Hello my lovely daahhlings! Wow I haven't uploaded anything in such a long time...I missed you guys so much! Anyways, Happy Holidays! Here's my little present to you :)
Kendall's POV
I got out of my car and walked to the trunk to take out a week's worth of groceries. There were many bags to carry, but I knew I could do it. This part I always dreaded however; a bag would always slip from my clumsy hands and fall down on the lawn while I walked to the door to my house. And everything else would come crashing down. I sighed as I stared down at the numerous bags sitting in front of me, waiting to be carried inside. At least I only had to do this every other week.
As I started to grab a bag, a shiny red car pulled up on the driveway. My 16 year old daughter Sierra got out of the car, giving the car door a heavy slam. She walked away quickly in frustration.
"Sierra? Is everything okay?" I called out.
She stopped mid in her tracks. She turned around and looked at me, as a huge smile appeared on her face. "Daddy! I didn't see you there! Do you need help with the groceries?" She ran up to me and embraced me in a tight hug.
"Hey Darlin, how was your day?" I asked. "I didn't know you were going out; did you tell your brother?"
"Umm...no. He was busy studying," Sierra replied.
I sighed. "Sierra, you know you're supposed to have an adult with you when you drive. You're only on a permit, you can't officially drive alone til you're eighteen."
"No, I think they changed the rules for that or something recently. And I know I know, but I'm turning seventeen tomorrow right?" she said with a grin.
"Oh really? It's your birthday tomorrow? Wow...and you're turning seventeen?! I thought you were turning ten!" I joked.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed. I laughed and ruffled her hair.
"I'm messing with you darling. I just can't believe how fast you're growing up. Just a few days ago you were a chubby little girl who'd play dress up and have tea parties everyday. And now you're turning seventeen and you've become a beautiful young woman," I said with tears in my eyes.
"But I'll always be your princess, right daddy?" Sierra asked.
I smiled as I kissed her forehead. "Of course. Forever and always." Although she was in her teenage years, she was the most generous, loving, and helpful teenager I've ever seen. Most teenagers lock themselves up in their rooms all day long and disrespect their parents. But Sierra was the complete opposite. She was always so helpful and cared for everyone. And this is why I loved her so much and gave her whatever she asked for, another perk of being a millionaire.
"Well, those groceries aren't going to carry themselves right? The sooner we get them inside the faster we can whip up dinner," she said. "I had a long day," she sighed. "And I'm really hungry." She grabbed a couple bags and carried them into the house. I crossed my arms across my chest and watched her, laughing as she struggled with the heavy bags of milk. Before she could start whining, I grabbed a couple bags myself and followed her.
"Hey Sierra?" I asked.
"Yea daddy?"
"Can you help me wash the car after we're done with the groceries?"
"Aww daddy, I just got a fifty dollar manicure!" she whined.
"Oh come on. I can do your nails again for you, and for free too!" I said.
She laughed as she shook her head. "Alright. Let me go get the bucket and sponge."
I watched her scurry away into the garage. Who could ask for a better daughter?
Sierra's POV
After helping my dad wash the car, I went upstairs to my room to finish packing my backpack for the first day of school tomorrow. And yes, unfortunately it was also my birthday. But strangely, I was kind of excited. I loved meeting my teachers and getting to hang out with my friends again. It was a good summer, but I was kind of glad in a way that my junior year of school was starting.
"Sierra Mist! It's time for dinner!" my brother Shane called from outside my door. I rolled my eyes upon hearing him call me Sierra 'Mist.' He thought it was so funny. And ironically, ever since I was little, that has been my favorite soda.
I put away my backpack and opened my door. Shane was already halfway down the long hallway. "Hey, call me that again and I'll pour some Sierra Mist down your pants!"
"Not if I drink it all up first! Race you down!" Shane said. I ran down the hall way to the staircase. We had two sets of staircases; one on each side of the house. They curved up and lead to the upstairs portion of the house, where all the bedrooms and the theatre room were. Not to mention my two walk in closets and personal library. Perks of being the daughter of a millionaire I guess.
