"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY TOMORROW AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?!" Claire shouted at Owen, who was sitting on the non rotting part of his porch, listening to "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5 on his Walkmen. (Why he was still using a Walkmen was a mystery to Claire)
It had two weeks since the "Tree incident" (which Claire never wanted to talk about again.)
"I didn't think you would care." He said, pulling off his headphones and shrugging his shoulders.
"Care?! You're my best friend! Why wouldn't I care?!" Claire asked, hands on her hips.
"Your best friend? Really Claire?" Owen asked, a smirk the size of Alaska forming on his face.
"Yeah, because you're my only friend." Claire stated, not meeting his eyes.
The smirk quickly went from the size of Alaska to Rhode Island in a matter of seconds.
"Really? I always thought you had tons of friends."
Claire shook her head, eyes focusing on his bare feet.
"Oh. So um, my birthday?" Owen asked, still mentally deciding that sad Claire was worse than mad Claire, (he had yet to see pissed off Claire).
"Yeah, how old are you gonna be?"
"12. When's your birthday?"
"Next month."
"NEXT MONTH?! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS NEXT MONTH?!" He shouted, trying to keep from smiling.
Claire giggled, and Owen couldn't keep his smile hidden any longer.
"Well I need to plan for you birthday. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See ya." Owen said putting on his headphones.
"I'm high on believing. That you're in love with me." He sang, just as Claire was out of hearing range.
...
"It's your birthday party, a very special day
I've got a song it won't take long, I just wanted to say
Happy, happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy
Happy, happy, happy, happy birthday to you!"
Claire sang, waking Owen up.
He had been having a lovely dream about training his raptors, when Claire's off-key singing woke him up. She was inches from his face, with a smile the size of Montana, gracing her lips. Owen heard his mother snickering from the doorway.
"Um…" Owen started, not really knowing what to say.
"I need to get going!" Claire shouted, racing out the door. "Thanks again, Miss Grady!" She shouted down the steps.
"You're welcome, Claire." Miss Grady said, smiling.
"What just happened?" Owen asked, looking at his mother for answers.
She shrugged her shoulders, smiling.
"It will take me years to top that." She said. It was then that Owen realized that she was holding a box in her hands.
"What's in there?" He asked.
"A present."
"Can I open it?" He asked, getting out of bed.
"Hm, I don't know, how old are you now?"
"12."
"12?! I don't think 12 year olds get to open presents."
"Yes they do mom."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well if you say so." She said handing Owen the box. Owen ripped the cover off.
Inside was a Star-Lord action figure.
"Oh my god! Thank you mom!" He yelled, embracing her.
"You're welcome, did you see what else was in there?" She asked.
Owen took another look, and saw a rose gold bar necklace.
"Your father gave that to me when we got married. It's yours now."
"Really mom?" He asked, his green eyes wide.
"Yep. You don't have to keep it though. You can give it to someone special. Know anyone special?" Miss Grady asked, trying to hide her smile.
"Yeah I think I do." He said, thinking of the ginger that had woken him up that morning.
"You can open the rest of your presents after dinner. Well come on, I made you pancakes." As soon as the word left her mouth, Owen was already down the stairs. She rolled her eyes and followed him downstairs.
...
Owen finished breakfast quickly, running out the door to find Claire. He didn't have to look far since Claire was on his porch.
"What'd you get?" Claire asked, bouncing up and down, threatening to to bring down the porch.
"Action figure." He said. Claire bouncing lessoned, but still kept up a steady pace.
"Anyway, I have something to give you-" He started.
"Give me? No, no, no. It's your birthday, not mine."
"Yeah, but-"
"No but's! Follow me! I have the best birthday plan ever!"
And truth be told, Claire did one hell of a job with it. She took him to get ice cream again, and then she took him on a tour of the town. Owen hadn't really gotten a chance to explore it, so it was nice to finally have a sense of direction. She had They then went to a movie. Since they were too young to see a PG-13 movie by themselves, they settled for the new Disney/Pixar movie instead, Inside Out.
"That was one of the best yet saddest movies I've ever seen." Claire stated, wiping her eyes. "I now feel really bad for forgetting about my imaginary friends. So did you like it?" Claire asked as they walked out of the theater.
"Yeah, it was surprisingly really good."
"Oh come on! All Pixar movies are good."
"I just thought from the trailers it looked stupid."
"Yeah, they need a new marketing team. Well time for the finally stop on our list." Claire said, taking Owen's hand. He turned a bright shade of red.
"Where are we going?" He asked, trying to hide his blushing face. Claire didn't answer and instead lead him down the street. She hadn't shown him what was there yet, but he figured he'd find out soon enough. They walked past an apartment building, a Econo Lodge and a diner. Owen then saw what Claire had brought him here to see. A comic book store. Claire nodded at him smiling. Owen ran as fast as he could to the store and ran right on in.
"Welcome earthlings. How may I help you?" The woman asked.
"Hey Marget, this is Owen my new neighbor. It's his birthday today." Said Claire.
"Oh! Is this the famous Owen Grady? The one who is really, really, REALLY-"
"Shhh! Margaret!" Claire hissed causing Margaret to shut up. Luckily Owen didn't seem to notice the whole ordeal.
"Well since it's your birthday, buy one comic get the other one free."
"Really?" Owen asked, holding a stack of comic books. