World Behind My Wall (A7X/The Rev)

Chapter 9|Rylie's Eighteenth Birthday

*Two Weeks Later, November 20th*

I sighed as I walked into school only to have Grace run up to me with a big smile on her face. I knew exactly what she was going to do before she did it, and she had Johnny with her too. Together, they both yelled out enthusiastically,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RYLIE!!!" 

Yes, today is the day I finally turn eighteen. The only happy thing about it is the fact that now I don't have to worry about the things my dad does to me being uncovered because if he was taken off to jail, I'm legally old enough to be on my own after today. I don't really plan on celebrating my birthday this year, but I know Grace and Johnny are going to force me into some kind of 'fun' activity. 

In the last two weeks, Mr. Monroe and I decided to let the notes keep adding up a little more before we looked at them, so there'd be the chance of more clues. I have the notebook at my house, and every day I go home and rewrite them, but I don't really evaluate them at the time I read them or rewrite them. I'm not really good at looking for clues, I don't notice much. But quite obviously, the notes have kept coming and each one is sweet in it's own way. I've noticed that lately, I've stopped self-harming so much because of these notes, and I haven't had many suicidal thoughts either. They're actually keeping me going, and they've made me a little bit happier. I honestly wake up in the morning, looking forward to school just a tiny bit because I know there'll be a note for me to make me smile. 

James still avoids me, but he still stares at me in class. However, it's not like he used to, with a smirk on his face. I don't know what his expression is when he stares at me. I still haven't gotten the courage to tell him I don't really hate him, but I don't know why I can't just come and say it. I feel kind of silly, which is odd. Another thing James has been doing lately, is that if he somehow knows that I went to the music room to clear my head or something, he'll come and watch me play. He thinks I don't know he's there, but I can see him peeking around the corner. I just pretend he's not there, because I'm afraid if he knew I knew he was there, he'd stop coming, and for some strange reason I can't explain, I don't want that to happen. It's been weird, lately I've been having all these mixed feelings and it really started after I found myself laughing at a joke he cracked towards the teacher in class one day. I immediately stopped myself and wondered what was wrong with me. I've also found that the fact that he doesn't talk to me anymore, even if what he has to say is degrading, bothers me. I always thought that if he just stopped talking to me one day and left me alone, I wouldn't care, but I guess I do. I've been debating whether or not I miss it, or miss him. I don't even know, everything is so strange and I don't know what any of it means. 

"Well, thanks guys, but I'm not celebrating this year." I said to Grace and Johnny. 

"What!? How can you not!? It's your eighteenth birthday!" Grace said. 

"Yeah! You've gotta celebrate!" Johnny agreed.

I shook my head. "Oh, no, that's alright. I'm not much of one for celebrating anyway." 

"C'mon, let us at least take you out for pizza after school." Johnny pleaded. 

Then, Grace and Johnny made puppy dog faces at me and whined, "Pweeeeeeaaaassseee?" 

I couldn't stop myself from laughing and giving in. "Fine, you can take me out for pizza to celebrate my birthday."

"Yay!!" They cried out together, and I laughed again.

"Well, I'll see you guys later, I gotta get to my locker." Johnny said.

"Ok, see you later!" I called to him as he walked away, and Grace called a goodbye to him as well. Then she turned to me and said,