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Clay was crimson by then and he quickly excused himself and I looked to Kenna. “Huh, he’s never run off before. You’ll be legendary!”
“You may never know,” she laughed and took a confident lead into the crowd, disappearing from my side.
“I’ve been abandoned…,” I sighed and turned, and was engaged in another conversation with one of my distant, distant cousins.
CHAPTER 3
“We have to sing happy birthday to our favorite Erin!” Al decided and I squirmed under the weight of his arm around my shoulders, rooting me to the spot. Everyone starred as if I had a bright sign that blinked in neon letters that read “STARE”. I hated being the center of attention, and now everyone looked right at me. It was nerve wrecking.
He led the song, “Happy birthday…”
I faded out as they sung, dragging out each individual note. I think Kenna left. Since she departed from my side two hours ago, I hadn’t once seen her. It almost made me lose my composure and frown, but I held my smile as I starred at all the singing faces and watched them bring in the large red velvet cake, my favorite.
“…happy birthday to you! Make a wish!”
I closed my eyes, feeling the candles’ flames flicker its heat over my face. I wish…I wish that my family could be here with me.
I blew out the candles and the iridescent room full of strangers and familiar faces became indescribably dark seeming to leave me standing all on my own.
“Did you have a good party, Darling?” Gram asked me.
“It was wonderful, thank you,” I smiled. It was the next morning after my party and I was helping clean up the mess that had gathered from the crowd I had barely known.
I felt selfish for the wish I had made; it was the first thing that came to mind. But it wasn’t like it would come true. I just wanted my sisters to be with me, to look up at their older and maturing sister. I wanted my parents to tell me that they were proud of who I was becoming.
But that was impossible.
“You’re bothered,” Gram noticed. It was impossible to hide something from her.
“I’m tired, last night was…busy,” I smiled, assuring her and laughed, “Can you believe how many people stalked Al and Drake?”
She gave a sad smile, “Yes, it was quite ridiculous.”
“And I’ve never seen so many people in this house,” I commented.
But none of them were there for me. Half of them wanted to discuss the wolf situation and the other half were there for my cousins, my amazing cousins. Well, I was over exaggerating. Of course, that wasn’t the ratios, but looking back at it, it sure looked like it. After Kenna had left, I spent most of the time talking about wolves, Al, Drake, or Gram. The wolves were a favorite though. I didn’t like talking about wolves.
“You’re a popular girl.”
“Very,” I smiled and hugged Gram, “Can I go out?”
YOU ARE READING
The Girl with the Red Hood
Romance"The wolves had shared many very special and cherished memories with the village people and my family. They watched us grow up. They watched us take our first steps. They watched us learn out first words and leave for school our first day. They watc...
