Friendship And Family (Currently undergoing a rewrite. Do Not Read.)

CHAPTER 15. Expectation

Agnes' POV

I opened the door and immediately turned into an ice sculpture, staring for long, with eyes almost popping out of their sockets, at the basket in front of our door step. Slowly, I looked to my left, and then my right, hoping to find answers to the million questions hammering my head.

"What's taking you so long?"

Mum's voice yanked me out of my hypnosis. "I'm coming." My voice was faint, and a little shaky. The thought of having a psycho around our house at midnight was sickening, and I'd gone too deep with my secret to reveal it to anyone without sounding crazy.

I imagined my nose being covered with a drugged handkerchief by the criminal as I walked to the trashcan in cold feet to throw the trash, which happened in the blink of an eye, and then I rushed back in.

What if he hid a tracker in the basket to spy on you guys?

My mind was a huge mess.

"What's the matter?" Mum's question nailed me to the floor and I stood stiff, like a dried wood.

"Uh..." I relaxed my muscles, faking a smile. "I'm okay, Just nervous about today's party," I lied.

"Aw..." She pulled me in a hug. "I understand that feeling. Being sixteen can be really tricky; you feel grown, having uncertainties about life"-My mind drifted to the mystery going on around me as I tried to fix the puzzle. Who could the man be? What mental game was he playing? And what does he want with me?-"but not to worry," Mum pulled away, holding my shoulders, "you have me to guide you."

I nodded, smiling a little, as though I'd heard all she said. 'Thanks."

"And..." She then drifted back with a confused face. "Where did the basket come from?"

I looked down, acknowledging the basket in my hand, while I waited for my brain to print out a response. "I forgot I left it in the backyard after the picnic. It's been there all that time..." I was becoming a lame liar.

"Okay..." She didn't look convinced, and I cringed. "Thank you." She took the basket from me and walked to the kitchen.

I heaved a sigh.

******

I sat at my mirror table while the makeup artist Mum had hired for my 'exquisite' theme party worked her magic on my face. The event planners were working on our backyard, while the photographer and his crew were doing their thing in the living room.

My squad arrived just in time for the photoshoot, and Mum helped Andrew with my cake to the kitchen. She had ordered the three-layered white cake from Maria's mum. One half of it was covered in gold dust, with a big, golden number sixteen on top.

The boys looked like prom dates in their tuxedos, and Maria and I were again, twinning in a lacy, flay bottom jumpsuit that only differed in length and colour; mine a full length in cream, and Maria's a midi length in nude. Our middle-parted low bun had sleek edges, and a hairband, made with sparkly stones, laid on my head.

We all got a touch of makeup in the living room that now looked like a studio; with the ring light and backdrop and makeup crew.

Being the celebrant, I was called up first to occupy the spotlight for my personal photoshoots. Their cheers had me blushing all the way, and then it was light and poses as I gradually became comfortable and found my confidence. It wasn't their cheering that did it, or the flashes from the camera. It was Andrew's silence and fixated gaze, and I would have asked to take a couple shots with him if it wouldn't seem weird. So I kept posing for just him, snatching the fleeting opportunity to make myself his idol.