"Count of three. One, two-"
"Three!" I exclaimed, running down the stairs before Shane could even start.
"Cheater!" he yelled, as he ran down, taking two steps at a time, but I still beat him.
"Ha! In your face!" I said, sticking my tongue out at him. But he wasn't paying attention. He was running to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He grabbed the bottle of Sierra Mist soda and started to open the cap. And that's what I hated about him so much. He never used a freakin cup! How disgusting is it to drink out of the bottle like that?!
"Nooooo! Give it baaaaack!" I screeched, as I ran to him and tried taking the bottle way from him. Unfortunately he dodged and held the bottle above his head. He was significantly taller than me too. "Ugh Shane! That's our last bottle! And I wanted to save some for tomorrow!"
"Why what's tomorrow?" he asked nonchalantly as he slowly started to unscrew the cap.
I was about to smack him on the head for not remembering, but then I paused. And suddenly it hit me why he didn't want to talk about what tomorrow was. Shane didn't bother looking up at me for an answer. He just started playing with the cap, twisting it open, but then twisting it back shut.
"Um, nothing, never mind. You can have the Sierra Mist if you want. I'll just buy some more tomorrow," I said.
Shane raised his eyebrows, the way my dad always did when he was confused. He clicked his tongue. "No need, I already bought you some. It's in the other fridge. I was going to give it to you tomorrow. I remembered you know. Just 'cause mom-"
"Hey how come no one set up the table?" my dad asked, walking into the room. He had a towel wrapped around his wet hair like a woman would do to dry her hair. For a dad that was 39, he was pretty funny.
"Sierra Mist was fighting over herself," Shane said. My dad gave him a confused look, but laughed when he understood the joke. Sierra -me- was fighting over Sierra Mist, the soda.
"Shane, you do realize that if my last name was Mist, we wouldn't be related. You're Shane Caden Knight. Daddy is Kendall Knight. According to you I'm Sierra Mist. So I'm guessing there was some kind of a mix up when I was born and-"
"Sierra, please, for the hundredth time, you're not adopted. I think we've heard this story thirty times now. Now why don't you two set up the table. We're having guests over," my dad said wearily. "And Shane, for a twenty year old, I expect you not to tease your sister as much." He took the towel off his head and hung it on the door henge. He rubbed his eyes as he walked back to the cupboard to find the dinnerware.
"Sorry daddy," I whispered, as I rushed to the cabinet to take out the silverware. I felt bad for my dad; he seemed so tired these days. I couldn't blame him though; he was a hard worker.
"Who's coming over?" Shane asked.
"Uncle James, Aunt Alessia, and Uncle Logan. Uncle Carlos might come, if he leaves work early," my dad answered.
"Yes! Aunt Elsa's coming!" I cheered. "She can help me plan my outfit for the first day of school tomorrow!" Ever since I was little, I could never pronounce 'Alessia' so I called her 'Elsa' for short. And besides, she wasn't my real aunt. She was just a close friend of the family, like Uncle James, Carlos, and Logan.
"She's not coming, she's here!" exclaimed a voice from the kitchen entrance. I could recognize that voice any day.
"Aunt Elsa!" I exclaimed, as I ran to give her a hug. She was literally the coolest aunt ever. She had piercings everywhere, her hair was dyed like 3 different colors, and she had the coolest punk rock fashion style. You could never tell she was 37.
"Hey there, how's the birthday girl?" she asked, handing me a gift bag.
"Aunt Elsa, you didn't have to," I groaned. "But thanks anyway," I smiled as I put the bag away in a corner. I'd open it later when everyone was gone.
"Mmm, something smells really good!" I heard a voice say behind me. "Is that steak I smell?" another voice said.
I turned around and found Uncle James and Uncle Carlos. They too were holding gift bags.
