As you read, you may be able to tell that Joy had quite the colorful language. (It's a bit obvious-I hope you realize that she swears. And it gets worse in later chapters, by the way.) I kind of imagine her that way, not really caring about waht others think, swearing like a sailor, and being a bit shallow. But she has a good heart, as you reader(s) will find out!

Disclaimer: I own HoA. *drinks Veritaserum* Okay, okay. I lied, I don't own it. And I also like to stay up late and eat snacks in the middle of the night... *smacks self* Why am I telling you this?

Chapter 2: Not My Party

I stopped in my tracks at the sight of her front yard. It was gorgeous; a stunning green lawn with a stone-paved walk towards the front door, beautiful flowers in soft brown soil were encircled by stones, and there were even little marble statues of angels and cherubs in various positions that were scattered around the yard.

"God, Amber. Stop being so damn rich," I muttered to myself as I made my way through the amazing yard.

Soon, I was at the front doors, which, yes, showed off Amber's money. They were huge oak doors, at least seven feet tall, and had tarnished silver knockers and silver door handles. One of these, also, was slightly opened, and I peered in curiously.

The lights were all off, but the huge windows in the room let in the natural sunlight that illuminated the vast room. There were glass tables on the sides of the front parlor/living room, and they were decorated with party streamers and platters of food. There was also a pile of colorfully wrapped presents near the curving staircase on the right side of the room. Across the banister of the stairs, there was a banner that was semi-blocked from my view, but I did see the words: Happy Birthday.

I opened the door to Amber's house, smiling widely. Anticipating the shout of surprise by all of my friends, but wanting to prolong the surprise even more, I quietly shut the door behind me. I turned back around, strode forward, and waited for my surprise.

"Fabian! Where are you taking me?" A girl's voice laughed through the huge doors, echoing around the empty room. The voice confused me for a few seconds, and I slowly turned my head towards the sound.

A shaft of light filled the room, and I knew the door had opened. "Huh, that's odd. Amber said she would keep the door open. Anyways, open your eyes." When I overheard that quiet, very familiar voice reverberate throughout the room, I stopped turning my head to look at them. That could only be one person: Fabian.

Suddenly, the lights flooded the room and a huge chorus of "Surprise!" rang in the air. I spun back around to face the five hidden people that had revealed themselves. There they were: Amber, Alfie, Patricia, Jerome, and Mara; all of my old housemates (besides Nina and Fabian, who stood behind me, and Mick, who I guess had wandered off to snack on more food).

The girl gasped and said, "You guys!" I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Happy birthday, Nina!" a high-pitched voice that could only belong to Amber resonated throughout the room.

The blood running through my veins froze in its tracks. I literally turned to stone, into a statue.

Nina? Did she say Nina? my mind asked. I tried to comprehend this new statement. Wh-What about me? Is anyone going to wish me a happy birthday?

"Oh! Hey Joy!" Patricia said. I lifted my head, seeing her pretty red hair was curled into ringlets down her back; even her fake highlights were curled. She never did anything with her hair unless it was a really special occasion-not even for my birthdays in the past.

"And . . . happy birthday to Joy!" Patricia cheered, trying to lead everyone to wish me a good birthday too. Everyone gave a mumbled sound of the phrase, nothing like the huge chorus I had come to expect. Not even the one that Nina had gotten; it was just a pathetic little cheer.

"Hey, guys," I said. "Um, what's going on?" I tried to crack a smile, but to me it just seemed completely fake.

"Uh, we were just throwing a surprise party for Ni- I mean you and Nina!" Amber told me, adjusting her baby blue sundress. She did not meet my eyes, which did not make me feel any better; it meant she was guilty of something, I knew it.

They forgot your birthday, Joy. They. Forgot, my mind repeated over and over. That's what they were guilty of. I pushed away the negative thoughts, silently trying to swallow the sudden lump in my throat.

