Chapter Seven: One Perfect Day
I AM SO SO SO SO SORRY! I'VE HAD A ROUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH SCHOOL AND MY FAMILY! IN FACT I'M GROUNDED AND MY PHONE PRIVILEGES HAVE BEEN REVOKED!
Yeah, I'm not even allowed to use Fanfiction right now, but I am for you guys. Anyways, the reason I'm grounded is because I haven't been very responsible lately and I'm sort of in a depressed area. So please be patient with me. But heads up! This chapter has one of my favorite scenes in it...bonus points for who guesses it at the end. LOTS OF DRAMA AHEAD!
YourEnchantingDesire: I loved Aro 'pitch-slapping' Kathleen...Nye-ha! Yes, I'm keeping this story as canon as possible and having him still married to his one true love, Sulpicia.
Ethel: I appreciate that you find my story, 'awesome'.
Guest1: Okay, I need a name for you, because you make my day when I see your reviews. Whoever you are. Yes, Aro understands French. Remeber, he and Helen both told Ramona that Kathleen was asking for her credentials?
Cutie Bunny: I am so glad to have you back!
Guest2: Consider this an update my friend!
Guest3: Don't give up on me yet!
Do it big, do it right, and do it with style -Fred Astaire.
"I think my weirdest year was when I was nine. I was desperate for my pointe shoes, I didn't have my bond with Wes yet, and my Dad would was working too much, so I went through this period of rebellion. Then, October twenty-second arrived, I was ten, my party was planned, and I wanted everything to be perfect. I wanted a princess themed party with frilly, pink dressed and even frillier, pink ribbons. My Dad had gotten everything, a clown, a pony ride, even hired someone to decorate the backyard. And then chaos unfolded. The clown, who was middle aged, clumsy, and had crummy balloons, was tripped into the cake by Allie, unintenionally and indirectly hurting my feelings. Second, the pony was an aging an fragile donkey ironically named 'Lightning'. Wesley, who was fourteen and a trouble maker, jumped on his back and broke him. Finally, rain and thunder poured down from the sky, I threw a fit and ran off into the forest, my Dad trailing after me, pleading for me to come inside. The sun then peaked out and turned the rain drops gold, and the creek made the biggest rainbow I had ever seen, I looked around and realized that even though my party did not go as planned, something good had come from the bad."
Helen could barely sleep the night before because of two reasons. One, because Kathleen was in the room adjacent to her's, snoring like a grizzly bear. Second, because today was her fifteenth birthday! Like most teens, she enjoyed that giddy, childlike feeling she got when she awoke from her five-hour sleep.
The morning sun shone through her stained glass window and made her room covered with speckles of the sun. The perfect mood for her birthday. Helen pulled herself from the warmth of her soft, green sheets and walked to her dresser. After rummaging through the stacks of clothes, Helen pulled out a maroon colored sweater, blue jeans, and a pair of 1460 black Doc Martens.
Helen straightened up her room, brushed her hair into a braid-wrapped ballet bun, put on nude colored eye make-up, and black mascara. The last thing she needed to hear in the morning was Kathleen bitching at her because of her appearance.
She walked down the stairs and was hit with a heavenly and mouthwatering scent coming from the kitchen. Helen curiously walked towards the delicious smell and was absolutely shocked by what she saw.
There in front of the stove, dressed in a pale colored nightie that practically covered nothing, was Kathleen.
'Well, I guess Aro was right when he said Kathleen wanted to see Dad again,' Helen thought nervously.
"'Elen!" Kathleen said happily when she noticed her standing there. "Bonjour, chéri! Oh and may I add, 'Appy Birthday!"
"Thanks," Helen said with a nervous smile. She walked to the fridge and grabbed an apple, "what are you making?" She asked when she noticed the pan.
"Brouillade de Truffes," Kathleen said with a dramatic sigh, "along with pain au chocolat in de oven. I know 'ow leetle dis kitchen gets used, and I don't want you, Wesley, or 'Enry to starve."
"...Okay. By the way, for those of you who don't know French cuisine, Kathleen is making eggs with black mushrooms and chocolate crossaints. And I'm going to point out now that my brothers and I are not starved!"
