→ Sometimes you just need the people you love

→ Life is perfect for me

warning, be aware: this chapter is NOT edited and is to be rewritten

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started blank, deprived of any people besides myself. A few seconds into the party, I watched the room fill up until there was barely any more open space. I sat in the corner of the room, my hands underneath my bottom, watching this transition happen. Everyone entered in different ways- some shyly and some socializing. No one had noticed me there yet. The little girl sitting in the corner.

I wasn't sitting sad. After all, it was just another one of daddy's colleagues' parties. His boss's daughter was turning seven- 'a big girl' daddy called her- and they had thrown an enormous party in a rented hall. I was merely observing. "Ah Jess, there you are." I felt a tug on my hand to see daddy had found me. "What are you doing here alone?" He asked gently, lifting me up and into his arms.

"Observing." I reply, my eyes traveling around the room. I had never had a party as big as this, yet I wasn't jealous. I loved my tiny birthday parties with just daddy and me sitting around a table with my stuffed animals. It just seized to amaze me the level of effort put into this party.

I doubted the birthday girl knew all these people. I barely knew a quarter of these people. "Observing, hm?" Daddy followed my gaze that danced around the room.

"Yeah, there are so many people doing so many things." A waiter holds out a platter to a woman on her phone, which she accepts with a nod. Another man in the corner bounces a baby on his lap while the baby wails. A boy around my age runs around the room with a balloon flying behind him.

"There are, aren't there? Do you want a birthday like this next year?" He asks, facing his entire attention towards me. Before I can respond, a tall, suited man walks up to us. Dad's boss. They exchange a few words before his boss turns to me.

"And you must be Jessica?" I nod in confirmation though I wonder why this strange man knows my name. "Your dad talks a lot about you." Without knowing how to reply, I bury my head in daddy's shirt.

He and his boss both chuckle above my head. "Okay, I best go give the birthday girl her present now. See you two later." Daddy waves to him before placing his hand back on my back.

"Now tell me, angel. Yes or no to a birthday like this next year?" I look back up and shake my head.

"No, daddy. I like my birthdays just the way they are with my favorite daddy."

"Your favorite daddy, hm? I thought I was your only daddy."

"Same thing daddy," I whine.

"Of course, princess. I love you."

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"You better not be peaking," Alex scolds as I tug against the blindfolded cloth pressed against my eyelids.

"I'm not. Are we almost there? This cloth is way too itchy," I complain, not getting the point of this blindfold.

Alex had forced me into a dress, yet again, before dragging me to another highschool party. Except this time, she promised me that my brothers had given me permission but she hadn't given me any other information. I was more than reluctant at first, especially after my recent heart-to-heart with my brothers but Alex was insistent. I recognized today was the day of my birthday, one that I had never celebrated after dad passed away. I didn't expect anyone to remember nor know so it was predictable when everyone treated the day as a normal day. Albeit, a little disappointed. The blindfold was the first act that raised my suspicions but I expected nothing less with Alex- always on her toes coming up with the craziest of ideas. My initial reaction was shock when Alex had come prepared with a flowing blue dress- one of the princesses of my imagination. The gown was long on one side so it seemed to be floating and the perfect length on the other. It had glistening stones lining the waist and had dark indigo flowers near the bottom. With dad's necklace, my brothers' bracelet, and Ryan's ring on me, I felt like I was having the best birthday yet- even if no one remembered. The most important people to me in the universe were right by my side.

"Hold tight, miss I love complaining," I felt the car come to a stop as I was thrown forward slightly by Alex's reckless driving. Being in a car with Alex was similar to having a death wish.

"Jeez Alex, you're gonna kill me one day." I only heard a tapping sound in reply before Alex sighed impatiently. A rush of wind flew into the enclosed car and using sensory details, I could only imagine that Alex had thrown the door open. I stay glued to the seat, not knowing what to do. A slam startled me and I resisted the urge to throw the blindfold off as well. A little peak wouldn't hurt anyone, would it?

Before I could either scold or obey the devil placed in my head, I heard another click. This time beside me. Alex's voice followed soon after. "Okay, hold onto my hand and I'll lead you." I nod, not knowing if she could see me or not.

She taps her finger on my arm and I latch onto her elbow. I feel another hand on my shoulder as Alex gently pushes me. "Sidewalk, step up."

"Wait, now or after? How high is the step? Is there a leaf or something? What if-" She cuts my panic rant off with a laugh.

