Who Am I? ~ Chapter Twenty Eight ~

A birthday is an occasion that is supposed to be celebrated with the ones you love most. It’s something that millions of people celebrate everyday, something that I used to find amazing, and something that used to seem so exciting. 1

It was hard to celebrate my 17th after all that had happened. It was even harder for Taylor. For 16 years she had grown a year older; three months after me, so I understood when she told me she didn’t want anything to do with it. To her it was just another normal day, in our not so normal lives. She asked both Luca and I not to bring it up. Like the caring friend she was, she wished me a happy 17th. But like her I didn’t feel much like celebrating. 2

Mum’s death affected me more strongly than I thought possible. I knew that we didn’t get to spend much time together, but the time we did spend, after she opened up to us was great. I didn’t understand why she was taken away from us.3

I had been thinking a lot about so many things; especially my relationship with Luca. Was it fair for me to keep him? I mean he was young and had his whole life ahead of him. But now he would be tied down to his 17-year-old girlfriend with a baby that wasn’t his. I loved him so much but I didn’t want to put his life on hold.4

“Hayles…come back to me.” Luca smiled. 5

“Huh?” I said coming back into reality.6

“You looked like you were miles away sweetie.” 7

“I’m sorry I was just thinking about stuff.” I apologised. 8

“Well I have something to show you that might clear your head.” He said pulling me up. “Follow me.” He added leading me outside of the caravan.9

“We can’t leave Kennedy on her own Luca.” I said. 10

“She’s with Taylor, she is fine.” He said making me walk some more. He led me to the picnic area of the park. 11

Tears filled my eyes when I saw the table spread he had made me. It was covered in pink and white Rose petals. There were candles all over the table in glass jars. It was beautiful. 12

“I know you said not to make a fuss about your birthday but I had to do something. Think of it not as a fuss, its just dinner with some thought behind it.” 13

“Luca, this is beautiful. Thank you so much.” I smiled in awe. 14

He had really blown me away; it was weird because many guys had done similar things for me before. I always thought it was corny and cheap. But this was different. I couldn’t find the words to describe it. I guess all those little things really matter, and are really different when you are in love. 15

“Sit down, it’s not the greatest meal, all I could find was a little chicken shop so I got some chicken, chips and salad.”16

“It’s perfect, better than perfect, when did you do this? How did you do this?” I asked taking a bite to eat.17

“It wasn’t hard, Taylor found a florist while she was in town, so she got me some roses and candles, and I got the food. You have been asleep most the day so it wasn’t hard to keep it a secret.” He smiled. 18

“I’m sorry I haven’t been myself lately. I have had a lot on my mind. I am sorry if I have been distant.”19

“That’s okay hun, I understand. I was talking to your Mum last night. She really wanted to call you for your birthday, but she wasn’t sure you would talk to her. She really wants you to call her.” He said trying to sound casual. 20

“I don’t think I am ready to talk to her, I miss her, I miss them all but I am not ready.”21

“I know hun, she wanted me to wish you a happy birthday, and she faxed this up to you, the reception lady gave it to me this morning.” He said handing me a stack of papers. 22

It was a title, ownership papers for a 3-bedroom house on our street. They bought me a house? 23

“What is this?” I asked lost for words. 24

“Well you know that I have been talking to her, I told her about our plans to rent a house when we return home. They just want to make it up to you and for you to be happy.”25

“This is…. amazing…I own a house…I.” I said. 26

I wasn’t sure how to react to be honest. I mean yes it was huge; it was exactly what I wanted and needed. But how could I be happy about it when I was still angry with my parents? Money just couldn’t fix this problem. I didn’t want to sound ungrateful but a million houses couldn’t make up for what had happened. It couldn’t undo what had been done, and the lies they told. I didn’t know what I was suppose to do, was I suppose to forgive them now because they bought me a house, and so I didn’t look like a brat?27

“I just need time Luca…time.” I said quietly.28

I was so confused, I tried so hard not to feel angry and be happy, but I couldn’t. 29

“Are you okay?” He asked. “This is a good thing Hayles.” He added.30

“Yeah it is, but this is so like them! They always try to fix things with their money! I have a right to be angry with them and now I feel like I can’t because I will look like a selfish little bitch! I don’t want to sound like that! I don’t want to sound like I don’t appreciate it! But it feels so wrong! It doesn’t make up for what has happened! This is their answer to everything! Dad missed Hayles 16th cos he’s away on business; lets buy her a MINI! Mum missed Hayles Cheer final cos she simply forgot; lets buy her a $1000 dollar Plasma Screen. Stupid little Hayles will FORGET all about it! Stupid superficial Hayleigh; buy her shiny things or throw money in her face and she will be happy. IM NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE. This isn’t going to make me forget that something is wrong!” I raved at a mile a minute. 31

“Hayles this is different, they know that this is what you need. They know that they messed up and that you don’t want to move home, so they did this so you have somewhere to go. You’re Mum told me about it, they didn’t buy it for you, it’s an investment property. They bought it and they are going to let us rent it.” He explained. 32

“I’m so confused right now. I don’t know what to feel, and don’t give me that. Mum and Dad would not take money from me, no matter how she would like to try and put it.”33

“I know baby but it will get better, in time everything will be fine.” He assured me. 34

“How can it be Luca? Please tell me! How can you be so certain! I am so scared! I am freaked out! I love you so much! I have never loved anyone else! But you are 18 years old and now you are stuck with a girl and her baby!”35

“I am not stuck anywhere Hayles, I love you too, and I am exactly where I want to be; and that is with you. I love every little part of you, and Kennedy is apart of you now. So I love her too. So please stop with the crazy talk, nothing is going to make me walk away from you. I was going to save this until after we ate, but here.” He said handing me a tiny little box.36

My heart literally skipped a beat I think. Was this what I thought it was? No. Could it be? I opened it, and there staring at me was a gold ring with diamonds around the band. 37

“Luca? Is this?” I gasped trying to catch my breath. 38

“No, But sometime in the future it will be, I love you Hayleigh and I only want you. Happy birthday baby.” He smiled. 39

“Thank you Luca. I love you too.”40