"Um, thank you."
Kathleen beamed at her and then suddenly cocked her eyebrow, "chéri, could you please explain de reasoning behind dis...outfit you 'ave on?" Helen rolled her eyes and stared in disbelief, "what's wrong with it?"
"I 'ad 'oped zat some of my taste 'ad been passed on." Kathleen sighed again.
"Well, I don't like to wear anything that takes longer for me to change out of or to change into," Helen said defensively. "Oh!" Kathleen pursed her lips, "zat's better, I thought you were trying to look ugly."
Helen squeezed the apple in her hand very tightly. If this was just breakfast, she got the nervous feeling that Kathleen would be extra horrible tonight. Wesley and Henry soon walked into the room and the elder seemed more focused on Kathleen's nightie, while the younger was focused more on the food.
"'Ello my leetle ones!" Kathleen said in a chipper tone as a contrast to her condescending voice. She used a spatula and placed the eggs on a nearby plate. "'Ow did you sleep?"
"Fine," Wesley spoke as though she were a pest.
"I've never had eggs on a weekday before!" Henry said in amazement, "thank you so much, Mom!" At that comment, Helen and Wesley exchanged worried looks as the color drained from their faces. They couldn't help but pity Henry for never having a maternal influence, but they could not let him envision Kathleen as it. She may be a Mom, but she was not a Mother.
"It was nothing, mon plus petit. I cook like dis all ze time in France."
Henry walked over to the counter near the stove and looked her in the eye, "do you think I could come there sometime?" At that note, Helen stepped in before Kathleen could answer. "So Wes, did you show Kathleen the old tree in the woods?"
"Not yet," Wesley said with wink, noticing what she was doing. "If you're up for it, Kathleen, I can show you before I leave for school."
"Zat would be wonderful, mon amour," Kathleen beamed, "you are a senior, no?"
"Yes I am."
"'Ave you decided what college you will be going to?"
'Oh no.'
"Actually," Wes said nervously, "I'm not going to college next fall."
"Excuse me," Kathleen stared in disbelief, "what?!"
"Yeah," Wesley said with more confidence, "I'm going to get an apartment and figure out what I want to do." Kathleen narrowed her eyes in disapprovement. "Does Richard know about dis?!"
"He does, and he supports my decision to do what I want with my life, as long as I have a plan."
"You are throwing away your education, Wesley," Kathleen huffed.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Either way, it's my decision, not yours." Wesley said dryly. Kathleen's face turned red and she turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.
"Hey!" Henry cried in frustration, "leave Mom alone! You aren't being very nice!"
"Henry," Helen tried to explain softly. "You don't want Kathleen here, you just don't know it yet. She'll disappoint you, just wait. Wesley and I are just trying to protect you from her and her drama."
Henry frowned at his older siblings. He still didn't believe them about Kathleen. Helen once again felt the feeling of pity swell in her chest. It just wasn't fair for the boy.
Helen didn't see Sydney or Aggie in the changing room that morning. She quickly knew why. Looks like Syd and Aggs had planned something special, and as usual they were going to surprise her.
'I wonder what the little mice have planned for Cinderehelen?'
The braid-wrapped ballet bun remained for class, it was tradition that the girls had upheld since the first learned how to do their own hair in sixth grade. braid-wrapped buns were for birthdays and doughnut buns for holidays.
"Hey little dutch girl!" A third year put on her black leotard said. "Nice style!"
"Ja!" Helen teased. It was the word for 'yes' in Finnish. She pulled on a pair of bright coral knit legwarmers, and then headed into Repertoire. There was still no sign of Sydney or Aggie.
Class hadn't started yet, not for another few minutes. But there was still no sign of her friends. Now Helen was worried, presents from them were always top notch, but she didn't want them to get in trouble with Ramona. Aro wasn't here either, then again, when she thought about, Aro kind of traveled in and out on sunny days. Did he not like the sun? Nah. He probably just likes being outside when it's sunny like this.