"James, Carlos, what's this? You didn't have to, she already has enough," my dad said, taking the gift bags from them and setting them aside. I went up to Uncle James who gave me a hug and Uncle Carlos who practically squished me to death.
"So how old you turning kiddo? Twelve?" Uncle Carlos asked.
"Close," I said. "Seventeen," I laughed. Uncle Carlos's jaw dropped down as he shook his head.
"Weren't you just like ten the other day?" Uncle James asked.
"That's what I said!" my dad exclaimed.
"Dad, the dinner's getting cold," Shane said awkwardly.
"Shane!" Aunt Elsa, Uncle James, and Uncle Carlos all exclaimed simultaneously.
Shane smiled and gave them a wave. Then he served everyone as we all sat down. Steak, spaghetti, and bread rolls. And for dessert, we had raspberry cheesecake. After dinner I went upstairs to unwrap all my gifts and finish packing for school. Downstairs I could hear the adults talking.
"So, uh Kendall...what're you doing tomorrow?" Uncle Logan asked.
My dad sighed so loud I could hear it clearly from downstairs. "Well, I gotta do something right? It's her big day tomorrow."
"We know that, but we mean-"
"Look, can we not talk about it? Sierra already feels guilty about it every year. I'm not doing anything different this year. I'm taking flowers to her and then we'll probably go out for Sierra's birthday dinner," my dad said.
I cringed when I heard my dad say that he was taking flowers to 'her.' And he was right; I did feel guilty. Because of me she wasn't here anymore. I tiptoed out of my room and went out into the hallway so I could hear better. I silently sat on the first step of the wooden staircase. Daddy always said eavesdropping was bad, but I couldn't help it.
"Man, I miss her so much. It's like just yesterday she was running over to my house to tell me she was pregnant with Sierra. She was always so full of enthusiasm," Uncle James sighed.
I swallowed as a small tear strolled down my cheek. I stood up and ran back to my room before I could hear anymore. I quickly wiped my face with a tissue and fixed my mascara so my dad wouldn't know I was crying. My backpack was still sitting on top of my bed, waiting to be finished packing. So I cleared my mind of everything and decided to prepare every little thing for school tomorrow, including my outfit which consisted of a silver halter top with sequins and a chiffon navy blue high-low skirt. I heard everyone saying their goodbyes and leaving downstairs. I wanted to go say goodbye but I was pretty tired. I didn't even have the energy to open my presents.
As I got ready for bed, I heard a light knock on my door.
"Come in," I said.
My dad walked in the room with a small package in his hand. "A little something for you," he said with a smile.
"Aw, dad, you didn't have to! You've already given me so much!" I said. He sat down on my bed and sighed as he ran his hand through his golden blond hair.
"Actually, this one isn't from me. Here, open it," he said, handing me the gift. I carefully accepted it from him and stared down at it. It was delicately wrapped in sky blue tissue paper that was tied with a thin red ribbon. The tissue paper was slightly crinkled and a bit yellow on the sides. It looked like someone had wrapped it many years ago. I didn't know if I wanted to open it anymore.
"Go on, open it. I'm sure you'll love it," my dad whispered. I looked into my dad's eyes as he spoke, and something told me that I was correct about who the present was from.
As carefully as I could, I unfolded the tissue paper. Of course it tore a little here and there, but the rest of the paper was fine. Once I finished unfolding the paper, I froze. In front of me was the most beautiful hard cover book that said Diary in fancy letters. The book was a dark chestnut brown that was decorated with many doodles of flowers and hearts. And attached to it was a tiny silver lock. But where was the key?
"Ahem," my dad cleared his throat. "Um, in case you're wondering, I have the key. Here," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a dull, almost rusted silver key. He gently placed the little key in the palm of my hands. I could feel my hands shaking as I stared down at it.
