When the Night Falls

JASMINE

I smiled at Talia and she laughed out loud, shaking her head. “I couldn’t stop myself.”

“Mom, stop taking pictures all the time. You’ve been taking pictures nonstop and it’s uncomfortable,” Theo said, standing beside me.

“Stop saying that. You and Jasmine never take pictures. Let me take some pictures I can print and put in my album.”

Christopher didn’t say anything, just sipping his mocktail. “Dad, say something.”

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“What? If your mom wants to do something, then I don’t have any power to stop her.”

I laughed, holding Theo’s hand, and he looked at me. “It’s okay, let it go. We need to go and see Thea. She must be ready in her princess dress. Aren’t you excited to see her?” I asked.

“I am.”

“Let’s go and see her,” I said, looking at Talia and Christopher. They nodded, and we all headed toward Thea’s room. The birthday party would be starting in an hour.

Thea didn’t know about the grand party; she thought that we were just having a home party. I called Summer and Melody, and they would be there in an hour and a half.

“Should I restyle my hair?” Talia asked.

“I don’t think so. She did a good job, and restyling would be a waste of time,” Christopher said, and she nodded.

Talia wore a beautiful and classy white dress that reached her feet. It was soft and simple, matching her personality. Christopher was wearing a black suit, matching Theo.

I wore a soft, long baby-blue dress with a slit up one side. Theo had chosen it. I wanted to match Thea’s birthday dress, inspired by her favorite Disney character: Elsa.

“Careful,” Theo said when I stepped on my dress.

“Yeah…” I took his hand. I was excited, unable to contain my happiness at just thinking about how Thea would react to seeing everyone.

She’d always wanted to celebrate her birthday with all her friends, and now she would.

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“Should I restyle my hair?” Talia asked.

“I don’t think so. She did a good job, and restyling would be a waste of time,” Christopher said,

and she nodded.

Talia wore a beautiful and classy white dress that reached her feet. It was soft and simple, matching her personality. Christopher was wearing a black suit, matching Theo.

I wore a soft, long baby-blue dress with a slit up one side. Theo had chosen it. I wanted to match Thea’s birthday dress, inspired by her favorite Disney character: Elsa.

“Careful,” Theo said when I stepped on my dress.

“Yeah…” I took his hand. I was excited, unable to contain my happiness at just thinking about how Thea would react to seeing everyone.

She’d always wanted to celebrate her birthday with all her friends, and now she would.

Theo knocked on the door before opening it.

The kids’ stylist told us not to disturb her, so we all stayed out while she got Thea ready.

“Is it over, Ashley?” I asked the stylist. She turned around.

“Yes.”

“Everyone ready to see me?” Thea asked excitedly.

“Yes.”

“Yes, darling.”

“Yes, honey.”

“Yes, baby.”

We all waited as Thea got down from the chair with Ashley’s help. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw her.

Theo had told Ashley not to put on any makeup on Thea. Ashley did Thea’s hair, then adjusted the dress properly.

“Aww, my baby looks so beautiful…How can she be so beautiful?” I said in awe while she smiled, showing off her white teeth. Ashley left the room to give us privacy,

“My granddaughter is so beautiful. She took after me,” Talia said.

“Haha…She is beautiful because she didn’t have your genes,” Christopher said.

“Mum.” Theo said at the same time.

“Shut up,” Talia told Christopher.

“Mum, Theo said at the same time,

“Shut up.” Talia told Christopher.

Thea twirled in her dress, and I smiled at her as she showed off, I love this dress so much, 1 always want to wear this dress for my birthday,” Then said,

We all laughed. “You would always wear a princess dress every year,” Christopher wall,

“But Elsa’s not a princess. She is the queen, and I want to wear this Ela drew every year, Thea

said.

“We’ll buy you all the queen dresses,” Theo said,

“Really?”

“Yes, Papa would be buying you all the dresses,” Talia said, already recording Christopher just shook his head and Theo didn’t say anything.

“Is everyone here? Am I going to cut the cake in the living room?” Thea asked excitedly.

“No, baby. We still have some time,” I said, and her brows lowered in confesion

“Some time? Everyone is here! Are we waiting for someone? Is someone coming? Thea asked.

“Hmm, the cake isn’t here yet. It will take a bit of time for M ick and Sherry to bring. So we need

to wait.” I said.

“Oh, okay. Can I run in this dress? I really wanna run and feel the wind in this dress!” Thea asked, looking at Theo.

“Of course you can run around. You don’t have to ask anyone if you want to run in your dress,” Theo said, patting her head.

“Wait, I’ll shoot a video while you run around. Slow-motion video would be best. While you run. you turn around and smile, looking at the camera.” Talia said.