Helen quickly brushed off the thoughts she had about Aro. It shouldn't be good if she thought about him this much. He was her patron, not her BFFL. I mean, she did care about him, and she'd have to be an idiot not to notice that he didn't care about her. She was just worried that he might think she was just some dumb bimbo who would just sleep her way to the top. Should she call and ask him not to come, or was that rude?
"Good morning, my sweet." Aro's velvety tone rang in her ear. "I trust you are well on your day of birth?" Where in the hell did he come from?! However, all of her nerovus thoughts seemed to wipe away as he placed one of his ice cold hands on her shoulder.
"I am. I just wish I knew where Syd and Aggs are." Aro chuckled slightly, "I saw your two lovely little friends in the hallway. However, they have forbidden me from speaking of what they have brought you."
"Fair enough." Helen smiled happily. Aro raised his hand and brought it to her face as to be able to stroke her cheek. Helen, nervously backed away. "Not here." She whispered loudly, "I know why you do it, but they don't. People might form a different idea."
Aro nodded with disappointment. He turned away from her and walked over to his usual seat. Helen noticed the large, black umbrella in his other hand. "It's not raining, you know?"
"Yes Helen," Aro said happily, "I do not care much for the sun, but I did not want to miss anything today."
"Thanks." Helen said.
"Alright, ladies!" Ramona Vasquez said loudly to the entire class. "It's time for class! Warm up! Pique turns!" Helen kept her place at the barre. Where were her friends?!
"Helen, where are Sydney and Agatha?" Ramona asked while walking over to the barre for her usual inspection.
"Umm, I honestly don't know." Helen bit her lip. Seconds later, her blonde friend and dark brunette friend ran in, panting and out of breath. Helen noticed a large, green-wrapped and silver bowed box in Aggie's hands.
"Where have the two of you been?!" Ramona barked. "You are late!"
"We're sorry, Ramona." Sydney said innocently, "but we had to wrap this, and it's not our only present, and the other one is bigger and heavier, and then we had to change, and-"
"Enough of your babbling, O'dell!" Ramona's tone grew even fiercer. "You know the rules. If you're late to my class, you're not allowed in my class! Both of you, leave!"
"Wait!" Helen chimed in. "It's not their fault. Sydney and Aggie were doing all of this for my birthday today."
"Hendricks! I know we all thrive on being in the know of your social life, but I ask nicely that you keep the activities outside of class!" Ramona pointed to the door and looked at Helen. "Do you think you can do that?!"
"Yes ma'am," Helen mumbled and walked out of the room behind Sydney and Aggie.
"I'm sorry," Helen said while shutting the door. "I didn't mean to get you both in trouble."
"Helen, it's cool." Aggie assured.
"Yeah, it's our fault. We didn't plan on how long it would take us to get to class." Sydney said with an apologetic smile.
"I've never been kicked out of class before." Helen stated while looking dreamily through the window, "it feels wrong."
"That only lasts for the first time," Sydney teased.
"Whatever." Helen snorted, her eyes then fixed on the present in Aggie's hands. "So, what did you get me?"
Aggie and Sydney both grinned mischievously. Her dark haired friend held out the package to her, Helen examined it cautiously. "See for yourself." Sydney beamed. Helen slowly pulled the ribbon off. If there was some kind of prank in the box, she needed to brace herself. She picked up the lid and inside the box was something wrapped with white tissue paper.
'Okay, I can lower my shields. No hostile force is present.' Helen mused to herself.
Helen picked the item up and noticed it was reasonably heavy, and felt like it was stone, maybe clay. She unwrapped the tissue paper and was amazed with what she saw. A medium sized picture frame with pale pink ribbons wrapped around the black, wire sides. The picture was very heart warming, it was Helen and her friends, and Allie, on the day they all got their first pointe shoes five years ago. She chuckled at their old appearences. Helen had messy braids, hideous bangs, and was missing her two front teeth. Sydney's braces made the camera's flash reflect off her mouth. Aggie had her large, round silver glasses, and bushy hair that was attempted to be restrained by a headband. Allie was the only one of them who seemed to be the cute little girl with her silky hair and rosy cheeks. It was laughable, how awkward looking Helen, Sydney, and Aggie were as children. It was perfect.
