The house is jammed with crowds of people. Streamers and 'Happy Birthday' banners hang from the walls, floaty lanterns are suspended from the ceiling, emitting enough warm pinkish light so the main lights aren't needed. Tables of food line the edges of the room. Balloons are strewn on the floor and occasionally there's a sound of one of them popping. The air is filled with merry cheer and the sound of people laughing. A small crowd in the middle of the room are dancing to the booming music and everyone is clutching champagne glasses filled with orange pop.

I spot the cheering crew standing in a corner and the girls run their eyes on my dress and nod approvingly. The guys stand a little straighter and some of them even wink at me, earning a well deserved glare from their girlfriends, who then steer them out of my sight. I shake my head to myself and look around the crowded room as bodies press up against me. Someone presses a drink into my hand but, since I don't know who gave it to me, I set it down on the nearest food table. I mean, they could have laced it with something.

I don't want to be the girl raped/kindapped/murdered on her sixteenth birthday. Can you imagine the irony of that??

I'm dressed in a different outfit. Mom guided me through this one. I'm wearing a dusty purple, wisteria chiffon draped Marchesa gown that floats down past my ankles and ruffles the ground below it. Mum also instructed me to wear heels, but instead I'm wearing pumps. My hair is curled and in a bun at the nape of my neck, but obviously a bit escapes. My lips are soaked in lip gloss. I tried to wipe it off before the party, but Avril was in Mom Mode and wouldn't let me touch my face, leave alone my lips.

Rhys hasn't seen me yet; he's around here somewhere, probably keeping to himself. "Happy birthday, Donna!" People call to me as I pass. I smile in their general direction. "You look so pretty!" "Donna, I love your dress!" "Your party is rocking!" I smile and express my gratitude for their appraisal, but really, I just want to get away from all the attention. I look around the lounge anxiously for Rhys; I can't see him anywhere. Avril is right behind me, wearing a grey off-the-shoulder dress that floats around her knees, her long tanned legs complimented by heels.

"Where is he?" I groan, mostly to myself.

"Who are you looking for?" Avril calls, "Rhys Hart?"

"Yes!" I say, waving to someone, "I can't find him anywhere!" Avril grabs me by the shoulders and then leads me to a chair. "What are you doing, Avril? I have to find him."

Avril touches up my hair, "It's your birthday. He should be looking for you, not the other way around."

"Well..." I flounder around, "I don't care, Avril. These are your rules. I don't care. I'm searching."

"Searching for who?" Rhys walks up to us and smiles briefly at Avril. He turns to me, "I was looking for you, Donna. Where's the gift I gave you?" I hand Rhys the little box. I still have not opened it.

Rhys sighs, "Why haven't you opened it? Doesn't matter. I'll put it on you." Rhys goes and stands behind me. A cold substance hits my neck and I look down at a silver crystal heart pendant.

I smile, "Wow. It's beautiful. Thank you."

"Happy birthday." Rhys says, "Avril, someone was asking for you. Some guy. He's over by the food table." Avril skips away. Rhys sits down beside me, "You look so beautiful tonight, Donna. So beautiful." He tucks a lock of my blonde hair behind my ear. I smile, a blush forming in my cheeks. Rhys chuckles, "You're blushing."

I slap his arm gently, "Stop teasing me!"

Rhys chuckles again and then touches my cheek, "Sorry. I evacuated the pool side for us. Come." We both head to the back door and into the cool night air. A gentle breeze laps at us, cooling us down from the bodily heat we were trapped in outside. The night sky is velvety black and stars twinkle like shining eyes, gazing down at us. We take a seat on the bench and Rhys looks at me steadily, "It's Eliza's death anniversary today."

I look at him, stricken, "Oh my god. Seriously? And it's my... I'm sorry. It's her death anniversary and you're here partying... You don't have to."

Rhys looks at me sullenly, "I know. I want to be here. I don't enjoy staying at the tower and apologising to a painting every year."

I study him silently, "You don't have to punish yourself. I've told you, it's not your fault."

"I've spent a half century wishing things were different." Rhys' eyes blaze angrily, "Do you think you can just come along and I will automatically change the way I think? Do you think it works like that?"

