Chapter Twenty-One:

Waking up Halloween morning, I see confetti and streamers all around me... great. Today marks seventeen years of me being alive. One more and I will legally be an adult. My parents always make a bigger deal than it has to be... well mostly my Mom. One year my Father forgot it was even my birthday... isn't  that great parenting. I try to tell my Mother every year that I don't want anything big but she never listens and throws it in my face that I'm her only daughter and she wont have another.

I walk downstairs to my kitchen where my family all stood chatting that is rare since were hardly all together in one room unless it is dinner time. My Mother hasn't once mentioned what happened when I came home that day and I don't think she is planning to. I still think she should leave, even if it means not seeing her for years. I rather be apart from her knowing she is okay then live with her knowing she could die any day from my Father's abuse. I know I should love my Father but I really fucking hate him. More than she does probably. I hate what he does to my Mother and what he does to our family.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday Maddie..." Ethan starts to sing, mostly to piss me off and Mom nudges him to stop. She walks over to me and hugs me tight, attacking my face with kisses.

"My baby is all grown up." She says.

"Relax its just another day." I tell her that is true. She continues to kiss my face and hug me til I cant breathe but I finally get her off of me.

"Is your boyfriend going to come over?" Ethan asks. Jackass.

"No, he isn't." I stick my tongue out at Ethan in a playful way.

"Why not, Mija? Tell him he can come for dinner." My Father chimes in.

"He doesn't know its my birthday and I'm going to a Halloween party later remember? So i'm going to miss dinner." My family usually eats at around seven... the time I'm suppose to be at Rose's house.

"Shouldn't you have told him?" My Mother says,

"No because it's not important." Also even if I wanted to, I haven't had the chance to hang out with Gabriel in private. He has been blowing me off all week whenever we make plans and the one night we met up, he was on his phone the whole time and the rare times he wasn't, he was zoned out.

"Well I hope you change your mind about that... anyways I made your favourite, French toast with blueberries." My Mom says in excitement. I take a seat at on the island beside my brother and she serves me the best breakfast ever... my Mom should be a chef.

"This hits the fucking spot." I take another bite of my breakfast,

"Language, dear." My Mother reminds me and I laugh at her failed attempts to remind me to stop swearing.

I hear the doorbell ring and my Dad calls out that he will get it. I turn my attention towards the hallway, listening to my Dad and this person speak.

"Sure, come in." He says and only seconds later I see Leandro standing beside my Father.

"Hey birthday girl." He says and I get up and run to give him a hug. Honestly I wasn't sure if he would remember. I haven't talked or seen Leandro for a bit and I just thought... maybe he would forget about me? It's stupid.

"Sorry to stop by without calling." He says.

"Oh shush, we're literally just eating." I give him another hug before letting go of him and sitting back down.

"Sit, Leandro! Do you want some food?" My Mother offers.

"Oh no thank you, my Mother made me food before I left." He tells her and she nods.

"I should actually get going... I've got to get down to the grocery store and pick up a few things for her... have a great birthday Maddie." Leandro says. He places a small kiss on my forehead before leaving and I say goodbye to him.

"Well, that was sweet. See, if you brought a boy like him home I would be happy." My Mother says breaking the God awful silence when Leandro left. I ignore her words and hate she is giving Gabriel and finish up my meal.

After a long horrible day spending time with my family, it finally became time to go to Rose's house. I've been waiting for this all day if I'm being honest, even though I have to get ready with the devil herself.

Packing all my stuff that includes my hair products, makeup and a cute pink lace underwear and strapless bra set for under my costume, I go to Rose's house that isn't far from mine... were practically street neighbours. I knock on her door twice,

"It's open!" I hear her call so I open the door, locking it behind me.

"Were upstairs... and your late!" Rose complains and I go upstairs to her room and am welcomed by both her and Sirena in lace lingerie sets almost identical to mine but in different colours to match their costumes.

"Did you bring yours?" She asks.

"Yeah... can I get changed in your washroom?" I see my pink costume hanging up beside all of theirs,

"We all have the same things... just different sizes." Sirena points out.

"Yeah and I definitely don't want to see your things." I say to her... bitch.

"Ignore her... of course you can change in my bathroom, it's down the hall on the left."

"Happy birthday by the way Maddie." How the fuck does she know about that? I haven't told anyone but... Leandro.

"Yeah, happy birthday." Sirena says and I thank them both then grab the costume and go to her bathroom.

Why the hell would I get dressed in front of Sirena? She will probably say something mean about my body and really, I'm not here to start a fight. I'm already pissed off that Leandro obviously went running his mouth to someone and now everyone knows that its my birthday.

I put on the white fishnet stalkings over my underwear and then step into the playboy costume. I can't lie, I feel a little uncomfortable going out like this. I know I look great but I know Gabriel wont like it at all... he doesn't control me though and I'm my own person.

I end up doing my makeup and hair while I'm in the bathroom and the girls probably think I have died since I've been in this washroom for at least an hour and a half. By the time I come out, they are all dressed and probably ready to leave. I check my phone that reads "10:30." I've been in that washroom for way longer then I thought.

"Oh my God you look so hot!" Rose cheers and she does too. Rose has always been about minimal makeup and wearing conservative clothing but she actually has a banging body when she shows it off and I guess Sirena looks hot too.

"Let's take a picture." Rose says,

"Does she have to be in it?"

"Of course she does, it's her birthday."