“Where did you learn how to take a video like that?” Christopher asked Talia.

“Instagram and TikTok. A lot of people make slow-motion videos that are really good.” Talia

said.

“Don’t post any videos of Thea on social media,” Theo said.

“I wouldn’t. They’re for me,” Talia replied.

While Thea, Talia, and Christopher left, Theo and I stayed behind in the room.

“I don’t know how Mom learned TikTok and Instagram. She asked me if I have Snapchat, and I don’t know what Snap Streaks she was talking about,” Theo said.

I laughed. Talia was very active on social media. She had more followers than I did on

While Thea, Talia, and Christopher left, Theo and I stayed behind in the room.

“I don’t know how Mom learned Tik Tok and Instagram. She asked me if I have Snapchat, and I don’t know what Snap Streaks she was talking about,” Theo said.

I laughed. Talia was very active on social media, She had more followers than I did on

Instagram. “You’re not on Snapchat, but you do know Snapchat, right?” I asked.

“Yes, but you know I don’t have social media. Do you have Snapchat?”

“Yes.”

“Did my mom friend you on Snapchat?”

“Yeah. I don’t maintain the Snap Streaks, but Talia maintains them with her friends.”

“But what are they?” he asked. I pulled my phone out to explain.

***

I looked at Thea, who was smiling as she played with her friends. Most of the parents here were in slight shock after meeting Theo in person.

Christopher and Talia were talking with a group of people near Theo’s side, likely his business

friends.

“I didn’t know that Mr. Theodore Jefferson was Thea’s father and your boyfriend,” Abigail said.

“Yeah, who would’ve thought that I would be meeting one of the most eligible bachelors of the country?” Olivia said.

“Ha, he isn’t a bachelor anymore. He’s dating Jasmine,” Summer said.

“Apparently, he is a bachelor until or unless he’s married,” Abigail said. I sipped my drink as I didn’t want to say anything.

“But how did you guys meet? You’re close with his parents, too,” Abigail questioned curiously.

“Well, I can’t tell you in detail but we met through Thea,” I said. I could see the disappointment flash but she didn’t say anything. The only person who understood and stayed quiet was Summer.

“Didn’t you invite Liam to the party?” Olivia asked.

“I did,” I said.

“Oh, he’s here. He must be somewhere but he came. I met him at the entrance,” Summer said.

“He must be curious to know about Jasmine’s boyfriend, like we are,” Abigail said sarcastically with a laugh.

I awkwardly smiled along with the others. I didn’t want to be here with them, but I was stuck

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“Well, I can’t tell you in detail but we met through Thea,” I said. I could see the disappointment flash but she didn’t say anything. The only person who understood and stayed quiet was Summer.

“Didn’t you invite Liam to the party?” Olivia asked,

“I did.” I said.

“Oh, he’s here. He must be somewhere but he came. I met him at the entrance,” Summer said.

“He must be curious to know about Jasmine’s boyfriend, like we are,” Abigail said sarcastically with a laugh.

I awkwardly smiled along with the others. I didn’t want to be here with them, but I was stuck until Theo returned from the phone call that had interrupted our talk.

I know Abigail was disappointed that she didn’t get the chance to talk with Theo. Theo only spoke with Summer, and then he left to answer the call.

“Excuse me, I’ll be back in five minutes,” I said.

“Yeah, sure,” Summer said.

I placed my finished glass on the tray before I went looking for Theo.

I didn’t find him anywhere, but I found Anders standing away from the crowd. He was wearing a cute black suit, looking over to where all the kids were playing.

I looked around to see if he came with his parents. I’d personally sent them an invite, even when Theo said it wasn’t needed. I wanted his parents to be there with Anders.

I wandered toward him, and he turned his head and met my gaze.

“Hey, Anders. When did you come?” I asked him, patting his head.

“An hour ago,” he said, looking up at me.

“Are your parents here? Where are they?”

“No, the caretaker is here. She’s waiting in the car.” I frowned in disappointment but didn’t say anything.

“Then why are you standing here? Why didn’t you join Thea and your friends? They’re playing,” I said. He shrugged, looking at the play zone that we had created.

“Did you greet Thea?”

“She doesn’t like me. And I don’t like them.”

“Why? Aren’t they your friends?”

“No.”

When the Night Falls Nureyluna 

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She doesn’t like me. And I don’t like them.

“Why? Aren’t they your friends?”

“No.”

Before I could say anything, I saw Talia and Christopher’s anxious faces as they headed inside

the mansion.

“Anders, go play with Thea. Don’t be alone. I’ll be back,” I said, and he nodded his head without looking at me.

Then I followed Talia and Christopher, hoping everything was all right.

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When the Night Falls Nureyluna