Viva

Part 2.1

Unedited

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Part 2.1

One Year and Five Months Later:

Magnolia looked at me with happiness and excitement, that I tried to mirror. "Make a wish." She held out a delicious chocolate cupcake in front of me, as a smile stretched wide across her face.

I focused on the burning candle for a split second, repeating the wish that had been plaguing my mind. My eyelids closed and I leaned in slightly before blowing out the candle. Sounds of cheer invade my ears and a sloppy, wet kiss was placed on my cheek.

"What did you wish for?" Alonzo, my boyfriend, asked as he snaked an arm around my waist. He pulled me closer to his side. I ignored how his touch and the closeness of his body to mine made me feel as if my whole body was on fire, and not in the good sense. I had become used to the feeling, finding that whenever I had any sort of physical contact with another man I would feel as if I was being burned. With Alonzo, it was different. I could bare it.

I gave him a weak smile before scooting a couple inches away from him. "Nothing too grand," I spoke in an attempt to distract my action with a reply. Placing the cupcake Magnolia gave me up to my lips, I took a tiny lick of the cream cheese icing. I held back a moan of bliss when the icing touched my tongue. Damn, how Magnolia could bake.

"So, how does it feel to turn twenty-three?" Magnolia asked as she plopped down on the couch that was across from Alonzo and me.

"I'm sure she feels no different than yesterday, when she was twenty-two." Lance, Maggie's boyfriend, said as he sat himself down next to her. His normal, goofy smile was reaching from ear to ear. "Right, Viv?" Lance asked with his bright, gray eyes boring directly at me.

I chuckled once, finding slight humor in what he said but had no energy to laugh fully. "Right," I simply stated, placing the cupcake down on the coffee table and grabbing my drink. I did not hesitate in taking a large gulp of the punch Magnolia had made. After the first gulp, I decided just to down the rest of the drink. Within seconds the cup was empty.

"Viv, do you think I could have a word with you?" Magnolia asked as she pointed to the hallway entrance.

I set my glass down, unsure of what she wanted. "Uhhh, sure."

Standing up, I found relief in Alonzo's touch off of me.

"What's up?" I asked her once we were in the hallway and out of earshot from the boys.

Turning to face me, Magnolia sighed as worry danced in her eyes. "What's gotten into you? You've have been drinking since you woke up. I'm surprised you can even stand and form complete sentences right now."

"It's my birthday. I'm supposed to have fun. Don't be a Debby Downer," I teasingly said with a fake smile. I had hope that she would not continue to interrogate me. I did not want to probe into my emotional issues. I just wanted to drink myself silly and forget about my life.

The concern Magnolia had did not dwindle. If anything, Magnolia seemed more curious about what my mood was about. "Is this about Braxton?" She asked, hitting it right on the nail.

Shaking my head, I ignored how my heart panged at the mere mention of his name. With all the strength I could muster, I continued to smile; saying that she had it all wrong.

"Well, something has gotten into you."

Like always, Magnolia had not understood. It was killing me being away from Cedar Falls . . . Away from Braxton. I always felt an intense pull and desire to go back and find him. Countless times over the year I had packed my bags with the intention of going back to Cedar Falls and finding him. However, I stopped myself each and every time.