Hello everyone! :) Thank you for all the nice comments, they really make my day. :) <3 Also, please always vote, don't forget that, and go back and vote for the chapters you didn't too, thanks. :) At first I always dedicated my book to someone, but now I never know who to. So the next chapter will be dedicated to the first person who comments on this chapter. :)
And... please don't kill me, but Liam isn't in this chapter so you'll have to wait a bit more with your Payzer questions... :P
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Chapter 12
Lacie’s POV
It was my birthday that day. My eighteenth birthday. A day every girl celebrates the happiest. The day of freedom. The day of joy. Well, it wasn’t to me. Before I always celebrated my birthday with Lily, and sometimes with my friends in Starbucks. But this year I didn’t have Lily. I didn’t have any friends. I talked to Amanda sometimes, who got really different the last few weeks, after Lily stole popularity, then her boyfriend from her. But she wasn’t really a best friend to me. She said happy birthday to me in school, which made me feel a bit happier, but everything changed when I got home.
I was walking home from school, watching my feet and kicking stones, then watching them land somewhere else. As usual. When I got to my house I automatically looked up, I didn’t have to watch the house (I lived there all my life and knew exactly when our house came, I could’ve even be blind) and I wanted to walk in, but what I saw froze me.
Men in uniforms walked in and out of our house carrying everything out. Tables, chairs, everything.
I ran to the door and tried to stop them.
„Wait, stop! What are you doing?! This is our house! Stop!” All of them ignored me until finally one of them stopped infront of me.
„Your house has been sold in auction” he told me.” Haven’t you got a letter telling you so? You probably didn’t pay the rent for a long time” he shrugged and went off.
I just stood there shocked. Yes, I remembered we got lots of letters warning us to pay. But no letters saying it was that bad. It probably got lost. Or my mum saw it but didn’t tell me. Or was too drunk to understand.
I ran from one man in uniform to the other begging for at least a few days more, but all I got was that I can unpack my room quickly.
I ran up the stairs and shut the door furiously. Where was my mother now? Where was she when I needed her? Where was she?! Why couldn’t she get her own pay so we wouldn’t be in this situation?! I believed it was hard, but bad things happen to everyone and she could’ve put herself together if she wanted.
I perssed my hands to my mouth to hold back bursting into tears. My throat was hurting from holding back so much tears but I didn’t mind anymore. I heard the people pack downstairs and didn’t want them to think I was weak. But I was. I never was a strong girl, although I tried to show it. My aunt’s death haunted me all my life and made me weak. Whatever happened to me I always eneded up thinking about her. Tears ran down my cheeks. I tried not to think of what just really happened. With us being homeless and without work and everything now...
I took out my bags from under my bed and started to pack my things in them when my phone buzzed.
I got a text from Emma:
Don’t forget. 6 pm in Starbucks.
Oh, yes. They probably made me a surprise birthday party. Well, it wasn’t really a surprise, because I knew they made me something and they knew I did too. Oh gosh, how am I going to tell them? I won’t tell them. I can’t. They’d be so sad. Maybe only Emma. Maybe she’d let me work more in Starbucks and maybe even sleep there sometimes. I realized again that I don’t have any relatives or friends except my mum.
I picked up my bags and went down the stairs holding back my tears. i hoped no one will notice I was crying.
I walked down the road and blushed as I saw every neighbour looking at me. They all knew me. Most of them pitied me or lookked disgusted. Most of them were here when my dad was taken away to jail. I didn’t mind leaving this place. This house reminded me of my dad and my aunt and everytime I walked down the stairs I saw my aunt falling on the floor pale.
When I got to Starbucks I silently stepped in and put my bags in a corner at a table. I didn’t want any of my friends here to see them. I started off to the kitchen, but suddenly jumped in surprise.
„Happy birthday, Lacie!” all of Starbucks’ workers stood infront of me grinning wildly, throwing confettis at me, with birthday hats on their heads and holding a big birthday cake.
„You remembered!” I gasped smiling.
„Of course we did!” exclaimed our cook.” Now c’mon, c’mon! We must eat the cake!” he ran to a table and put the cake down, everyone following.
„What’s wrong?” asked Carrie putting her hand gently on my shoulder.
„N-nothing...” my voice cracked. They were just so sweet. I knew they noticed something was wrong and it wasn’t just me getting emotional, but they pretended not to notice. This was a happy moment, and I didn’t want to ruin it. My eighteenth birthday.
„Wait, she has to wish first!”
„Oh, yes!”
„Go on, have a wish!”
„But don’t tell anyone, otherwise it won’t come true!”
My wishes never come true. Nevermind.
They sat me down infront of the cake and surrounded me. What should I wish for? What could I wish for? I only had one wish. Should I wish for Liam to love me? Should I wish for money? Or to be able to afford my university? Or for bullying to stop? Then I closed my eyes and wished for something else. I opened my eyes and blew.
„Yay!” everyone congratulated for me.
„Now, lemme give you some advice...” Marie, an older woman came to me after we ate the cake and put her arm around me.” Now that you’re eighteen and all, don’t you go doin’ crazy stuff, ya hear me? I don’t want you gettin’ in trouble, okay?” she looked harshly at me, but her eyes laughed. I nodded like a good girl.
„Yes, ma’am!”
„That’s my little lacie!” she hugged me heartily and I laughed.
After a while everyone went to do their own things and Emma pulled me to a corner. It was the corner where my bags were. Oh, dang it!
„Why are your bags here?” she asked quietly but hardly.
„I-I...” I looked away. Everything came back again and all my sudden happiness faded.
„What happened, Lacie?” she asked again.
„We didn’t pay the bills and our house is taken away from us...” my voice quivered. I barely heard my own voice.
Emma softened.
„Why didn’t you tell me you needed money that much? I could’ve helped you out...”
„I didn’t know either, mum probably hid those letters...” a tear slipped from my eye and I quickly wiped it away.
„Where’s you’re mum now?” she asked.
„I-I don’t know...” I admitted.” But I am eighteen now so they can’t take me away from her anymore because she’s drunk...”
„What about the drugs? Are there any left in the house?” Emma asked.
My eyes widened in realization.
„The police can take her to jail if they see those...”
„You’re right! I’ll go instantly and throw them away!” I turned to pick up my bags then thought for a minute.
„Can my bags stay here?”
„For how long?” Emma pulled up her eyebrows.
„Ummm...”
„Where are you going to go now, Lacie?” she asked seriously.
I dropped my arms and looked down.
„I thought... maybe... here...” I stammered.
„Here? Where?” Emma looked around.” Where do you want to sleep? At the tables? And wash? In the kitchen?”
I blushed as she said it, it really sounded silly.
„I don’t have anywhere else to go...” I whispered sadly.
Emma thought for a minute.
„I have a flat for renbt, you can live there for a few months...”
I looked up gladly and relieved.
„Really? Are you sure?”
„Of course” she smiled.” But you won’t be able to work here anymore. Your school isn’t too far from it if you go by bus, but you won’t be able to work here...” she looked down. It seemed like she would miss me too.
I frowned. All my friends were here.
„But you’ll visit me sometimes?” I asked hopefully.
„Of course!” she assured me.” And you will too.”
I hugged her. For the first time ever. I never dared before, but I did then.
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So... the first commenter gets a dedication next time. :) And don't forget to vote!! please! And fan! :) Thanks. :) <3