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Carter and I were walking, hand in hand when we heard a bullet shooting. Before I could even blink, Carter's ear piercing scream rang in my ears. His hand's grip loosened on mine as his body crashed on the ground.

"Carter!" I crouched down beside him witnessing the pool of blood the had left his body. "Carter!" I kept shouting but Carter was not replying. He was gone. "Carter! Wake up! Carter!"

Then I heard Richard laughing. The sound I hated the most. The only man that I wanted to die, my Dad. He appeared wearing a horrific mask, as he kept laughing. His mocking laughter was joined by Victoria's who came wearing a mask too. A more horrific one.

The banging on the door woke me up from my sleep. My eyes shot opened while I squeezed the life out of Carter's chest, making him wince in pain. Carter's eyes were barely open, whispering, "ow! What the fuck?!"

Carter's face had a frown etched on it but it changed into a worried expression as he took in my frame. My breathing was rugged and tears were rolling down my cheeks, unstoppable sobs leaving my mouth.

"Sparkle, what's-" before Carter could complete his sentence, I hugged him tightly, reminding myself that it was just a dream and that Carter was still safe. With me, beside me, with my body wrapped in his protective arms.

"It was just a dream, Sophie. Calm down." Carter pulled my head up, wiping the tears off my face. "What did you see? A joker?" It was obvious he was trying to make me forget about it. The worry his eyes held and the failed attempt of a chuckle that he made gave his attempts of joking away.

I tried to laugh at his joke, letting him know it wasn't bad. That it wasn't heart-shattering. That is wasn't life-snatching. That it was nothing serious. That it was nothing he should be worried about.

The bang on the door sounded again, making me snap my eyes to it again when I remembered I had locked it last night. My eyes went wide studying the situation, my body springing up the bed in an instinct. Carter shouldn't be here. He couldn't be here. He mustn't be here. "Carter, go. Hurry up! Leave! You can't be here. Go!"

"Okay, okay, woman. I'll leave," Carter's hands searched for his T-shirt that he had worn last night as he pulled it on in a hurry. With his shoes in his hands, he kissed my cheek briefly, before climbing off my window.

I rubbed my eyes, while I went to open the door, giving an impression that I just woke up. Rebecca stood there, making me take out a sigh of relief. She peeked inside, amusement lining her features. "I see, you kicked the poor boy out." Her voice was loud which would've let the monsters know about Carter's presence.

"Shh, Rebecca!" I whispered bringing her inside my room as I closed it behind us. "How did you know?" I asked, unable to figure out how she knew about him being here.

"Did you really think you could hide it from me, Sophie?" Rebecca smirked but I couldn't keep the act anymore. My eyes pooled again as I stared at the carpet on the floor, sniffing.

"Why are they doing this to me Rebecca? Why?!" I sniffed again, feeling her rubbing my arms soothingly. "What have I ever done to them? I wish they never came back! I wish I was not their daughter!" I cried in her arms questioning her about things she had no idea how to answer. "Rebecca, I love him. And Richard-he-he..." I couldn't repeat what he had said earlier.

"I know darling I know. Your father is a monster, you're right. But, if you and Carter are meant to be, you will be. Your Dad, or anyone wouldn't be able to stop you even if they tried their best to separate you." She explained, her words making their way through my brain. I nodded in understanding.

"But what should I do now? What do I choose?"

"Go with what feels right." She stated with a smile and at that moment I knew what I was going to choose. I was done making my choice and I had chosen what felt right to my heart. I chose Carter.

After I got freshened up and went downstairs I had not expected to see Maddie waiting for me in the dining room, talking to my parents. I didn't think my eyes were still inside their sockets. Mom looked quiet impressed by her as she nodded at something Maddie had said. Before she could say something I walked inside, interrupting them, "hello?"

"Hi, Sophia! I was waiting for you! How are you?" She asked in her same, annoyingly high-pitched voice. Excuse me?! What the fuck?

"Hi... I'm... surviving..." I answered glancing back at my Dad who was looking at me curiously. Not at me, actually he was waiting for my answer because the sun was on display now and I have had the whole freaking night to think. One whole night.

"I just met your sweet Mom, right now." She Beamed like a crazy doll and I couldn't be more confused. Sweet? Mom?

"Nice joke, Maddie!" I gave out a small laugh, not afraid of the consequences of my actions. My eyes didn't miss the frown in my dear mother's face. "Why don't you go and wait in my room? I'll be there, shortly."

"Yeah, yeah, sure! I'd love to wait in your room," her face had a dreamy expression as she started to walk towards the stairs. I sat on my usual chair clearing my throat.

Both of the monsters had their eyes fixed on me but I ignored them, peacefully munching on my sandwich. "What did you think?" Mom's annoyed voice echoed inside the room.

"About what?" Purposefully, I attempted to annoy her a little more.

"About your lover boy, daughter." Richard answered instead of her, making my eyes snap up to him. His words were laced with so much hatred, I wanted to punch him and break his nose.

"I have decided," I gulped, once again running all the possible circumstances inside my mind after I had said what I had chosen. Even though none of them felt good, but I was certain that Carter was safe in everyone of them.

