Long Distance

Birthday.

Disclaimer:
This chapter and the next will include some scenes that scratch the surface of sexual harassment/rape related topics. It is an extremely sensitive topic that I do not mean to offend anyone with by writing about it.

That being said, I do suggest you read this chapter and the next at your own risk, and please do not take any of this in the wrong manner. This is strictly for the purpose of the book and I would hate to offend any of you.

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Next Week...

[Aria]

It was the day of Madison's birthday and she was finally turning eighteen. It was crazy thinking about how old we were all getting and that soon we would be working adults with real responsibilities. I remember the day she turned fourteen and now here she is becoming an adult.

She was so excited about her party today that she's been texting me non-stop since this morning, wanting to know which outfit she should wear and how she should do her hair. She was having the party at her house in her backyard since it was big enough to fit at least twenty people but as far as I knew she was only inviting close friends and a few kids from school that she was good friends with.

Her parents hired a party planner to make sure everything was perfect and that the decorations were just what Madison wanted.

I was finishing off my makeup and hair when Madison called.

"Hey!" I greet.

"People are already starting to arrive and my dad hasn't even started the grill yet." She says and I laugh knowing that she was probably worrying about her party becoming a disaster.

"Mads it'll be fine, I'm on my way," I reply while grabbing her gift and car keys before kissing my mom on my way out the door.

"Okay, hurry I can't wait to see you!" I hear Matt's voice in the background as he calls Madison's name and the call ends.

I get in my car and buckle my seatbelt before starting the route to Madison's house. There are already a few other cars parked by her house when I arrive but it seems that Madison was able to save me a spot in her driveway.

I can hear the music and laughter of people as I get out of the car and walk around to the back of her house. The gate to her backyard is open and I walk in to see a couple kids from school milling around with solo cups in their hands and bumping around to the music.

I don't see Madison so I set my gift on the gift table and walk into her house. Her mother was the first to notice me as she retrieved a couple of 2-liter bottles from the fridge.

"Aria!" She smiles at me, giving me a small hug given that she had two bottles in her arms. "Madison's up in her room."

I nodded thanking her before ascending the stairs and entering the first room on the left only to find Mads pacing around in the outfit we had decided on. She stopped panicking when she saw me and a look of relief washed over her face.

"Happy birthday!" I hugged her. "What's wrong?"

"I hate being the center of attention," she whined. It was true. Madison had hated her birthdays for the pure reason that she hated having attention on her. She was way too humble.

"Mads, it's your birthday!" I grip both her shoulders, giving her a light shake. "You look hot, and Matt is downstairs waiting for you. So suck it up and don't be afraid to show how great you are for a night!"

"You're right," she sighed. She turned to her vanity grabbing her new ring that I assumed Matt had gotten her before following me out of her room and down the stairs.