Chapter 73 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
~ Elara ~
"These are very important guests, I expect you all to be professional as always while we serve tonight's dinner." Mrs. Carmen says.
She'd been going on about how we needed to make our best impression tonight.
Apparently these people were important.
I think I heard her say the Randolph family, but i wasn't too sure.
My brain wasn't exactly in the right state to be focusing too much on anything currently. I just wanted work to be over with.
I sigh as I prepare the drinks before setting them on the gold tray.
I could hear the conversations from the dining hall, it seemed like the guests had just gotten here.
I get a signal from Mrs. Carmen to bring the drinks out. My hands hold on tightly to the gold tray which was holding a glass pitcher as I walk out into what was thankfully not a quiet dinner.
My eyes scan the room, noticing only the adults had been talking. Wayne was sitting in a chair, looking bored. A gorgeous blonde girl sat across from him, picking at her nails as she sat slouched in her chair.
I almost choke on my own saliva when for the first time at dinner I see Calvin sitting in the chair that has always been empty.
He was the only one that looked amused.
"Charlotte, why don't you talk about the many languages you've learned." An old man says as I start pouring drinks.
I could feel Calvin and Wayne burning their eyes through the side of my skull. That didn't help me one bit in trying to stay professional.
"Oh, I have a lot to say about that." She smiles sarcastically before the smile quickly fades away.
It seems as if they don't catch on though.
" Well that's great! Please, we'd love to know more." Mrs. Agosti smiles.
Her husband tries to cover up a laugh at Mrs.Agosti, probably because she hadn't realized Charlotte wasn't being serious.
I move over to Wayne’s glass, smiling back at him when he gives me a small smile.
Charlotte's mom nudges her shoulder when she doesn't answer, and she rolls her eyes in annoyance before sighing.
" Well, the most important thing I've learned is that we should get rid of languages. Why would I want to talk to people, I mean what can they offer me? A list of their suicidal thoughts and traum-"
"That's enough sweetheart." Her mom grits out, putting a hand on her arm before nervously laughing.
I mentally curse myself as I walk over to the last glass, Calvin’s . He'd been eyeing me like I was his prey the entire time I was pouring drinks.
" Anyways, we've decided on transferring Charlotte to Rupert High, I'm sure she'll make tons of friends there." Her dad speaks up, cutting the tension.
I quickly pour his drink as everyone gasps in excitement at the news of her transfer.
"I only want two ice cubes." Calvin suddenly says when I finish pouring his drink. I look down at him with a glare before grabbing another glass and making sure only two ice cubes get in.
As I'm placing his cup back down I notice the yellow bracelet I'd given him still on his wrist.
Why did he even care to wear it?
I'm about to turn around to leave the table until he speaks again.
" This one is smaller than the other one."
He says, pointing towards the glass as he looks at me. I could feel myself getting more angry at his stupid requests.
Everyone was too busy talking about Wayne and his football career to notice anything, except for Charlotte who'd been watching the entire time.
I gave Calvin a fake smile before putting a new ice in his glass. Before he can complain about anything else I quickly get out of the dining room.
I release the breath I'd been holding in when I finally reach the kitchen again, setting the tray down.
" Elara focus,Mr.Calvin has an empty glass.
You need to make sure they're always full." Mrs.Carmen orders me.
I furrow my brows together in confusion as I look up at her. " B..but I just-"
"Go on, there's no room for questioning anything."
I watch her in shock before pursing my lips together, grabbing the tray and walking back out again.
I glare at Calvin as he watches me with amusement while i fill his glass up, again.
"I hope your son and my daughter get closer while they decide if they want this arranged marriage or not." Charlotte's mom says in an excited tone, causing my head to move to her direction in confusion.
Arranged marriage?
Was Calvin getting married to her? Is that why he's at dinner for once? Is that why he looked like he was in a good mood?
I feel my mouth run dry and a striking pain in my heart. I'm not sure why, but I didn't like the idea of Calvin getting married to another woman.
The feeling of a hand wrapped around my wrist causes me to move my attention back. I look down at Calvin’s hand that was stopping me from pouring any more of the drink as it's about to overflow the cup.
My eyes move up to Calvin who was watching me confused as my face starts to pale. I quickly avert my eyes from him as I pull away and walk back towards the kitchen.
I had no reason to be upset, I already made it clear I would go to prom with Wayne and not bother about Calvin anymore.
Especially after he just ignored me at school.
It still hurt
When the dinner is over and the dishes are clean i untie my hair, walking out of the now empty kitchen.
A sigh leaves my mouth as I move my arms to hug myself while I walk towards my room in the dark.
So many thoughts had been racing in my head, it all felt so overwhelming.
I just wanted to scrub my brain clean with a sponge.
Today was my 18th birthday
I'd nearly forgotten. I usually do. Most people have parents, friends, or family to remind them.
The only thing that reminded me was the calendar on my phone.
I usually never do anything, except for one year when I got myself a donut.
The weather was horrible outside on my walk to school, it was cloudy and sprinkling. To top it off it was colder than usual.
Walking into school was weird, because as soon as I stepped in there were eyes on me from every direction. People were laughing at something on their phones, pointing at me, and giving me dirty looks.
What was going on?
I feel my hands start to shake in panic before I quickly tighten my hands on my backpack straps.
Why was everyone laughing at me?
It's not until a firm grip is on my arm that my attention is brought back to what was around me.
" This is for being a whore and trying to take my man from me." Leslie grits out before pushing me with her perfectly manicured hands. She gives me a dirty look when I just watch her confused.
"Gosh, stop looking so pathetic." She laughs before walking away.
My eyes scan around, watching as everyone continues to look at their phones and eye me like I'm disgusting.
The whispers sound louder the more I just stand around, so I push past the crowd, hurriedly walking down the hall.
Everywhere I walked there was someone staring at me, I felt trapped.
I could barely breathe at this point, but when I catch sight of Wayne who gives me a worried look as he walks up to me, I feel some sort of relief.
Maybe he could tell me what's going on.
" Wayne w.what's going on why is everyone..." I ask, stopping any more words from leaving my mouth when people pass by and look at me in disgust for talking with Wayne.
"I don't know if you should see this right now-"
"Wayne, show me." I say, my voice sounded shaky, like I was fighting a war to keep my tears in. I was frustrated, and confused, and I felt like I was about to explode as my heart kept racing in panic.
Wayne lets out a sigh as he runs a hand through this hair.
" Elara just listen, how about I take you home firs-"
" Just show me!" I sob out, not able to handle the frustration any longer. Wayne looks at me with a hesitant expression before slowly pulling out his phone.
He pulls up a video
I don't even need to watch more then a second of it to know what it was
Everything freezes, my tears, my body. I couldn't hear anything, just a loud ringing and the beat of my heart only growing louder.
It was me. Wearing just a bra and underwear. And touching me was Roger. I told him not to touch me, I cried, I kicked, he didn't stop.
Emma and Jacob stood around us in the video, laughing at me.
And Peter Flowsky took a video of it all. Except everything was edited, making it seem like it was something else.
I don't know how Leslie got the video, but it's obvious she tried her best to dig up dirt on me just to make me look bad.
I shake my head in disbelief as I cry, not even able to look up at Wayne. I felt sick to my stomach.
" Elara-"
I ignore Wayne as I turn around, my eyes glued to the floor as I try to hide my flooded face. My legs move as quick as they can out of the school while I try to ignore the whispers attacking my ear from every direction.
Happy Birthday to me