Free (Sequel to Trapped)

Ch. 54

Ariana

Tuesday, 6:15 am

"Why are you here so early?" I ask, yawning.

My mom, Frankie, and Toulouse were standing on the porch.

"To tell Aviella happy birthday as soon as she wakes up, dumbass. Now let us in it's cold out here." Frankie says.

I move to the side and allow them to walk in the house before closing the door.

"I don't know what you're gonna do until she wakes up because that's not until 7:30 but I'm going back to sleep."

At that point, I hear footsteps on the stairs and a little girl I know runs in, Tommy in her hand.

"It's my birthday!" She yells.

"Aviella, daddy is sleeping." I say.

"Not anymore." Justin walks in, a tired expression on his face, and runs a hand through his hair.

"Oh. We have company." He says, looking at Frankie and my mom.

"Yes, you do. Happy birthday, Aviella." Mom says.

"Thank you, grandma." Aviella runs into her grandmas arms.

"Happy birthday, Avi." Frankie leans down to kiss her head and she hugs him too.

"Happy birthday, princess." I hug Aviella myself before yawning.

Justin tells her happy birthday before she runs to play with Toulouse, whispering in his ear that it's her birthday.

"Well, since mom and Frankie want nothing more than to tell Aviella happy birthday, they can do that multiple times while they're watching her until we wake up, again." I say, walking back into the bedroom.

Aviella's POV

It's my birthday. I can't sleep. I keep looking at the clock but it's still too early wake up mommy and daddy. Ifi was a little five year old I would probably wake them up now, but I'm a big girl, so I can't do that.

It's only 6:15 am so that means it's too early. I wake up at 7:30 am and I don't know how long it is until then but I know it's a long time.

I try to go back to sleep, but I hear voices downstairs. Maybe that's mommy and daddy awake. I'll go check. With Tommy, just in case.

I grab Tommy and get out of my bed. It's dark in my room so I find it hard to get to the door, but when I do, I walk down the stairs and see mommy, daddy, Uncle Frankie, and grandma.

"It's my birthday!" I yell.

"Aviella, daddy is sleeping." Mommy says.

"Not anymore." Daddy walks in and puts his fingers in his hair.

"Oh, we have company." Daddy says.

"Yes, you do. Happy birthday, Aviella." I run to hug my grandma, then Frankie tells me happy birthday, then mommy, then daddy.

"Well, since mom and Frankie want nothing more than to tell Aviella happy birthday, they can do it multiple times while they are watching her until we wake up again." Mommy walks back into the bedroom and daddy follows her.

I look at grandma and Uncle Frankie.

"What do we do now?" I ask.

"We watch TV." Frankie says.

He holds his arms out and I run into them before he carries me into the living room.

"What does the birthday girl wanna watch on this fine morning?" Uncle Frankie asks.

"Spongebob Squarepants!" I say.

Luckily for us, an episode was just starting so we could sing the theme song and everything.

Ariana

7:28 am

"I lost a valuable five minutes of sleep." I tell Justin.

"So did I. But I'm gonna go brush my teeth so I can cook Aviella's breakfast."

"You do that." I pick up my phone and look at my normal apps, then I go to brush my teeth after Justin leaves.

I actually have to go somewhere today. That place is Walmart because I was bringing cupcakes to Aviella's class for their snack time.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I put on a little but of makeup and brush my hair.

Only then do I decide that I should come out of hiding.

I leave the bedroom and walk into the living room where Aviella is sitting with Frankie watching Spongebob. Mom was in the kitchen helping Justin cook breakfast, for everyone.

"Ariana!" Justin yells.

I walk into the kitchen and see Aviella's pancakes on a plate, a 6 candle still in the package next to it.

I open the candle and put it on her pancakes.

"Can I light it yet?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Justin says.

I light the candle and Justin makes sure all the kitchen appliances are turned off before we bring it to her.

We sing happy birthday and Aviella blows the candle out.

"I made a wish!" She squeals.

Everyone else eats pancakes without candles on them then mom and Frankie leave as we get ready for the day.