Lost In The Pages

Chapter 1 - The Birthday

A/n: I hope you guys like it! It might not be the most amazing thing, but you've waited long enough, so here you go!

"Betty!" I hear my whole family desperately call from downstairs. "Dinner time!"

Oh no. How many times have they been calling me? This happens a lot, and I have set a record of 20 times. I hope it's not more this time.

"Coming!" I yell back, closing the book that I am reading. Keeper of the Lost Cities. I'm re-reading the fourth book.

I run down the steps, watching my feet as I jump from step to step. As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I touch the top of the banister. It's a habit that I can't break. Along with being late for dinner I suppose. 

When I reach the dinner table, all of my siblings are there. James, Ines, Rebecca, and Sophia. They're looking at me with expecting looks on their faces, as if they've been waiting for a while.

I sigh as I slide into my seat. We all glance at father. He always tells us when we can begin eating. When he's home, that is.

"How nice of you to join us Betty," Father says coldly.

I gulp. "How many times today?"

"23." They all say in unison.

I sink down in my chair. Oops.

James, my twin, smirks at me, while Ines, my (shhhhh) favorite sibling, sends a look of pity my way.

Father stares at me, eyes narrowed, until he cautiously says, "You may eat."

I wait until everyone has gotten food before I scoop mine onto my plate. Not only would Father scold me if I got food first, due to always being last to the table, my siblings would all glare at me. I know because I made the mistake of doing that once.

Dinner is normally absolute torture with my family. I'm always late. James is always talking about his new girlfriend, which father hates. Rebecca is a little crazy (she's only ten!), and Sophia is a little ball of energy.

On top of that, Ines will gossip, and Father only knows how to criticize everyone. He's rarely home, which means that mom is normally fun, but when he IS home, she becomes like a robot, following his every order.

But I'm hoping that tonight will be better because tonight is James and I's 14th birthday. Which is why Father is actually home for once.

Almost as if thinking about him made him speak, I ear, "Betty, are you going to eat the meal that your mother so graciously cooked for YOUR birthday?"

"No father," I mumble.

Father glances at me, and I smile my biggest smile for him. The one he hates.

He grinds his teeth together as I dive into the amazing meal that mom cooked.

Rice and chicken bathed in sauce. Homemade bread that brings my taste buds to life. Potatoes covered in all kinds of spices that bring out their flavors. I love mom's cooking.

I savor every bite until I am done. It tastes SO GOOD!

Sure enough, as soon as I swallow the last bite, mom says "Cake time!" from the kitchen. She walks in with the cake and turn the lights off so that the only light in the room is the soft glow from the candles.

I hear the notes of 'Happy Birthday' slide into my ears as I study the cake.

It's beautiful. Half is themed for me and half is themed for James. As always, his is basketball stuff, but mine is themed for theater, 

I love theater. It's an escape from the reality where mom is worrying and father is traveling. Where I don't take 23 tries to come down for dinner.

As I think about acting, my thoughts go back to the characters in my book and how much I want to be with them right now. 

The last notes of 'Happy Birthday' ring in the air, and James is looking at me, whispering that it's time to blow out the candles.

I turn to my candles and blow them out, still thinking about my characters. I don't believe in birthday wishes. They don't exist, right?

                                                                                       ***

After dessert, I head back upstairs to keep reading.

I'm near the beginning of the book, only a chapter in, but I am still drawn in.

 I read and read, and I have just finished chapter 6. I am so deep into the book that I don't notice James sneaking up behind me.

So when I turn the page and he shouts "BOO!" I'm startled. I fall forward, toward my book.

But instead of landing on my nice, soft bed, I feel myself falling down, down, down.

A/n: Hope this wasn't too much of a letdown! Love you guys! Updates are on Thursdays!