🪐 Annaleah 🪐
"Dad pleassee! I promise i'll behave!" I plead to my father while he paces around the living room with the phone to his ear.
"Not now Annaleah." She shushes me and I groan but continue to follow him. "Dad please! I've been grounded for two months now! I promise i'll behave!" I argue while he whispers something to the person on the other line on the phone.
He puts his hand over his phone and lifts up his eyebrow. "You've been grounded for a month." He says annoyed and places his phone back in his ear, continuing his conversation.
"Dad please it's my birthday, let me go out with my friends, I have learned my lesson. I won't get into any more fight's!" I whine.
My father groans and places his hand over his phone. "Fine, go. But you better be back by nine o'clock!" He sneers annoyed and I squeal with excitement hugging him in the process. "Thank you, thank you!" I squeal happily and run upstairs to his room to search for my phone.
After the fight with Haley, I got suspended for a week and got grounded for a whole month!
I missed Saoirse's birthday which was in november. I missed a bunch of volleyball games which led me to get kicked off the team, and I missed thanksgiving at Kathryn's house.
But I finally convinced my dad to let me celebrate my birthday out with my friends! Sure i'll go back to being grounded when I come back home today but this is better than nothing! So i'm pretty damn excited and thankful!
I open up his sock drawer and take out my phone turning it on instantly as I run to my room fetching a dress to wear. As soon as it turns on a bunch of messages pop up on my phone. I grab the dress and place it on my bed staring at it in awe.
I have been saving this dress for this birthday ever since I saw it at the mall almost a year ago.
I don't know why, but the thought of me turning 18 seems pretty exciting. I think about all the stuff i've been through over the last year and can't help but get excited that maybe turning 18 will be a better year for me
Maybe this is exactly what I need. A fresh start. I know a birthday isn't that much of a "fresh start", but we all have to start somewhere.
I take off my plain white t-shirt, grey joggers and put on the dress. I turn towards the mirror and a gasp leaves my lips. Tears begin fill my eyes and a bright smile forms on my face when I see myself on the mirror.
I've missed this. I've missed feeling happy. Seeing myself in the mirror dressed up nice for a special occasion has made me remember all the horrible things that have happened to me this past year, and how those horrible things brought me down so badly I lost myself along the way.
But now that I see myself, now that I truly see myself, I am reminded of how strong of a person I am, how beautiful and strong I am. What happened to me this past year doesn't define me, not anymore. I won't let it.
I am a new and improved Annaleah. And i'll be damned if I let my mother, my uncle, Cole, Blake, or Haley ruin me.
I squeal in happiness at myself and head into the bathroom and curl my hair and put on some jewelry. I spray some perfume on me and turn the lights off heading downstairs quickly.
"I'm going dad. i'll be back at 9 o'clock on the dot." I tell my dad as I race towards the the front door. "Alright sweetheart have a nice day, and happy birthday." My dad shoots me a soft smile which I return back to him. "Thanks dad." I wave goodbye and close the door.
I unlock my phone and dial Nalani's number.
"Hello?" Nalani asks confused.
"Hey." I chirp excited and Nalani squeals in happiness. "Omg Annaleah! You have your phone back, hell yeah!" Nalani exclaims making me giggle.
"It's just for today though." I admit a bit sad but half happily. "Just for today? Why just for today?" Nalani asks and I chuckle.
"Cause it's my birthday today, duh!" I "duh" her and laugh but she doesn't laugh. She stays silent.. Too silent.
"Nalani? What's wrong i'm on my way to Poppy's diner when are you guys going to get there?" I ask checking the time.
Nalani, Saoirse and I planned to meet at Poppy's diner to celebrate my birthday last week, since i'm not allowed to go to any parties while my punishment is still going.
"Annaleah.. I'm so sorry." Nalani apologizes sadly.
"What, why? What's wrong Lani?" I ask confused arriving at the diner but noticing neither Nalani or Saoirse are here.
"Where are you guys?" I ask confused looking around the diner.
"Yo Nalani come here! Saoirse is about to take a shot!" I hear Noen yell from the other line. My shoulders immediately slump and I nod understanding why she's apologizing.
"Oh. I see." I respond and walk out the diner.
"Annaleah i'm so sorry. We didn't know if you would actually be able to make it and Will invited us to go to his lake house for the weekend-"
"Don't worry about it. Seriously Nalani, have fun." I cut her off and immediately hang up on her when I finish my sentence.
Guess this fresh new start isn't going as well as I hoped.
I kick some rocks as I walk down the streets to my house when I remember who lives nearby.
I grab my phone and dial her number praying she's at her house.
"Hey Anna, nice to know you're alive and well." Kathryn answers quickly and I laugh.
"Is this a bad time Kathryn? I can always call another time?"
"None sense sweetheart. I'm actually quite excited you called, i'm actually in the middle of baking cookies and cupcakes for Florence's bake sale."
"That's perfect! Is it alright if I come over?"
"I would be very much delighted to
have you here to help, are you on your way?" She asks and I smile to myself.
"Actually.." I ding her doorbell and giggle. "I'm already here." I say with a smile and she laughs hanging up the phone and opening the door for me.