"Come on, I promise I won't let you fall... maybe," she adds as an afterthought, making me frown. I was leaving the fate of my life in the hands of the woman who was famous for her reckless decisions. Not that I was complaining because she was very entertaining. The heat of the sun prickles against my skin and I fight the urge to let go of Alex's hand and itch. The feeling suddenly disappears though, replaced with coolness. A fan vent.

"Wait, let go of your death grip for a second, woman. I have to do something real quick." She pries my fingers off her arm. I play with my fingers, twisting them against each other, feeling stranded without my sense of sight.

"Alex? Where are we?" I expect her response immediately but am struck with nothing but silence. Dramatic, creepy silence. I feel like the main character of a horror movie where there is nothing but darkness and a murder creeps up behind you. I shiver, not knowing if it was from the fear or sudden chill. "Alex, can I please take this off now? Are you here?" Again, stone cold silence.

Not knowing what else to do, I tug the blind fold off my eyes to reveal an empty room. All that was missing was the murderer that sneaks up. I flailed my arms out, hoping to find anything besides plain darkness. "Alex, this is not funny. Where are you?" What type of crazy plan was this?

Ignoring my subconscious that told me to stay where I was, I stepped forward. My hip hit something pointy and I cursed under my breath. A little further, my arms reached out to skim a wall. I gasp at the feeling of something solid and place my hands on it. It was rough... weird. After several curse words and bumping, I finally feel a plastic object on the wall. What I was hoping was a light switch. I press down on the bottom of the sinking part and the lights finally blink on. The darkness is replaced by a bright light and I blink a few times to clear my vision.

"Surprise!" A large 'Happy Birthday' banner is hung near the ceilings and confetti flies from all over. A platter of colorful cupcakes stand on the sharp object I had previously bumped, a table. Balloons are taped across the room and a few free flying ones touch the ceiling. My name is spelled out of block letters, organized like scrabble blocks on design.

Six people stand in front of me, all waving their jazz hands wildly. Eli, Caden, Mason, Aiden, Ryan, Alex, Tyler, and Jack. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh." That seemed like the only thing my mouth could recite. I covered my mouth with a hand and fanned my eyes, trying to blink the tears back.

"Happy birthday, Jess!" Alex was the first to come up to me, wrapping one arm around my shoulder. Everyone else followed and we huddled into a group hug. Caden pressed a kiss onto the top of my head. Ryan was the last to leave the hug, planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Okay, okay. I know I agreed to you both dating but I do not appreciate the PDA." Eli announced, interrupting the sweet gesture. I laughed, the smile on my face never wavering.

"What are you waiting for? Cake time," Aiden tugged on my braid, a smile on his face as well.

"You didn't think we would forget our little sister's birthday, did you?" Mason asks with a teasing smile.

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The party was a hit. I had never in a million years expected to have a party for my birthday like the one I had today. Like the one I saw with daddy, all those years ago. Alex had bought me a polaroid camera and the first picture we took was an auto-set one while we were cutting the cake. Now, I held the picture in my hand with a never fading smile.

I couldn't believe that the girl in the picture, surrounded by so many people, was the same one that stood in front of the mirror crying over two months ago. The girl had her shoulders relaxed, shaking with laughter and stood tall with radiating confidence. All my brothers stood behind me, Aiden leaning his head on my shoulder and Mason placing bunny ears over my head. Ryan had been holding my hand, barely noticeable to the boys but to me, it was perfect. Alex had me wrapped in a hug and Jack and Tyler were making funny faces. It was perfect. Everything about it was perfect.

After dad passed away, I never thought I would ever be happy again. I thought I would be broken forever, fragile forever. Just a year from now, I would have never would have imagined myself here right now. Here with four loving brothers, a caring boyfriend, three of the bestest friends, and a happy life. Yet here I am right now.

The past had been hard on me but I wasn't about to let it hold me back any longer than it already had. I loved my dad and still love him with my life, knowing he was with me still; watching me from where he is and the necklace that gave me strength to get through anything. But nonetheless, I had to accept that he was gone and that it wasn't my fault. It was the drunk driver's fault, it was the car's fault, it was the slipperiness' fault. I had to learn to accept who I was: cheerful, sarcastic, caring, and stubborn.

And I would be happy and grateful. I had so much to look forward to, so many people who cared, and I would make the best of it. Life doesn't have to be 'perfect'. It can have road blocks, but at the end, some people just make it perfect. And to me, I had my people right next to me.

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