Systematic Hearts

{ 4 }

The next morning I woke to find the bedroom empty. I can hear the clatter of dishes in the kitchen. Mom and dad must have already gotten up to cook for tonight's dinner. I feel bad that they are doing so much work just for me. Maybe I should go help them cook. Or should I finish decorating? I will see how I feel once I get ready for today. 

I go into the bathroom and look in the mirror. There is one mirror, sink, and toilet. Under the sink there is a cabinet, it doesn't really have anything in it besides the pills the System gives us. We have to take one once every month and on special occasions. I have to take one tonight. 

I go to the sink and grab my tooth brush. I put tooth paste on it and brush my teeth. Once I am done with my teeth, I start to take my hair out of its messy bun. The hair tie gets stuck, so I have to pull. Hard. "Ow!" I screech as the hair tie finally comes loose, along with some of my hair. I put the hair tie on the counter and continue to get the knots out of my long hair. I get my hair to look decent and decide to part it down the middle. I run my fingers through it a few times to give it a messier look. I don't have to look 'perfect' until tonight. 

I walk out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. I go over to my olive green T-shirt dress and take my current shirt off. I put the dress over my head and let it slide down. I slip off my pajama shorts and put them in my clothes chest along with my pajama shirt. I run my fingers through my hair a few more times to make sure it looks okay. Then, I walk out of my room.

"Good morning, my seventeen year old." My dad says as soon as I take a step into the kitchen. 

"Good morning, and I am not seventeen yet!" I reply with a smirk, I don't need the title of seventeen until tonight. 

My mom looks up from her pot of water, "Will you help me bake your cake? I have two mixes in the cupboard, what one do you want to use?"

I go over to the cupboard to see what kind we have. The cupboard is mostly empty, as usual, so I can find the mixes very easily. There is one box of strawberry All Natural cake and berry mix cake. I decide to go with the berry mix. We don't get fruit very often, so, hopefully this will taste like fruit. I walk the mix over to my mom and she starts to open the box. I tell her I can do it and start to poor the mix into a bowl. I add the amount of water and jell needed to make the cake rise. Jell is used instead of eggs most of the time. The System didn't want us to run out of eggs so they made Jell. It tastes disgusting when you boil it. It HAS to be with something else to taste good. 

As I am mixing the cake up, my mom taps me on the shoulder. I turn the mixer off and look at her. A smile is spreading over my lips. She is holding a blue dress with small flowers on it. It is beautiful. "How much did you give for this mom?"

"That doesn't matter, it is your seventeenth birthday," she says smiling.

"Thank you so much!" I squeal in excitement. I hug my mom and then my dad.

"I love you Andy," my dad says in my ear, he has done this since I was little. The warmth of his breath against my ear is so familiar.

"I love you to daddy."

I take the dress and put it in the bedroom. I run back out to the kitchen to finish the cake. As I put the cake in the oven, I decide I am going to go decorate a little bit more. I close the oven and grab ribbon out of the paper box in the cupboard. I go to all the door handles and tie ribbon around them. I hang some ribbon from the ceiling too. 

I put the ribbon back in its proper spot and go to my bedroom to get ready for my seventeenth birthday celebration tonight. In my bedroom I slip my T-shirt dress off, and I put on my new dress. The flowery blue fabric ends just above my knees and it has no straps. It fits perfectly!

I walk into the bathroom and brush my hair again. I take a small section of hair and split it into three even smaller sections. I braid the piece of hair and secure it in the back of my head. I do the same to the other side. two braids make a crown on my head while the rest falls freely around my shoulders. I leave the bathroom and go to the kitchen.

I grab the icing from the cabinet and put a thin layer on the cake. I finish decorating the cake and wash my hands, careful not to get my dress wet. My mom comes into the kitchen and tells me I look beautiful. I say thank you, trying hard to hide my nerves about tonight.

"There is nothing to be afraid of," my mom says, seeing right through me.

"I know, but what if I can't find my other half? What if nothing happens too my necklace? What if-" I am cut off by my mom's hug forming around me. 

The doorbell rings and my dad answers it, "Are you ready?" My mom asks. 

"I think I have to be." I reply, my hands shaking. I don't think I will ever truly be ready for this night. It is really happening, I will be able to find my other half, I am turning seventeen;

Tonight. 

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It's happening!

Thanks for reading this far! This chapter was longer, finally. I hope you are enjoying the book. Also, comment and vote for this book! Thanks so much for reading.