"I'll marry Lucas."

I looked at Richard who was smirking at Victoria. A triumphant smirk. And Victoria rolled her eyes but I caught a glimpse of hurt in those cold eyes of hers. Everything about them confused the hell out of me. "I wouldn't have tried the harder way if you had accepted it in the first place, daughter."

It felt like Richard was aware of how much I had wanted him to call me his daughter. It felt like he was torturing me by saying it in each and every sentence but with a a fake tone, not a loved one.

"You'll not touch a hair of Carter's, Richard, is that clear?"

"Crystal, daughter." I nodded, turning around to walk upstairs where Maddie was doing God-knows-what in my bedroom. As I entered inside, my nostrils were hit by the scent of strawberry perfume that Carter loved.

My eyes caught Maddie trying one of my lip-glosses that Lia gifted me once. To tell the truth, it was annoying. If I were at someone's house, I would ask before barging into their personal stuff but it felt like Maddie wasn't aware of what the word 'privacy' meant.

"Maddie, can I know why you're here?" I asked her, walking towards her. She turned around with a smile on her face. I would've been shocked by seeing her smile at me, but I couldn't be more shocked then I was by her presence at such an hour.

"I needed to confirm what I just heard from Lia. . ." She jumped towards me in her heals as she held my hands tightly, an overly-excited expression on her face. "Are you really marrying that hotshot, Lucas Woods?"

My mouth went dry, hearing her speak the reality which sounded awful to my ears. I shouldn't have trusted Lia with the secret knowing how loud her voice is. "Maddie, I-I... it's... "

"Oh my God! You are so lucky! I wish I was set up in an arranged marriage with such a hotshot. I can't believe this!" All my life I had heard people telling me how unlucky I was. But hearing her call me lucky, I let out a laugh from my mouth. A dry laugh.

I can't believe this either!

"I wish I was there at your place! Why does the uglies always get good-looking men? Why not the pretties like me?" I swear I couldn't keep myself from snorting at her statement. Ignoring the fact that she just called me ugly, I walked towards my bed. It wasn't wrong that she was pretty. She was beautiful. But I would not call myself ugly, ever.

"What about Carter, though? I thought you were with him?" Maddie continued with her questions.

"I was with Carter but-" I was still thinking of how to answer her without giving any further information when she interrupted me, "but Lucas was a limited offer? And Carter was nothing compared to Lucas? Because you had a bright future with Lucas? And beside that things with Carter looked like a bag of crap?" I wanted to cringe at her words but I masked my disgusted expression with a tight smile.

"Exactly!" I had to go with the flow so that she couldn't catch me. By her actions it felt like she just visited to confront me but I was wrong when I found her taking out a dress from her bag and standing beside my bathroom. She had many other plans. Like, plans to empty my perfume bottles, plans to go through my cupboard, plans to use my makeup and to bath in my bathroom.

"I'm sure you won't mind?"

"It's okay.... umm, enjoy?" I answered unsure of how to reply to her. Waiting for her outside for two hours was very boring. And all I could do at such a time was think about the worst things that were about to come to my life. As much as I wanted to leave her doing her business in my washroom, I was afraid that she might showcase my secret to the whole universe– including Carter with her filthy tongue.

She stepped out, a towel wrapped around her head as she smiled at me. "I love your house, Sophie! Can we be best friends?!" Her excited voice sounded and I witnessed her jumping wildly on my bed as she sat beside me.

"Maddie. . . I already ha-"

"Great! We're best friends now. And I can barge into your room whenever I like, right?" She clapped her hands. It's not like you asked my permission before barging into my room earlier either, Maddie.

Calm down Sophie! Calm down. You need to shut her mouth before she lets the secret slip.

"Sure, Maddie. Oh and I need a favour in return. Could you just keep quiet about my wedding with Lucas? Please, Maddie?" Maddie nodded wildly with a smile as she examined her finger nails and I couldn't be more relieved.

"But I thought people knew?"

"No one must know about this yet, Maddie. Specially Carter. I'll tell them myself when the time comes." I gulped, stating, a sad feeling settling in my heard, drowning it.

"Got it. Now I gotta go. Meet you at night!" With that she threw the towel and ran out of my room.

What?!

* * * * *

When Maddie told me that we'll meet tonight I thought she was just being her crazy stupid self but I did not think that we would actually meet. At about seven, I received a message from Carter that I was needed urgently at Lia's house.

Without blinking another time I rushed towards Lia's house where I found things too eerily calm to be considered as an emergency. I rang the bell and waited for the door to be opened while I went through the worst of scenarios inside my mind.

I grew impatient, standing outside Lia's closed door feeling nothing but stupid. Some seconds later the door opened making me take a step back. Her house was dark and it seemed like a warning. "Happy birthday!" I heard the sound of numerous voices echoing as the lights flickered around the house.

I looked at Carter briefly before taking in the surroundings. There were balloons everywhere and my friends were smiling at me like goons. I looked at Carter again with a confused expression on my face, finding him smiling widely at me. He wrapped an arm around my waist before whispering, "happy birthday, Sparkle," in my ear.

