Twilight: Hey, what's going on with you Toboe?
Toboe: Huh? Me? Oh, I'm just doodling…yeah, just doodling.
Twilight: Really? May I see what your 'doodling'?
Toboe: -blushes- Um, maybe later Twilight, I mean, there are viewers wanting to read the story.
Anari: Twilight? Toboe? What are you guys doing over there?
Twilight and Toboe: -together- N-nothing!!
Stage 2: Leilani
Leilani and I just sat there, waiting for the others to come. Apparently, this really doesn't take long to grab stuff now does it?
"So…" Leilani started to say, "How's your birthday? Are you enjoying what's left of it so far?"
She places her hands on her lap like a proper rich lady would do. She was made to be a rich person. Not that I wanted to be a poor person and all, but rich people just do a bit…much.
"Um," I suddenly just cut off for a split second just because I heard a car door slam from outside. "We really didn't do anything yet. I just got here and Toboe showed me this detailed drawing of the two of us."
"I see…" Leilani smiled again, "It must be quite nice…"
"What do you mean by that?" I gave Leilani a sharp glance, but she continued to give me the creepy baby smile.
"I mean…" Leilani began, "You and Toboe would make such a great couple. The chemistry between you two…it's so, invigorating."
I blinked. Did she just say 'invigorating'?
As I looked towards her in the eye, I said, "Not to be rude but, nobody says words like 'invigorating' anymore."
Leilani didn't care. She continued to stare at the floor with a very dull expression on her face. I cannot take anymore of the awkward silence.
But, my wish came true when I heard Tsume and Hige back at the foot of the doorstep. They carried huge boxes…could they be presents for me?
Just as I opened the door to let them in, I suddenly heard Toboe coming down the staircase.
He shouted, "Took you guys long enough. Did you bring the cake and presents?"
Wait, there is a cake too? That's a new one. Like I said ten minutes ago, nobody else remembers my birthday except for mom.
As they opened the giant red box, I saw a chocolate fudge cake that looks way too good to resist. It beats the presents though (although, I didn't open any yet).
Toboe started lighting the candle, and Tsume and Hige stood there with their bottles of wine. Leilani got up from the chair and she hugged me tightly.
"Happy birthday cousin!" She said with the same, creepy baby smile on her face. I couldn't breathe.
She let go of me after a few seconds, and then Toboe was next to hug me the second (or third, but that doesn't count) time today.
"Yeah Happy sixteenth Anari!" He said, I couldn't help but feel the warmth for the first time. Celebrating my sixteenth birthday with friends…that's all I ever wanted for a long time. This was probably the best birthday yet.
"You guys," I began, as for everyone they turned to me. "Y'know, you didn't have to do this for me really. I'm just glad you guys came…but--,"
"But what Anari?" Toboe interrupted, "Is there something we've forgotten?"
"Well," I began a few seconds after Toboe stopped talking, "Actually there is one thing. Where are Blue, Cheza, and Kiba?"
"Oh, those three?" Hige said, "Well, apparently, they had other plans this weekend. Blue has gone on a road trip with Quent and she won't be back until two weeks, and Cheza and Kiba…well, who knows where they are."
"They probably got married and started to go on their first honeymoon." Tsume said with a crooked smile. Everyone else in the room burst out laughing.
"Oh well." I smiled, still couldn't get over Tsume's comment. "At least you guys came."
--
It's been already two hours, and everybody already finished the small cake. But I must tell you, it was super delicious.
Right now, we are in the middle of 'Truth or Dare', everyone's favorite game to play. Sure it is. It's more fun online let me tell you. Well anyways, it was supposed to be my turn until I told Toboe I needed to find the restroom.
I felt like I was going to throw up, from eating all the cake. I have this strange history of craving chocolate –seriously, everyone does– but I felt sick, so I rushed towards the toilet. After a few short minutes, nothing happened. Then I began to realize that my stomach must've calmed down.
So after when I washed up, I went downstairs. I bet they're still continuing the game without me, 'cause it did take a while for me to ease a little bit. It should be my turn already, so I rushed down the last few steps without any hesitation.
Just as I entered the room, I was shocked. Hige and Tsume already left, but not only that, I saw Leilani and Toboe French kissing as well. French kissing! I could feel the happiness slip away from my body, filling my insides with irresistible rage.
"Toboe!!" I screamed, "What the heck are you doing??"
His eyes burst right open as if he woken up from a fantasy-related dream. Both him and Leilani faced their eyes upon me.
"W-wha?" Toboe said, "Wait Anari, no, it's not what it looks like."
"Me neither." I said, my voice was cracking, "So, let me get something straight, when did you and Leilani started dating??"
"We didn't start dating!" Toboe said, even raising his voice. "We never did! Who said we started dating??"
"I don't know…" I said, on the verge of breaking into tears. "Maybe the girl who's been friends with you longer than anyone else!!"
"Anari, you better start calming down." Toboe started, toughing up on me. "Your sixteen and I'm seventeen. I'm a grown man, and a grown wolf. I could kiss any girl that I like."
"No, you're not a grown man. You're a grown child." I said, tears starting coming out of my eyes, "And you know what else? You didn't throw this birthday party just for me. You only did it to get me sidetracked so you could start kissing up the party with Leilani."
"What is she talking about Toboe?" Leilani smiled, placed both hands on Toboe's left shoulder. All I wanted to do was strangle her scrawny little neck.
"Y'know something?" I started to say once more, "I always knew there was sick people. But I never knew that they could be this sick. So, let me say one more thing Toboe, thanks for the birthday surprise, but once I step out of this apartment, I never want to see you again. Ever."
I grasped for my bookbag, and only took Hige and Tsume's presents with me. The two continued to stare at me and then I slammed the door in their faces. Hard.
So I quickly ran down the metal staircase, and into the rain. There was now sorrow running through my veins, the tears streaming down my cheeks as I continued to run into the dark parts of the city streets. This pain felt like I was stabbed in the back, bleeding on the floor, my heart slowing down by every second beat it makes. Man, it feels like I wanted to die right now. Why can't I just die? I would rather stay with my mom then being alone with a broken heart.
But I can't let this pain stop me, there's no way I will kill myself over something stupid as this. Heck, I'm a strong girl. I will survive on my own, without any guy's help.
I skidded into a stop. I thought instead of going home, I thought of visiting mom instead. What will she do in these sorts of situations?
The 'ColdHeart Cemetery' was just a few blocks away. I could tell because I could see the huge tombstones from half a mile. Just as I opened the gates, the place was mounted with tiny inches of snow. It looked like some sort of winter wonderland, only not so happy.
And the only thing I could do for now, is search for mom's grave.