Born in prison, in love with a cliché.

𝚃 𝚆 𝙴 𝙽 𝚃 𝚈 𝙾 𝙽 𝙴

We all look at David who is looking at us. 

"I see you have already met my mother and siblings." He states and I nod. "Don't be so professional David, just call us her family." His mother says in annoyance.

"She does not like that mother. We may be family by blood, but we have to keep in mind that she does not hold family love for us like we hold it for each other. That takes time." He explains to his mother like I'm not standing here. Rude.

"Time that you took away from us." She says and I stiffen under her words. I understand where she's coming from, of course. I feel like that too. "Mother lets not have this discussion right now, its Christmas eve after all and almost time for the toast of the night." He says, obviously trying to change the subject.

He then turns to me. "Davina, if you would like to follow me please." He says and I nod. Zach offers me his arm and I hang on to it with dear life, feeling like I'll drown if I let go of him.

I glance back at everybody else who are also standing up and following us. We walk outside into the huge garden. It's heavily decorated just like the rest of the house.

We get near a small stage where Demi is standing in front of, with the kids. David climbs up the stage with Demi and the kids, and gestures for me to wait one second. He taps softly on the microphone that is standing in the middle of the stage and slowly more people are coming outside to join us.

"Good evening everybody, I hope you're all enjoying this Christmas eve." David starts talking and people whoop. "This Christmas eve is for us a little bit different than every Christmas eve that has taken place before. That's because this Christmas eve it's the first time celebrating it with my eldest child. Davina, would you like to come up here for a moment?" He says with a bright smile and I freeze, looking back at the crowd that has been created.

I look up at Zach who gives me a reassuring smile. I take a deep breath, my hands shaking as I step on the little stage. I go stand next to David and look into the crowd. I stand tall, keeping my head held up high. "Davina here is trying to get into college right now, something I'm very proud of. I also have never given Davina a present before in her life so I hope this one will make up for the last few years." He says while talking to the crowd, every now and then glancing at me. Making up for the last few years. Yeah right. Keep on dreaming David. We're not there yet.

"And so my present to you this Christmas is that I'll take care of your college tuition." He says and people start clapping. Does he want to pay for my college tuition?! That's a lot of money. The kind I didn't have... What do I do, do I except it?

I look at David with wide eyes and he smiles at me. I nod at him smiling before getting off the stage again. I get to Zach quickly and grab his arm again. "holy shit." I whisper and he nods, pulling me closer. "Yeah, you lucky bitch." He chuckles and I manage to let out a small laugh. "Do I except it? I don't want to give him false hope or feel like I owe him anything." I say, thinking out loud. "Are you kidding? You have to take it, it's a gift. It's the least he could do since abandoning you." Zach says and I nod. "O-okay," I say and I let out a shaky breath. Boy, this is going to be interesting.

Later tonight I find myself talking with Eva and her mother again. Her husband tagged along and they are absolutely perfect. Apparently David's father died a few years ago. I'm sad I never got to meet him.

We're a few glasses of wine further into the night. We're sitting on this huge comfortable couch in the living room and I'm leaning against Zach's chest as we sit close together. I'm not drunk but you know, the alcohol has affected my behavior like everybody else that I'm talking to right now. That's when good ol' grams decide to pick David as a subject again.