Page 58 of Exactly What I Needed
I’d also managed to avoid Danny this entire time. Anytime he’d come my way, I’d confidently engaged in conversation with someone else.
“Hey, sweetie. Your father and I were hoping to discuss something with you,” my mom quietly said, pulling my attention back to her. Stepping away from the guest, I faced my mom as she dropped her hand from my elbow. I knew what was coming.
“What’s up?”
She pushed a smile onto her face that was almost too bright. “We’re wanting to do some investing and were wondering if there was any way you could increase the amount of money you give us? Just a little bit until our investments start paying back.”
My heart dropped to my toes as a wave of frustration filled the increasing space between us. Typical. The only time they talked to me was when they needed something from me. And it was usually money. I slowly shook my head and took another step back. “Investments with Danny?”
My mom clicked her tongue as all the faked excitement dropped from her demeanor. “Does it matter who the investments are with? We are barely surviving, honey. Isn’t there a way to increase your income to help us out?”
I merely stared at her.
Twinkling strands of light hung between the empty stage at one side of the yard all the way across to the other. A fully stocked bar had been set up near the house, servers mingling in amongst the crowd with fancy snacks. It was the typical rich girl birthday party, as shallow and empty as I felt.
Up until now, I’d at least managed to force myself into believing Sydney’s apologies about how it didn’t have the personal touch she’d been planning on. In fact, I didn’t blame her at all.
Ripping my gaze away from my mom, I met Sydney’s stare, and she gave me a sympathetic sigh. Shoving the mask back on my face, I winked and raised my glass of champagne in her direction. At least she did something for me, even if there was a bit of personal gain for her. Even if Void wasn’t here.
Glancing back at my mom, I knew that the satisfaction from the party my parents had had, now no longer dangled the same carrot in front of them as she plastered a fake smile back on her face. She patted my arm. “You know what, we can talk about this later.”
“I can’t give you any more money right now, Mom. I’m sorry,” I muttered as she turned away from me.
I heard a heavy sigh escape her lungs as she called out over her shoulder, “We can talk about this later.”
Up until now, relief had coursed through me because I’d kept the same status quo with her and my dad as usual. But now…
The larger part of me wanted to absolutely wreck Danny. Wanted to make him feel so uncomfortable that he acted out and maybe, maybe then my parents would see his tactics for what they were. And maybe, just maybe, they would stop asking me for more money and simply be my parents.
Sighing, I quietly drifted to the bar to refill my glass. Soft music played in the background, and my eyes slid once more to the dark and empty stage. I ached. Upset and annoyed, absolutely disconnected with my life at the moment.
“Here you go, birthday girl!” the bartender said and slid my now full glass toward me.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, just fine.”
“This makes what, seven birthdays I’ve bartended for you now?”
Chuckling, I smiled. “Sydney.”
“Sydney.” He grinned. Lifting my glass, I nodded appreciatively and walked away.
With a flash, the lights snapped off, drowning the party in darkness and the music crashed. Gasps rippled through the yard, and then silence filled the hazy night. I could make out shadows and shapes around me,but that was about it. My heart raced in my chest, desperately searching for something to ground me.
What was going on? Maybe somebody had tripped over a cord and unplugged things?
Nobody dared move; not a sound danced across the grass that swayed in the breeze.
Shrill feedback from a microphone shrieked across the yard, and everyone clamped their hands over their ears. I furrowed my brows, confused. Then I heard it, a single strum of a guitar. Reverberation echoed from the speakers, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim silver light, I could make out fuzzy outlines on the stage. (5)
Taking a hesitant step forward, there was another strum of the guitar, and I pushed through the crowd.
Then lights flashed on and that ethereal voice I’d fallen for began to sing.
I stared, locked onto none other than Void, playing on the stage. Screams from my friends and other people that apparently knew who they were erupted throughout the yard, crashing toward the band.
