The Brightest Stars

Annabelle

I put on the coat I got from my sister for Christmas over the beautiful red dress that Max gave me on our gift exchange a few days ago.

It's a new year and I hope this year I will find a new me. Deep down, I'm open to change. I've finally talked to Ainoha about our mother. Every time I think of her I laugh. It's funny how long Ainoha has hid the woman she calls a mother.

Our mother has never changed. Ricardo has been overseas and she's been "working" in Canada. She's jumped from Spain. Canada. The U.S. But never to see her children. Valeria keeps asking when her mommy will come back. If only she knew that Ricardo has blocked her out of his life when he found out about me.

I was the cause for their divorce....

But that doesn't matter now. That's what Ainoha kept telling me. She tries to make me feel better by telling me that she and my mother were never on good terms. There was something in her eyes though. Regret. Shame. Why is it? What did she do?

I know that she wasn't the best person in Spain. A girl known in nearly all of the bars and parties. If there was an award for the craziest slut of the year, she would have gotten it. That's what she says about herself. Until there was an event in her life that changed her. That's when I saw that shame in her eyes and it hurt.

But that doesn't matter now as I step out of my car and walk up the stairs of Julia's second house. I remember walking up this beautiful house for the first time on my birthday. I remember feeling nervous as I held onto Max's hand.

It's weird. I always seem to be nervous with him. I always expect something new from such a reserved person.

Now I step up these stairs with certainty; knowing that my friends will be scattered around the place in their very nice attires.

One more thing that I find funny this new year: it's amazing how a group of enemies became almost into family.

I smile at Kristen's wide smile as she brings me in for a tight hug. "Happy New Year, Belle. You just might be the best thing that has ever happened to me this year."

"Might?" I playfully say. I raise my brows when her blue eyes fall on Nate from across the room and I chuckle at her blush. "It's alright. I know you love him."

I remember the night where she finally met Nate's family. Kristen called me the moment she parked outside her house and started sharing her night with me. I celebrated along with her when she squealed that she finally told Nate that she loved him. Her excitement was even bigger as she excitedly said that Nate said it back to her.

After I hung up, I wiped my tears away from the crying I had been doing before her call due to the conversation I had with Ainoha. I would have told Kristen what was going on. I longed for her in that moment, but I couldn't ruin her night. I couldn't ruined her moment just like I did with Ricardo's marriage.

Kristen gives me a bright smile as she guides me towards the living room where the girls shared their secrets to me. Today there's a jolly atmosphere, as people on the streets call it, and everyone comes over to greet me.

"Wow!" Luna is the first to admire my attire. Her hand lightly touches my coat and looks down at my red dress. "Oh my goodness! Is it okay if I say that I'm jealous?!"

We share a laugh as I give her a tight hug. "Happy New Year, Luna. I'm so glad I got to meet you. I only hope that we stay together in this next year."

"To kick some suits," Luna playfully says.

We share one last chuckle until Xander comes up with a cup of wine in hand. "You're finally eighteen. So you may have a drink." He gives me a silly smile and a side hug. "Happy New Year, Annabelle."