Promise

Chapter 2.

My cousin's name is Hannah, and she's turning 17. Honestly I don't know why she still has birthday parties like this. She always has pink streamers hanging from the ceiling, the tables decorated with purple and blue polka-dotted tablecloths, and a cake with a princess crown on it. Not to mention she only ever invites her family; none of her friends. You would think you were attending a 13-year-old's party.

I asked my mom if she had seen Hannah because I didn't want to hang out with my older relatives or the babies. She searched around for a minute before pointing to the stage at the end of the room. There is a table where all the gifts and birthday cards will go, and that table is on the stage next to Hannah. While I walk across the room to see her, I hear comments such as:

"Oh, Shelby, I haven't seen you in years! You've grown so much!"

"Nice to see you!"

"Well, well. Look who we have here. Ms. Shelby Hartmann.. We haven't seen you in ages."

"Shelby? Wow. You look so different from the last time I saw you. Why don't you come around more often?"

You could say that I don't go around my family that often. None of them see me that much, unless they're lucky. I don't particularly enjoy being around them, so I limit myself on how much I see them. Although I see Hannah and her family quite a bit. She's my only cousin that is around my age, so we get along better than the others. I'm 18. None of my cousins are older than me, so Hannah is really the only one in my peer group.
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Finally, I found Hannah. She seemed to have disappeared when I started looking for her. When I got to the stage, she was nowhere to be found. I looked around for what seemed like ages, and even then I almost didn't see her walk into the bathroom. So I followed her and started a conversation.

"Hey did you see that contest One Direction is doing? I'm pretty stoked."

Truthfully, I'm more than just stoked. I'm growing a bit antsy just thinking about it.

"Oh yeah, I heard about that. Actually, thanks for reminding me. I need to go tweet with the hashtag. Let me go get my phone."

I stand there while Hannah disappears into the heart of party to retrieve her phone. I pull out my phone and see I have a new notification.

"@NiallOfficial: Oh and by the way, the winner will be picked today :)"

Oh no. I haven't tweeted nearly enough, not to win. I need to pick up my pace.

"@ShellOfAHart: pick me #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest"

"@ShellOfAHart: Niall notice me #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest"

"@ShellOfAHart: pls I deserve this #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest #1Dcontest"

I look up and see Hannah has returned. She looks a little odd. The lights are dim in this section of the room, so I can't really see her face. She slowly walks forward, slightly disoriented. Her jaw dropped. She looks like she's seen a ghost and could faint at any moment. It's scaring me.

"Hannah, what's wrong?"

She just stares at me blankly, her mouth still slightly open. I think she's is shock. Or traumatized. Either way, I need to know what's going on.

"Hannah?"

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A/N: ahhh second chapter..