This choice: Jessica McWorth, the popular girl... • Go Back...Chapter #3Jessica McWorth, the popular girl... by: Reneg4de   "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
Claps and cheers filled the small kitchen, along with a single whistle. Jess looked around at the people gathered in the kitchen. Her smiling father with his greying beard, her mother with her kind eyes and kinder smile, her best friend, Megan, and her boyfriend, Kevin.
Jess opened her mouth to speak, yet no words came out. She had had parties in the past, but they had been huge parties in massive clubs with about a hundred people. This small gathering of her family and her closest friends... She didn't know why, but it rendered her speechless.
Thankfully, Kevin stepped in.
"Happy birthday, Jess!" he said with a huge smile. He pulled her into a hug, which incited a snicker from Megan and a disapproving look from her father.
"Thanks, everybody..." Jess managed to get out, still overwhelmed by the whole ordeal.
After Jess had calmed down and everybody had had a bit of cake, the party moved into the slightly larger living room. A small pile of presents sat in front of the fire place. Sitting next to them, Jess wasted no time in ripping through them.
From her parents, she received a new phone, something she had desperately needed for a number of months.
Megan had got her a selection of clothes, ranging from a couple of new tops to a rather fashionable jacket.
When she lifted the final present, labelled with a scrawled 'Kevin'...
"Let's not open that here, shall we?" Kevin laughed nervously, eyeing her father, who shot an angry look back. "It's, uh... unsuitable for present company".
Jess gave him a knowing smile before moving into the final present.
Unlike the others, which had been wrapped in bright paper, this one was covered in a layer of musty brown paper and sellotape. After a small battle involving a pair of scissors, Megan's sharp nails and a knife, Jess managed to get through the paper.
"A... Picture book?"
Jess eyed the book with disdain. She wasn't the biggest reader in the world, preferring the company of people to that of books. Whoever had bought her this clearly didn't know her that well.
The rest of the room, however, paid no mind to it. In fact, it was almost as though the book didn't exist. Kevin shot her a wink, while her mother moved on with the camera, ushering the entire room together in front of the fire place for the customary birthday photograph.
After the party had winded down, and Kevin and Megan had headed home, Jess found herself sitting alone in her room, a bottle of beer clutched in her hand.
"Another year gone..." She murmered, taking a large swig from her bottle. "I really need to figure something out with my life..."
As Jess took another swig, the picture book caught her eye. She had no idea who had got her it, not did she particularly care, but something about the book was drawing her in, inviting her to read it, to gaze upon its contents...
Reaching over, Jess grabbed the book. It was similar in size to a children's book. Its cover was pure grey with nothing on it.
"Sounds intriguing..." Jess yawned. "Hopefully whatever is inside it is better..."
Flipping open to a random page, Jess found herself gazing at pictures of...  | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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