"Wait, you guys. It's not my birthday today. It's on.... fifth." I revealed, calculating what was the date that day.

"And it's fifth today, you idiot!" Carter chuckled beside me followed by Lia and Jack's laughter.

"No way!" I whispered with tears welling inside my eyes. Did I mention that it was the first time anyone had ever surprised me like that?

"Yes way, Sophia." Lia giggled, correcting me.

All I wanted since my childhood was someone to bring me a cake on my birthday. I didn't demand a party, only a single person who cared. And looking at my friends setting up a table for me, bringing a freshly made cake and singing for me felt like all of my wishes were fulfilled.

I cut the cake, remembering all those years when I hoped for someone to come into my bedroom and surprise me at twelve o'clock. I waited for anyone to come and wish me happy birthday. I wished to have only a gift on my birthday that I could spent hours staring at. I waited and I kept waiting but no one ever appeared.

I had given up all hopes after spending some of my birthdays waiting for a surprise, a cake or a gift. There was a time I had completely forgotten my birthday until Josh grew up. As he was a little kid he had been giving me birthday cards.

The first birthday card he gave me was worth all the wait. And I still had it saved in my cupboard. Josh seemed to have not forgotten my birthday, unlike me who had no idea what the date was and brought me a beautiful hand made birthday card. "Thank you so much, Josh."

"Your welcome sister." He kissed my cheek and went to eat the cake.

Maddie had bought me coupons for a salon pedicure. She told me she'll tag along with me. The horror.

Lia handed me a gift box with a beautiful smile on her face. She was followed by Jack who had a small box in his hand. He gave it to me before hugging me lightly. To say I was taken aback would be an understatement.

I laughed awkwardly at him while he moved away. "Thank you so much guys." Lia was next to hug the life out of me.

"You're eighteen now, Sophia! Yay!" I was happy but I didn't see what I was waiting for. I was waiting for Carter's gift but Carter was no where to be found. I looked around, unable to locate him.

"Where is Carter, Lia?"

"Carter is here!" I heard him say from behind me, his hands carrying bottles of Wine.

"Let's get drunk tonight!" His words hit me like a rock and just as an instinct, I started to shake my head violently.

"No. No one is getting drunk tonight!" My tone was sharp but all of them started to argue. They had ratted me out and were ganging up on me.

"Who would drive me home?" I found myself asking them, trying to stop them from sticking the bottles to their mouths.

"Yo driver Pony!" Jack stated and laughed. I tried to stop them but it was too late.

"Come on Sparkle, enjoy a little. It's your birthday!" Carter dragged me to the dining table as we sat there. He passed me the bottle of drink and I declined it.

"You know, I don't drink, Carter."

"Please? Just this once? You'll love it, trust me. Come on!" Carter took a sip out of his own and smiled and me smugly. I reached out for the bottle and held it in my right hand, a bad feeling rushing through me.

"I really don't think I should drink it..."

"You'll love it!" Carter sounded, making me take the step and let the drink enter my mouth. A bitter taste dominated my mouth and I felt a burning sensation in my throat. After gulping a huge sip, I sighed, cringing at how strong it was.

"What is it?" I asked, wiping my mouth.

"It's a flavoured vodka." Carter answered, as I noticed the bottle in his hand was almost half empty by now. I remembered how Carter was like when he drank; over emotional. He kept on sipping from his bottle giving me occasional smiles.

I copied him until I felt completely lightheaded and dizzy. Josh had fallen asleep on the sofa which made me smile. I looked at the card he gave me which I had kept on the table. It was decorated with red hearts. There was a picture of me and him on the first page. Inside of it, some poem was written which I couldn't read properly.

"Carter?" I pouted, looking at him beside me.

"Yup?" He answered, turning towards me.

"Where's my gift?" I never removed the pout from my face. Carter lifted both of his hands, bringing his index fingers on either sides of my mouth as he pulled them in a smile.

"Don't pout. Don't." He stated, playing with the tips of my hair. I pouted again, looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"Why?"

"Because it's doing something to me." He cringed and shook his head.

"Oh. But I want my gift. Carter!" I drawled, still pouting.

"It's not ready. It's not ready yet." Carter opened another bottle of drink, passing it to me. I took a sip from it and passed it back to him. We could hear moaning from inside the kitchen and at that time I was sure that kitchen was the favourite place of Lia and Jack.

Without waisting a moment, Carter pulled me up from the chair and placed me on his lap. He crashed his lips on mine in a passionate kiss. It was passionate for him but the only thing running through my mind was how much I would miss that. How much I would miss kissing him like that, being kissed by him like that and being able to run my hand through his hair.

I wasn't able to continue this. I wasn't able to keep the act anymore. I knew I had to tell him but I couldn't make myself to do it. I wasn't that powerful. The guilt was eating me alive. Carter forced me to kiss him back but I couldn't. It was like I was frozen. I turned my head away from him, facing my cheek to him.

"What is up with you? What is up with you?" Carter asked. I saw his lower lip quivering and it broke my heart. "What happened? What happened? Sparkle?" Carter turned my head to face him with his gentle hands. He cupped my cheeks tracing every feature of mine with his curious eyes.

"Carter, I can't."