"Guys!" Helen sobbed with joy, "I love it! Look at us, we're so awkward!"
"Told you she'd love it!" Sydney told Aggie with glee.
"Wait, these ribbons..."
"All from our first pair of shoes. We had to beg your Dad to let us have them." Aggie explained.
"Thanks guys!" Helen squealed and wrapped them both in a group hug.
The three girls waited paitiently for the bell to ring and send them to Jazz with Alby 'Bojangles'. At last the familiar ring occured, and out came Allie Alexander laughing like a hyena with Grace and Lana. No doubt she was joking about Helen. Aro floated out of the classroom and approached Helen.
"Are you alright?" He asked with worry.
"Yeah, it's not like I haven't exactly had drama recently." She giggled and held up the picture frame that Syd and Aggs had given her. "Look, I'm hideous!"
Aro took in the sight of her unfortunate and youthful appearence, almost enchanted. "Such a cute little girl," he professed.
"That would be Allie that you're looking at. I'm the jack-o-lantern with the five-dollar haircut."
"Miss Alexander pales in comparison to you, dearest. What is your age in this portrait?" Aro said in a feathery tone.
"Ten years, three months, two weeks." She chuckled, "I'd been counting the days until I was allowed to start pointe. I swore to Syd and Aggs that we'd all be ready on the same day."
"You are so young, so innocent." Aro breathed and quickly ran his finger over her cheek. "So beautiful."
Helen blushed and strolled into Jazz. He had a way of making her feel so special.
Apparently, this was the day that would go by in a blink of an eye. Figures that this would happen when Kathleen wasn't actually here. Well, Helen had rode home in her Dad's Cadillac as fast as the speed limit would allow. According to him, Carole was at the house helping Kathleen set up and prepare the food.
"If we get there and one of them is cleaning a butcher knife, we know what happened." Helen snorted.
"I asked Carole to not bring up our relationship in front of your mother. Save everyone an earful." Richard explained.
As they pulled into the road, Helen dashed out of the car and into the house. Not taking in what was going on with the house, and hurried to her room to shower and make herself all pretty.
She threw two different dresses down on her bed. Sydney and Aggie had just came over as per their agreement and did her hair and make-up. Helen's braid-wrapped bun had been taken out, and her ginger curls had turned into ginger lines. Smoky eyeshadow, black mascara, and pale pink blush adorned her fair face. Peachy lipstick complimented her lips and made it seem that she was not wearing any make-up at all. Perfect.
The two dresses had two different personalities. One was a sleeveless black that wrapped around her neck and stopped just an inch above the knee. It would be paired with black two-inch high heels that would make her five-foot-four. The other was a bright red cocktail dress with a sequined skirt and silver belt. It would finish with ivory flats.
"The red one is two Christmas-y." Sydney remarked. Her wavy blonde locks had been pulled into a half-up-half-down style and she was wearing a creamy pink, sleeveless cocktail dress.
"I second that," Aggie assured. Her straight chocolate hair had been curled and headbanded. Her white, form-fitting, sleeveless dress with a black sash containing a black flower was stunning against her tawny skin.
"Okay, black it is."
Helen removed her white bathrobe and slid into her little black number, all while Syd and Aggs kept her hair from messing up. "So I heard that Aro's coming tonight." Sydney giggled, "how are things between you guys?"
"Good. He didn't think we were hideous little ten year-olds." Helen said while Aggie helped her into her heels.
"Exactly what is going on with you and him?" Aggie asked in a concerned voice.
"It's not what you think," Helen assured. "We don't like each other romantically. It feels like something more."
"I also heard that Allie and her crew are going to crash." Sydney said dryly, changing the subject. "Grace and Lana were joking about it to that timid little Clare Lewis, who told Maya, who told me."
"What time did Maya say she'd be here?" Helen asked.
"Eight o'clock. She has to pick up her little brother up from Karate."
"How many people are coming, again?" Helen said as Aggie placed a small, cubic zirconia, stud neclace around her neck.
