Breathless

Chapter 16: Sixteen

I don't know why I expected my little sister to show up for my surprise party, but I did. Even Elise dared to show her face, and it made a part of me want to forgive her. Since our last visit with Dr. Hindell, Emily had seemed more distant. She had always had this far-off look in her eyes, but this was different. My sister was starting to shut me out. The promise that I had made to Mom danced at the outer edge of my subconcious.

My small disappointment was replaced by tension when Elise started to walk towards me. Once there was a good two feet of space between us, she stopped. It almost seemed like we were too far apart. She held out her right hand, which was decorated with a collection of rings that I hadn't seen before. I guess some things can change in a matter of three weeks.

Once Elise saw that I wasn't exactly anxious to shake her hand, she sighed and bit the edge of her pink lip. There was one last thing that needed to be said.

"I'm sorry I got so mad at you," she whispered.

For a second, I wondered if I should forgive her. My best friend had been able to control me for years, but I needed her. I stuck out my right hand.

"I'm sorry, too," I said. Maybe Elise shouldn't have gotten so defensive around me when I asked about Brandon, but maybe I shouldn't have gotten so upset that she wouldn't tell me her biggest secret. Whatever the case, this was the only way to get my best friend back. So I did what I had to do.

As we shook hands, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Carson had been good company these last few weeks, but he wasn't Elise.

She and I stepped away from each other, and the air in our kitchen became light again. I looked around at my family and friends and tried to ignore the hole in my chest that was my sister.

Dad handed me a slice of chocolate cake on a paper plate with a big grin on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him as if to question his choice in my breakfast.

"Oh, come on, Terra," he said as he took my fingers and wrapped them around the plate. I shrugged. Might as well, it's not everyday you turn sixteen. Everyone else took a slice, too.

"Open your presents!" Mom said as she swallowed.

I looked back on the countertop where five gifts were piled all together. One was not wrapped nearly as neatly as the others. I had a gut feeling that that one was from Carson.

"Okay," I smiled.

It felt like I was a little kid again. Everyone was gathered around me, and Dad had the old camcorder out. I knew that I would remember this day, and not just because of Dr.Hindell's antidote. This was the first day in a long time that I truly felt okay. Better than okay, even.

The first one I opened was from Mom. She got me a few new shirts from my favorite store along with a card whose message was much to long. I don't think she really knew what to get me since I didn't do much besides play piano and talk to Carson and Elise. It was alright, though. The shirts were cute.

The next one was Dad's. He got me an iTunes giftcard and a little note that said "Five piano lessons from Anya :)". The note was the best part. Anya was the best piano teacher in the entire town, and her prices held up to that title. I thanked him with a hug and a big grin. Maybe she would be able to help me with my song.

Elise's present was next. It was a huge framed collage with pictues of us since we were little. The words "I'm sorry" were written in loopy handwriting at the bottom. Hers probably cost the least, but it was definitely the most thoughtful. I wondered if Carson helped her to think of that one.

The one that was poorly wrapped was, as I had guessed, Carson's. It was the smallest of the five, and covered only in notebook paper. I gave him a small smile as I unwrapped it. When I saw what was inside, my mouth dropped open.

"Carson...," I trailed off. It was hard to know exactly how to react. I wouldn't have expected for him to ever get me something like this.

"You like it, right?" he asked me sheepishly.

I nodded numbly. Of course I liked it. "But these are so expensive!"

He shrugged. "I'd been saving up for a special occasion." The edges of his cheeks were hinted with red. "And I remember when we were singing Pompeii."

The memory of the two of us screaming the lyric's to Bastille's hit song when we went to pick Elise up flashed through my mind. Yes, I absolutely loved Bastille's music, but I never would have guessed that he would buy me two concert tickets.

Elise stuck her nose into my gift, and her jaw fell open. "You bought two tickets to Bastille? Carson, how did you even get these?"

He ran a hand through his dark curls. I loved it when he did that. "I used to have that job a few months ago."

Elise laughed in disbelief. "So who are you taking with you?"

I raised an eyebrow, not understanding at first. Then, it hit me. Carson wanted to take me on a date to a concert in Miami. I couldn't believe it.

Carson cleared his throat. "You can take whoever you want."

For a second, I forgot that both of my parents were in the room. I wanted so badly to press my lips the his and tell his that he was the only one I would want to take. Just as I was about to, Mom brought me back to reality.

"Who's Bastille?" she said with her head cocked. Elise scootched closer to her to explain, but I wasn't really listening.

"Carson," I said with a genuine smile. "Will you go to the concert with me?"

He smiled too, and his eyes lit up just like they did before when I walked down the stairs. I used to be more self-concious without any makeup on. He made me feel beautiful.

"Thought you'd never ask," he said jokingly.

Without realizing it, we entwined out hands together. I leaned my body against his, loving the energy he gave me.

Dad gave the two of us a look that I couldn't describe, but I had a feeling that it had something to do with letting two sixteen-year olds be alone in the middle of Miami.

I had thought that the last present was from Emily. In actuality, it was from someone much, much worse. I ripped off the shimmery purple wrapping paper, not sure of what I would find inside.

It was a letter, one I had seen a long time ago. It had seemed so much better-written the first time I read it. As soon a realization hit, my entire body seemed to go weak. She was determined to make me into something that I'm not.

Anna was still trying to turn me.

A/N: Thanks for reading :) Vote/ comment if you enjoyed!

-thediz-