"Your mom wanted you to have it for your seventeenth birthday Sierra. I've had it for all these years in my safekeeping. I was hesitant to pull it out today, but I knew your mother would never forgive me if I didn't give it to you. I know she was originally going to give it to you today but..."
"Thank you daddy. Thank you so much," I whispered as I embraced him. His warm and soothing familiar scent comforted me. I knew he needed me as much as I needed him.
"Well then, it's already eleven o'clock. And you have school tomorrow. I don't want you to start reading this tonight because trust me, you'll never go to sleep after you start reading. I wouldn't know though; I have no idea what she wrote in that book. But she wrapped it herself."
"Wow," I breathed. I let my hands glide across the light tissue paper. To think that my mother had wrapped this herself almost seventeen years ago brought tears to my eyes.
"Well then, I'm heading off to sleep now, and I expect you to as well. And do me a favor Sierra. Stop growing up so fast," my dad said as he placed a soft kiss upon my forehead. "Goodnight baby girl," he said as he left my room, softly closing the door.
I got up and turned out the lights. Then I grabbed my iPhone and turned on the bright flashlight. I shined the light above the book. The small key rested in the palm of my other hand. I swallowed and slowly put the little key inside the lock with shaky hands. There was a small click, and the lock came off. Did I really want to read this tonight?
I took a deep breath and opened the hardcover. On the first page written in cursive was "To my gorgeous girl Sierra on her 17th birthday." I flipped to the next page and read the small note she had written to me.
"Sierra,
Happy 17th Birthday! Wow you're growing up so fast! It's like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant with you. You have grown up to be a gorgeous and intelligent young woman. You make me proud to be your mother. And now you're wondering how I can call you gorgeous and intelligent if the date of this note is before you were even born. Well darling, as I write this, I am still pregnant with you. My due date is coming soon (maybe even tomorrow or some time next week!) and I can't wait to see your beautiful face. But I planned to give you this book on your 17th birthday, so technically I'm writing to the future you. Through out my life, ever since I was your age (which you are turning 17 today) I have kept a diary. I wrote journal entries every single day. However, each journal entry is written in a story format. So some things are exaggerated and there are many many details. This book is pretty much an account of my entire life. I do however have to give a disclaimer about one entry in this diary. Your father actually wrote one entry towards the middle of the book. You will understand why when you reach that point of the book. Also, like I said, since this is an account of my life, there are many things that may make you happy, sad, mad, excited, or even angry. But I beg you please, do NOT take your anger out on your father. He loves you so very much and there are some things that will make you angry at him. But you have to make a deal with me. In exchange of my gift to you, you must keep all emotions to yourself. Your father is aware of this, so he will be expecting a little emotional change in you. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this very much. Think of it as a story rather than a diary; you'll enjoy it much more. Feel free to ask me any questions about it, since I technically am the author. I love you very much Sierra, and I promise to always be there for you. Happy 17th Birthday! :) "
A small tear dropped down on the page, and I quickly closed the book before my tears could mess up the ink. She promised to always be there for me. What a lie. She said I could ask her any questions that I had about the book. No I couldn't. I couldn't anymore 'cause she was freakin dead! Why did she have to write something like that?! Didn't she know she was going to die? Weren't there any signs at all? She wrote this note while she was still pregnant with me, thinking that she would give it to me herself when I turned seventeen. I guess I couldn't blame her though. It was my fault she was dead now. She had died giving birth to me. And to this day I still felt miserable about it.
However I was still anxious to find out exactly what had happened in her life since my dad never really told me anything. And Uncle James, Carlos, and Logan and Aunt Elsa were also forbidden by my father to ever speak about my mother. I wiped away my tears with the back of my sleeve and reopened the book. I touched her name that was engraved onto the cover. "Skylar Brynn Woods." It had been engraved before she was married to dad, or else it would have been "Skylar Brynn Knight."
I took a deep breath and turned to the second page where the first entry began.
If you enjoyed this chapter and can't wait to read more, please please please leave me a review! Love you! :)
