Lana Pipes

"Are you sure, you don't want a grand jamboree?" Aunt Mal's almond brown eyes met mine. "It's your big day, you ought to have it," She suggested. I gave her an awkward smile. "Mich," She called my mother, who is the kitchen making breakfast. "Tell her," She persuaded her.

"She seldom listens to me now," My mother coughed from the kitchen, cutting the carrots.

"What? What in the name of holy spirit? You two are inseparable. It's like two bodies one soul. You two are more of best friends than mother and daughter," Mal did a very little job at hiding her surprise and shock.

"Oh, she's just being dramatic," I covered and got up to talk to mom.

"Mom? What is it?" I questioned her.

"You tell me." She questioned back.

"It's just-, it's, I am sorry. I should have fed you the cake first. It's just dad why are you being mad at me now?" I folded my hands.

"I remember it as always been me who you first fed your birthday cake. I even remember you saying that you would always feed me first because I am your favourite person in the whole world," She reminisced.

"You still are," I assured. "Oh god, this is what you think? That I don't love you anymore? Come don't be silly. I will always love you. I would do anything for you," I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Is that so?" She stopped mincing the veggies. I nodded.

"I see you Lana. I see the change in you. I see how things changed between us," She remarked. "All this is because of him. You still are loafing with him aren't you?" She stared deep into my eyes. I know who she is referring to, Jaro.

"You silly girl," She pitied. "Whatever dalliance you have or intend to have with him, culminate it," She warned. "You will graduate from school soon enough, unless you plan on failing. It would be wise of you to squander your time on pursuit of college," She worded very seriously.

I could play dumb. I could deny and let this issue to fall for future. "Don't even think about it. I saw your message to him saying to come over at midnight. You are nuts," She gritted her teeth.

"You checked my phone? So you invaded my privacy-" She cut me off with an exasperated look. So, she knows. Fine. If she wants truth, here it is. "It's not any dalliance. It's-, it's love," I loathe that my voice betrayed me framing this word. It made me sound weak.

"Oh really," She let out a mean laugh. "Love? Is that what you think you both have? Do you possibly think that an eighteen year old and a thirty nine year old would be together? Lana do you have daddy issues or what? You are in love with man who's nearly in the age of your father." She spat.

"Love doesn't come with a warning, mother. It just happens," A tear left my eye.

"Fine, love it is then. Tell it to your father and take his blessing. Go on, why hide your precious, valuable, twee love." She taunted. "Come daughter, what's stopping you?" She grabbed my shoulders and tightened her grip.

"Mom, you are hurting me," I shivered. Her grip tightened more. "I can't. I can't confess to dad," I mewled trying get free of her gasp.

"Listen, I didn't mean to hurt you. You are in a wrong path. Leave him. After all mother knows the best," She tried to calm me down.

"I can't-, I can't I do love him. I would never leave-" Before I could finish my sentence, her hand hit me hard in the face. It hit me so hard that I almost couldn't hear my ear or feel any sensation. For a moment I debated myself if I am even alive.

"A slap on the birthday. You have no one else to blame but yourself. You brought this on yourself. Leave him or consider yourself family less. No mother, no father and no brother," She apprised.

"You can't speak for dad and brother," I nearly screamed.

"Of course I can and you would be surprised to know about the things I am capable of. You are my daughter and most of I love you to the death. Do not make me your enemy," She whispered.

She left me in the kitchen and went to near the couch, where my phone sat. I distantly heard Aunt Mal asking if everything is okay and dad complained that he heard yelling noises but mom assured them it's nothing and came back to the kitchen with my phone.

"Message him saying it's over," She handed me the phone. I ignored her and cried harder. "Lana, I hate repeating. Do it or else there will be consequences." She reminded me.

I couldn't even dare to think what she means by the consequences. I wouldn't be surprised if she even tried to murder him and I am pretty sure she could as get away with it. After all she hurt Ben and gaslighted him that he fell from the swing and she manipulated that my dog got hit by a truck when I am the one who killed it. She and Jaro had hell lot of bad blood, to think what she would do to him is unthinkable. It kills me to do it but if it means Jaro would be safe, then I should do it.

It's over. We are done. Do not contact me ever again. - Lana.

I sent the text in hurry and threw the phone in her hands and left. I went to my room and shut the door and cried my eyes out for hours. Everyone in home kept asking me why didn't I go to school, I lied them that I am troubled with a bad headache.

I skipped breakfast and lunch but I couldn't skip the ridiculous birthday party that Michelle arranged. She kept knocking the door until I agreed that I would come down to the hall.

How will I ever forget him? How can I ever forget him after he gave me one of the best birthdays ever in my life. How can I forget him when I think he is the one?

"Lana dear, stop behaving like a child. You are an adult now. Come out now. You can save your grieving for tomorrow," She yelled softly.

