Syn: For You

Party At Nine

-A Year Earlier-

"I just... I just don't know what to do with her. I've tried everything... I know--"

I could hear another one of my mother's conversations with whomever about how she couldn't handle me again. I wanted to ask if she had any plans for my cousin's birthday party but ended up leaving it alone once I heard her speaking. She must've been cut off because she stopped talking, all I know is she needs to stop worrying about controlling me when my cousin's birthday is in three days.

Zoë is my baby cousin, she'll be 3 years old this Friday, July 9. She's been the center of attention since her birth, everyone loves her—well, everyone but her father. I don't know what happened between him and her mother, my aunt, but he's missing out on the growth of a beautiful child. I could never understand how a man can leave his child behind but I didn't mind it though, more time for me to spend with her. My aunt, Zane, says that I'm Zoë's favorite cousin and that whenever I leave she gets upset and starts to cry herself to sleep. I wish I could keep her with me but I know her mother wouldn't allow that. I'm forced to believe that my aunt has a vendetta against me, I don't know why though.

Oh, by the way, I'm Giana. My mother is Puerto Rican and my father is from the States. My father met my mother on a trip to Puerto Rico when he was 6 years old. His parents decided the family needed a change of scenery for a while so they took week vacation and flew away to Puerto Rico. My mother and father kept in touch as they grew up and eventually started their relationship in their high school years. It must've been weird, considering they weren't anywhere near each other, but at some point my mom moved to the States. According to her, my abuelos needed to get away from their old habits. My parents have been together ever since, even though their families were against it. After graduating, they decided to get a place together and build their own family. Along came me, Giana Lai Rose, on March 27, 1999.

Unfortunately, my father left after 3 years of my existence, it's been my mom and I. My mom is the type of woman who feels like everything has to revolve around her, I guess it's her way of coping with the fact that my father left, or maybe my dad spoiled her. I was a good kid, I just could never be good when it came to her. No matter what I did or achieved, whether I got good grades, or did chores. It was never enough, she was always too controlling and even today it feels as though I'm being suffocated by her every day. But not tonight. Tonight I'm going out.

My phone rang as I made my way to the kitchen to get a bottle of water, I grabbed it from my pocket and answered it. It was my best friend, Ry'Nel. I'll tell you about her a little bit later.

"Girl, what you want?" I asked laughing as I opened up the bottle of water.

"Girl, I'm with Kas, we 'bout to come pick you up. You home right?" she asked as if I'd be anywhere else.

"Yeah, I'm home. Just listening to my mother argue, yet again," I said as I rolled my eyes.

"Damn, she still arguing? That woman don't ever shut up. We on our way, be ready."

"A'ight girl, I'll be out," I said as I drank some water while making my way upstairs to my room.

I sighed as I sifted through my closet for clothes to wear, I hated the baby amount of clothes I had. Ugh! How am I gonna impress somebody with this old ass Aeropostale shirt from two years ago? I needed to get out of this house and find a way to make my life better.

I put on a pair of black faded jeans and a black Joker shirt, my favorite DC Comics villain. I put on my black Vans and made my way to the front door. My mother came out of her room as I was heading down the stairs and asked where I was going then shook her head.