FRIENDS.

Dress Up.

Ari's POV:

"Almost finished" the lady doing my makeup said while playing with my lips

"I hope you did something natural like I asked"

"I did even though your mom wanted something different. I tried my best to give you that natural finish though"

My mom was really forcing it. She's making me wear makeup to this stupid event my dad hosts every year for his job. He owns a couple chemical plants around the country and every year he holds this huge party for the workers at our house. It's only the workers at the local plant that's coming though. The others were invited if they had the time to come.

"Awww sweetie. You look gorgeous" my mom said getting teary eyed

"Ugh mom! Please don't start with the fake tears. I hate this"

"Can you at least try to look happy for today? Your dad is making a huge announcement later on tonight and I need you to socialize a lot tonight and be more girly"

"Why should I pretend to be something I'm not? I'm not girly. And how do you expect me to be happy when Carter doesn't even have a house to stay in right now. Her siblings are all sprawled out with different families. My best friend is homeless basically"

"You're so dramatic some times. Carter is NOT homeless. She's at an orphanage. A GREAT orphanage at that!"

"You just don't get it. She's in an orphanage at 17 years old! Nobody will ever adopt her...then she's about to be 18 so they're going to kick her out when her birthday comes then she'll have nowhere to go! When we have more than enough space and money to welcome her here"

"That little girl is not staying HERE. And that's final. Are you crazy!? She might start acting out when she gets here! Did you see her crazy ass momma!? I been told you stop hanging around that girl and the rest of your little friends!"

"No I'm a human with A HEART. Something you might be lacking" I quickly got up then was headed for the door

"WAIT! Lexi can you excuse us?" The makeup artist quickly left

"If you behave tonight I will THINK deeply and thoroughly about adopting Carter. ONLY if you're on your best behavior. You actually act like a lady tonight and you have to socialize with everyone"

"I promise. It's a deal" I shook her hand then she left

All I have to do tonight is pretend to be somebody I'm not which should be easy. I've been doing it for so long now it should be a piece of cake. At least I hope it will.

This party really sucked. Plus I've been thinking about carter all night long. I'm ready to get this night over with so I can go to sleep and pretend like this never happened. I heard a glass clink so I looked up to see my dad standing up with my mom right next to him

"Good afternoon everybody! I hope you all are enjoying your night! Remember it's an open bar and drinks are nonstop. Um Arian baby. Can you join your mother and I up here?" My dad smiled at me

I walked up and everybody clapped. The bright light shined in my eye damn near blinding me. Lord can he just say what he has to say and get this over with. I managed to see the news crew here and it really bewildered me

"As you all know, all of my fifteen plants are making billions of dollars. I am a generous donator to several charities and I even help small businesses. All my life people have thanked me for my generosity, but tonight.... tonight I thank all of you" he raised his glass as everybody clapped. I clapped too

"Thank you all for sticking with me and working with me for so long. I know every single one of my workers everywhere and I thrive on getting to know you all on a personal level. Although this has to be my favorite plant out of the others because I love my city, it is not the one that brings in the most money. Which brings me to this. My family and I have decided to leave Louisiana. We all have been dying to let you all know we will be relocating to California."

Everybody cheered and some of his workers cried. I was in total shock as well as my mom by the look on her face. She quickly shook it off and clapped while tears rolled down her cheek. I was not clapping because I was not happy. I refuse to leave my friends, my senior year, and everything else behind. We've been doing so well in Louisiana. Why would he make this announcement without talking to us? I ran off the stage and into the house

"Arian! Ari!" My mother ran after me. "Why would you run off like that!? Are you trying to embarrass your father!?"

"FUCK HIM!"

"ARI! WATCH YOUR MOUTH!" She screamed louder than me. My dad walked in

"What the hell is your problem!? Embarrassing me like that?"

"What is your problem!? Making those type of decision without consulting us." I said while pacing

"Damn. I didn't know I had to ask MY CHILD for her permission to move"

"I didn't want you to ask for my permission! My opinion would've been helpful! I'm the one who has to leave everything behind!"

"So you think I'm not leaving anything behind!? You think this was easy for me!? I have to go with the money!! If the money is in Cali then fuck it that's where we are going! I started all this for YOU ARIAN! I don't do this shit for me!!"

"Oh please. Don't give me that I do this for you because I love you bullshit. That only works in movies! This is real life. I'm leaving my friends, my senior year of high school, my memories, my college, CARTER!" My head started to hurt. Oh my god I'm leaving carter

"All you think about is carter. Carter this. Carter that. Damn! If I didn't know any better, then I would've thought you were gay!" My dad laughed. It got quiet

"I am gay dad and I do like carter. Mom, Im sorry but I can't do this any more" I sighed. They both looked at me

"No you're not Arian. It's just a phase. You can't be gay. Are you kidding me?" My mom laughed as tears rolled down her cheek

"No it's not a phase. I been gay. I feel as though I was born this wa-"my dad cut me off

"That is complete and utter bullshit! There is no such thing as being born gay! How tf could you be born gay!"

"How could you be born straight!?" I got offended

"Ari look. There is a right and there is a wrong. God created eve for Adam. He created a woman to be with a man. Not a woman to be with no damn woman! And a man to be with a man! That is not RIGHT! I refuse to let my daughter live in sin!"

"God created Adam and Eve Ari. Not Adam and Steve" my momma agreed with my dad. I thought for a second

"And your mom was telling me about carter. Since you have this huge ass crush on her. I find it completely inappropriate to allow her to live here with us and that's FINAL" he was about to walk out

"BUT DAD! PLEASE! I PROMISE ILL DO RIGHT! I'LL DO ANYTHING" I begged him

"Stop begging. It's pitiful and I said that's final"

I watched as they both left out to return to the party. I really fucked up by letting them know my real feelings. I let my words out too quick. I really ruined it for carter