Chapter 7: Birthday Bomb

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Four days later, and finally it's my birthday. I can't wait to see the party and what everyone has planned for me. My sweet 16! I leap out of bed and run around my room trying to find the dress I had made. I wonder what Ben has planned this year. Is it another tattoo? Is it a giant party? Maybe he's planned a day where me and him just hang out. I wonder what mom and dad are going to do. They got me my own yacht last year, which is super cool. It's even got red rose decals all over it, making it my own style.

I wear a bright red dress, black tights with rose designs, and red rose high heels. I put on my jacket and run to the bathroom to curl my hair, pinning it back with my gold rose pin. I do my makeup like I normally do.

I go back into my room and look at myself in the mirror. I look amazing! I sit on my bed and wait for my brother. Every year, Ben knocks on my door, leaving a clue on where to go. That leads to another clue, which leads to another, and so on. This gives me something to keep me busy while everyone gets the last finishing touches on whatever the big event is.

I look at my phone sometime later and see that two hours have passed. That's weird. Ben always starts it early in the morning, so everyone has plenty of time to work. Maybe he's just running behind, though I didn't expect it to be two hours behind.

I walk around my room looking at all the trophies I've won in art and fashion competitions. My gold walls with rose bushes painted on them, making it look like the rose garden at my family's castle. My large queen-sized bed with my dark red rose blankets and red hanging curtains for privacy.

"Where are you, Ben?" I ask aloud as I look at my phone a little bit later. It's now almost noon, and my brother still has yet to come get me. What could he be doing that would make him change the tradition? Should I go look for him? Should I wait longer? I don't want to find him and ruin the surprise, but I'm also worried. He's started my birthday the same way every year, so I don't know what to do now that it's different.

After a long debate in my head, I decide to go looking for him. If I ruin the surprise, then that's on him because he didn't leave me any clues. As I walk around looking, no one stops to wish me happy birthday. Everyone passes by me like any other day, talking to friends or texting on their phones. I see Jane at the end of the hall, and I run up to her. If anyone knows what is going on, it's her.

"Hey, Jane. What's up with everyone?" I ask her, looking at everyone walking by. Am I invisible?

"Hey, Rose. I don't know what you mean, but I'm sure it's nothing. Sorry, I have to finish up your brother's gift to Mal for Cotillion, so I can't talk." She rushes out at me before running off. I stare at her and tilt my head. Uh, that was super weird. There's no way she could have forgotten what today is. I shake my head and continue to look for Ben.

As I look, I see Carlos and Jay walking over to their room. Maybe they have something planned for me. I run up to them and they smile at me. Smiling! That's a good sign.

"Hey, Rose. You're all dressed up today. Are you going somewhere?" Jay asks me while Carlos opens their door. What? Don't they know what today is? Didn't Ben tell them about my party? "Are you ok? What's wrong?" Jay asks me as I'm trying to think logically. They have to be pulling a prank. Maybe it's one of those surprises where everyone pretends to forget about it but are really planning a party. That has to be it.

"Yeah! I'm fine. Just looking for my brother." I smile at them before I run off. They have to be pulling my leg. They have to be. I refuse to believe anything else. It's all a massive prank. It has to be. I can't tell whether I'm convincing myself or not. I go to the girl's room to see the door wide open. Maybe they will help me, I mean, Evie did make a dress specifically for my birthday for her and Mal.

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