"Yeah. We were all waiting for both of you to come in," Alfie added, lacing an arm around Amber's shoulder. Amber rested her head on his shoulder, still avoiding my gaze. Since when were those two together? I thought Amber was rejecting Alfie, they were never going out when I left . . .

"We made you a cake, too! Trudy didn't even help, it was all us!" Mara put in. I turned to her, seeing Jerome with his arm around her, his hand playing with her curly hair. Was everyone now coupled up into the craziest pairs?

Jerome pointed with his free hand to the table nearest him, gesturing to a lovely cake decorated with white and yellow frosting. There were frosting flowers that adorned the bottom of the cake, and they were beautifully crafted, I did not believe for one second that any of my housemates had made them. I also noticed that the cake was made of chocolate, and they knew I preferred vanilla.

"Thanks," I mumbled. "I don't really like chocolate or white and yellow frosting, but I'll try anything." I had to let the last sentence out, it was going to bug me for ages, even if I did sound like a whiny bitch.

"Oh, right. Well, we had chosen the flavors that Nina liked . . ." Fabian trailed off, and I finally met the eyes of the boy who should have known all of these specific details about me. His blue eyes were honest and gave a familiar sparkle that was nothing new to me. But the words were.

Nina . . . Nina . . . Nina . . . Her name swirled and spun through my mind. Giving off a loud, awful echo that left a crack in my heart. Everything is about Nina. She is the Chosen One. She replaced you as the popular girl of the house. She is Amber, Mara, and Patricia's best friend. She is Fabian's girlfriend. She is the new you.

I had to look away from Fabian's blue eyes, focusing on the pretty marble flooring with bits of sparkling gems interspersed throughout. I clenched my fists, digging my manicured nails into my palms.

Finally, she spoke: "Joy? Are you okay?"

I closed my eyes, flinching slightly at the sound of her voice. For a moment, I had forgotten she was there. I took a deep breath, swallowing back the sobs I wanted to cry right then and there. But, again, I was not a crier; Joy Mercer did not cry.

Nina looked really nice. Her normally frizzy hair was straightened and pulled into a messy bun with a few straggling locks on the side of her face. She was wearing a simple dark blue sundress with a bit of 1950's flair. There was a bit of embroidery at the ruffled neckline and a thin black, woven belt tied at the waist of the skirt. On the hem and the ruffle, there was a white trim, which complimented the colors nicely. She wore black, lace-up boots that were at least three-and-a-half inch heels with black lace tights. As accessories, Nina just had dark blue heart studs as earrings and a simple blue band with a black stone as its centerpiece on her index finger.

I had to admit: she looked incredible. The look was simple, yet understated, and fit Nina very nicely. For her, less was so much more. And I knew that no matter what I did, I would never be able to do the same.

I answered her question: "Yes, Nina. I'm fine. Let's just eat that cake already," I gave her a small, forced smile.

Fabian, who was in his usual plaid shirt, only with a pair of nice pants, guided Nina to the cake table. I followed, keeping my head down, trying to not look at anyone.

The sixteen candles that were on the top of the cake were lit with small yellow flames, which Nina and I blew out after everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to us, only including my name as an afterthought to the song. Not even Patricia, my supposed best friend, stuck up for me. I was truly alone.

Amber gave both me and Nina a knife to cut the cake. I tried to steady my hand but ended up cutting myself by accident. No one really came to help me, they were too busy fawning over Nina and her birthday wish.

I walked up the stairs to Amber's bathroom that I still remembered from so many years before, and every step I took was like a blow to my pride. When I reached the top, my pride had crumbled to bits, and I knew that my friends had abandoned me. If not abandoned, then forgotten me.

I entered the familiar bathroom that I remembered when I had been here a few years ago for my birthday; back when everyone still knew me, talked to me, liked me. When the house was my family. Now I had no one but a bitter father and a bunch of friends who were ignoring me. And my mother, but only in my heart; she would never be able to hug me and tell me everything was alright when I knew everything was so wrong.

