9 __EIGHT__

"Jake" My dad made a funny face.

"Umm, sorry sir" Jake scratch the back of his neck.

"Hey, lemme help you." The boy with hazel eyes moved forward near Jake and began to help him with the decorations.

"Dad, I am taking Liz with me to bake the cake," I said.

"Sure honey" He replied with a smile.

Before leaving the room and entering the kitchen, I looked straight towards a pair of eyes that were staring at me. I frowned and then headed towards the kitchen.

Liz and I made our way through the ingredients lying on the kitchen floor. My dad has probably bought some veggies as well as some groceries today.

"Hey, where's the vanilla essence?" Liz asked me.

"Ohh, you think I know...?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Practically it's your house," she stated.

"Well, Practically my father's sister owns it now. Don't you think so?" I asked her while grabbing the necessary ingredients from the shelf above.

"Oh Yeah." She rolled her eyes earning a soft chuckle from my side.

"Oh, shut up. By the way, what's up with Cassie? She's coming right?" Liz asked while grabbing the baking powder from the next shelf.

"Yeah, she would probably show up at any moment..." I replied.

_._._

We were done baking cakes. Yes, you read it right. Cakes. We ended up baking two individual cakes cause Liza thought her 'vanilla cake' would be more than awesome and I, being a hella good sibling, knew Aiden likes chocolate cakes, so I made it for him. Ha. I know my brother. lol.

All of Aiden's friends had already arrived since Liz and I were working our ass off, deciding which cake we should make, and then ended up making two different cakes.

My dad is with Aiden's friends, basically talking about stuff, I don't want to know. Cause they always talk about sports and politics and so on. Duh! I am not interested.

It's almost 7 in the evening when my phone rings for the - which seemed like the fiftieth time. I rush out of Aiden's room grabbing my phone and without even glancing at the phone screen, I pick it up.

"Hello?" I huffed.

"Hey, Karen here. Should I bring Aiden home?" Karen asks.

Before replying to her, I glanced at the decorations and then dodged my head to see the already crowded room downstairs. "Yeah. Yeah. Please..." I reply.

"OK then, we are on our way...." She seemed to say 'yayyyyy' more than 'Wayyyy'.

I quickly brush my hair and put on my dark blue long gown. Then, I put on some mascaras and then brush my hair and put it up as a high ponytail, leaving few strands hanging freely from it. Before leaving my room, I open one of my vanity cabinets and take out a simple neckpiece, which was gifted to me by my father on my thirteen birthday.

I check myself on the full-length mirror and then mentally appreciate my choices. Yepp. I look good. Or more like Beautiful.

I slowly grab my gown with both my hands, leaving some space for my phone, on the right.

I headed downstairs slowly and carefully as I believe in my clumsy self, which could make me trip over nothing and end up making a fool of myself. Ugh!

As I make my way through the stairs, I notice few eyes on me. Exactly. Now I begin to feel uncomfortable.

"Hey, it isn't your birthday, Ms Harrison" I see Liza staring at me being mad. Both her hands were upon her hips and her eyes were filled with anger. Or maybe she was shooting invisible daggers through them.

"Oh, honey. You look great today" My dad said while standing up across the room and walking towards me.

"Thanks, dad" I replied when he hugged me, and I returned the hug.

I glance across the room. I see many familiar faces but few of them were new to me. And that Hazel eye guy was not in view.

______

A/N: SORRY again for not updating it for a while now. I guess you are still interested in reading the story further. Aren't you?!

okay, so how do you think the story will go further?

And what about your health? Is it okay?

I mean, you know, people are getting sick these days, both mentally and physically. So, what about you?

Kay guys, if you want you may follow me on IG: starla_scribbles_

And if you feel like it, you may also have a chit chat with me. I love to connect with my readers.

Thanks!!

Take care.

Be safe.

Love Love.

XX