This day made me long for a home outside the walls of my house. Where I don’t have to pretend like I don’t exist, that everything is okay and that I love the silver tiara that is currently seated on my head. It’s funny how everyone surrounding and cheering me on did not notice my tears put out the candles before my breath found the courage to do so.
Birthdays for other sixteen-year-olds was a total bliss but not even the lavish party thrown for me could drown my sorrow. I shove a large piece of cake into my mouth, moaning as the sweet velvet hit my taste buds.
“You sound like a dying whale” my brother’s voice interrupts my inner turmoil making me groan. The last thing I needed was someone witnessing my mini breakdown. I love my brother very much, but this was bad timing.
“Go away Thomas” I push him away slightly even though I know it’ll have no effect on his huge frame. This only makes him move closer to me before wrapping his arms around me.
“You know I hate seeing you like this” He said into my hair while being careful not to tip over my tiara.
“Don’t make this awkward Tom. I’m just a birthday girl trying to eat all this cake” I said and shove a much larger piece of cake into my mouth.
“Has Drew wished you yet?” he asked. My heart sank already knowing the answer was in the negative. I’m sure my brother didn’t want to upset me, but I couldn’t help the sadness that spread across my chest.
“I’m sure he hasn’t. That best friend of mine is an idiot” he scoffed, glancing over to where he was sitting on the couch with Cassie. Both were holding hands while trying to open all her presents which was laughable really because they couldn’t get the gift wraps off that way. They looked rather stupid to me.
“He’s with the better twin. It’s not like I expect him to” I said and shrugged.
“You’re the better one” he told me with a stern look “You deserve better anyway, that punk certainly does not deserve you”.
“Thank you, Tom” I said, finally returning his hug “But I need you to leave me alone under this table and go mingle with all the businesspeople mum invited. You know she’ll get mad if you leave her side for just a minute”.
“I hate that you’re right. This feels more like a business meeting than a birthday” He looked down at the plate in my hands with a frown “Try not to fill up your entire tummy, I have something planned later for just the two of us” he kissed the side of my head making me sigh in contentment.
“I know” I told him laughing “The big balloons I saw in the gazebo gave it all away”.
“You just can’t ever be surprised, can you?” he patted my head before finally leaving under the table making me wonder how he stayed that long under the table without having cramps in his legs.
I stuffed another cake into my mouth and looked to the couch where Drew was kissing Cassie which made me look away when the familiar hurt in my chest made itself known. It would’ve been better if Cassie weren’t my twin sister so I wouldn’t have to watch her with the boy I was in love with.
Birthdays sucked, or maybe it was just mine. I got up from under the table when I ran out of cakes only to bump into someone. Mum. My eyes widened when the last bit of cake I was holding smeared her designer black dress. I waited for the inevitable.
“You should’ve remained under the table where you belong” she screamed getting the attention of all the guests around. “Try not to let anyone see you, God knows what a sore sight you are” She said, before walking off, her heels making a clinging sound when it kissed the floor.
I saw Cassie look up at me from the corner of my eyes, but she made no move. It was no surprise this was a disaster for me, like other days before it. I grab the stupid tiara throwing it to the floor on my way out. Funny for me to think a birthday would make my parents pay more attention to me. My fat legs make me walk slowly to the back of our large house near the pool which was a big contrast to the way I imagined storming out of the house in my head.
“Don’t come any closer!” a voice snarled, making me stop in my tracks. I scowled at Don when he raised his big head.
“This is my house so I can go wherever I want” I told him, pulling my shoes off my aching feet and sitting at the far end of the pool. Safely away from him.
“A house nobody wants you in” he said, before puffing the cigarette I only just noticed he was holding between his fingers.
I hated Don, I hated him even more because what he said was true and we both knew it. He was nothing like his older brother. Drew was soft, kind, loving, his eyes shone in the sun like he was some god in his former life whereas Don was…Don. Cold hearted, cared about no one, not even himself.
“My parents care about me Don, I wish I could say the same about you” I told him fiercely trying to hide how the truth of what he said was hurting me.
“At least no one threw a birthday for me then not even spare me a glance”. He kept his face away from me. I was about to speak when he splashed his side of the pool making water hit my face and wet my gown. The space between us was obviously not safe enough.
“What did you do that for?” I hissed at him trying to wiggle water out of my hair which proved harder than trying to lose all the extra weight I had gained over the years.
