CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

Every part of my body tenses immensely as my foot takes the first step out of the classroom. I inhale sharply, two more weeks... two more weeks, I repeat to myself in my head. Nothing in my life has brought as much pain as the last week has.

Drifting through the hallway, I tune out everyone. My life has gone to complete shit. Multiple thoughts run through my dark mind. I need a sign... I need help. My gaze comes up for the first time since I left the classroom and see I am close to my locker. I fight the urge to break down right here and crawl into a ball.

"Anastasia," I jump when I hear my name being called and turn around with fear. My heart stops beating fast when I see it is just Paisley.

"You scared me." I tell Paisley looking around to make sure Henry is nowhere near me. I'm angry at myself for letting a man scare me to the point I'm hiding around the school.

I'm glad it is time to go home. I can't get out of here fast enough, even though I don't have a place to even call that and I'm starting to feel unwelcome at Paisley's house.

"Sorry, are you ready to go?" She asks me, and I nod my head. "Meet me at the car." she adds.

I turn back to my locker and retrieve my math and English books. When I have everything I need, I close the locker and walk towards the exit door.

As I walk out of those doors I begin to feel more like myself. At least until I see Henry with his friends standing by his car. This would happen to me with my horrible luck.

I stand for a bit trying to build courage, Paisley's car is in that direction and I have no other choice. I need to walk by them. I beg my legs to move, yet they are refusing to do so.

Inhaling and exhaling I hold my head high as I walk by him after all I didn't do anything wrong. He is the one who should be trying to avoid me. As I walk by I hear them talk about me. However, I don't look back. I continue to walk not letting them get to me.

"SLUT... ANASTASIA IS A SLUT." I hear Henry scream and I feel my blood boil. Still, I continue to walk until I arrive at the car. I get in and visibly relax.

"Are you alright?" Paisley asks.

"Yes, I just need to get out of here."

Paisley inserts the key and we are soon pulling out of the parking lot.

Paisley and I stare ahead to the steps of her house. There is a white box with a massive black bow neatly placed at the top of the brown steps.

"What is that?" I ask Paisley, but she doesn't answer me, instead she turns off the car and rushes out of it. I follow her to intrigued about the package.

Paisley grabs it and brings it inside the house. She places it on the cherry wood table and we stare at it together. I reach for the little envelope taped on top of the box and open it.

Life should not only be lived, It should be celebrated! Happy Birthday Anastasia.

I smile like a crazy person. I put the card down and open the box. My heart beats fast when I see the beautiful red lace dress. It has an open back and it looks like it hits just above the knee.

Underneath the dress there is a red envelope. I open it in the hopes I will find out who send this. I'm confused when I see an invitation. It is to the release book party of Gothika 2 from one of my favorite writers. Two V.I.P tickets fall out of it and Paisley and I jump like crazy. I'm going to meet my favorite writer. Who could of had done this? They even got the red dress Sofia wears for the Gala Gabriel invites her to in the book.

The tickets are dated for tomorrow which is technically my birthday. I'm excited. I didn't think I would be doing anything for my birthday.

"Who send this to you?" Paisley asks the question I am asking myself.

I continue to look around the box but there is no name... who could have done this? My parents wouldn't be able to afford something like this... There is only one person who could do this. Christian.

"Well who ever send me this is amazing!" I smile, "Are you down to party tomorrow?" I ask her holding the tickets out for her to see.

"Hell yes!" she giggles taking one of the tickets. "Can you believe we are going to meet Elizabeth Johnson? The amazing writer of Gothika."

We both giggle and the thought that Christian could of had done this gives me butterflies.

A/n: please comment:)