Disclaimer: I do not own any works credited to the names Rick Riordan, Uncle Rick, Cassandra Clare, or Cassie Clare. I am not that man, and I am not that woman. I am me, Writing Desk's Raven.
I stumbled and almost fell down. Jay laughed from behind me, and pulled me back to a standing position. What did he expect? I was wearing a blindfold and so could not very well watch for things on the ground. "Okay, you can take it off now." Jay told me. I untied the bandana and let it fall to the ground. We were on the porch of the farmhouse.
"Why are we on the porch?" I asked.
"Look by the willow." Jay told me. I looked over to the large weeping willow, the one that sheltered my parents' graves. Nearby it was a black motorcycle. The license plate read 'LEE08'.
"I really get Mom's motorcycle?" I asked in wonder.
"Yeah. You're sixteen, now. You got your license earlier today." Jay said.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed, hugging him tight. He laughed and hugged me back.
"You're welcome. Now, let's go inside and see the rest of the family." Jay said. I stepped up to the door and opened it. We went into the living room, where our big family was all assembled.
My great uncle and great aunt, Liam and Mika, were at the dining table with my cousins Orianne and Sage. Orianne and Sage were actually my mom and Jay's cousins, but I'd always known them much better, and had grown up knowing them. Orianne was seven years older than me, and about ten years younger than my mom when she died. Sage was about six months younger than me.
My grandma, the one I'd been named after, was sitting on one of a couple folding chairs that had been brought into the living room. My grandpa, I faintly remembered his and her wedding, my aunt-slash-godmother Chelsey's father, was beside her on another chair.
Chelsey and her husband Aaron were also on folding chairs. Their son Hayden was sitting on the floor, leaning on his father's legs. Hayden was about two and a half years younger than me.
On the reclining chair was my aunt Maddie. Jay went over to her and stood by her, and their son, Bailey, was sitting, leaning his back on the chair. Bailey was about two years younger than me.
Leaning on the wall over by the door to the hall were two of my godparents, Cypress and Nikita. I had been their flower girl when I was ten. I liked having such a big role, but I was about as antsy as the rest of my cousins at the time. The moment the wedding was over, we had all kicked off our shoes and chased each other around in the grass.
Standing beside the couch was my uncle Mason. Sitting on the couch was my aunt Lydia, and her husband Cole with their son Dakota, who was eight and a half years younger than me, in his lap. Lydia's adopted child, Brady, from her previous marriage, was beside her on the couch. He was about a month younger than me, and he'd been adopted around the time we both were around four or five or so. I'd basically grown up with him, what with him living next door until I was fourteen, there with his Momma every other week.
The decision to move to camp at fourteen had been a hard one, especially when it meant leaving all of my cousins behind in Ohio and not seeing them everyday, or every weekend, in the case of Sage and Orianne. But I had ultimately made the decision, knowing I could be here within a moment anytime I wanted. The jewelry my mom had left me really came in handy.
The moment I stepped into the room, all of my cousins had me in a big bear hug which knocked me over, and we all sat up, laughing. Even little Dakota had joined in. I really loved my cousins. Sometimes, we were all even closer than siblings.
"Happy sweet sixteen!" Orianne told me as I sat up. My cousins all arranged themselves in a circle with me. None of us got up, opting to make these our new seats.
"Thanks, Ore." I said, hugging her. "Happy random day of being twenty three." She laughed.
"So, ready for your presents, Whit?" Maddie asked.
"Sure." I said. Lydia leaned over and handed something to Dakota, who held it out to me. It was a little crown, made of bright green paper with little plastic jewels of all colors pasted on. There was a sloppily drawn heart in the center. It was stapled in the back, so as to stay on. "Did you make this for me, Dakota?" I asked the little boy.
"I did! All by myself! Except Momma stapled it." He said.
"Why, thank you. I'll treasure it forever." I told him, placing it on my head. He giggled. I looked up just in time to see Jay take a picture, and gave the camera a silly face.
"Alright, Whit. This one is from Cypress and I." Nikita said, handing me a sort of cylindrical shaped wrapped present. I took it and unwrapped it. It was a gold dagger. I put my hand on the hilt, and flipped it, catching it easily.
"Sweet. Thanks, Nikita. Thanks, Cypress. I've been wanting something in Imperial Gold." I said, staring at the shining surface. I could see my reflection in it.
"Why does she get weapons, and half of the rest of them, but not me?" Sage asked. A couple of us laughed.
"Those of them that get weapons are all demigods." Mika explained.
"Legacies, actually. Unless Brady here just so happens to be a demigod, we're all legacies. Our parents are demigods, but we're not." I corrected, flipping the knife again.
"Either way, weapons are essential survival tools for you guys." Maddie said.
"Yeah, that's why." I said. I flipped the knife once more, before touching the tip to my charm bracelet. The dagger shrunk into a new charm.