Astounded by his sudden mood change, I stumble for some words, "Rhys, I just wanted to --"

"Exactly." Rhys snaps, You just wanted it. All you humans are the same. Not an ounce of compassion." I remain silent, tears filling my eyes. Hurt and shock thumps through me as Rhys glowers at me. I can see the old Rhys in him; the one that didn't let anyone in. Is this the real Rhys? "All you humans don't give a damn, do you? Maybe they were right. Maybe coming to Earth was a mistake." Rhys glares at the pool, "What have I experienced apart from negativity down here?"

I stand up, determined not to let the tears roll, "I'm sorry you think. I thought I was just starting to figure you out. Guess I was wrong." Tears spilling over my eyelids despite my wishes, I begin to walk back to the door, hoping to find Avril and spill the beans. That Rhys hurt me. That I was right about him in the beginning and I just got carried away by my feelings.

"Donna." He sounds resigned, almost apologetic. I turn, unable to resist his pull. Rhys sighs and suddenly he's in front of me, wiping my tears.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap, I'm just... a little too temperamental today." Rhys does look as if he really regrets what he said. His face is pinched with loss and pain.

I nod, "It's okay. It's not a good day for you, Rhys. I'm sorry too."

"No. You didn't do anything. I was just being over sensitive. I'm sorry." He kisses the top of my head and pulls me in for a hug.

The Next Morning...

"Dad." I say, stumbling my half-asleep way into the lounge, "Dad are you here?"

Dad's sitting down, watching the plasma screen, "Your mom is on the telly. Come and watch." I go and sit down next to him. Mom is surrounded by shoving paparazzi and reporters, her beautiful jade eyes hidden by shades. They're asking her questions, shoving a million mikes in her face. I frown at them; her discomfort is obvious. Kenny is there; my Mom's international bodyguard. He goes to foreign countries with her in case situations like this occur.

"Lorraine Morrison, please could you answer our question?" A girl asks, grating on my nerves. When it's obvious she doesn't, why ask? Mom ignores her, letting Kenny (what a sweetheart) make way for her to pass. "Miss Morrison, what would you like to say about the rumours that say you have been fired?"

Mom stops and then turns to the man that asked the question. She then looks straight at the camera and takes her shades off, "I want to say that rumours fly around no matter what. I'm not going to say they don't bother me, that would be a lie. But I'm learning not to care about them. People and tabloids can say what they want; my family, my team, my friends, they all know the truth. And that's what matters to me."

"What about the fact that your daughter has been spotted roaming around LA with a dark-haired boy? Do you have anything to say about that?"

I freeze. Dark-haired boy. The only dark-haired boy I roam around with is...

A picture flashes on the screen. I recognise the pool. A girl with a long gown on. A boy with a collared shirt on bending down to kiss her forehead.

"My daughter just turned sixteen yesterday. She can keep company with whoever she wants to, as long as those people won't lead her astray. Anyhow, Donna is the most sensible teen I know. My daughter won't do anything wrong."

I smile; my heart swelling with pride.

"So you're not afraid that this boy might take undue advantage of your daughter?"

"No." Mom smiles, "If Donna is hanging around him, it will only be after she's got to know the real him. She is not the kind of person who will go around with just anybody. She's extremely careful about these things. Now, if you'll excuse me, that's all I will be able to answer at the moment."

"Please, Lorraine..." "One more question..." "What do you think about..." "Lorraine, can you give us your view on --"

The plasma screen switches off. "Wow." I say, "What was that about?"

"You really landed yourself in it." Dad grins, "Your mom is dying to know who this boy is."

"Dad!" I protest, "You've met him! Last night! Rhys? Rhys Hart?"

"Oh, that boy! I'll call your mom and tell her." Dad begins to get up.

"Wait, Dad. Was that live?" I ask him, biting my lip. Dad nods. "Thanks." I mutter and then grab my jacket. I need to see Avril.

"So, basically, the whole of Spain knows you've been in the company of Rhys 'Hottie' Hart?" Avril asks as we sip luke-warm lattes in Starbucks.

I nod, "It's weird. One minute, they were talking about how rumours that Mom has been flying around and the next, they're saying I have been spotted with a dark-haired boy!"

"Do you think he saw it?" Avril bites her lip, "More importantly, if he did, how do you think he took it?"

"I don't know." I whine and rub my eyes, "It's so messed up. I didn't even get any sleep last night because I was so hyped up on all that candy." I don't add that I spent most of the night at the tower with Rhys anyway.

"Mind telling me why I'm famous in Spain for being spotted roaming around with Lorraine Morrison's daughter?"

I freeze, my eyes wide.

The picture is of Donna's birthday dres ------------------------------------------->>