I sunk into the couch and threw my head back with a sigh. What was supposed to be my room was now unrecognizable. There were clothes everywhere! The woman in front of me was too engrossed in ruining my dresser to notice my despair. I let out another exaggerated sigh hoping she'd spare me a glance. Nothing.
         Squinted my eyes, I shot the meanest glare I could and it went straight to the back of her head. I almost smiled when I saw her rub her head with a frown. She can feel me. Good. I munched on the potato chips I had brought with me from the kitchen ever so slowly that each crunch pierced her ear drums. It was awfully silent in the room considering I refused to say a word and she just kept ignoring me so my munches were pretty loud.
               I could tell my efforts were getting to her as she would occasionally pause and exhale sharply. To finish it off, I filled my lungs with so much air and released a long, loud sigh.
            " Is something bothering you Hope Stewarts?" She turns with a glare.
             " Well, I was going to keep it to myself but since you asked, can you please tell me why you're ruining my room and throwing my clothes everywhere?" I asked gesturing to the piles of clothes everywhere.
                " Like seriously where did all these come from?" I honestly didn't know I had this much clothes.
                     " Oh Isabella. If only you behaved like a normal teenager or even a girl for that matter then you would understand." She said a bit too dramatically.
            " What are you trying to say aunt Maggie?" I rolled my eyes, ignoring her comment.
              " Tommorow is your school dance and you have absolutely nothing to wear."
             " You mean I haven't chosen what to wear. You see all these clothes." I corrected, gesturing to the mountains of clothes everywhere.
           " You should have been a boy." She sighed shaking her head.
               " Would have saved me alot of stress." I agreed but she only threw a dress at me.
                " Stop!" She said just as I was about to throw it onto a pile next to me.
              " What?" I asked confused. Aunt Maggie get up from the floor and takes the emerald green dress in her hands. She studies the dress as if it were some work of art.
              " This is beautiful Hope." She whispered, running her hand over the the silky fabric.
                  " Are you sure?" I asked scanning the dress myself. I had to admit, it's gorgeous. It had long sleeves and would probably stop a little above my knees. The dress was fitted at the top and spread in waves from my waist downwards. It was breathtaking.

               " You have to try it. I'll be waiting." Aunt Maggie said pushing me into the bathroom and throwing the dress into my arms.
               I locked the bathroom door and eyed the dress before taking off my sweats and putting it on. Once I was done, I took a look at the mirror and inhaled sharply. I looked... really good. My hair was in a not so messy bun and some strands fell over my face, framing it nicely.
             " Hope? You done?" Aunt Maggie called.
                 " I'm coming." I said back and opened the door. Aunt Maggie was folding some of my clothes and putting them back in the closet when I walked out. I cleared my throat to get her attention.
             " Isabelle you look amazing." She whispered eyeing my body in disbelief.
           " You really don't do any justice to yourself by hiding under those sweaters." She said walking around me and taking in every inch of me.
              " I'm sure your boyfriend will love you even more." She squealed. My face went hot at the mention of Nicolas. He's not my boyfriend.
              " H-He isn't my boyfriend." I stammered unable to look at her in the eyes.
                " Not for long." Aunt Maggie laughed.
              " Now take that dress off before something happens to it. Tomorrow is a special day and you know why?" She asked folding some more clothes.
               " Because it's my first high school dance and I actually have a date?" I asked walking into the bathroom and closing the door.
                 " That, and it's your birthday tomorrow." She said. I rolled my eyes even though she can't see.
               " So?" I asked taking off the dress and putting my sweats back on.
          " So we're going to celebrate and boyfriend better have something good planned." She said and once again, my face was flushed. He's not my boyfriend. I felt butterflies in my stomach at the mere thought of the both of us becoming official. I'd actually be someone's girlfriend.
             " I'd be better if nothing happens." I said walking out with the dress in my hands. Aunt Maggie takes it and places it on my bed before getting back to folding my clothes. I sat on the bed and began helping her even though she deserves to do it herself.
               " Oh come on Hope. He'd be a fool to not want to celebrate you." Aunt Maggie chuckled.
              " Hey, aren't you supposed to want what I want?" I joked.
               " Yeah, well I can't help but be selfish. Plus, I also need an excuse to spend some money." She laughed.
             " Why? Aren't we saving for college?" I frowned.
               " Of course we are. But I still want you to be happy. If you're happy, then I am. Also, I'm going to need you to stop babysitting." She said the last part more seriously. My body tensed up at her words.
                " What? W-Why?" I asked meeting her soft gaze.
               " Because you're still a baby my dear. I can't stand watching you stress over something which isn't your responsibility." She smiled stroking my cheek. I leaned into her touch and sighed.
             " It isn't yours either." I countered. Aunt Maggie chuckled and pinched my cheek.
              " Of course you'd say that. Is it still too late to-"
              " Yes it's too late for me to become a lawyer Aunty M. We've discussed this." I smiled.
               " Alright, Alright. But on a serious note, you know I'm like a mother to you. So you don't need to worry about it." She said.
               " Oh I'm not worried about anything but you Aunt Maggie. I'm afraid of becoming too much of a burden that you don't get the chance to make the most of your life. I'm like an obstacle." I said feeling a year roll down my cheek. Aunt Maggie sighed and opened her arms for me. Without hesitation, I crawled into her arms and hugged her tightly.
                " I love you Isabelle. Don't you ever forget that okay? And don't you ever even think about that again. You know very well that I'm barren which means I can't experience the joys of motherhood. But with you here, it's like I bore my own beautiful little girl. You take away my worries just by being here with me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. " She said kissing my forehead.
           " I love you too aunt Maggie." I whispered feeling a small smile tug at my lips. Oh Aunt Maggie, please don't ever leave me like my parents did.

______________________________________
        Genuine moment 💓💓💓💓. I'm so psyched for tomorrow at Gemstone High and I can't be the only one, no? Any who I'm so grateful for the reads I've gotten so far. I love you so much peeps 🥰. Thank you so much. Please don't forget to VOTE COMMENT and SHARE to encourage me to write even more books.
           Like I said a few chapters ago, I've got this billionaire book I wanna publish after this one and I pray you love it a bunch. It's going to be great and I won't disappoint ❣️. Until my next chapter, I'll see you later. Buhbyee 🖐️.
         P.s; please mind my typos. This is completely unedited.