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00:00Hi, I'm Darby. Yes, that's right. I am named after the doll, but please like and subscribe anyway.
00:05I was named Darby by my mom, who collected and sold dolls. But if you think that's bad,
00:10my older sister was named Raggedy Ann. To save the embarrassment, she goes by Ann.
00:15Four years ago, my parents wound up in a coma in a freak doll accident. They were driving to
00:19an MSA convention to display their very valuable collection. But then one of the AI dolls malfunctioned
00:25and decided it wanted to drive. My parents swerved off the road and got into this crash.
00:30We sued the doll company and sold our doll collection. We became super rich, although I
00:35would give it all up to have my parents back. I was only 12 at the time, but my sister was 18,
00:40so she became my legal guardian. My sister was always too busy with college and work,
00:45but I would visit my parents all the time and tell them about my day. The doctor said it was
00:49possible that they could still hear us, and talking to them might help their recovery.
00:53Now that I was turning 16, I really wanted a big bash for my birthday. Oh, did I mention
00:58my birthday is on Halloween? Some of you might think that's lame to have to share your birthday
01:02with the world, but I love to wear something Halloween-y all year round. And when October
01:07comes around, I start decorating on the first of the month. However, it made things difficult,
01:12as I always struggled to find a boy who was into me for me and not for my money. But as soon as
01:17they found out I loved Halloween and creepy dolls, they bolted like track stars out the door.
01:23But my bestie Kian was always there to cheer me up. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute to process
01:28that. Yep, no joke, Darby and Kian. But Kian is a girl. We did everything together, so of course
01:33it was a no-brainer that she would help me plan my birthday party. So, you want a theme? Of course,
01:39Halloween! But I want it next level. Like, Pocus Pocus 2 meets practical magic. Candy Apple Stands
01:45with witches serving you. Dunk Tank for zombies. You know, like a typical Monday at school. What
01:50about hiring performers? We could have a haunted maze of horrors, and that would give all the
01:55lovers a chance to do that Hold Me I'm Scared move. Oh, you mean the move you're hoping to try
02:00on Peter? Peter was the boy I had been crushing on for two years. He wasn't like the other boys.
02:05He had tattoos and piercings, just like me, but still wore the latest fashions. You already know
02:11I have tried everything to get out of the friend zone. So, desperate times, desperate measures.
02:15Well, okay, but just remember, if he's not into you, I say move on. Tell that to my achy,
02:20breaky heart. For the next few weeks, we turned my house into party planning central. We auditioned
02:26all kinds of performers and bought all the best party decorations. Marco! Polo! My sister always
02:32seemed allergic to fun, but right about that time, it got even worse. She was working on a big
02:37presentation for her marketing company, and was constantly stressed and yelling. Darb, how am I
02:42supposed to get any work done with all these boxes in my way? If you hate your job, why don't
02:46you just quit? If you haven't noticed, we're rich. What you don't know about earned respect and not
02:51just being a rich kid could fill a thimble. Did she mean a pimple? Once we had done it all, it was
02:57time for a test run. Kian suggested we invited the local orphanage kids to come for an afternoon of
03:02fun. I love that idea. The next day, a van filled with kids from the orphanage showed up with their
03:07teacher. As they stepped off the bus, they shouted with joy. As she lined them up, one of the little
03:12girls grabbed the driver of the van by his arm. Leo, you come too. No, I'm just here to drive you.
03:18I'll just wait in the van for you guys. Hey, Leo, come on. Everyone's invited. As he walked out of
03:23the van, I noticed his clothes were worn and he had a hole in his shoe. That's a great costume.
03:28You are totally selling the whole bum look. I'm not in costume, and my name is Leo. Oh, I, uh, what?
03:35Kian, you need me? Over there? I was so embarrassed, I ran over to tell Kian what happened. And then he
03:41said, it's not a costume. Is it a wonder why I'm single? Never mind that. Look who I invited. She
03:46pointed to Peter, who was walking in the door. Happy birthday, bestie. My heart did a flutter
03:52until I saw he had brought a bunch of girls with him. Why did he bring all those girls with him?
