Starting Over

14 - Surprise Party

With four different kinds of pastries made, three different alcoholic drinks, and a shit ton of food it was almost dinner time.

My stomach grumbled and I had to sit down so I didn't pass out. There was a ring at the doorbell and Cameron who looked the least disgusting out of all of us opened the door.

Soon enough after an hour the house was flooded with guests and more family from yesterday for the surprise birthday dinner for Robs mom.

Many of the family remembers looked like stuck up assholes. And I couldn't help but notice how spoiled the children were.

I went upstairs to shower and dressed to get ready for this party that was so suddenly sprung on us.

Ann would whisper to herself every now and then about how much she hated Robs family. While she smiled and fake laughed at their jokes.

I lingered in the living room trying to get away from everyone as discreetly as I could. A little boy around the age of ten approached me with a toy car. "Can you play with me?"

I smiled and knelt down on the carpet with the boy. "Of course!"

We played around with his toy cars before the boy mumbled something. "My mommy said you're the cleaner of the house and that grandma thinks your dirty because you're not 100% white and that you're after uncle Robs money and his sons."

I stared at the little boy and could feel my heart beating faster. I tried to calm myself down before asking "oh why did grandma say that?"

The little boy wiped his snot with his shirt and looked up at me. He shrugged his shoulders. "I think you're really nice. But uncle Rob told mommy he feels like aunt Annie should not rush the adoption"

My hands began to sweat uncontrollably. "What else did mommy say?" I barely managed to say.

The little boy rolled the toy truck over my leg. "She thinks that cousin Cameron shouldn't have to be forced to share the attention -" he couldn't finish his sentence because what I presumed was his mother approached us.

With a large smile she scooped her son away from me. "Christopher there you are!" She glanced down at me. "So sorry about that"

I gave her a small smile and got off from the floor. As she walked away my heart started to race faster and I slipped away using the back staircase. I ran to my room and to my bathroom and puked into the toilet seat.

Barely anything came out with the lack of food I had today so I was basically just dry heaving. I laid down in the bathroom floor with my hand on my forehead replaying the little boys words.

There was a buzz from my phone. I looked down to see Skylar texting me.

From Skylar:
"Me and Justin broke up"

I shot up from the floor and called her. She was a sobbing mess and her words didn't make any sense. "Listen I need you to take breathes with me I can't understand what you are saying"

After five minutes of deep breathing she calmed down. "He said he didn't feel the same way anymore and he wants to end it"

She began sobbing. "Oh Sky I wish I was there to give you a hug"

As I calmed her down the pain in my stomach starting nagging at me. "grandma thinks your dirty" kept ringing in the back of my head.

There was a soft knock on my bathroom door. "Is everything okay in there?" Chases voice came from behind.

I laid back down wanting so badly to just disappear. I sighed. "Yeah I'm good"

"Ok because grandma is almost on her way and we all have to hide. Mom was just making sure everything was alright" chase mumbled.

I flushed the toilet and washed my hands. Saying goodbye to Skylar I opened the door and smiled at Chase. "Yeah come on let's go hide" I said with a fake happy voice.

We scurried downstairs and hid behind a couch. I saw Nick and Ryan standing behind the curtains while Ann was getting ready to open to door. The little boy and the mother was standing close by the kitchen. Everyone else was scattered behind various furniture getting ready for the surprise. My heart sunk deeper in me as I replayed his words. "But uncle Rob told mommy he feels like aunt Annie should not rush the adoption"

I sighed quietly to myself suppressing the feeling down. When the door opened everyone jumped out and screamed surprise. Robs mother seemed shocked and had a large smiled on her face. Everyone began giving her hugs and kissing including all of Ann children.

I sat back and watched feeling unwelcomed. Everything was so good and now it feels like the world is against me.

After three grueling hours of fake laughter and conversation I snuck outside the back door to take a breather.

As I stared at the stars and moon Ryan walked out and stood beside me. We stood there in silence taking in the view until he broke the silence. "Listen I'm not sure how you feel about the situation but I know Nick better than I know myself."

I held in my breath already knowing that this conversation was going to add more salt to my wounds.

Ryan continued. "I know you guys did stuff earlier today and I spoke to him about it."

I shifted my gaze to meet Ryan's waiting for him to finish. "He doesn't know what he wants. And I really think he just did it because he's desperate and you were in an easy target"

I cringed at those words and was slightly offended by what he said. Nick was always so nice to me. He was the only one who talked to me the most and actually cared bout me. So I had a hard time believing him.

"I don't want him to fall for someone I know he can't have and I don't want him getting hurt. So for his sake. Whatever happened. Forget about it and please let my brother move on with his life." He continued

I felt like my heart combusted. That or it just got swallowed completely by a black hole. I nodded my head and looked up at him now completely facing him. "Got it. Act like nothing happened" I mumbled.

We stood there in silence for a few more minutes before Rob peeped his head out. "Hey guys grandmas leaving so come back to say goodbye."

I took in a deep breath and followed Ryan back in. After Ryan hugged her goodbye she looked at me and he smile faded. I forced the happiest smile on my face and wished her a happy birthday and said my goodbye.

She stared at me blankly before turning around to her son. As she left I heard Ann mumble behind me "don't mind her"

I looked up and smiled at her needing some reassurance. I followed her to to the kitchen and began helping her clean.

"How did you enjoy the party?" She said tiredly.

"Oh it was great. Especially the food" I chirped.

She laughed at that. "Yeah Robs family is something else." She said mostly to herself.

When we finished cleaning the kitchen I moved outside to grab all the empty dishes scattered everywhere. From the other side of the room I saw Ryan and Nick exchanging words.

Nick looked up to meet my eyes and I quickly glanced away walking back into the kitchen to put the dishes away.

I lugged my body up the stairs only wanting to lay down. And I crawled up the stairs I fell into my room and on my bed.

I didn't have the energy to change or turn off the lights so I just dozed off right there hoping my dreams were more peaceful than today.