"Basic Hendricks family is three, plus Kathleen. Me and Aggs is two. Aro has two guests, so add three. Maya and Des. So, we have a total of eleven people unless Allie and her crew crashes." Sydney summed up.
"Did you make sure to put on the invitations that no one is allowed to sing 'Happy Birthday'?" Helen asked.
"Yes," Sydney pouted. "I can't believe you hate having it sung."
"Singing that song is overrated." Helen snorted. "Why is it so important to be sung to on your birthday? Everyone mostly sounds off-key, you smile and gasp awkwardly, and then you feel like the center-of-attention stuffed pig, which I don't even eat."
"Hey, no snide remarks for the next...six hours." Aggie warned. "You are to be chipper and pleasent at your party."
"Yes, Auntie Aggie." Helen teased as she smoothed out her dress, finally finished getting ready.
"Alright, time to get this gala started!" Sydney squeled.
The entire downstairs had been decorated in dangling, twinkling lights. A rainbow colored banner spelled 'Happy 15th Birthday!'. Richard, Wesley, and Henry were all dressed in dress pants and button down shirts, waiting by the stairs for Helen.
Wesley was the first to greet Helen. Her giant older brother picked her up and spun her around, "happy birthday Nellie!" She giggled as Wes finally put her down. Richard turned to her and wrapped her tightly, unlike Aro's arctic embraces, his hug was too warm and seemed forced. However, Helen still went with it.
"You're growing up so fast, Flapjack. Feels like just yesterday I could hold you up in one of my hands." Richard choked out.
"That's what happens when your mother decides to have a baby after only carrying her for seven and a half months." Helen said with bitter sarcasm.
"'Elen," Kathleen appeared in the room dressed in a very risque red cocktail dress. "If God wanted women to 'ave figures, he would not 'ave created c-sections and incubators."
"Mmm-hmm," Helen fake smiled.
"Happy birthday sis," Henry teased.
"Thanks, twerp."
"Happy Birthday, Helen." Carole smiled, she was dressed in a long, sleeveless, navy dress. Her dark blonde bob was pulled into a tight bun and two small sapphire studs adorned her ears.
"Thanks Carole, you look great." She replied. Seconds later, the door bell rang with the arrival of guests. Sydney squealed in joy, "party!"
In the twenty minutes since the party had begun, Des and Maya, who had gotten her mother to pick her brother up, had arrived. Helen was relieved when she saw that his knee was healing properly in his cast.
"So," Helen asked him as she got them some cherry soda from the punch bowl. "What have the doctors said, do you know how long until you can dance?"
"They said that I'm about the luckiest son of a bitch in the whole world." He snickered, "my knee is healing properly, but I won't know anything until I get my MRI scan next week, when I get my cast off."
"I'm sorry. I don't know why, but I feel like this is my fault." Helen confessed with an apologetic smile.
"No it isn't. Some jerk with anger issues just thought that picking on a little first year would make him feel better about himself." Des snorted.
The door clicked open and Aro along with Demetri and an insanely beautiful woman. All eyes fell on the woman with long, wavy mahogony hair, pearl colored skin and statuesque features. The stunning young woman brought up a feeling of body image issues and insecurity. If Helen was feeling this plain, god knows how Sydney was handling this, she already had enough self-image problems.
"Oh," she heard Syd whine. "What do you have to eat to get a body like that?!"
"Sydney, you are a beautiful and kind person." Helen assured with a teasing grin.
"Sure," Syd replied sarcastically. "Hey Des, who would you rather look at, me or that woman who has to be related to Aro?"
"Uh-huh." Des said dryly, not taking his eyes or focus off the woman.
"Helen, do you mind if I start eating your cake?" She said hopelessly. Her eyes and facial expression returned to the painful features from a year ago.
"Sydney Tabitha, are you really going to let some stranger, no matter how gorgeous, make you depressed?!" Aggie protested.
"Ah! My dears, how lovely you all look!" Aro sang as he floated towards them, Demetri and the other woman not far behind. He raked his eyes over Helen's dress. "Especially you, sweet Helen. Black is a wonderful color on you."
