uneasiness in her voice.

Arabella set the gifts down on the bed opposite hers. She left Layla alone in the dorm as she could hear the commotion coming from the courtyard. Most of the parents must've arrived by now.

She spotted Bianca across the large row of picnic tables filled with happy students and parents.

"Hey, Bianca. You coming to Layla's party tonight?" Arabella questioned her.

"Couldn't miss it. Gotta keep that Wednesday girl away from me." Bianca looked down. Arabella furrowed her eyebrows and scowled, but kept her gaze down so nobody could notice.

"Your parents a no-show? Arabella curiously asked her. She always knew there was a thing with Bianca and her parents, but never asked about it.

Bianca nodded and asked her the same. Arabella nodded and frowned.

"Don't be too sure about that Arabella, we may just surprise you." A heartless voice spoke from behind.

Arabella's soul left her, making her warm body turn into a cold empty place for her skeleton to lie.

"You didn't think we'd really not attend this event? We wouldn't miss it for the world, it's your senior year after all."

Arabella turned around to see them. She hadn't seen them in years; she would've liked it to be kept that way. Her father was still a short stubby man, with short black hair. Her mother looked the same, but with much more wrinkles. She was a tall, skinny, brunette, with short hair.

"You missed it last year," Arabella spoke coldly.

Biana looked down at the ground awkwardly and nodded at Arabella as she walked elsewhere.

"Show us your dorm. I still remember when I attended here." Her mother spoke with a crooked smile.

Arabella sheepishly stared at the ground and lead them to her dorm. She could almost feel the silence. She unlocked her room door and hoped Layla wasn't in there.

"God look what a mess this is. You haven't changed since we last saw you."

Arabella kept in her voice with a cough and covered her furious facial expressions with a wide grin. She watched as her mother mixed up her folded clothes and her father sink her bed down to the floor as he sat on it.

"We should tell you the real reason we're here." Her father spoke with his thick accent.

"What, you mean you didn't come for my love and support? Wow, surprising" Arabella spoke sarcastically. She could almost predict what her mother was about to say.

"Arabella, drop that attitude. We came to discuss what you're going to do, you know after you graduate. We want you to come work for us. It's the least you could do after everything we've done for you." Her mother said in reply.

Arabella was obviously aware of her parent's corrupt business. When she was younger, her parents were always doing something and never with her. Something in her had always prepared her to work for them, but now that she felt like she had a choice of her own, she didn't want to.

"I'm not going to run a dishonest and deceitful business like you and father. I'm going to be the complete opposite of you."

"Arabella Gray! I should've known. You were always like this. The way you're acting is revolting. Something in my mind always told me that sending you here was bad for you, but I listened to you and respected your opinion."

"Respected? You have never, respected me! I have gotten almost everything on my own. I have worked for everything. I deserve to have at least a say in what I do in the future! You're practically suffocating me!" Arabella furiously yelled at her parents. She jumped back as her claws suddenly came out. Her father was still sitting on the bed, quietly looking down, but her mother was standing up, trying to intimidate Arabella.

"Fine. If you believe those lies you created in your mind, we'll leave. Finish your education and don't bother contacting us after. You can message your other family members if you need any of the items that you've left in our house." Her mother was speaking quietly.

Arabella stayed silent as she watched her parents discuss something, then make their way toward the door.

"Goodbye, Arabella." Her father spoke. She watched as they pushed the door open, and walked out.

The tears Arabella had been holding in for so long leaked out and stained her cheeks. She stumbled over to her standing mirror and looked at herself. Her brown hair was in tangles and knots, and her eyes were blood red.

She still needed to get ready for Layla's party.