screaming **Discontinued**

chapter 26

i was just thinking about my father when something on the new caught my eye. ''Murderer found and caught. he is to put on trial next month.'' the news lady said. i looked at the picture and fell to my knees. they caught him. they caught my father. how was i ever going to reach out to him now? tears formed in my eyes and i jumped up. i ran to my room and shut the door. i locked it and cried for hours. Shelby and Mark tried to get me out of my room but it was no use. then next day i opened my door and walked down for breakfast. i didn't eat yesterday after i saw the news so i was starving. i was feeling numb in my entire body. he was my last living relative and now he was unreachable for me. he was my last chance to get some clearance about that night and the only way to get only a little piece of my old life back, and now all of my hope was shattered.

it was my birthday soon but i had no intention of celebrating. it was my eighteenth birthday which is considered a huge milestone along with sixteen and twenty one. i wanted it to celebrate with my family but my only actual relative was behind bars. i walked down the day before my birthday and just acted like everything was fine. i did that a lot lately. i knew i wasn't being very convince but i had not energy to do so. i went to a graduation party with Gaby and William and i had fun but i was still down all the time. i thought today would be no exception until i came downstairs. Shelby, Mark, Lily, Dolan and Gaby were all huddled over the table whispering to each other. i clapped my hands letting them know i was approaching and they all jumped up. they looked at me like a deer caught in headlights and scattered across the room. i looked at them with one raised eyebrow. ''Good morning. what would you like for breakfast?'' Shelby asked. i walked over and pointed at the cereal. ''The usual?'' She asked and i nodded my head. the day went by fast and i actually had enjoyed today. it was mid July and it was very hot out. so, Gaby and Dolan had decided on a day by the pool. it was funny to see how Dolan just jumped in and how Gaby tried to do it step by step. keyword: tried. after a few seconds Dolan got annoyed and just pulled her in. they kept fighting and splashing water at each other. that was fun until they decided to turn on me. they started to splash me and tried to pull me into the water. eventually i knew there was no way of winning so i just made a splash bomb right next to them. when i came up again i looked at them and they looked at me. we all burst out laughing and spend the rest of the day messing around in the pool. it was too bad that Lily wasn't here or we could've done a water wrestle battle. she was at a friend's house yesterday and today and would come back tonight, just in time for my birthday.

*the next morning*

i woke up from the sunlight through my curtains. i looked at the time and saw that it was only seven o'clock. it was like the middle of the night. i tried to go back to sleep but i couldn't. so, i got out my laptop and headphone and just started to watch some videos. then i heard some commotion on the stairs and i took off my headphone. ''Can i wake her please?'' i heard Dolan say. ''No i want to do it.'' i heard Gaby say. i quickly searched up google translate so i could use the voice of that and typed: ''i'm already awake.'' i pressed the speaker button after i unplugged my headphones and turned up the volume. the door opened and i smiled at them. ''Dang it! i had such a fun idea.'' Dolan said. 'Sorry.' i signed. ''It's okay. i'll get over it.'' he said. ''Time for presents.'' Shelby said. first i got three pair of earrings from Lily. then i remembered something. i made the signal to wait to the others. i walked towards my cupboard. i remembered that there were more packages in the box of my parents, including one with eighteen on it. i was just about to get the package when i heard something downstairs. ''I'm going to see who it is.'' Lily said and she walked out. ''Oh hey! you made it. come on up. we're just about to go down.'' i heard Lily say. she came up and walked back in to reveal William standing behind her. i smiled briefly and then continued my search for the right package. ''Paris what are you doing?'' Gaby asked. i pointed at William because i knew he could explain. i got out the package that i had stuffed away very far in my cupboard. it was the final one for birthday packages. there were some other packages but they were for different occasions. ''It's your eighteenth birthday package, isn't it?'' William asked. i nodded. ''I'm sorry her what now?'' Gaby said. ''Do you remember that day that we went past Paris' old house and she brought lots of stuff with her?'' William started. i got up again and now searched for the package of my dad, if i remembered it correctly he had one for this date too. i quickly found it and put it on my bed next to the other. ''Yes.'' Lily said. ''That was hilarious. we were waiting for Paris to come out and when she did she had an entire tower of stuff in her hands. i almost couldn't see her head.'' Lily said laughing. ''One of those piles of stuff were packages. for each birthday.'' William said. i found the letter that was with the package of my mother and handed it to William. ''Do you want me to read it out loud?'' he asked. i nodded.

Hi my sweet bubble monkey,

if you read this then that means something happened what i foresaw years ago. i expect you've figured out my actual job by now and understand how much danger i was constantly in. it was to expect that, that danger eventually would catch up with me. so i made boxes with your birthday presents for each year. or most of the years, i hope. today is your eighteenth birthday. i know that because i know you. you would never cheat and open one of the packages before it's actually time. you're so honest and kind. i wish i could've been there today so i could see what kind of wonderful woman you've grown into. i love you and i always will, but it's time to move on. maybe you already have and that's good. you can't let what happened take over your entire life. i'm gone and i know that, but you're still alive. you have to live your life and make the best of it. while you still can. live your life for me and for your dad, but most of all for yourself. happy birthday.

your mom and dad.

William read. i had tears rolling down over my cheeks. then i looked at the package and opened it. in it was one single gift. a necklace in a package that said.

always remember, you are

braver than you believe,

stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think

i smiled and wiped my tears away. then i got the letter from my dads package and again handed it to William.

hello my little butterfly,

as i explained in my last letter your mother and i don't always agree on gifts. same problem this year. this our last gift for you and i didn't want to give you just one. you're a woman now, but that doesn't mean i can't spoil you. you will always be my little girl, my little butterfly. i love you.

dad

William read. i laughed at his letter. i wonder if my mother even knew about his gifts. i unpacked my father's gift and looked at it. it was an entire collection of butterfly jewelry. i looked at the necklaces and picked a rainbow one. i got it out carefully and put it on. then i looked back up at the others and smiled. ''You okay?'' William asked. 'never better.' i signed. ''Actually... i think it can get better.'' Lily said. 'is it what i think it is?' i signed. ''I don't know because i don't know what you think it is.'' Mark said. 'does it start with an A?' i signed. ''Yes, why? do you have an idea of what it is?'' Mark said. i stood up and walked to my closet. i took off my shirt and put another shirt on. i knew they could see my scars when i took my shirt off but i didn't care. it was time for me to move on....

A/N: fun fact. the way Paris woke up on her birthday is how i woke up. i remembered it was my birthday and couldn't sleep anymore. i usually stay in till 10 o'clock or something so waking up at like seven was the middle of the night. i decided to just watch videos on my laptop and wait for my family. then i heard commotion on the stairs and my brother asking if he was allowed to wake me up. i said i was already awake and then i got my gifts. i thought it would be fun to put something of my won life in Paris' life, just to make it a little more normal and relatable.