Unedited

The picture on the phone case

Ella | Kitchen

This party is amazing and I am so thankful for my siblings now that I think about it.

I'm just kidding, I've always been thankful for them, even through the crap they put me through, I was still thankful for God even blessing me with siblings.

Earlier, I had looked all around for Blake but didn't see him, which made my mood dim a bit.

I mean, why would he come? He doesn't like you.

Tell me something I don't know.

I was currently in the kitchen at the table grabbing some meatballs.

They were so good that it's unreal. I've already had six of them and I'm coming back for more.

"ATTENTION!" Gracie yelled, making the music cut, talking stop and my eyes pop out with a meatball in halfway into my mouth. "It's now time for the birthday girl to open her presents. Wherever is she. Ella Grace, come open your presents."

I quickly shoved two meatballs into my mouth before walking into the living room and through the crowd without choking on my food.

"There you are, come on." Gracie said, motioning me to come quicker.

I stood beside her and she wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Just sit right there and we can get started." She said, motioning to a chair.

I went and sat in the chair.

"Before we get started though, I have something to say." Gracie said, causing everyone to look at her. "As you know, Ella Grace is my sister and Grayson is our brother. The last two years of Ella's life has been crucial because of you guys and me. We all picked on and ridiculed her for just being her. We made her cry. After her sophomore year ended, me and some of my so called friends, we-" She stopped, getting choked up."We beat her up. We literally beat her, my own sister half to death and I regret that deeply. If I could take that back, I would. If I could take it back and choose to get that horrific beating instead of her, I would! But I can't." She paused. "While Grayson and I were away on our summer vacation, Ella was here trying to uh" She stopped and bit her lip, trying not to cry. "She attempted suicide because of me and my friends. She once had this friend who talked her out of it but bottom line is, Ella I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." She choked it, putting her face into her hands.

I was so shocked.

Grace wasn't one who cried, morely though, she wasn't one who cried infront of anyone. She just cried infront of nearly the entire school. Freshmans, sophomores, juniors, seniors, they all just seen her cry and that shocked me. She would cry in front of the school just to express her feelings, just to let me and everyone else know that she was sorry.

"Grayson, can you come here?" I said throughout the silent room.

Grayson made his way from the side of the room and stood beside our sister who was now crying into his chest.

"It's true. I was made fun of for those reasons but I was also made fun of because I didn't look like you guys. Well besides our skin, hair and eye color. If we didn't have that in common, nobody would know we were siblings." I stopped and smiled at the agreeing mumbles that bounced around the room. "But it's okay. Regardless of my body type, regardless if we look alike or not, we're always going to be siblings. Nothing or no one can take that away from us. Even through all the crap you put me through, I still thanked God that I had you guys. A lot of people aren't blessed with siblings but I am and I wouldn't trade you guys for the world. Over these past weeks, you've been trying to get my forgiveness. You've been trying hard, you've been standing up for me, helping me, even trying to cook and Lord knows you guys cant." I laughed with them and some of the people in the room. "But the bottom line is your forgiven-"

I was cut off by Gracie who tackled me into a hug as she cried even harder.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She kept repeating in my ear, making me smile and wrap my left arm around her, my right one grabbed Grayson by the shirt and pulling him into the hug.

We broke the hug soon and I sat back in my chair.

"Okay I'm ready to see what I got. Come on!" I screamed, making people laugh.

"Okay. Here's mine." Gracie said.

I sat up as she slid two wrapped presents, a envelope and a card towards me. I opened the biggest one first.

I unwrapped the box and pulled out a customized crossbody. I smiled as I held it in my hands. It was black with purple and red splattered paint with real diamonds spelling out Ella Grace.

"It's gorgeous." I said, smiling while looking up at her.

"Open the rest." She said, impatiently.

I shook my head as I grabbed the smaller box and opened it. My eyes popped out as I grabbed it.

It was a phone case that had Grayson, Gracie and I on it. Gracie forced me to get dressed in my "best clothes" and get my picture taken with them. I didn't know what it was for but I went along with it. Now I know.

"This is so cute! Th-" Gracie cut me off.

"Not yet! You have one more to open before you can thank me. Open the card first." She said, excitedly.

I nodded and grabbed the card and read it aloud.

Dear Ella, you haven't had it easy, to say the least, the motivation and spirit you demonstrate makes me succeed. Thank you and Happy Birthday!

Love Gracie.

P.S open the envelope now!"

I grabbed the envelope and opened it, pulling out the contents. I screamed as I realized what they were.

"You got me tickets to Against The Current!" I said, crying.

She laughed and pulled me into a hug.

"Thank you so much." I said, hugging her back and still crying.

