Stella's Story

Chapter 2

Six years later

Poke

I grunted at the person who just poked my cheek.

Poke, poke.

I tried to push their hand away but they just kept poking me. Don't they know to never wake a teenage girl when she's sleeping?

"Stel come on wake up already ya fatty."

"Alec I swear to god I'm gonna kill you if you don't leave me alone." I didn't even bother opening my eyes or sitting up.

"Fine but you don't get your presents from mom, dad and me. I'll just have to use them myself... How do you think this will look on me instead? Hmm?" I heard what sounded like something being pulled from a plastic bag and sat up.

"Alec what the heck are you talking about?" I opened my eyes and saw Alec wearing the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen.

Well, on him anyway.

It was a one shoulder, turquoise dress that fell down to the ground. It was simple yet the most beautiful thing I had ever saw. Not on my older brother of course. Then he pulled out a pair of matching high heeled shoes that sparkled in the small amount of light given off in our small home.

"Alec where did you get these? They must have cost you a fortune! I can't wear them you HAVE to take it back!" I screamed at him half heartedly.

"I bought them Stel where else could I have gotten them? Now come on hurry up and get all dolled up. I have a surprise for you," he slipped the dress off quickly and carefully and started to head out slowly closing my door, when his head popped back in and shot me one his dazzling smiles, "Oh and happy 14th birthday Stels."

After he left I got up and shook my head wondering how he had gotten enough money to buy me this dress and the shoes. I slipped them on wondering what in the world he had planned for me like all of my other birthdays.

On my 10th birthday my father and him had been working on a big surprise for me in the woods that I had no idea about. It took them almost a year to build it but was worth it in the end. They blind folded me and brought me to the middle of nowhere and showed me what their big secret was. They had built me a treehouse! Like an actual, no kidding treehouse!

I was so excited that all my dad did was point his chin towards it and I ran off to get a glimpse inside. Alec followed me so he could show me where everything was. When I got to the bottom of the tree I noticed that I would have to climb up actual boards of wood and not use a ladder, like I was use to. I took my time and eventually got up inside and was speechless.

The inside was painted with so many colors that I didn't know where one began and the other had ended. There was a mattress so you had somewhere comfortable to sit and a table and two chairs. It was small but yet perfect in so many ways. I thanked Alec and yelled thank you to my dad from the window and saw him chuckle and wink at me.

I was pulled out of one of my favorite memories when my mother had come in asking if I needed any help. I gave a sheepish smile and nodded realizing that I had no idea how to get "dolled up" as Alec had put it.

   After about an hour of my mom trying to apply the right colors and shades of make up and doing my hair she smiled at me as sweet as she could, "Sweetie you look beautiful! Alec did a great job at picking out your dress and shoes!" She gave me a quick hug and wiped a few tears.

   I rolled my eyes and laughed at my mom. "You mean you didn't go with him to help? Mom! What if he had chosen a dress that was pink and fluffy! You know how much I hate those..."

   "Honey, I know your brother loves to tease you and pick on you, but, I knew that he wouldn't do anything that embarrassing to you. After all, it is your birthday... Alright go on. You don't want to be late do you?"

   "Late? To what? Mom what's going on?" I asked her nervously.

   "Trust me honey it will be fine. Now go on, Alec is waiting out in the living room." My mom literally pushed me out of my room and to the living room.

   I walked out into view just as Alec and my father were arguing about something that seemed pretty important. Whatever it was they stopped as soon as they saw me, most likely not to ruin my big day. I spun around in a circle to give them the full effect and giggled at my father and Alec. They seemed speechless for a few minutes until Alec cleared his throat.

   "Wow Stels, you look amazing! I think I did a great job." Alec winked at me and looped his arm through mine.

   "You look beautiful my little star, have a great time with Al ok?" My father beamed at me after giving me a hug.

   "I'll try daddy but you know how Alec is." I elbowed Alec in the stomach when he gave me a death glare.

   Seriously he glared at me like he wanted to murder me.

   "You ready for part one of you big day Stels?" Alec asked me when we walked outside into the bright autumn day.

   "As ready as I'll ever be I guess." I replied honestly, since my birthdays tend to be very small and a let down, ever since my 11th birthday.

   Alec laughed at me lightly and we started to walk.