Vita

Chapter One

I walk down the stairs in my Victorian home to find Aunt Gracelyn standing in the foyer. I give a smile and speak, "Good morning, Gracelyn."

"Good morning, Eleanor! And happy birthday!" She exclaims with a smile.

"Oh my, is it August 26th already?" I forgot my own birthday, I couldn't believe it.

"Yes, darling! And I got you a present!" Aunt Gracelyn exclaims. My Aunt Gracelyn had to move in with me since both my parents had died in the past year. I'm still not over both, but at least I got my young, sweet aunt to watch over me. Oh, did I mention she was a guardian angel?

"You shouldn't have," I said lightly with a nervous laugh.

She opens the closet and brings out a mint Kate Spade wallet and smiles, "I thought you would need something."

"Thank you! You shouldn't have," I accept her gift and smile.

"That's not all, sweetheart! I saw that you didn't have a car, so I'll get you any car you want," she continues to smile.

"But where are you getting all this money? I don't want you to go bankrupt just because of my 17th birthday," I begin to feel like a charity with all her presents. I've never liked accepting gifts because you never knew what to give in return. It's like a debt you can't get out of.

"Your Uncle John! He had so much stock when he was around," I want to kick myself for forgetting about Uncle John and his death.

"Was Uncle John supernatural?" I ask Gracelyn.

"Yes, he was a guardian angel like me," she says with a smile, "and did you mother tell you that he never really died?"

"What?" I ask, shocked.

"No, he's still around somewhere. He left me, but your mother wanted to say he died since you were too young to understand divorce," she said, awfully calmly.

"Oh..." I don't know how to react to this. Aunt Gracelyn never really thought before she spoke.

"But what I want to know is what car you want!" She changes the subject.

"A Jeep Wrangler," I say with a sigh since I miss my last one that exploded.

"Alright. I was going to get you a BMW, but it is your birthday," as she finished her sentence the doorbell went off.

Before I could get it, she was already opening the door. I ran up behind her to find Levi standing with his usual smirk and he held a red rose in his hands.

"Levi!" I say with a smile, "I thought I said I'd meet you at your place?"

"Surprise. Happy birthday, princess," he looks over Aunt Gracelyn who firmly stands between us.

"Levi's your name?" I can tell that she isn't too fond of him, "and Eleanor? I was thinking we could spend the day together."

"I'm sorry, Gracelyn," I fidget with my shorts, "I forgot to tell you about my plans with Levi."

"Levi's your friend?" she questions me.

"Boyfriend," I said softly.

"Alright then," her smile returns, "drop her off at nine. No later,"

"But-"

She cuts me off before I can begin, "I'm not having you fool around all night with some boy."

I scrunch my nose at her at the thought of her thinking I would do something like that at my age, "Fine. Have a good day, Auntie," I give her a hug before closing the door behind me.

"Your aunt is wonderful," Levi smiles and hands me the rose.

"Ha-ha. I've missed you," I smile back and accept the rose.

"I've missed you too," he gives me a quick kiss before we get into his truck.