30

Linda's POV

Less than an hour and I have already <span style="font-size: 18px;">heard like a million half sober ' happy birthday Lindas' ' and shockingly twice that amount from completely wasted individuals who might or might not be attending my school.</span>

Yeah, I know, I'm exaggerating.

Anyway seems like this party is a success. In a way I guess, but the one person I've been wanting to see hasn't arrived quite yet. Searching around the room once again and still not finding that person, I decide to head to the kitchen, where I get the surprise of my life.

Right there, sitting in a wheel chair, a smile gracing her beautiful face is Nana, dressed beautifully in a blue flawless gown.

I run towards her with all my might, slowing down the closer I got. I hug her as gently as I can, hoping that she won't disappear.

I can see the stress lines on her pale face and how thin she has become. She looks like she barely has any strength left.

" Nana you came. " I say holding her face between my hands.

" of course I came, I wouldn't miss this for anything in the world. " she says smiling.

" thank you, for being here, for everything. " I say all choked up, feeling sad, feeling happy, I don't know. I feel like I almost have everything in my hands right now, everything I've ever wanted, family, friends, someone to care, but still so sad cause I know she'll not be here forever.

Happy thoughts Linda, happy thoughts.

With that in mind I hug her one more time and keep repeating to myself.

She's here right now and she'll forever be in my heart. .

" my little brave princess don't cry, you'll be fine, everything will be fine. " she said hugging me back. " just promise me one thing. "

" anything " I reply hearing the tears in my voice.

" no matter what happens, no matter what you're going through, you'll be strong? That's all I ask of you. " she says lifting my chin up.

I look into her eyes as I utter the next words I know I'll always remember. " I promise. "

After spending a few minutes hugging ourselves, just hanging on to each other, she pulls away and brings out a beautifully wrapped gift. " open it after, when you're alone. "

" thank you. " I say wiping more tears away.

" I think it's time I go home please call me Esperanza. " she says looking more tired than I've ever seen her.

I run out hurriedly, and meet Esperanza talking to Jack. I see the soft look they give each other and wonder if there could be something going on between them. Feeling almost sorry for interrupting I tell Esperanza that Nana's looking for her.

She thanks me and leaves immediately.

" happy birthday Linda. " Jack says gruffly.

" wow, seriously? That sounds more like happy death day. " I say mocking him.

" you could have just said thanks. "

" really, I kind of recall that it's my birthday not yours. " I say pouting at him. " I can do. Whatever I like. " I say making more faces at him. " whatever I... "

" and I can do whatever I like with these chocolates. " he says smirking as he shows me a well wrapped gift.

" you know you and I are best friends right? " I ask him as I hanging on to his arm with all force.

Really? Really Linda?

' what it's chocolate and from the size of the gift wrap the largest size. '

" seriously? " I hear Jack ask.

" what? " I ask pouting.

Geez why am I always pouting. 🎶 Oh wait cause it's my birthday and I can do whatever I like. 🎶

Yeah I know I'm gonna be a famous musician someday.

You wish

' shut it jealous o'l me. '

I hear Jack sigh. " you're doing it again. "

" doing what? " I ask honestly confused.

" that face that makes you look constipated... "

I gasp. But no he is not yet done.

" and then you roll your eyes like someone having a seizure. "

" you just insulted the birthday girl, and, and, and for that I'll be taking this. " I say grabbing the gift wrapped chocolate from his hands. " never talking to you again and taking away your rights of knowing the birthday girl, which means no cake for you and your stupid friend always calling me constipated. " I say walking away slowly as I narrow my eyes at him.

"I don't care " he says smirking.

" hmmph! I will have your share of the cake! "

" sure Linda, real mature " he says rolling his eyes and trying not to laugh.

I smile as I turn away from him thinking of all that wonderful cake I would get to eat, when I suddenly bump into a certain annoying someone who should know to get out of the way of the birthday girl. But of course, no. Guess I'll have to take someone else's cake again.

More cake for me!

I set my disappointed face and look up. Yeah no need, she never had any cake. " hello Alexis. " I say blinking at her like a barbie doll.

Well it's not like she understands human language, so I have to go plastic.

" first of all, it's not Alexis, it's Alexia. Not like you'd understand that anyway. " she says smirking.

" and here I thought you were the one failing English. You might have just grown a few useful cells barbie, I'm so proud of you. "

" whatever, listen... "

" if you are here to tell me happy birthday you can stuff it up your fake boobs and butt. " I blow her a sassy kiss and start sashaying out of there.

