Quiet is Violent

Chapter Seven

"You look beautiful, Natalie, stop worrying," I assured her as she twirled and tugged at her dress in the mirror hanging from the back of our door.

"I don't think this is my color," she said in an unsure tone. She was clearly beyond stressed, the bright red went amazing with her hair and skin tone. The dress was amazing on her, honestly I was always jealous of how she could make almost everything look beautiful.

"You look gorgeous," I reassured her as I slipped into my plain heels. They weren't very high, but I wore a rather skimpy dress. It had a wide neck, that touched each of my shoulders. It was a beautiful light gray color, with long sleeves. The dress was completely covered in beautiful little sequins and sparkles and everything else wonderful.

Natalie sighed and adjusted her hair one more time before I stood up. "Katie," she said reaching for a box on her dresser. "I got this for you," she said clearly with a fake smile. I knew on the inside, she was excited to give me this gift though, she loved giving. I felt my heart swell as she handed me the precious deep red box.

A loose curl fell into my face and I pushed it behind my small ear as I held out my hand for her to set the box in. I smiled softly as I opened it, revealing a pair of gold earrings. They had rows of little disc type shapes, forming a dangly triangle. I stared at them for a moment, before understanding, I covered my mouth before I let a sob choke out of my throat.

"She gave them to me on my 10th birthday," Natalie reminded me and I couldn't seem to talk, my throat was tight. "I remember wearing them every day, for months," she continued as I stared into the fragile earrings. I could see my reflection on the discs. "When she died, I promised to never put them on again," Natalie told me and I forced myself to look up at her. She never informed me of this before, although I did recall Natalie wearing them everyday. They brought a smile to my mothers face.

"You.. Oh, you haven't worn them in that long?" I asked, tears escaping my eyes. Natalie looked a bit teary eyed, but she was always strong. I always had her to lean on.

She shook her head. "I'm ready to let go," she told me and I felt puzzled. "This is a new chapter in my life, with Liam, starting tonight," Natalie and I felt my heart swell. "Peyton, I want you to have these. You have been here for me through thick and thin, and I know you don't think much, but I see right through you sometimes. I can tell that you miss Chad and Louis. Don't be scared of that, embrace it."

My lip was shaking so fast that I couldn't control myself. Natalie even said my first name that i hadn't heard in years. Peyton. I held out my arms, which were also shaking, and I pulled Natalie into them. "Thank you so much," I whispered into her ear and she nodded, letting herself cry a small bit behind my back.

"Your mom will always be with you," she said as she pulled back from our hug. She pulled out the earrings and held one up to my ear as I wiped my eyes carefully. "These will look perfect tonight," she said to me and I smiled ,this time for real.

It felt amazing to smile.