"Thank-you Aro." She giggled. Aro then formed a curious and sour look when he saw Des standing next to her, looking somewhat cautious. "Oh, I don't think you've met Des. Des, this is Aro. Aro this is my friend Arthur Desmond III, but we call him Des."
"Oh, he is a friend?" Aro said gleefully. "Pleasure, dear boy. Goodness, what the devil happened to your knee?"
"I was pushed down some stairs." Des said bitterly, "my knee got fractured."
"How dreadful!" Aro cooed. Richard seemed to wonder what all the commotion was about, and strode over to the group, finally seeing Helen's patron for the first time.
"Hello." Richard said greeting Aro, not sure what to make of him. "Richard Hendricks, DA, and Helen's father." He added and placed an uncomfortable kiss on Helen's forehead.
"Aro. I am Helen's patron." He replied with a curious grin.
"Oh, well I would just like to say," Richard said happily, relaxing. "That what you're doing, taking a chance on my little girl. It's so great. I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you."
"It is nothing, good sir." Aro said with a little laugh. "Our little girl has earned it." Helen was the only one who seemed to notice Aro's emphasis on 'our'. It made her heart swell with happiness.
"Yes she has." Richard said proudly. "Seems like just yesterday she was doing basics and complaining about having to wear tights."
Aro chuckled in amusement as Helen's cheeks flushed red. "Okay Dad," she insisted. Richard snickered and walked away to Carole's direction, placing a light kiss on her lips and pulling her into the hallway.
"I'm sorry, my Dad has made it his life-long goal to embarras me." Helen sighed.
"Understandable, he does seem to care for you."
No sooner than he had said that, Wesley walked over to them, and the stunning woman focused her attention on him. "Hi kids." Wes turned and saw Aro for the second time. "Hey, I'm Wesley, Helen's older brother."
Aro's eyes seemed to light up with a nostalgic glee as he shook Wesley's hand. "A relationship between a brother and sister is a special thing. I am almost envious from what Helen has told me.
"Okay," Wesley snorted.
"Hi," the stunning and statuesque woman turned to Wesley. "I am called Heidi, Wesley." Her smile made Wes at a loss for words.
"Umm...uh...hi." Wesley stuttered, causing Helen to chortle and roll her eyes.
"Would you show me around?" Heidi giggled.
"...Ok." Wesley said, dazed by her exceptionally beautiful features. He led her away and to the media room down the hall. Helen chuckled and Sydney giggled. "I didn't think any girl could make Wessy stutter." The blonde said, amazed.
"Women have their ways of making men at a loss for words, I would assume you knew that, Sydney." Demetri flirted. Syd's eyes dilated in shock. Never did she think that someone as handsome as Demetri would ever flirt with her. Not that Sydney wasn't beautiful. Her girlish charm and good complexion had made guys turn heads before. However, this was once again a self-esteem issue she had to deal with.
Everyone's attention was quickly taken away as Kathleen had let out a blood curtling scream. "WHAT IS DIS!" Richard and Carole had stepped out of the hallway, both of their hair somewhat tousled. They had probably been making out.
"Wow," Helen snorted, and glanced at a nearby wall clock. "It has been thirty minutes in. I honestly didn't expect her to last this long."
"Richard! What is ze meaning of dis?! What are you doing with dis...whore!" Kathleen screeched. The drama had begun.
"Excuse me?!" Carole said, offended.
"Katie." Richard tried to calm her down.
"Don't you 'Katie' me!" Kathleen, "What are you doing with her! I am your wife!"
"Ex-wife," Carole corrected.
"Tais-toi, vous petit souillon!" Kathleen screamed even louder.
"Kathleen!" Helen ran over to Henry and covered his ears. "Do keep in mind that there are small children in this room!"
"I don't even speak French," Henry protested quietly. Aro glanced over to the small Henry with a pitiful face, but then looked at Helen and nodded in approval to her methods.
"You don't need to!"
"Okay, well Mommy called Miss Carole a whore. What does that mean?" Henry asked, puzzled. Helen felt the color drain from her face and looked around, unsure. Aro floated over to them and patted little Henry on the head. Henry, just as Helen had, was mesmorized by his affectionate smile and paternalistic touch. Aro then tousled his hair, non-verbally telling Helen that he would handle Henry while she handled her mother.
