Reckless and Relentless- An Asking Alexandria Fanfic

Chapter 20

  "Guys I'll be back." I whispered, then walked into the bedroom to talk privately. "How are things, Charlotte?" my dad asked. "What the hell do you want, John?" I asked. I didn't like calling him Dad since he had never been one. I hadn't said a single word to him since I told him off when I was 10 years old.

  "I'm your father, you will address me as such. And am I not allowed to call my daughter on her birthday?" he asked. "No. You're not my father, and I'm not your daughter. A father is there for his daughter, and he doesn't abuse her mother and molest his fucking daughter." I barked angrily.

  "Call me again and I will not hesitate to call the fucking cops." I threatened. I hung up the phone before giving him a chance to respond. I walked out of the bedroom and slammed it shut, then realized I was being stared at by a group of concerned and surprised faces.

  "Um... Just what exactly did you hear?? I asked nervously. Danny stood and hugged me tightly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and enjoyed the feeling of his body against mine, trying to put the phone call out of my mind.

  "Did he really?" Sam whispered to Stormi. He didn't do a very good job of being quiet, though. "Yeah, he did." I said, lifting my head. "But it was 14 years ago, its fine." "No its not." Ben said. "You don't fucking put hands on a girl at all, especially not your fucking child. I can't imagine ever doing that to Annie."

  "Well, it happened, and it can't be changed. So let's just forget it and move on." I took Danny's hand and pulled him to the couch so he would sit with me. I grabbed Cam's bag and peered inside. There was a small black box that I knew was jewelry, as well as a book.

  Intrigued, I pulled the book out and gasped when I read the cover.

  "Girl, Interrupted

  "Written by Susanna Kaysen"

  "Oh my mother-loving goodness thank you so much!!! How did you find this?!" I squealed. "You would have to ask Danny, he got it." Cam told me. "I told Stormi I wanted to get you something you would actually spend time with and threw out some suggestions, a book being one, and she said you wanted this one."

  I thanked them both and set the book on the table with my presents from Ben. Then I opened the box. Inside was an absolutely beautiful necklace, a black heart that seemed to be made of crystal, with a key on one side, and a padlock on the other.

"Cameron, this is beautiful..." I whispered, awestruck. He smiled and said, "Really? I thought you wouldn't like it..." I shook my head. "Of course I do!" I put it on, shoved the tissue paper back in the bag, and set it on the ground by my feet.

  "Sam, which one is yours?" I asked him. "The one closer to you." he said, and I grabbed it. "Compared to everyone else's, you're probably gonna think it's shit." he warned me. "I doubt that." I said, and pulled out a a small gift card, along with an index card.

  The gift card was for Hot Topic for $200, and I grinned widely at it. I looked at the index card, which had a phone number written on it. I raised one eyebrow. "I'm guessing the number is yours?" I asked. "Call and see!" he said with a smile.

  I looked at him curiously, then grabbed my phone, dialed the number, and hit call. "Happy birthday!!!" two voices yelled in my ear. I gasped with excitement. "Jack? Alex?" I asked eagerly.

  "Well that depends!" Jack said. "Is this Charlotte? Cuz if not, I'm Zack Efron." I laughed. "Yeah it is." I said. "I guess you guys are my birthday present from Sam?" I turned to look at Sam. He nodded as Alex said, "Sounds like we're your property! Yeah Sam thought you might like hearing happy birthday from us."

  "Oh please," I laughed, "I love hearing it, and the only ones you two belong to is each other!" They both laughed, and Jack agreed with me whole-heartedly. "Well, I'm sure you guys have other things to do. Thank you again!" I said, and hung up.

  "Well, Stormi, you're the last one." I said. "Honey, my present to you is being here!" she joked. We all laughed, and I pulled the bag from her onto my lap. Inside were several types of fun-sized candies, an Of Mice & Men bracelet, a Bring Me The Horizon bracelet, and a key.

  "What's the key for?" I asked her. "Cuz I swear to God if you got me a fucking car I'm gonna bitch slap you." "Dude if someone got me a car I would be fucking thrilled!" Ben laughed. "Well I wouldn't!" I said. "What's the key for?" I asked again.

  Stormi smiled. "This way, no matter where you wind up living, should you be passing through, you can drop by my house anytime, even middle of the night." "Awwwww!" I said and hugged her tightly.

  "Well she and I will be in Texas come tomorrow, so I don't know how often she'll be dropping by." Danny told her. Stormi looked at me, and I, unable to meet her gaze, stared down at my lap. "You didn't tell her?" he asked me.

  I shook my head no, and could feel the saddness radiating from my best friend. "Stormi, since Chloe kicked Charlotte out, I told her that she's just gonna come live with me." Danny told her.

  "You can't... You really can't stay?" Stormi asked me. I finally met her gaze, and said, "No, I can't..." We were all silent for a moment till James spoke up. "Drinks. We need drinks." He walked over to the mini-fridge and grabbed out orange juice, cranberry juice, Red-Bull, vodka, and my favorite, Jack Daniels.

  "Birthday girl, you're first. What can I get you? Jack?" I nodded, fighting back tears for the second time in less than an hour. How was I going to leave Stormi behind and go to Texas with someone I just barely met?