You're welcome." She said, laughing.

We pulled back and I wiped my face.

I put everything back in what it came in before grabbing another present.

"That's mine." Grayson said.

"Considering it says from Grayson, I think we know." Gracie said, causing us to laugh.

I opened the gift bag and pulled out a silver elephant ring holder, a ring that had my birthstone on it and two seventy-five-dollar Hot Topic gift cards.

I looked at Grayson and smiled, getting up to hug him.

"Thanks."

"Yeah. I didn't know what to get you honestly." He said, chuckling.

"Well this is perfect." I said, kissing his cheek.

I grabbed the next present and got ready to unwrap it.

"Oh that's mine." Kelly said, coming to stand a few feet away from me with a cup in her hand.

"Can't wait to see what it is." I said, unwrapping it.

I looked at the box to see it was a heart vine light box with the letter E in the middle.

"I've always wanted one of these!" I said, giving her a hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She said, laughing.

I put it aside and grabbed another gift bag. I reached in and grabbed a paper reading it aloud.

I was wrong. You were my best friend and I betrayed our friendship for the cheer team. I'm sorry. I'm really glad you have a friend like Kelly though, she's amazing and your friendship is beautiful. I hope you can forgive me. -Mariana

I scanned through the swarm of people in my living room and spotted her in the back with her head down. I reached back into the bag and pulled out a box to a light up mirrored jewelry box.

"Thanks, Mariana." I said. "It's a start." I finished.

The next one I was handed with a small box with from Kenzie on the top. I opened it and saw a black wooden watch.

"Oh my God. This is just gorgeous, thank you, Kenzie."

"You're welcome."

I picked up the third to last gift bag and pulled out the pale dollar store makeup.

"Oh that's from me." Aria said, walking to the front with Mariana behind her. "I specifically chose that because it's the same as you; cheap and ugly." She said laughing.

"GET THE FUCK OUT!" Gracie screamed, causing me to jump.

"What?" Aria laughed.

"You heard me, get the fuck out of my house, Aria." Gracie snapped.

"But-whatever, fine. Let's go Mariana." Aria said, walking towards the door but stopped once she noticed Mariana wasn't with her.

"Mariana, I said let's go." Aria said.

"No." Mariana said, causing mine and Kelly's eyes to widen.

"Excuse me?" Aria said.

"You heard me. I said no. You made me leave Kelly and Ella, my friends. I regret that and being your little follower is boring and stupid." Mariana snapped. "And if you have a problem with what I just said, we can settle this outside." Mariana said.

"This will get you kicked off the team, bitch." Aria said.

"So be it. Cheer leading isn't more important then Kelly and Ella. Plus I have college to fall back on. Something you're not smart enough for." Mariana said, getting "oohs" and "burns".

Aria rolled her eyes and walked out. Mariana looked at me.

"I'm sorry for everything." Mariana said, playing with her fingers.

"It's okay." I said.

She went into the kitchen and I grabbed the second to last present that was just an envelope. I opened it and read the paper.

Honestly, I had no idea what to get you. I knew you had an iPhone so I settled for this lol. Happy Birthday Ella. -Ace

I opened the envelope and pulled out the two one-hundred-dollar iTunes gift cards.

"Thanks Ace." I said.

"You're welcome." He yelled out from the kitchen.

I grabbed the last bag that was black and sparkly, it was so pretty. I'm keeping this.

I opened it and grabbed out a card. I opened it then read it aloud.

Life is tough but birthdays are smooth because I will finally have a chance to smile at you. Happy birthday, Grace. -Zane

P.s , shorts only.

I was shocked.

He got me a present but he can't be here?

"Who's Zane?" Gracie asked.

I ignored her question as I pulled out a wrapped pack of blue premium 100 cigarettes and a box that a necklace would come in.

"Oh my God." Gracie mumbled, setting her eyes on the cigarettes.

"Who the fuck got you cigarettes." Grayson asked, furious.

"Hold on." Gracie said, as I opened the necklace box.

Sitting inside the black box was a gorgeous and expensive rose gold diamond necklace. It had a cursive E on it in diamonds. It was breath taking.

"Whoa." Kelly said, standing over my shoulder looking at the necklace.

"Right." I said.

I closed the necklace box and stood up.

"Where's my keys?" I asked Kelly.

"In your room." Kelly said.

"Too far. Gracie, Grayson, one of you give me your keys."

"For what?" Grayson asked.

"I need answers." I said.

"I'll give you mine if you answer my questions." Grayson said, digging his keys from his pocket.

"Blake."

- - - -

Chapter Thirty

Food Setup :

Desert Table

Backyard Setup

Present Table