She smiles down at me and brings me into a warm motherly hug. She pulls me away softly and stares at my attire. "Well don't we look extremely beautiful for a baking class." Kathryn laughs twirling me around to look at the full dress.
"It's actually my birthday today and I was going to meet up with my best friends to celebrate but they bailed.." I smile and shrug, trying not to be so upset by it. "It's your birthday today?? Why didn't you tell me!? I could've baked you a beautiful birthday cake or perhaps cupcakes?" She asks frantically and I laugh.
"I didn't think I would get a chance to celebrate my birthday this year, since i've been grounded for an entire month." I laugh and Kathryn looks at me shocked.
"You've been grounded? Why?" She asks and I stare at her confused. "I thought you knew? Blake didn't tell you?"
"Blake? Please." She chuckles and takes us to the kitchen handing me an apron. "Blake barely ever talks to me plus, he's been gone for almost two months now." Kathryn tells me as she grabs a tray of cookies and places them in the oven.
Blake's been gone? I knew he hasn't been showing up to school for months now but I assumed he would still be staying here.
"He's been gone? Where?" I ask casually trying not to seem to nosey.
Kathryn shrugs and hands me some eggs and a bowl. "I don't know, all I know is that he left to Minnesota to deal with some family problems." She admits and I nod.
"So you going to tell me why you've been grounded for a month?" She asks pulling my hair up into a high ponytail, so it doesn't get in the way. I laugh and nod as I begin to break the eggs and pour them into the metal bowl.
"It all started when Haley Wright tried to get me up from my chair..."
••••••••••
"Shut up! No she didn't!" Kathryn yells from the kitchen in disbelief.
"Oh believe me, she did." I roll my eyes in annoyance from the living room.
"No! I refuse to believe she invited you over to her gender reveal after last times incident!" Kathryn comes into view and takes a seat next to me.
We've been baking for a few hours now and i've managed to tell her why I got suspended, the fight with Haley, how I got kicked out of the volleyball team, and now i'm telling her about how I found out about my mother invited me over to her new child's gender reveal on my own birthday.
"It's true Kat, She called me this morning, not to wish me a happy birthday but to ask me if I could make an appearance to her damn gender reveal party." I say annoyed and plop my head backwards.
Kathryn shivers and pulls up her blanket. "What a bitch." She shivers again to the thousands of a gender reveal party.
"I told her i'd think about it but I already told my dad i'm not going." I say with a sure tone.
"Mooom, Wyatt is pinching me!" Florence yells as she slams the front door shut.
"I am not! I mean- I may have pinched her cheeks but that's literally it!" Wyatt yells and enters the living room spotting me.
"Oh- hey there Anna, I always knew you'd be back for me." Wyatt smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.
Florence gags and smacks the back of his head, making Wyatt's head fumble foward. "Where are your manners you dog." Florence asks Wyatt while he rubs the back of his head. "Ow!" He yells turning his face towards Florence while she sticks out her tongue at him. Kathryn let's out a sigh and turns her focus over to me.
"Please excuse them Anna, I wasn't expecting them till tomorrow." She turns her focus over to her kids. "Why are you kids here? You should be at your father's, it's still the weekend." Kathryn asks them and they both look at each other guilty.
She places a hand over her forehead and sighs. "What did you guys do?" She asks and they both stare at each other nervously.
I giggle and begin to stand up from the comfy couch. "Well, I guess this is my cue to head back home," I say amusingly looking at Florence and Wyatt. "Thank you for having me Kathryn." I thank her and give her a hug.
"Of course sweetheart, you are welcomed here anytime. Don't forget your birthday cupcakes!" She pulls from the huh softly and sprints towards the kitchen and hands me the cupcakes. I thank her once again and wave bye to Wyatt and Florence.
••••••••••
"I brought cupcakes!" I chirp up excitedly as I close my front door.
"Dad? Hello?" I ask around the empty house and prop the cupcakes on the island kitchen table.
I head towards the fridge when I find a sticky note written by my dad.
"I'm over at Irene's house. If i'm not home by the time you're back send me a picture of yourself when you arrive at home at 9 o'clock. Love you lots. - Dad."
I sigh and take out my phone and pose for a selfie in front of the clock that says 8:21pm. I snap the picture and send it to him.
"Made it home safely, brought cupcakes with me. Have fun."
I text him after sending the picture and grab a lighter and some candles. I place the candles on the cupcakes and light them up.
"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Anna, happy birthday to me." I sing to myself and close my eyes making a wish. After i'm done I blow out my candles and look around the empty kitchen disappointed.
Happy birthday to me I guess..
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Authors Note:
✔︎ Yayayayay Annaleah is officially 18! 🥳
✔︎ The fact that NO ONE, celebrated her birthday with her including her own FATHER. Slightly enrages me.
✔︎ Stan mama Kathryn for being there with Annaleah and baking her birthday cupcakes!
✔︎ Where tf is Blake Mason Denvers? And why tf is he all the way in fucking Minnesota??
✔︎ This is Annaleah's birthday dress:
That is all for now my gorgeous gremlins. See you all on the next chapter. <33
Q: When's your birthday?
A: Mine's may 5th. 😼