Chapter 2 Her Eighteenth Birthday

HEINA

The first rays of sunlight filtered in through the windows, and I groaned. It was the weekend, why couldn't I just sleep away my sorrows?

The rasp of knuckles against the wooden frame of my door forced another groan to travel past my throat. I pulled the covers over my head and snuggled even deeper into my pillows.

I heard the door open, but I refused to get out of my very comfortable position. They'd eventually leave, and then I could get some sleep.

"Honey?" Mom's voice called from somewhere above me. "What are you doing buried under the sheets?"

"Trying to get some sleep." My words sounded muffled because of the layers I was under.

My bed dipped as someone, presumably Mom, sat down beside me. Her slender fingers wrapped around my chubby ones as she dug one arm out from underneath the covers.

"Did you have trouble sleeping last night?" She asked in a concerned tone.

"Mm-hmm."

"You have to get up, Heina. We have to... uh... it's your birthday today."

At the mention of the dreaded day, I froze. I hated celebrating my birthdays. It was too much of a reminder just how sad and painful my life was.

"I don't want to do anything for my birthday, Mom. You know I don't like celebrating it."

I heard a wince and pulled the covers down immediately. "What?"

"We may have organized a party for your birthday this time." Mom looked sorry as she said the words, and that was when I noticed Dad standing to the corner of the room with his hands folded over his chest.

"No, you didn't." I faced Dad. "Dad?"

His silence spoke volumes that threatened to deaf me.

"You can't be serious. You both know how much I hate my birthdays." I was struggling to make sense of the fact that they had just made a decision for me.

"It's your eighteenth birthday, sweetie. Of course, we had to do something." Mom cooed.

"But... but... it's..." I couldn't find any words as tears started to form behind my lashes.

"We're sorry, honey. But this is a new chapter for you. For us. Our little girl is finally becoming a woman. We have to celebrate it."

"I don't want to celebrate anything!" My words came out in a yell, tears sprinting down my face as pain became a force of nature inside me.

"Heina," Dad took a step forward. "I'm sorry you feel this way, but..."

I broke down, my shoulders shaking on a sob that threatened to drain me of life. "You don't understand. I don't want any of this. I have no friends to share the moment with anyway. Of what use is a party if I'm going to be the only one attending it?

My whole body racked with each sob as it tore through me. Mom scooted forward and wrapped her arms around me, and even though I hadn't seen Dad move, he was there too.

Both of them ran their hands down my back as they tried to pacify me. "Hey, it's fine. Look, we know you don't really have any friends right now, and that's exactly what this party is supposed to help you do." Mom consoled.

"We have a surprise for you," Dad added. "Two actually. Maybe you would be in a better mood if you saw them.

Before I could even ask what it was, he was out of the room and returning with a huge garment bag.

"What is that?" I asked, suddenly perked up.

The bag looked familiar, I could even see the brand name curving along the fabric of the bag.

"Is that a Rafaela Santini dress?" My voice was hopeful as I asked.

My mood was starting to improve just from looking at my favorite clothing brand.

Dad laughed softly. "Of course it is."

Mom added. "It's not just any Rafaela Santini dress, though." She signaled Dad to roll the zipper down, and a gasp rang in the air as the most gorgeous baby pink evening dress, complete with ruffles and a sweeping skirt stared back at me.

"It's her newest collection, the BellaDonna. Hasn't even hit the market yet." I was practically bursting at the seams with excitement.

"A special dress for a special girl. Now come on, we have more surprises for you."

I didn't need to be told twice; I jumped off the bed and dashed into the bathroom. Maybe this birthday wasn't going to be as bad as the previous ones.

******

The dress fit like a glove. I couldn't believe I was wearing a custom-made BellaDonna dress from Rafaela herself. I could die right now. I dragged on the silver shoes that Mom had gotten to add to the outfit.

As I styled my hair and applied makeup, I felt a little like a princess. Today was going to be a good day, I could feel it. I wonder what other surprises Mom and Dad had prepared.

I didn't have to wonder long; the house was teeming with guests as I climbed down the last step of our ending staircase. Most of my classmates were lingering in my living room, drinks and snacks in hand, idle chatter, games, music; the works.

My eyes fell on Jocelyn in a floor-length red dress adorned with rhinestones and hugging her slender curves like a second skin. Her hair fell down her back in waves, and I envied how good she looked at that moment.

All eyes turned to me as I stepped into the middle of the room. Surprise flickered across everybody's face as they realized what it was that I was wearing.

"Is that the BellaDonna?" Someone asked in a hard whisper.

"It's not even in the market yet," another voice answered.

"A pig in a designer dress. The obscenities of life." This time it was Jocelyn that spoke. "You ruined the dress just by being in it, Piggy. How do you feel about that? If I were Rafaela, I'd sue you for defamation."

Her words caused an uproar of laughter, and just like that, all the joy I'd been feeling over wearing this dress died.

Tears started to trick my eyes, and I struggled to blink them back.

Jocelyn lowered her head until we were at eye level. "What? You're going to cry now? Come on, chubs, you've been a fat turd for 18 years. Did you really think a couple minutes in a designer dress was going to change that?"

The laughter increased, and I struggled to keep my tears from rolling. If they did, they'd wash off the mascara I had stupidly worn thinking I was going to have a great day.

"Hey, sweetie." Mom walked into the room, a bright smile on her face. "You look gorgeous."

"I know, right?" Jocelyn added sweetly. "Like a dream."

Mom beamed at her. "I had this dress custom made for her because she's always loved Rafaela. I wish I'd gotten one to match."

"Good thing you hadn't. It lets the birthday girl shine." Jocelyn smiled at me.

The room echoed with false adoration, and Mom ate it up. She pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear. "I'm so glad you're both getting along now. I'd ask the servers to wheel in the cake."

She patted my hair down and hurried along into the kitchen. A shaky breath rushed past me, and I couldn't make myself look at Jocelyn. The last time we encountered each other was the day she knocked me unconscious in the bathroom, I was surprised she even attended. Or was I? Bullying me seemed to be the highlight of her day.

"Come on, let's go play some pool games." Jocelyn linked her arm through mine and pulled me along.

Struggling to stay upright in my heels, I followed helplessly behind as she hurried. The other students were behind us, their cheers getting loud like they already knew what mission she was on.

"We wouldn't have been here if your parents hadn't bribed us, so make this fun for us, okay?" Jocelyn murmured in my ear. "Wanna swim?"

I didn't even have the time to answer before I was shoved into the pool. Hard.