03:56Those girls have nothing on you. I'll distract them while you go say hi to Peter. Hey, glad you
04:02could make it. I see you brought some friends. Oh, my groupies. They heard about your haunted
04:07carnival and wanted to tag along. Oh, do you like haunted stuff? Not really. Oh, then carnivals? Rides
04:13and sugar make me sick. Oh, well, I'm glad you came anyway. In my mind, I saw this going more in a rom-com
04:20kind of way. Our eyes meet and we are soulmates till the end of time. Not so much as a scene out
04:25of a disaster movie. But Kian just nudged me. Now's your chance. Walk him through the haunted
04:30maze of horrors. As we walked through, he was laughing at all the scary stuff. But just as we
04:34came to the hold me, I'm scared part, I prepared to jump into his arms. The clown leapt out and
04:39Peter let out a scream and jumped behind me. I wasn't scared. I just thought you'd like to be
04:45scared. So I jumped behind you so you could get the full effect. You know, I'm a giver like that.
04:51I was really disappointed that my time with Peter didn't go as well as I had hoped. But when I saw
04:56that the kids had a blast and were leaving covered in candy and plastic spiders, it made my day. When
05:02I walked them back to the van, I watched as Leo carefully checked everyone's seatbelt and then
05:06the little girl handed him a lollipop. I saved this for you, Leo. Thank you, Lizzie. I'll save
05:12it forever because you gave it to me. I think she has a crush on you. I think she's just using me
05:17because I have a driver's license. Then I heard Peter and the girls approaching. Hey, guys,
05:22look at this performer. Are you one of the zombies? I watched as the smile faded from Leo's
05:27face, embarrassed from the state of his clothes. It was bad enough I made the mistake of his
05:32appearance. I wasn't going to let them do it either. Did you guys see the zombie dunk tank?
05:37They filled it with green slime. Cool. I'll meet you guys over there. I smiled and waved as Leo and
05:42the kids drove off. The next day at school, all the kids had heard about the test run and I was
05:47mobbed with everyone wanting an invitation to my party. Kian and I were so excited. This is
05:52going to be the most epic party of the year. No way. Of the century. We did a little pre-celebration
05:58dance as I twirled around and bumped right into Peter. Hey, Darbs. I was going to bring you a
06:03gift for your birthday party. What do you think of this? Then he pulled a bow out of his pocket
06:08and put it right on his chest. I'll be your present and you can unwrap me at your party.
06:13I almost swallowed my gum. Kian saw how I was struggling for words and jumped in. She's just
06:18saving her voice for the day of. You know how it is. He winked at me and walked away. Do not
06:24squeal until we get to the bathroom. I was on cloud nine the whole way home. But that was all
06:29about to change because once I walked in the door, my sister rushed by me. Annie, I need to tell you
06:34the best news ever. Not now. I have to finish this presentation. The big bosses are coming to the
06:39house tomorrow and I have to be ready. Oh, and you have to cancel your party. I can't have that
06:43going on when they're here. Excuse me? I must have misheard you because I thought you said
06:49cancel my birthday party that I've been planning for weeks and have half the school coming too.
06:54You can just do it the day after. What's the big deal? I slipped out. How are we even related?
06:59I don't know, but I'm beginning to think you were adopted. You and your little friends have no
07:03respect for all the things I do around here. No one asked you for all those things. That's it,
07:08young lady. Go to your room. You are not my mother. I was so upset that I stormed out of the
07:14house and wandered around for hours until I wound up at the hospital. I sat down and told mom and
07:18dad everything that happened. I imagined that they would sit up and tell me that my sister was a jerk
07:24and I should have my party anyway. Have my party anyway? After all, it's what they would have
07:29wanted. I was so excited to tell Key and the Plan that I rushed out of their room and walked right
07:34into Leo. Oh, excuse me. I, Leo, what are you doing here? One of the kids got appendicitis and
07:40I was coming to bring him his favorite stuffed animal. He can't sleep without it. He looked over
07:44at my parents. Oh, I'm sorry. Are those your parents? Yeah, but my sister and I have kept it
07:50a secret because we didn't want it to be a story for the media. Well, your secret's safe with me.
07:55Do you have the van? I could use a ride home. It would be my pleasure. Much to my surprise,
08:00we talked the whole way home about everything from music to food to birthdays. I'm not sure when
08:06my birthday is. I was a safe haven baby. A what baby? You know, when a mom surrenders her baby
08:12anonymously at a safe haven location. I can't imagine how that must make you feel. Actually,
08:17I'm very grateful because it means she cared enough to try to give me a better life than the
08:21one she was living. But you live in an orphanage. My choice. I grew up in the system with very kind
08:27foster parents, and I want to show those kids that just because you're in the system doesn't
08:31mean it's all bad. Man, who raised this guy? Ma and Pa Kent? Just then, we pulled up to my house.