"Well, here's your present from Jay and I." Maddie said, passing a box to Bailey, who passed it to me.
I unwrapped it to find a small box made of dark wood. I gave Maddie and Jay a confused look, but they just told me to open it. I opened the box and smiled. It held titanium studs and little hoops, a pair with each color of the rainbow. One red stud and red hoop, one set orange, one yellow, one green, one blue, one purple, one black, one white, and one normal titanium color. I took out the normal titanium colored ones and put them in, because I hadn't bothered to put on earrings that morning. "Thanks, guys." I said. Jay smiled.
I set the box aside as another gift was passed to me. "This one is from us." Lydia told me.
I opened it to find a Polaroid camera. One of the newer ones by the brand Fujifilm. It was light blue, and the carrying case for it was of the same color. "Awesome. I hope you all know I'll be taking pictures of you and keeping them no matter how stupid they are." I declared. Lydia laughed.
"Since you just opened that one, open mine next." Mason said, passing over a box. I opened it to find a cardboard box full of plastic packages of film for the camera. "I knew what my sister and her husband were getting you, so I thought that'd be a good idea."
"Thanks. Now I'll be able to take even more stupid pictures." I said. Mason laughed.
"Look under the film." Mason told me. I did so, finding a hundred dollar bill at the bottom of the box.
"Thanks." I said, putting the money in my pocket.
"Here's your gift from me." Samuel said, tossing something small to me. I reached up and caught it easily. I brought my hand down to look at it. It was a worn black leather wallet, with the word 'Dork' on the front in faded white lettering. It closed with two round metal buttons. "I always used to use that wallet, until I got a new one, but I figured it was the kind of thing you might like. Seems more your taste."
"It's perfect." I said. I took the money Mason had given me and put it in the wallet which, coincidentally, already held two hundred and fifty dollars. "Thank you very much." Samuel smiled.
"Here." Bailey handed me something. I unwrapped it to find a black trucker hat, with the words 'Blackmeadow Range' on the front in white lettering.
"Sweet. But how'd you get the farm name on it?" I asked.
"This website that makes clothing and stuff." Bailey said.
"Neat." I replied. I took off Dakota's crown, put on the hat, and then put the crown back on top. "How do I look?" I asked, striking a pose. That got a laugh from a couple of people, and a clap of the hands from Dakota.
"Fabulous." Brady told me.
"Here. I got you something I thought you might like." Hayden said, handing me a small box. It was an iPod. "It's monster-proof. And I downloaded all the songs from your phone onto it. Plus some other bands you've mentioned and albums from the artists you like."
"How'd you get it monster-proof?" I asked, looking up at him.
"I've got a few friends in Hephaestus cabin with crushes on you. They were all too happy to help." Hayden said with a shrug.
"Thank you. And make sure you give Jordan and Max my thanks as well." I said with an amused tone. Hayden smiled.
Next, Sage handed me a small box. I opened it to find three pairs of earbuds. One black, one white, and one purple.
"You'll have to find transportation, but we thought you might like these." Chelsey told me, handing me an unsealed envelope. I opened it to find three concert tickets, for a Streetlight Manifesto concert in Boston, Massachusetts. I nearly squealed in delight, except, I don't squeal. I did jump up and hug both Chelsey and Aaron, though. They both laughed.
"Here's our gift." Mika said, handing me a card. I took it out of the envelope. It had a cartoon sixteen on the front. I opened the card, which apparently held two hundred and fifty dollars, as it fell in my lap, and read what the inside said. The card itself read 'Wow! You're sixteen!'. But everyone had signed the card.
