Fallen Angels

Chapter one

FUCK SIXTEEN CANDLES

Fuck 16. Fuck 16 and its stupid celebrations. She remembers watching Cassie's 16th birthday. How Cassie's friends showed up with these amazing gifts which were really expensive. How Suze prepared a Pinterest worthy cake. She watched as her mother and Cassie drank together, having an amazing time. Forgetting the pain of previous years.

But she wasn't them. Lexi couldn't drink away the pain like her mother or her sister. She hated the addictive substance. Sometimes she wished she could like it so she could feel some numbness.

But fuck her and fuck 16.

Sometimes she wishes she was in that shitty remake of sixteen candles, the one with Debbie Ryan with the candles. so she can wish away her fucking life and have a whole new one.

She needed once of those stupid fucking candles the night she met him.

When she met Fezco O'Neil

She remembered the night perfectly, not because it was a magical night, it wasn't magical it was like those original Disney stories. The ones where no happy endings exist. She was promised one thing and was returned with something completely different. And it all started with a text. A fucking text.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: It's me Lexi Lu, Happy 16th Birthday.

She was currently watching the movie she promised herself to watch on her birthday, Sixteen Candles, the one with Molly Ringwald. When her phone buzzed she hoped it was Rue or one Cassie's friends wishing her a Happy Birthday but it wasn't.

It was her father. Gus Howard a coward.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Come out front, I have a surprise for you

Lexi had dropped her phone walking towards the window seeing an old battered car out the front with her father leaning against the framing, waving after seeing her looking out the curtains. Lexi knew if she walked outside that door something will change, and she wished she listened to that thought.

She grabbed her jean jacket which was covered by embroidered iron patches and badges she collected. Lexi reached for the handle of the door soaking in whatever actions she's about to do. What surprise does her father have for her? Is he clean? Is he going to sell her for drugs?

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Come on Lexs, Delilah's is going to close

Delilah's was their place, Gus had always taken Lexi for burgers and strawberry milkshakes on her birthday at Delilah's after something had come up at her 8th birthday party, he felt for his daughter and opted for Father Daughter time where they would go order the meals and then play blasted 90s-00s songs as they cruised around the town.

Now it had been three years and he was back to celebrate her 'sweet sixteenth' . She stood on the porch looking directly at her father as he smiled weakly in his pockets. "Happy Birthday baby." He took her into his arms for one of those 'fatherly hugs' but she couldn't count on him to just hug her. "I want a mega strawberry milkshake."

Gus just nodded leading her into the car as Lexi took one more look at the comfort of her house before hopping into the car. Expecting to be in front of the neon lit dinner in 10 minutes but fate had cruel plans for her day.