08:37You want to come hang out? I would, but I have to get the van back. You should come to my party
08:42tomorrow. I will definitely try. I was having such a good time with Leo. I almost forgot about
08:47Operation Have My Birthday Party despite what my stupid sister says. The minute I walked through
08:52the door, Anne started in on me again. I expect this place to be in perfect shape when I bring
08:57my clients back here after work tomorrow night. Sure, whatever you say. Well, good. I'm glad to
09:02see you're finally acting like a responsible part of this family. Needless to say, as soon as she
09:06left the next day, Kian and I ushered in all of the performers, caterers, and staff to make my
09:11haunted carnival party perfect. The party was a hit. Everyone from school came, and I was hanging
09:17out with Peter all night and didn't even notice when Leo walked in. He came up to me and handed
09:22me a single daisy. Happy birthday, B. Oh, isn't that cute? Did you pick that up at the cemetery?
09:28You don't belong here, orphan boy. Then he shoved Leo into one of the fire performers,
09:33knocking them into the drapes, which caught on fire. I tried to find something to throw
09:37on the flames, but the blanket near me was made of flammable material, and it just got worse.
09:41People panicked and ran out of the house, and I kept looking around the house for something to
09:46put out the fire, but the smoke got really thick, and I felt dizzy. The last thing I remembered was
09:51hearing Kian call my name. She's in here! As I came to, Leo was carrying me out of the burning
09:57house in his arms and placed me in the ambulance. Peter came up to me, pushing Leo out of the way.
10:02Thank God you're okay. I was so worried about you. Kian came up behind Peter and gave him a
10:07piece of her mind. Worried? Really? Because I'm pretty sure your entire groupie squad got you on
10:12tape running for your life and screaming like a little baby. So why don't you just keep on running
10:17all the way home? Come on, baby. You don't really want your birthday present to leave,
10:22do you? Actually, it would be my greatest birthday present. I pulled him in close.
10:27If you would leave. Everyone laughed, and Peter stormed off. My sister pulled into the driveway,
10:33and when she saw me, she ran over, grabbing and hugging me tightly as she cried from happiness.
10:38Oh, thank God you're okay. I couldn't lose you too. I was shocked. You're not mad? I ruined
10:44your meeting and disobeyed you. I acted like a supreme spoiled brat over a stupid party,
10:50and I burned down the house. But you are okay, and all that stuff is just stuff. After all,
10:57we are rich. Who are you, and what have you done with my sister? The paramedics checked me out and
11:03told me I was very lucky, but they still wanted me to go to the hospital to make sure I was okay.
11:08I looked down and realized I was still holding Leo's hand. He smiled at me. You sure know how
11:14to throw a party. You should be here for New Year's. I think I just might. I would like that.
11:18After the doctors told me I was okay and could go home, I went to tell my parents everything
11:23and apologize. Mom, Dad, I am so sorry. I wanted a birthday party so badly that I disobeyed Anne
11:30and burned the house down. But I'm gonna be better, and I'm going to make you proud. Just
11:34then, my mom squeezed my hand. We are already proud of you. Wait, you burned down the house?
11:41I sobbed with joy as I hugged them. You're awake! The doctors came in and checked them out and
11:46couldn't understand how they had both awoken after all this time. It was because our daughter came
11:51and talked to us almost every day. It kept us hopeful and happy. You heard me? Oh, no. You
11:58heard everything? Yes, but don't worry. Your secrets are safe with us. Leo came to pick us
12:03all up from the hospital and bring us home, where he and Kian had arranged for a small
12:07welcome home party in the garage. It was the only part of the house that wasn't ruined,
12:12but all the kids offered their beds to you and your family because of how nice you were to them.
12:16So I was thinking, when we rebuild, maybe we can add a few extra bedrooms for all the kids at the
12:22orphanage to stay until they get adopted. I'd like to call it Daisy's Place in honor of you,
12:27Leo. I pulled the pressed daisy out of my pocket and showed it to him. He cupped the flower in my
12:32hand. I don't know what I have to offer you. I don't have money or a fancy car. I have enough
12:38of all that. You have the one thing, the only thing I need. You.