"Okay, Kathleen. If anyone here is a souillon, it's you." Helen insulted with a believable smile.
"'Ow dare you!?" Kathleen barked. "I am your muzzer!"
"No you're not. You were eleven years ago, but you aren't now. As far as I'm concerned, my mom died when I was four." Helen stood firmly on her feet, not planning on backing down. "How dare you, is the proper question. How dare you use my assault as an excuse to come and try and win Dad back, bringing all of your crap to ruin everything as usual. How dare you think that just because Dad's your ex, that you're entitled to him? Finally, how dare you just use your personal problems to insult all of us, and just unleash everything, on my birthday?"
"Stop being so overly dramatic, 'Elen!" Kathleen sneered.
"Don't cut me off! And you know what, I'm embarrased to even be related to you. I'm embarrased to even know you, Kathleen. You're a bad mother and you know it. And I'm not going to take any more of your bullshit. You've never told me you love me, you've never even told me you like me. But it doesn't matter, because I sure as hell don't love or like you. I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings, but I'm not sorry that I said it."
Kathleen placed a hand on her stomach, as if physically wounded by Helen's words. Silent tears fell down her face, and she looked sadly at Helen. "I did not know zat was 'ow you felt, chéri. Very well, zen I shall go. Even zough you are wrong about me." Kathleen Danton slowly trotted up the stairs. Helen then turned around to the hushed crowd.
"Alright everyone, the worst of it ended. World War III is over. Let's get back to the party." Helen wiped her left eye as she stormed out to the back door. "Oh, and Dad?" Richard turned to his daughter. "As usual, thanks for sticking up for me. And especially for standing up for your girlfriend!" She screeched bitterly.
Helen shut the door behind her as she walked out onto the back porch. Right now she needed a break from all that.
The evening sky was slightly overcast with the moon poking out at the clouds. Helen sat down on the wooden bench-swing and folded her arms. A cool draft gave her exposed sking goosebumps.
"Helen," Aro's decadent voice made her jump. "May I sit with you?"
"Go ahead," she replied with a shrug. Aro gracefully sat down next to her. Under the moonlight, his chalky skin seemed to faintly glow. With his handsome features and black Armani suit he looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine.
"How is your evening thus far?"
"Alright, I guess. I'm mostly out here to avoid Kathleen."
"Understandable," he admitted with a small smile.
"I think Wesley is hitting it off with with your friend." Helen teased.
"Heidi also seems to be enjoying his company," Aro admitted playfully. He reached into his suit's jacket and pulled out a black satin box. The box held a small symbol, a small golden V with a red stone, and the images of a tree and a hawk.
"I thought it best I give you this in private." Aro gently placed the box in her tiny palms, "happy birthday, Helen."
Helen curiously examined her present, the box alone looked very expensive. She opened the top and her eyes gasped. Inside the box was a stunning gold charm bracelet. Five exquisite gems, a ruby, an opal, a sapphire, an emerald, and a diamond nestled there on the chain. Along with four golden charms: a heart, a ballet slipper, a cherub, and wings.
"You had said on your audition tape that you dance, because you want to fly." Aro rain his fingers through Helen's straightened hair. "Now you have wings."
Helen felt tears prick her eyes. This was so kind of Aro to do. He had given her such a thoughtful gift and she hadn't even done anything to earn it. As the tears stained her cheeks, Aro lowered his hand to rub her back in a soothing manner, once she leaned her head into his chest.
"Thank you so much! It's perfect."
"I wanted not only to give you something symbolic," he confessed while moving his hand to her cheek, "but something that reflects her natural beauty. Children these days, everything is far too flashy and vulgar. But now, you have something pretty.
Helen relaxed as Aro's hand caressed her cheek. She always felt so important when she was around him. Her ears perked up when the fast paced music slowed. From what she could tell, Earth Angel had come on.
Aro haulted his movements and rose from the bench, he held out his hand.
"May I have your arm?"
Helen's cheeks flushed as she nervously smiled. "I can't. I don't know how."