“You’re ugly Carrie, don’t try to pretend otherwise. There’s a reason my brother is in there kissing Cassie and not you” he pointed his index finger towards me as hot tears graced my cheeks. I cleaned it up with the back of my hand thinking of all the ways I could kill him. I stood up abruptly, marching to his hunched form and expressionless eyes.
I was about to push him in the pool when he grabbed me and pushed me into the bush behind him. I was about to scream in terror when his hand clamped over my mouth. He pointed at the far end of the pool where I had been seated when I saw my father walk in with Don’s father as the dragged a bloodied man with them.
I watched the man beg for his life as my father played with a knife, swishing it in the air as if preparing the man that was knelt on the floor for what was to come.
The three men spoke in hushed voices making it impossible to hear what they were saying. The man on the floor suddenly started shaking his head back and forth. I watched my father with wide eyes as he brought the knife down before slicing through the man’s neck severing his head completely.
It was an image that would forever remain in my head. The man’s head sputtered blood everywhere and I watched it roll into the pool, turning it red in a matter of seconds. I shrieked unable to contain the horror I just witnessed making both men turn in our direction.
Don groaned from where he was beside me when he realized that I had just blown our cover. He turned me abruptly towards him and grabbed my face as our fathers walked closer to our hiding place. Before I could realize what he was doing he kissed me.
His soft lips caressed mine sending a peculiar tinge down my entire body. He tilted my head so he could have better access. He bit my lip just as the plants covering us was shoved out of the way.
“Father” Don said when he detached himself from me “Didn’t realize you guys were here”. My father glared at me, his eyes not leaving me once when he grabbed me by the neck. I watched him as he pulled me out, Don calling out to him.
My father’s eyes did not look the same, a dark pool had replaced it and all the love that used to grace his face was nowhere to be found. I looked back at Don helplessly unable to wrap my head around what was happening when my vision started to go black but not before I saw the panic on Don’s face.
There’s a light touch on my cheek which slowly pulls me away from the unconsciousness that I was submerged in and I open my eyes slowly so the light in the room wouldn’t hurt them.I can’t see Don’s face with my head bowed but I can feel his presence. Why couldn’t he just listen to me and leave the boat.I wasn’t sure how many hours that has passed so it was impossible to tell just how much time was left to convince him to leave without me. I had to save him so he could keep my little Jenny safe from the cruel family she was born into.When his hand cupped my cheek I leaned into it, savoring his touch because it was potentially the last.I don’t let myself dwell in what could have been, only because I couldn’t feel anything. I wasn’t sure which drug Cassie had given me but it was really strong and I felt partially grateful because it made the torture I just went through more bearable for me.He
It takes more than a busted lip and a swollen eye to get me away from Carrie’s body. The strong hands holding me drag me all the way to Mr. Zaverelli’s room and I don’t make it easy for them, I fight the entire way.The only let me go when we’re standing in front of the room and I stand up with a huff. If Carrie wasn’t in their mercy then I would have killed them all, every one of them that laid a hand on us both.I burst into the room, the door opening with a loud bang, Mr. Zaverelli is standing there, like he had been expecting me.“Well well, what do we have here?” he says, clicking his tongue.I stand to my full height, ignoring the pain that it caused my sides “You have to release her now!”He doesn’t seem put off by my yelling, it doesn’t even faze him. He just continues to sip on his drink like we were about to have casual conversation.“We don’t even know w
For a moment the only sound in the quiet dark hallway is the sound of us breathing heavily. My mind scrambles to put answers together when he turns me to face him.There’s a dark shadow cast on him from the lack of light but I could easily see the anger in those eyes of his.“Who was that man?” he repeats and I don’t make any move to answer him. I didn’t even owe him an explanation.He shook me furiously “Goddamn it Carrie, who was that man and why were you sneaking around with him?” he yelled, despite the fact that anyone could come out at the moment and see the both of us in this awkward situation.“What’s it to you?” I finally say when I find my voice.My words have a certain effect on him because he releases me from his hold and pushes me away.“You’ve been seeing someone else this entire time haven’t you?” his voice is strained “That was why
I clutch my phone in one hand and dial the number that decides everyone’s fate. For a moment I’m not sure he’s going to pick but after a few rings the coarse voice I thought I would never hear again feels my ears.“So Cinderella finally decides to come back to her prince”, I don’t miss the lightness of his tone so I know that he just finished smoking outside the yard, where he would stay up all night to watch the sunrise.“How did you know it was me?” I asked, my free hand clamping against my forehead.“Because you called at the right time, just when I’m done with business and about to unwind with a joint or two” there’s a hint of tiredness in his voice but I’m certainly not calling him because I’m worried about him so I don’t push it.“Hello Sherp” I greet properly, clearing my throat “I have a request to make if you don’t mind” I sudde
The dinner was a disaster.I’m going to put an end to everything tonight.I storm down the dark hallway trying to find my father’s room, in a few minutes he’ll be back here alone and without any of his men to protect him from my wrath.Killing him would be more than enough for me. I pat the knife I had strapped to my thigh, I was going to give him the honour of dying the same way that he intended for me to.I’m about to turn the corner when I bump into someone, I almost groan in frustration when I see that it’s Cassie.“I’m sorry, didn’t see you coming” I apologize quickly and start to leave when she grabs my hand.“You shouldn’t apologize, I didn’t see you coming either”. I smile and thugs on her hand but she hold on tighter.“I was looking for you anyway, come with me”I’m about to protest but she just drags me along and I follow.