I wiped my tears and opened the door. I got out of my room in the dress Jaro gave me. Red sleeveless frock with the beautiful gold chain and the diamond earrings he presented me and I put on the perfume he gifted me. These are the only things now I will be left of Jaro. Reminders of him and the wonderful memories he gave.

"That's a beautiful dress. Did Mich give it to you?" Aunt Mal commented.

"Nope. But someone who's close to my heart did." I replied and I know mom already suspected who that might be.

"I thought Paxton and you broke up," Dad interfered.

"We did." I answered. "Let's get on with this shall we?" I gave a dry smile.

I spotted Glendora and Scott as they entered the home. "Lanz," She pulled me into a hug. "Why didn't you come to school? We missed you," Scott added.

"And you didn't even return the calls we made. We got so worried and your mom answered at the last and invited here. Is everything okay?" She expressed her concern.

"I am perfectly alright," I said. "Right, mom?" I looked at her.

"Yes. You are darling. As they said, they kept calling and refused to retreat so I took the liberty of inviting them here. I hope you don't mind," She gave me a serpentine smile.

"You took liberty of many things in my life lately mother. Of course I don't mind," I mirrored her smile.

"Okay. What am I missing here?" Dad joined. Sensing that something is happening here.

"Now let's not be rude. The guests are waiting. Bring the cake honey," Michelle ordered dad. "Ben and Ricky bring the confetti," She ordered them too. They decorated the hall with balloons and ribbons and with the letters, Happy Birthday.

"This time I made the cake for my niece," Uncle Hunter brought a strawberry flavoured cake, with strawberries as toppings.

"Yup, only took half of my help in baking it," Dad revealed.

"Thank you so much for that information, brother," Hunter punched dad in his stomach, making everyone laugh.

Glendora gifted me a portrait of me and her saying bestfriends forever and ever. Scott gifted me a mug that has my face. I thanked them both genuinely. Ricky and Ben indulged themselves with cake. Glendora and Scott could barely take their off of each other. Glendora caught me starring at her and Scott when they were grinning and blushing.

"I almost forgot. Mom said she would be an hour late. Some emergency at the hospital," She disclosed. I nodded and teased them both that they should soon make it official.

"See. This is your life Lana. It's not so bad is it? Now stop with those gloomy looks and be content," Michelle advised.

Just when I opened my mouth to yell at her, a figure appeared in front of the door. A figure of the man I love.

Jaro Briggs.

"Happy birthday, Lana." He wished me.

"Oh god." I could almost hear Michelle's disgust.

"Hello Mr. Pipes. I am sorry to barge in like this but-, can I talk to you about something?" He asked politely.

No. What is he doing here? No Jaro no. Please don't do anything silly.

My dad nodded in confusion.

"I came in here as a tenant few months ago. Sir, you trusted me with your daughter to teach her Chemistry and you even saved my life when you didn't even knew me once. I have utmost respect for you Mr. Pipes and I-, I know it's wrong. So very wrong of me to even think of this but-" Sweat in his face is crystal clear.

"What is it?" My dad demanded.

Oh no. No. It's not good. Why couldn't he just walk away. Just let me go.

"I didn't know when or how it happened but it happened and we both couldn't control it. I know its weird and I know how it seems but sir, I intend to love your daughter as long as I draw breath. I intend to love her as long a I could move, hear and feel things. I intend to love her as long as love intends to exist," A thwack. A thwack from my father.

"The feeling is mutual. Even she loves-" Another thwack. Another and another and another.

"Dad please. Please stop. It's my fault too. I love him too," I nearly fell to my dad's feet on my knees, begging him to not hurt Jaro.

"Lana, get up. You don't love him, you are confused attraction with love," My mom came to my side.

Dad bet the shit out of Jaro.

"What's going on here?" Layla came home. "Oh my god Holder, why you punching Jaro like a punch bag? What did he do?" Layla came to Jaro's aid. I could swear I heard my mom almost laugh.

"This rogue wants my daughter. My daughter!!!" Holder shrieked. Never had I ever saw dad this aggressive. I worried he might even kill Jaro in wrath.

"I still do love her," Jaro repeated the words again and again like its some kinda mantra. "I love your daughter," He kneeled to the ground with no more energy left in him.

"Shut the fuck up. Holder I don't care what you do, I want him gone from our lives this instant. I want you to protect our little girl," Michelle intruded.

"Oh god. At first the mother and now the daughter. You truly are fucked up Jaro," A lady entered our house. She seemed too sick and weak. For some reason she resembled Layla, they share the same blonde hair. In her way followed another lady, she appeared to accompany her. She has platinum blonde hair and she's holding to her dearly with outmost care and concern.

Before anyone could speak anything, before anyone understood who she was and another woman next to her, it was Layla Wecklic who spoke first.

"Mary?"

Wonderful, all these series of events chose the day of my birthday to happen.

A trouble in paradise.

Author's Note :

The end is near, hang in there <3

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