The Masquerade

32.Autumn Delight

Devin's P.O.V


 

"Thanks, come again soon," The woman at the desk said as I smiled and exited the Hair Salon. I thought since it was my birthday today I would get my hair done professionally but it wasn't really anything fancy. I just had it straightened very well with a few curls hanging on the ends. I pulled my jacket up to my neck as I walked home.
  I watched as the last of the yellow leaves were already falling from the trees. Sure the weather was never too cold here and we never had snow but it still wasn't summer either. Time had passed by so quickly as if everything happened only a week ago. To my surprise Jared hasn't been showing up in this past month. He only came once when my Aunt and Kristen were worried that I hadn't came home for the night. I had eventually been able to make up some lie about how I wasn't feeling so well so someone took me to their house for the night. 
   It took a few minutes but they actually believed it. Everything was normal after that. Things were returning to it was before; I went to work with Kristen, came home and there was no Jared or Lucas. Some days I missed him and all I wanted was to have him here again but other days it was just fine without him. If he wasn't making any effort to see me again then maybe he just didn't care and has already moved on. Heck, he could be making out with Lexi this very second. Soon I was at the front lawn of my house before I knew it. I pushed those bad thoughts about Lucas, Lexi and Jared to the back of my brain, all the way back. Today was my birthday and I was going to have fun without them interfering. 
   I turned the door knob and slowly entered the house. The smell of many different meals hit my nose at once. I came to the conclusion that Aunt Marie had already started preparing the food for the guests today. I walked into the kitchen to see her by the oven. Once she saw me come in she turned to me with a wide smile immediately.
"Oh darling you're back already, Happy birthday! You look beautiful," she said pulling me in for a tight hug.
"Thanks," I said with a returning smile. She was asleep when I left to get my hair done and there was a long line so most likely about 3 hours had passed.
"I almost forgot about your gift," she said when we pulled away and walked into the living room.

"You really didn't have to get me anything Aunt Marie." I walked behind her into the other room. It was true; I wasn't the biggest fan of getting gifts. 
"Oh shush, how can I not get you a gift for your own birthday?" she said and pulled out a box from behind the sofa. "Here you go." She handed it to me with a bright smile. I took the box and carefully ripped the paper off and took the cap off as well. I opened the box that revealed these. I think I felt my mouth open a little when I saw them.
"Thank you very much, I love them," I said putting the box aside to hug her again.
"I know about your shoe obsession." We both laughed and I took the box in my hands again. 
"Well I better go get ready already, Kristen should be over soon. She always has to come first."
"Okay, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
   I nodded and ran upstairs taking the shoes with me. I set them aside and searched through my room for a towel. Once I found it I left to go to the bathroom. I carefully tied my hair and put a shower cap on to keep it safe from the water. I had already taken a shower before I went but I was feeling cold for some reason and I didn't want to freeze for the rest of the day. I took a quick shower and then nearly ran back to my bedroom. I laid out the clothes that I was going to wear and then put them on. I started on my makeup and all of the extra details. All in all it took longer than I thought and I was done by around 1:40. In the end I looked like this. I smiled once in the mirror admiring my look when I heard the doorbell ring 3 times: Typical Kristen. I thought and slowly walked downstairs. 
   I found her standing by the door with my Aunt and her face brightened up when she saw me.
"Hey there birthday girl!" she yelled and came to hug me.
"Don't you think I'm a little old for birthday girl?"

"Never," she said shaking her head and I observed her outfit. She was wearing a white strapless dress that was lower than her knees and had a golden belt on her waist. Her white blonde hair was curled completely. She had a matching golden clutch with same color heels and a french manicure. Just then I spotted a pink bag in her hands.
"You look great," I said and she giggled.

"Well you look hot, are you sure you don't have a date today?" she winked and nudged my elbow.
   I shook my head. "Nope," I said happily.
   She soon lifted the tiny bag up to me. "Your present, birthday girl." She giggled again and I took it.
"Thank you very much," I replied.
"Well, open it," she urged.
"okay, okay," I said and soon peeked inside the bag. I usually saw what was inside but this time it was a pink box. I took it out and opened the top off. It revealed a set of these. 
"Thanks Krist, these are amazing, really," I said and hugged her tightly without dropping anything on the ground. 
"No problem, let's go to the back yard and check out on things until the guests come."
  I nodded and quickly rushed upstairs to put my present from her in my room before meeting her in our backyard. We didn't have a very large one but it was good enough for us. There were so many decorations that my head started spinning a bit. There were tables and chairs along the walls of the house so they wouldn't get in the way and also our small pool in the right corner of the yard. I really doubted we'd need that today because it was too cold to go swimming anyways. Kristen and I put the finishing touches on everything until the guests came.
   Of course there weren't many people but I had invited some of my closet people from middle school that I hadn't seen in a while, a few of Kristen's friends came too that I knew and a few others from the houses down the street. There really weren't any guys only a few that were the boyfriends' of some of the girls. We hung out and even danced. It was about 5pm when everyone was already here. We played many random things like truth or dare, spin the bottle. Those games never got old no matter what age you were. Soon, around 6:30 I heard the doorbell ring.
"Be right back, I gotta go get the door!" I warned everyone as I rushed back inside the house. Aunt Marie went to the supermarket to get more drinks so it most likely was her. I opened the front door of the house, expecting Aunt Marie with full bags in her hands. I was just about to lean in to help her when I noticed it wasn't Aunt Marie at my door...


A/N: Ahhhh my fingers are breaking off. I spent like literally an hour on this it's like planning a real B-day party. I searched for outfit, make-up, gifts and everything. :D Ooooooooohh kill me ya I know I left it at a cliffhanger. I wasn't going to but then I noticed the chapter was getting really long already so I thought I'd mention in the next chapter :D