I mulled over these thoughts as I washed my hands and bandaged the cut on my hand. I watched my reflection and, seeing my eyes shining with soon-to-be tears, I sucked in a quick breath. Again suppressing the urge to cry, I looked away and went back downstairs.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I spied them opening presents. What about the cake? Even though it was not my favorite kind of cake, I still wanted some of my sixteenth birthday cake. I wondered if I had any presents, since they had forgotten everything else about my birthday.

I heard Nina gasp in shock. "Oh my gosh . . . This is gorgeous." Everyone agreed, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the present. I craned my neck around to try and see what the present had been.

Nina put down a small black box, filled with a layer of red velvet, on to the glass table near the staircase. It must have been expensive if it contained red velvet. Then, she held up a silver chain with a gorgeous heart pendant at the center. Even from here, the heart glittered a brilliant sapphire in the sunlight drifting through the windows.

From the top of the staircase, I could see that the pendant was the outline of a heart, and the perimeter was encrusted with dark blue gems that looked like sapphires. It was, to put it plainly, magnificent. Again, simple and understated, like Nina: it fit her personality perfectly.

"Here, let me put it on you," Fabian said.

He took the chain at both ends, stood, and walked behind her. She held up her hair while he locked the chain together, letting the heart rest just below her collarbone.

The rest of the house was watching their every move, taking it in like it was a cheesy American film with cliche plot lines. The ones where the guys always got the girl with a glamorous present.

Fabian said, "It's gorgeous-like you." A ridiculous line that would make me laugh if I did not know Fabian. Even from way up here, I could tell he was dead serious. It was his expression: the unwavering gaze, the tone of determination in his voice, the set look in his eyes. In my heart, I knew it went so much deeper than that.

Fabian really loved Nina.

My mind automatically rejected the idea of him loving anyone but me. That was the past Joy. This is the present, I said to myself.

Nina glanced down at the glittering gem that rested over her heart, smiling slightly, a rosy blush over her cheeks. "It's perfect," she murmured.

She turned her head to meet Fabian's loving gaze, put a hand in his messy brown hair, and pressed her lips to his.* Everyone else said, "Aw!" at the sweet and romantic scene. Everyone but me.

That kiss was the dagger that shattered my fragile heart.

I could not take any more. I raced down the stairs, bumping into Nina on the way out. I glanced quickly back at her, with a short apology in my eyes that I hoped she would understand. Nina and Fabian had stopped kissing, but her hazel eyes stared into mine with confusion. She did not know what she did wrong.

She should know why I was leaving. She was the reason.

Tears finally escaped my eyes, ruining my eyeliner and mascara, creating black tear tracks down my face which was just one of the worst looks of anyone. I tried brushing them away with the back of my hands, but they just kept coming.

I burst through the front door, running through the glorious marble sculptures and down the lovely stone walk. I had to stop at the gate, fumbling for the lock at the bottom of the gate. Once I had figured that out and unlatched it, I continued to sprint through to the open road. I did not bother to call a cab, I simply ran to the corner of the pavement, sat down, and cried my heart out.

Fabian is awesome and gives Nina pretty jewelry! I wish I could get pretty jewelry... Heck, I wish I was dating someone... /3 (Wait, the heart symbol doesn't show up. Okay then: less than/three).

Ahem, let's not get into my non-existent love life. So...

See? Under all of that foul language, Joy has a heart. That, was shattered to pieces by her crush who gave his girlfriend a gorgeous necklace...

*clears throat* Anyways. Thank you for reading, you are very awesome for doing so. (Hmm, just realized as I'm writing this I'm saying it to myself in a British accent. That is what happens when you watch British YouTubers for a few hours every day, you begin to sound like them... o_O)

The asterisk is because the scene was imagined like Rose and Jack's kiss from the movie Titanic. Yes, that cheeesy kiss was the basis for Nina and Fabian's cheesy kiss. (:

Must sleep...

~Ary