"Nonsense," Aro mused. "You are a ballerina."
"I know but," Helen shuffled her heels in embarressment. "I never learned how."
Aro smiled softly at her. "Would you allow me the honor of teaching you?"
She slowly extended her hand after setting the box down. Aro tightly grasped her tiny palm. He pulled Helen up from her seat and extended their linked arms, placing his right hand on her waist. Helen then unconciously placed her left hand on Aro's right shoulder. He gazed at her gace with loving eyes. What Helen did not expect next was when Aro hoisted her out of her heels, and ontop of his fine, black leather dress shoes. Helen's cheeks grew even redder as Aro lead them in a sway with the music.
"If you wake up tomorrow with an in-grown toenail, I apologize in advance." Helen said while her heart pounded against her chest.
"I think I shall be alright," Aro chuckled. "Mia Stella."
"Why do you call me that?"
Aro seemed to frown a bit. "Do you not wish for me to call you that, Helen?"
"No!" Helen said flustered, "no, I mean why do you call me that? It's just something I've been wondering."
"As I have told you before, Mia Stella is the Italian translation of 'my star'." Aro slowly spun her while somehow keeping her on his shoes. "And that is what you are, little one." He hoisted Helen up and spun her around. "You are my star."
'Well now I feel dim.' Helen said to herself. 'If it was a snake it would've bit me it was so obvious. Why is it whenever I'm near my patron my IQ goes down to forty, or maybe less?'
"Don't be embarressed, my dear." Aro said softly.
After a while, they returned back inside when Aggie went and told them that it was time for Helen to blow out her candles and cut the cake. A three layer cake with pale pink icing with vanilla frosting on the edges, had fifteen lit candles on the top layer.
"Ready to make a wish?" Sydney asked cheerfully, and then went into a silent flush when Demetri kissed her hand.
"Yeah." She sniffled.
"We aren't going to sing?" Heidi asked with Wesley's arms draped around her shoulders, they certainly looked very cozy.
"No." She beant down and closed her eyes, 'I wish that this was a chocolate fudge cake, oh, and that my next birthday has everyone I love around me.' In one blow, the candles went out.
Helen's wish came true, the cake was in fact chocolate fudge. The night was slowly wrapping itself up as if the party was an opened present. Speaking of which, her Dad wrote her a check for five hundred dollars, to spend on whatever she wanted. Carole bought her the DVD box set of her and her friends favorite TV show, Beauty and the Beast. Wesley gave her his Driver's Ed handbook, along with a note that she'd better learn fast. Henry had given her a brand new pair of ballet slippers, free from purple marker. Lastly, Des and Maya had given her a Florence + The Machine CD, and a friendship necklace.
With the night coming to a close, Helen noticed that a few slices of cake were remaining. As much as she didn't want to, she figured that it would be best to give Kathleen a peace offering.
Coming up the stairs, Helen heard Kathleen's muffled sobs emitting from the spare room. She didn't feel guilty, but she did feel upset. Kathleen had no damn right to feel like the victim!
Softly, she nocked and then opened the door. "Hey," she said with an awkward smile. Kathleen just glared at her while wiping her tears. "I brought you some cake, it's chocolate fudge." She sighed, "I figured you could use some comfort food."
"I do not want any cake, I am on a diet!" Kathleen sobbed.
"You made chocolate crossaints this morning." Helen corrected.
"Zose were for you and ze boys."
"It's really good cake, it'll make you feel a little better. It's also kind of my peace offering." Helen walked over to where Kathleen was sitting down on the bed, offering her the cake. Reluctantly, Kathleen took the cake. Helen, knewing that her work here was done, walked to the door to leave.
"'Elen," She stopped at the door when Kathleen choked out her name. "I'm sorry."
"Okay." Helen said dryly. Had she been a couple of years younger, Helen would have accepted the apology, maybe even wanted it. But no, it was too late. Nothing could repair the ruined relationship they had, not even Kathleen finally swallowing her pride and saying she was sorry. There were just some things that couldn't be fixed.
TRY AND BEAR WITH ME! SUBMIT YOUR GUESS IN A REVIEW!