Happy sixteenth. You've become a wonderful young adult. - Mika
Sixteenth birthday, already. Seems just yesterday you were a bouncing young child who loved to visit the family and run around with your cousins. Guess time flies when you're having fun, huh? - Liam
Happy sixteenth birthday. You're growing up too fast. Stop it. Please. It's been great raising you, though. - Jay
I was much like you when I was your age. I had the same sort of mindset. Keep on the way you are, stay true to yourself, and every little thing will be alright. - Samuel
It wasn't too long ago that I was your age. Hell, I'm only just over double your age. I remember being sixteen. It's a lot of fun. But it can be hard, sometimes, too. It was a great opportunity, being able to help raise you with Jay. Just remember that if you need anything, you can come to us. - Maddie
What a wonderful person you've become. I'm still surprised, sometimes, that Lyric decided to name you after me. But I've seen that you're a lot like her in some ways. One of those ways being that you both always seem to have some sort of reason behind everything you do. It's a good trait to have. Keep it. - Whitney
Sixteen. I've loved every moment of being your godmother, and then your aunt when your grandmother married my father. I've loved every moment I've spent with you. - Chelsey
I almost didn't believe it at first when you were first introduced to me. All I knew was my best friend and my brother sudden had a baby out of nowhere. But my reaction was actually to say 'You two make a perfect couple.' I had already had the Greek world explained to me, though not by either of them. It wasn't such a stretch to believe that the cute little baby was really theirs. Especially with the look of love on Lyric's face and the protective look on Kiernan's face. - Lydia
Happy sixteenth, Whit. I've watched you growing up into the person you are now, and it's been one hell of a life. I'll never understand it, how you all do it with the supernatural sides. But that's fine. I don't need to. As long as you guys do. - Aaron
Happy birthday, Whitney. Sixteen is a big milestone. Especially for one of your stature. You're powerful. Just don't forget about the normal life for the supernatural one. Or vice versa. - Cypress
Wow. Watching your neighbor, your family member, grow up is an experience all to its own category. You get to be there for a lot of the ups and downs. I'm glad to have been there. Happy birthday. - Cole
I was only seven when you were born. I remember that Orianne and I immediately loved you, and always wanted to be around you. And, as I've grown up, I've kept loving being around you. You're genuinely a fun person to be around. Happy birthday, Whitney. Stay fun. - Mason
I was there for your birth, I was the one who helped Lyric to deliver her baby. I was the only one down there with her when we were taken. But she was strong, and she got through the pain, and she delivered her baby. You're just like her. You're strong, and you can get through anything. Happy sixteenth, Whitney. - Nikita
Happy b-day! You are six ten! Yay! - Love, Dakota
Happy birthday, Whitney. Even if I am seven years older than you, same age as your youngest uncle, (weird, huh?), you've always been more like a sibling to me. I think all of us cousins, even though Sage and I aren't your direct cousins, have always been like siblings. And I love that. I love that relationship that we all have. I don't know what I'd do without you, Whit. - Orianne
Hey, cuz. You're sixteen. Congrats. Thanks for always being there for all of us when we needed it. We'll always be there for you when you need it. You can count on it. - Bailey
Happy birthday, Whit. Happy sixteenth. You've always been such a great cousin to me, more than a cousin, a sibling, really. You helped me when I was having trouble at school. You helped me at camp when I couldn't figure out how to use my powers as a legacy of Hecate, and everyone else and everyone else made fun of me. I'll always be grateful for that. Thank you. - Hayden
I know I didn't see you during the weeks and things like most of our other cousins did growing up, but I saw you often enough to be as close to you as them. And that made us all pretty damn close. It's like we were all born with the same set of parents, except not, because that would be a bit weird. Especially since we don't all look alike. But thanks for always being there. Happy sixteenth birthday, Whitney. - Sage
Hey, cousin. You're sixteen. I'll be the same next month. I just wanted to say thanks. For everything. You've helped us all out, stood up for all of us, protected all of us. (Especially because you feel the need to because you're basically the oldest, Orianne being the exception, though she can't be around as much.) I wanted to say I really appreciate it. I appreciate when you helped though that time in my life when I was struggling with the fact that I was adopted. When I was struggling with the fact that my birth parents were not there for me. Both of us know how that feels, and it's not fun. You also helped me when the people at school all made fun of me. You helped me through a lot of things. Thank you. And, since we basically live as neighbors, you've become practically my best friend. I just wanted to thank you. Thank you and happy birthday, Whit. - Brady
"Thank you all for the card." I said. I was literally about to cry.
"Here, we can do mine next." Orianne said, standing. She pulled me up with her and I followed her to the bathroom.
"Why are we going to the bathroom?" She didn't answer until we were inside the bathroom.
"One, I didn't think you'd want anyone else seeing what I got you. And two, I'll do any haircut you want. You should probably at least get a trim, though. You've got some dead ends on you. When was the last time you had your hair cut?" Orianne asked, lifting a lock of my hair.
"Umm. When you did it?" I asked sheepishly.
"Whit! That was eight months ago!" Orianne exclaimed. I shrugged. "Whatever. Open this." Orianne handed me a flat box. I opened it, and my immediate reaction was to punch her in the shoulder while my face burned bright red. She only laughed.
"Why would you get me this?" I asked, holding up the lacy lingerie.
"Because everyone should have a set. Even you." Orianne told me.
"Everyone? Guys and those with no gender included?" I asked.
"If you wear it, you'll feel sexy. Trust me. And everyone deserves to feel sexy every once in awhile. Doesn't have to be in front of anyone else." Orianne told me. I just shook my head and put it back in the box. I closed the box and set it aside. "Now, about your hair?"
"Surprise me." I told her. She smiled wide and sat me down on the chair that had been set up in the bathroom. She got to work immediately, using all her professional tools and doing professional things. Yeah, I don't really know how hair stylists do what they do. But that's a question to ask Orianne at another time. She could go on and on about her job as a stylist.
Aaaaaannnnnndddddd, I'm back! (Sorry for the week late update, life got in the way, so you get two chapters this time round!)
Thank you to anyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited! You are not inclined to do any of those things if you do not wish, but it would be much appreciated! I send my love to all of you!