It's been three days. Three whole days. Three days since that picture was posted. Three days since we went to the principal's office. Yes,we still got called in there.

                         *flashback*
I looked from my left to my right. On my left was Cameron, constantly squeezing my arm and telling me to be calm. I was anything but calm. I was nervous. The woman standing before me wasn't the friendly Mrs lance I met in her house. This was an angry woman trying to know the whereabouts of her child.

On my right was Amelia and seated next to her was Eric. They looked collected and sat quietly unlike me. Eric was annoyingly swinging a bunch of keys. Turned out I wasn't the only one annoyed by that sound.

"Mr Dean, will you stop swinging those keys or I'll have them thrown over the fence." The principal shouted. He stopped. "Now listen," she let out a deep breath, "This is the second time someone is disappearing from this school and you all know what happened the last time."

"What happened?" Aurora's mother panicked.

"She still hasn't been found." The principal answered,her voice low.

"Well, my daughter must be found, else" she left the threat unsaid.

The principal nodded. "Now Eric, do you have any idea where she might be?"

"No. She only told me she was grounded so when I didn't see her today, I thought they didn't let her come to school." He popped a gum to end his sentence. Can't he just act like he cared just a little bit?

"Well, she left the house early this morning. And you?" Aurora's mother turned to Amelia.

She was about to answer when my phone began to ring in my bag. I ignored it. The ringing finally died down and started ringing again, almost immediately.

"Miss parker! Turn that off immediately."

"Sorry ma'am." I brought out my phone to put it on silent mode but paused. "It's Aurora." I whispered, my voice shaking. I'd already pictured her tied up and forced to call someone to send a ransome. But why would she call me?

Her mother jumped and grabbed my phone from my hand while Amelia whispered "she still had her number saved?". Eric just shrugged.

Then Aurora's mother started speaking. "Where on earth are you?". We couldn't hear what Aurora was saying but I tried to read her mother's expression. "What do you mean you're fine? I'm at your school, worried sick and you're telling me... Accident? Where?" She mistakenly pressed the speaker button.

"It was just a minor accident. I'm fine now. I'm heading back home." We heard Aurora say and she hung up.

"I'm sorry." Aurora's mother apologised and hurriedly left the room.

"Alright." The principal slapped her palms on the table. "Since all that's cleared up, you may all leave." We stood up to go. "And Eric, you have one week of detention for skipping classes."

"Whatever." He continued swinging his bunch of keys.

                *End of flashback*

Aurora came to school the next day, looking so different. She wore more revealing clothes because what's there to hide anymore? People were quick to accept the new her. Everybody wanted to be her friend. It was like that picture was the key to her transformation to being the queen bee of the school.

Just a few months till our final year and she decided to change. She would have been the first normal rich girl in senior year.

"Barbara!! You have visitors." Aunt Marie shouted from downstairs.

Visitors? But I was with Cameron the whole time in school today. What could he have wanted to tell me? Wait! Visitors? That's more than one.

I threw on a black, faded t-shirt with Beyonce's face on it and walked down the stairs.

"Happy birthday." "Is this what you're wearing on your birthday?" Almond and Cameron both said at the same time.

My birthday? My birthday! I didn't remember my birthday! I'd just gone about my normal routine like any other day. I thought birthdays were supposed to be special days. Days you wake up feeling like a princess or a survivor. Yeah, survivor is better. Feeling like a survivor because you just completed one more revolution without dying.

But why didn't anyone tell me anything since morning. It's 4pm. Sixteen hours of my birthday gone.

"It's my birthday." I voiced out.

Cameron just rolled his eyes. "Can you remove that shirt? It's offensive. Look at how faded the queen looks."

"I'm comfortable in it ,Cam." I protested but then I saw the disapproving look on Almond's face. "Alright. You both win. I'll go change. What should I put on? A ball gown?"

"As long as it's not embarrassing, sure." Cameron replied.

I returned to them, five minutes later an a blue washed jeans and another black T-shirt. This one wasn't faded and it didn't have Beyonce. It just had 'rockstar' written on it in pink paint.

"Better?" I asked. They both nodded.

"Now you're both here to keep her company, I'll go get the cake." Aunt Marie began to open the door.

"Wait!" I called. She turned and raised a brow. "You're going to leave me with two boys without any warning or advice?"

"Oh! I forgot. Don't finish the pancakes in the kitchen,don't spill syrup on my floor, don't destroy any appliances or furniture."

"Seriously?" I hoped she was joking.

"What do I know about boys except they eat and destroy?" She smiled and walked out.

"That was.... I don't know."

"Where's the kitchen?" Almond asked.

"Almond!!. Wait! How did you know my house?"

He looked at Cameron and they smiled. The smile that said 'we share a secret and she's not going to  out. Okay, she is.'

"Spill." I commanded.

"The syrup? She hasn't even gone too far and you're already breaking rules."

"I mean, I know you helped him get here."

