Love conquers all
7. You are stunning

As I walked to the school, I thought about what my mother had said to me: “Live in the present”; so I decided to give the story between Nathan and me a chance. There was always a chance that our story could be wrecked before it got to his birthday!

“Good morning and happy birthday Myra!” Abby greeted me as she joined me.

“Hi girls!” I greeted when I saw that Andrea and Aurora were also there.

“This afternoon, after school, we’ll meet at your house to get ready for the party.” Aurora said, fixing a rebellious tuft of hair behind her ear.

“Okay, come when you want!”

“See you for lunch, have a good day everyone!” Andrea said, turning the corner in the direction of her classroom.

When I entered my classroom Nathan was there, sitting at his desk and when he saw me he showed me a smile I had never seen before, a beautiful one, and it was everything to me. It was clear that the “Beautiful and the Damned” had every intention of unleashing any tactics to win me over, but he didn’t know that I had already decided to say yes. I noticed a flower on my desk, under the daisy there was a note. I greeted everyone present and took my seat. The first thing I did was open the card: “Happy birthday, little bird!” I smiled, biting my lower lip and turned to Nathan: “Thanks!” I said in a low voice and immediately the English teacher came in and let the school day start.

I was in my room, lying on the bed admiring my evening dress, which hung in plain sight. So many things crowded my mind: my birthday party, my friends, my tumor, my family and above all Nathan. While I was lost in my thoughts I heard a knock on the door. “Come in whoever you are!” I yelled to be heard. Aurora’s red head emerged from the door and said beaming: “We’re here to prepare the birthday girl!”

“Perfect timing!” I exclaimed, getting out of bed and waving my hand to enter.

“When we’re done you will be the most beautiful birthday girl who ever lived on this earth!” Andrea said, placing her bag on the chair in the corner of the room. “Nathan won’t be able to take his eyes and hands off you, you’ll see!”

“What an exaggeration, the best moment of the whole day will be this. The preparation, the friendship, the excitement about something. This is what really counts; without all this, what would this day be?!”

“You’re right, I fully agree! I love you girls!” Aurora said excitedly and all of us others in chorus: “I love you so much!” Abby got out of bed and proposed, “Group hug!”

We all met in the center of my room in a big group hug.

This was definitely a moment to remember, sincere friendship filling my heart with joy.

“Now, stop with the fuss and let’s start working seriously!” Abby said as she opened her suitcase full of brushes, pegs, hair clips, make-up pliers, she was very organized and I didn’t even know where to start, luckily I didn’t have to do anything else I would have been in trouble.

After two long hours of serious work, as Abby had said, we were all ready for the party. I was in front of the mirror alone in my room, the girls had come out to give me a moment; I was beautiful, I almost didn’t recognize myself. The dress was more beautiful than I remember wearing it, the makeup and hair complemented and framed the masterpiece. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, my mother walked in without waiting for me to say something.

“Wow, girls didn’t lie when they said you were the most beautiful creature on earth!”

“Mum…”

“Honey it’s the truth you are beautiful, even if I am your mother and therefore biased, even if there are many other beautiful girls, even if you want to be humble, you always remain damn beautiful.” She said coming up behind me and looking at my reflection in the mirror. “Remember what I told you: Live in the present and keep all the good times!”

“Mom I love you!”

“My darling, never as much as I love you!” My mother hugged me and a tear ran down my face.

“Don’t do that you will ruin your beautiful makeup. Laugh, smile, there’s no room for tears tonight.”

I nodded my head and smiled, unable, at that moment, to utter understandable words.

I wiped the tear from my cheek, fixed my makeup, and left my room ready to face the evening ahead.

My mother had spared no expense in organizing my party. The ballroom was festooned with crystal vases and red and white flowers, the predominant color being white, everything looked bright and shimmering.

“Your mother has always had a very refined taste!” Andrea complimented her as she approached me.

“She really outdid herself this time”; Aurora said with astonishment.

“Did you see if Nathan is here?” I asked changing the subject.

“I saw him talking to your brother Vale a few minutes ago, they were in the kitchen the last time I saw them.” Andrea said, closing her little jewel bag.

“There are so many people, I don’t know many of them; how many people did you invite for your party?” Aurora asked me looking around.

“I made the invitation to all the companions and some of them asked me to bring a plus one, which turns into a plus two and three, then four. You know how these things go!”

“So the whole school will meet at the party!” Abby exclaimed with a chuckle.

“There he is. The boy you were looking for!” Andrea said with a smile, pointing with her head to somewhere behind me. I turned and my gaze met Nathan’s magnetic one. The “Beautiful and Damned” was really handsome in a total black suit with a bow tie.

I started walking in his direction and he in mine. We cross halfway: “You are stunning this evening. Well, you are always beautiful ... that is ...“; It was fun to see how confident and calm a guy looked, and yet he seemed insecure and nervous at the moment.

“Thank you”; I answered without adding anything else, risking worsening the situation.

“Will you make sure to reserve a dance for me tonight?!”

“Of course, I will!”

’Have you thought about my proposal?”

“Yes, I’ve thought about it.” I was silent without giving my answer and he pressed me: “So your answer is ...“, that moment was abruptly interrupted by a voice on the microphone.

“Good evening everyone, I’m Max the DJ, who will animate this party. Party dedicated to the splendid Myra who turns her fabulous 18. Myra I ask you to do the first dance with your father and open the dance for the evening. Good evening to everyone and have fun!”

“My little Myra, are you dancing with your old man?!” I looked at Nathan, who with a nod of the head greeted my father and at the same time freed me from the pending conversation we were having before the interruption. I took my father’s hand and together we walked to the center of the ballroom.

“You are gorgeous my little one!” My father said, pulling me into his arms.

“Thank you, daddy!” I thanked him with a genuine smile.

Squeezed in his arms, cradled by the sweet music and with my head resting on his chest, I felt like in a safe harbor.

The Alpha in front of me was a ruthless man with his enemies, kind to the inhabitants of his pack, with me he was a teddy bear, always ready to defend me, always ready to take my side, he always loved me with the same intensity, he held me in moments when I was afraid of something. To me he was just my father, the best I could ever wish to have.

When the slow music stopped my father kissed me on the cheek and said: “Have fun my baby girl!”

He walked away letting my friends join me in the middle of the dance floor.

When the DJ put on slow music again Val and Nathan approached almost at the same time. “Can I have this dance?” My brother asked knowing that I would never refuse. I looked Nathan in the eye and he smiled at me sympathetically, bowed his head and backed away, making way for our dance, brother and sister.

“You can be so annoying sometimes!”

“Yes, I love you too!” He said with his hateful grin on his lips.

“Unfortunately I can’t say the opposite, you know I love you.”

“So Nathan ...”

“You seemed to like Nathan, why are you acting like this now?”

“Nathan is a good boy and I like him, but he buzzes around you too much. What will happen when he replaces his Mate and breaks your heart?”

“Do you think he hasn’t already thought about it?”

“What will happen when he knows about your situation?”

“I think these are things that concern the two of us, not you, don’t you think too?”

“Can I be angry? Can I be selfish? Can I be ...”

“Anything you’re feeling is okay, I just don’t want there to be negative feelings ruining our lives. Especially now that I don’t have much time.”

“You’re right, but ...”

“No buts, Nathan is a good boy and I have already decided to give him a chance. From tomorrow he will be my boyfriend; whether you like it or not!”

“That is fine!” He said complacently and then continued: “I’ll accept your will. What else can I do?! I love you so much, little sister!” He hugged me tightly, he was scared, how to blame him, I was scared to death too!