" guess I don't have to tell you the real reason why Luke wanted to be friends with you. " she sighs

Out of anger, I turn towards her. " look I already know... "

" let me guess he told you some pitiful story about wanting to make peace, so you can help him pass his chemistry class or something. " she says rolling her eyes.

For some reason my heart starts beating faster.

" By your lovely expression, I'm gonna assume I'm right. " she says giving me a pitiful look. " Well honey, what if I told you he lied to you? " she smiles that evil smile I have never liked about her.

I swallow hard and look at her with all the hatred I am presently feeling. " well I'd say you're just a lying bitch, always have been and always will be. "

Nothing I say seems to have an effect on her, instead her smile grows wider. " even if I show you this " she says pressing play on a video on her phone.

I watch closely, seeing and hearing, Luke and Jack converse in a classroom in school. But what sticks out is how recent this is and the next words I hear. ' Why the hell would I want to be with her?! We're still taking revenge on her and that is final. '

" you're lying, This, this video is fake! You're just trying to break my friendship with Luke! " I scream at her, telling myself that Luke would never say that about me, that he would never hurt me.

" fine then, prove me wrong. Let's ask Luke about this little video. " she says smirking.

I grab the phone from her hand and walk towards Jack who is still standing where I left him. "Is Luke here?" I ask immediately.

" yes, he just came in why... "

" where is he? " I ask not wasting time.

" what is wrong? " he asks me, seeing the look on my face.

" just tell me where he is. "

He glances at Alexia, then back at me. " he and Dave went into the kitchen to look for you. Linda wait..."

But I'm not listening anymore I'm on a mission, stomping towards the kitchen.

I hear Luke talking, the closer I get to the kitchen the clearer his voice becomes. " I mean the only reason I ever became friends with her was because I wanted to take revenge on her... "

" what? " I whisper to myself, dropping the phone in my hand but Luke and Russ both hear me as they immediately look up.

" Linda " Luke says paling slightly.

" so it's true, it's all true. " I say feeling the tears in my eyes wanting to drop. " all you wanted was to take revenge on me. God I'm such a fool to think that you changed. "

" Linda wait... "

I hear Alexia laughing as I run up the stairs to my room, taunting me in that annoying voice of hers as Luke chases after me, calling my name, begging me to stop, to listen to him and all of the lies he has to say.

Never again. I should never have trusted anyone else. God I'm such a fool.

I lock the door behind me and breakdown in tears, Flashbacks mixing with the present, reminding me of why I should have never trusted anyone.

I hear Luke banging on my door to open up, just to listen to him.

Liars, they're all liars. She lied to me and now I let down my guard, letting him make a fool of me once more. To think that I was going to tell him how much I really liked him.

All of a sudden, the music feels so loud, the air in this house too tight.

I need to get out of here.

I drop the gifts, quickly grabbing my phone and the nearest car keys. I open the door to see Luke staring at me with desperation written all over his face. I try to push him out of my way but he hangs on to my hands.

" you have to listen to me Linda... "

" so you can tell me more lies! " I harshly cut him off. " just leave me alone Luke. I'm tired of all your lies. You've probably never told me a single ounce of truth. To think I actually felt sorry for you when you told me about your mom. You were probably just trying to get something out of me, something you could use against me! "

" that is not true. I told you all that because I trust you, not because... "

" tell that to someone who actually believes you. " I tell him succeeding in pushing him away. " Stay away from me Luke. " I say looking into his eyes. " I mean it. " with those words, I run down the stairs and reach for the front doors, hungry for the dark, quiet, night, where I can escape.

Or so I thought.

I hear the sound of engines shutting down and more coming down the drive way, as a thousand headlights blind me, just as I open the door.

The lights finally shut down and for some reason everything moves slowly. The sound of doors opening, the sound of doors closing, each step he takes towards me, seeing his face and hearing him speak in that deep dark voice that always sends chills down my spine. " we finally meet again Linda or should I say Isabella. "

Could anything worse than this possibly happen.

I hear my phone ring, Esperanza's name flashing on my screen and unconsciously answer the phone.

" she's gone Lindy, Nana's gone. " I thought too soon. Yes, something worse has definitely happened. I breakdown in tears.

Author's note

Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it. Now please support my book by

Voting

Commenting

Sharing

Rating/reviewing and

Unlocking future chapters with coins.

Thanks for all your help guys. 💜