"Yeah. Alright,I'll tell. He stalked me to my house and crept in through my window. I was shocked and almost hit him with a bat till I saw his face. Then he begged and begged me to take him to you. He even began to roll on my cold tiled floor.  I'm a very nice person so took pity on him and said 'sure'."

"Shut up." Almond smacked the back of his head. "I just messaged him on Instagram and asked for your address. Well, I had to persuade him to give it to me. Coincidentally, we appeared at your front door the same time."

"I think I like Cameron's story better. Rolling on the cold floor would be a pleasant sight to see."

From my peripheral view, I saw someone dash into the kitchen. I immediately ran after the figure.

"Don't touch those... Aunt Marie??"

"Thesh ur  jush sho goo uh" she said with her mouth stuffed with pancake.

"What?"

"They're just so good I thought you'd already eaten some so I had to have the last piece. You actually obeyed me."

"Um..." I looked around her. I expected to see a white box.

"Oh! Your cake. Well, you should have noticed I came back so fast. I'm not flash to pop into the confectionery and zoom back here. Someone's bringing your cake."

"Who?"

"Him." She said just as we heard a knock on the door.

I walked past Almond and Cameron who has surprised looks on their faces and opened the door, only to put on my own surprised look.

"Dad?"

"You didn't expect me to forget your birthday. Did you?"

"No. I actually forgot it myself so you would have been forgiven."

"Happy birthday!" He revealed the white box he was hiding behind him.  So he was the one bringing the cake. "Chocolate with caramel coated peanut toppings."

"Thanks dad." I hugged him. Then froze. This birthday is surely full of surprises.

Behind him were people I would have sworn would never care if I had a birthday. But here they were, smiling at me and holding paper bags. I didn't know I was crying till I tasted the salty liquid.

When I recovered from my shocked state, I stepped back to let them in. Almond immediately came up behind me. "Cameron said I shouldn't freak out and he explained that most people don't know about it. You should be careful as this place is becoming very colourful."

"What?" I was puzzled.

"Your bracelet. Maybe you should try this." He slipped a black wrist band on my wrist then I understood what he was saying. My bracelet had turned blue from hugging my dad. With the wrist band, it turned back to black and hopefully would remain so. I just had to avoid saying the word "wish."

"Thank you." I told him.

"You're welcome. And I kinda like it too."

So much for hiding it from him.

Things were getting pretty exciting. Almond and Cameron got to eat the forbidden pancakes and Hailey and Laney were practically drooling at Almond the whole time. I didn't feel angry or jealous. It was actually funny watching them. Everything was fine until.....

"Hailey! Laney! Come out here this instant" the destroyer of peace aka my stepmother barged in. Why did I forget to lock the door.

I heard Laney mutter 'oh shit' before walking to meet her mum. I felt bad for them. They'd been so nice, just like the old times and she'd just come to ruin everything. I curiously stood up and followed them as they entered the guest room. I stayed outside of course, unseen.

"What sort of rubbish is this?" I heard my stepmother shout.

"Calm down mum." Laney said in a much lower tone.

"What do you mean calm down. You followed your father to go see that whore!"

"Shh." Hailey hushed her. "You're going to ruin everything."

Yes, she already was.

"I don't get."

"It's part of the plan mum. Remember?"

I didn't hear anything so I guess she nodded.

"Laney and I decided that if we became closer to her, it would be more effective. Dad's going to believe us because he'll think she told us."

"You're right. Really, I don't want her back in that house. I don't even want her close to anyone I know. She's growing up so fast and soon she's going to claim equal rights in the family. I don't want that happening. Not now that your father hit the jackpot."

"We know mum. That's why were doing this."

Everything started spinning around in my head. Plan. Jackpot. They're pretending. Trying to get me out of the way. It was all too much.

Now I know why they said curiosity killed the cat. If I had minded my business, at least I would have a few more moments of happiness. Even if it was false. I'd been so happy seeing them tonight. So happy. Now knowing it was all a plan, it broke me.

I quickly walked back to the table and put on a fake smile. These people on the table were genuinely happy for me. I couldn't risk by pulling on a dull face.

"I'm sorry darling, we have to leave now." Laney came and pecked my cheek. It felt like acid. The peck of betrayal.

I smiled at her. "I understand." I really did.

"Okay, bye." The three of them walked out and I sighed.

"Come on. It's your birthday so you're not allowed to be sad." Cameron forced a piece of chocolate cake into my mouth. He noticed. A few more pieces and I was beginning to feel genuinely happy. Laughter surrounded the table. In that moment, seeing these people laugh and tell jokes and eat chocolate cake, I couldn't be more happier.

One....two....three... Go!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA!!!!!🎆🎆🎊🎊🎊

Aurora becomes queen bee, Almond and Cameron getting along, the fake bitches.... Phew!! I need me some chocolate cake....

Please don't forget, to vote, comment and share.... It would be your birthday gift to Barbara.