Unconditional Validation

Chapter 8

"Okay everyone! It's cake time! Let's all gather by the kitchen!" Brianna said through a microphone that somehow appeared in her hands.

Everyone, and I mean everyone at the party, crowded by the kitchen. The girls and I were huddled towards the back of the group, but we could still see Justin and his friends. We all sang happy birthday to him, and Aaron brought a small cake to Justin. He placed it down onto the kitchen's island counter in front of Justin. When we finished singing, Justin blew out the candles and removed them. As soon as he did that though, Ryder and Aaron smushed Justin's face into the cake! It got all over his face and shirt. Everyone, including Justin, laughed at what just happened.

"Don't worry everyone! We've got cake for you guys!" Brianna explained through the microphone, while the guys brought out four other big chocolate and vanilla cakes.

"While you guys do this, I'm gonna go change, again", Justin laughed through the microphone, and then walked up towards his room. There were some laughs from his statement.

When most of Justin's friend group were handing out plated pieces of cake, I noticed Killian standing by looking around! My heart started racing because I really didn't want him to know that I came to Justin's party. I nervously started looking around for the nearest exit. I froze when my eyes spotted Killian looking directly at me through the crowd! He gave me a devilish grin when he noticed that I was starting to panic.

Oh no! I panicked to myself. Shit! I hope he doesn't do anything!

I was about to cry because I think he read my mind and was about to do the opposite. Killian grabbed the microphone from the kitchen counter and turned it on! I was trying to brace myself for the worst. If the universe had it out for me, well it probably did have something against me, but for what reason! On top of everything going on, Justin came back downstairs. However, he headed to the basement instead of going to the crowd.

"Hey everyone!" Killian began, "I think you all should know something."

"Uh oh, he's gonna do it", I muttered to Skyler while she looked at me confused.

"If I ruin the party, my bad, butttt" Killian continued talking.

I just wanted to escape to the basement as well, but it felt so far away.

"It looks like we've got two secret superstars or you can call them famous, whatever, but they've been hiding at our school. They're also here as well!" Killian spat out the last part with a hint of venom in his voice.

There was some gasps and then the crowd started to murmur amongst themselves. I looked at Skyler and we had the same scared look on our faces. America was trying to hide us behind her, but was struggling because of a tipsy Meghan. Killian pointed in our direction to expose us.

"It looks like the twins, or should I say triplet siblings, have some famous words to say. Don't you Tyler and Skyler Blackwell?", Killian smirked.

The crowd all turned to look at me and Skyler, mostly with confusion at first. I saw some of their eyes sparkle from our names being mentioned. My panic and anxiety was rising quickly again.

"I wonder who could be the third triplet?" Killian drunkenly asked the crowd.

I looked at Ryder and he had a look of sheer terror mixed with a bit of anger. Of course, Killian saw that I was looking at Ryder. I knew what was coming and I couldn't help but feel bad for him.

"It's you! You're their other triplet sibling!" Killian turned towards Ryder with an accusing point of his finger.

"What?" Ryder asked, pretending to be confused.

"You heard me! Why would you hide this?" Killian drunkenly laughed.

I couldn't take it anymore at all. The pressure from my anxiety and panic was just too much to keep down anymore! I just booked it to the basement with tears welling up in my eyes.

Why?! Why would he do this? Especially to his "best friend"? I can't be seen out anymore! I thought to myself while trying not to burst into frantic tears while weaving through the people who were talking and oblivious to what happened upstairs.

As I was trying to find a place to hide, I heard Skyler and the girls trying to keep up with me while calling out to me. I decided to wait for them while fighting the tears back.

"Hey, let's go into that guest bedroom okay?" Skyler rubbed my back while pointing to the room with its door open.

I could only nod in response because if I did speak, it would've been just tears instead. The four of us walked towards the room, but stopped in our tracks when we heard two voices arguing in there! One was Justin, and the other one to my surprise was Brianna! I didn't see her come down at all, that was weird. We crept closer to hear better.

"Brianna, can you please not do something that you'll regret?" Justin asked, sounding like he was getting more annoyed.

"But I wouldn't regret this", I heard Brianna respond in a slurred and seductive voice. I shuddered at it.

"I can't do that, we're just friends!" Justin exclaimed.

"So? What does that have to do with this?" Brianna disgustingly purred.

Before anyone could react or say anything, Brianna drunkenly crashed her lips onto Justin's! My heart sank into my stomach with what I saw before me. I couldn't be in this house any longer! I turned and ran out of the basement backdoor. I heard Skyler and the girls calling out after me, but I ignored them. Since there wasn't any fencing to this house, I ran around the perimeter and ran in the direction towards my house. Even though I wasn't really athletic, I ran so fast with lots of tears pouring down my face. Every part of me was wishing to just be in my bed already, not wanting for my classmates to see me ever again. When I got home, I realized that I'd left my bag in America's car, but I could get it back later when Skyler would be here. I had my phone though because I felt it in my pocket. Our parents were already asleep when I walked in, so I quietly went to my room. After changing out of my clothes, I headed to plug up my phone so I could just go to bed.

Why? I thought I was having a good time. I thought being normal for once was going to be fun. I thought to myself while I silently cried myself to sleep.