Halloween approached. Adaline couldn't decide what to dress up as. Maybe something cute. She went through the online costume catalog and saw a sexy spider woman costume. 'Well, Joseph did always say I dressed like a slut. Why don't I show him what a slut truly dresses like?'
"Mom! Want to come with me to the store? I'm going to buy a slutty spider woman outfit to show Joseph what a slut truly looks like so he can choke on his words!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. She heard her mom open her bedroom door and the jingling of her car keys.
"Mija, I'm ready! Let's go! I know where you can get some leather stiletto boots too!"
Adaline couldn't help but giggle at her mother's excitement about making Joseph eat his words.
Halloween arrived and her mom helped her contour every angle to perfection, making sure every asset was on full display. 'Is this weird? Should iI find it weird how excited my mom is to make me look slutty? Lol' Adaline giggled internally.
"Let's go take your pictures mija!"
"Haha, ok mom."
A full photo session later, Adaline was uploading the sexiest photos she could to her social media. 'Suck it Joseph!'
*ping*
'Text from Libby'
"Get it girl! Work that cleavage!"
Adaline laughed as she read her best friend's message. Best holiday ever.
Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went. Her and her brother's birthday quickly approached. She tried her best not to think of Joseph, but it was difficult when her family was about to go on a trip that she had made them postpone until after what would have been her and Joseph's one year anniversary. She had begged her parents for weeks to move the trip so that she and Joseph could celebrate their anniversary together. It had caused so many arguments between them, but they finally agreed. Little did she know that things would end up so horribly and she'd be stuck at home on that day doing everything possible to keep from thinking about it. She would not give him the satisfaction of ruining another one of her days! She finished packing her suitcase and placed it by her door with a heavy thud.
"Mija, are you ready?"
"Yes mami! Let's go!"
She ran to hug her mom. This woman had been her rock. She took everything that Joseph had given her daughter and hidden it away. She gifted her a painting saying she was a warrior. She prayed with her to her heart's content. She held her when she heard her screaming in the night. She wanted to gut that boy open and show her daughter how pathetic he truly was. She would do anything to make her little girl happy. 'My mom is the true warrior' thought Adaline.
"Thank you mami. For everything."
"It's my job, mi reina. Now let's go get our nails done and see what gossip Mari has for us!"
"Let's do it!" She beamed at her mom as she grabbed her hand and practically dragged her to the car.
—————
Adaline had a blast on her trip. She learned to snowboard and drank as much wine as she wanted with her mom. She went shopping at all of the little boutiques near the hotel and gazed with wonder at all of the local art. She felt happy and free for the first time in months!
"Daddy!!! Octavio and I want steak for dinner please!!"
"A'chingao!"
"Pleeeeeaaaasssseeee????" The twins knew their dad could not resist the double puppy dog eyes. He stared at his two kids. How proud he was that his son had stood by his sister after everything that waste of a human had done to her. If it wasn't because he knew Adaline would cry, he wouldn't have hesitated to hurt that boy. Seeing how he protected his twin, Adaline's father's heart filled with joy. Seeing his daughter genuinely smile for the first time in months, that was worth more to him than anything in the world. How could he resist? He sighed in defeat. The twins took this as a victory. "Yes! Steak! Steak! Steak! Steak! Steak!" He watched as his two kids marched down the street in sync, chanting at the top of his lungs. What he wouldn't do for his kids. Besides, it was their birthday. He couldn't deny their wishes even if he wanted to. 'Sigh. This is going to be a very expensive day, isn't it?'
——————
The trip had gone by without a hitch. Adaline couldn't wait to show her friends her pictures! She was laying out her clothes for her first day back at school.
*ping*
'That must be Libby!'
*Joseph* Her blood ran cold. What could he possibly want? Hadn't she blocked his number? What?
"Happy birthday beautiful. I wanted to let you know of this makeup I saw a commercial for. I know how bad your skin is and I thought you might like it since it fights acne."
Her blood went from ice in her veins to boiling in an instant. How dare he? "Leave me alone." She texted back.
*riiiing*
"What?"
"Addy, my love. Happy birthday."
"I thought I told you to leave me the fuck alone! I meant it. You are a terrible human being and I hate you with every fiber of my being. Goodbye"
"Addy wai-"
*click*
Adaline hung up on Joseph. She felt proud of herself. Long hours in therapy and a lot of crying sessions with her friends served to build up her strength and help her defend herself against his advances. She blocked him once again and called Libby. She needed someone to vent to, and who better than the girl who's been there her entire life?
"Libby, you'll never guess who just called me. Joseph. He wished me a happy birthday." She heard Libby spit out her drink on the other end of the phone and let out a "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
"Yeah, I know. You would've been so proud of me though. I told him he was a terrible person and hung up on him and blocked him."
"Addy, I'm very proud of you. That s.o.b doesn't deserve you! Don't worry girl, I'm singing you up for a dating app now! You gotta get under someone new to get over him!"
"Omg Libby!" She laughed. Libby always knew how to make her laugh. She knew she had sensed some sadness in Adaline's voice. As much as she wanted to put up a strong front, Libby knew her better than that and decided to be strong for her.
"Stop being annoying and let me do this for you Addy!"
"Lol Ok ok! But only if you go on the dates with me."
"Yeah, no!"
"How rude!"
"Nuh uh!"
"I hate you!"
"You love me!"
"Yeah, I do Libby." Little did Libby know, deep down, this was true.