I lean on the door immediately I close it. Tears drops from my eye as I muffles a sob with my palm.The truth was, Carrie was very much alive and was madly in love with him but I couldn’t say that for both our sake.At the end of the day I was just going to hurt him, that is all I was capable of and even his love for me wouldn’t be enough for the both of us, or even enough to keep me alive and by his side.Our story was bound to be a painful one.I’m removing my shirt when my door suddenly burst open and an excited Cassie walks into the room. I immediately button up and turned to her.“You should have knocked” I say, my voice stern and cracked from crying.She giggles and that had to be the most annoying sound I ever had to hear in my entire life. “The entire family is having dinner and I want you to come with me” her voice is chirpy like she has had one too many drinks.I deadpan “It&rs
My heart is still skipping from seeing Carrie but it has nothing on my anger with the man in front of me. He glares at me but says nothing as I take the seat in front of me.It takes everything to plaster a smile on my face and act casually like he’s not the reason Carrie is not in my arms or why she felt the need to avenge the wrong he did to her.“It’s not everyday I get to see you walk into my office without your father making you come” Mr. Zaverelli said, his eyes creasing with a hint of amusement.“It’s not everyday that my brother’s wife hosts a boat cruise in honour of her ruined birthday” I retort, my vein already pulsing and itching for a fight.“I’m not sure it counts since you ruined the birthday party yourself” he mused, becoming more comfortable on his seat as he regarded me with cold, unfeeling eyes and I knew just why. The presentation I’d done was exactly the reason I&
There’s a loud knock on my door that pulls me out of a deep sleep and I’m about to ignore it and go back when I remember where I am. Springing out of bed I immediately open the door to see one of the serving men.“Mr. Zaverelli wants to see you in his office immediately” he said, his voice gruff like he didn’t want to be here, well that made two of us.I close the door and rush to my bathroom to make sure I was properly dressed and nothing was going to give me away. This was my own father so I couldn’t make any mistakes with him.Pushing my hair to the side, I make sure I have no resemblance whatsoever to Carrie. My contact lens were on hiding my real eye color away from anyone.I was out the door when I suddenly turned back and entered the bathroom. I grabbed the small gun I had hidden under the sink and slipped it into the band of my pants before covering it with my shirt. It never hurt to be prepared.With a d
I immediately know that Carrie is not with me when I wake up. I remember that she told me she was heading to the bathroom and relax, I hate not waking up with her in my arms but she’ll always come back to me.These past days has been the best I could ever hope for and I have her to thank for it. Deciding to just meet her instead of waiting all day in bed, I get up and go to the kitchen to get started on breakfast.I’m whistling as I get started on her waffles, pretty sure the aroma was going to bring her straight to the kitchen.It was Jenny who came running first “Daddy!” she yelled as she sat at the table, still rubbing her eyes from sleep.“Did you sleep well honey?” I asked her, flipping the eggs on fire before turning to her. She nodded, a tooth grin on her face as I took another glance at the door.“Looking for mummy?” She teased, a soft chuckle falling from her lips “I haven’t seen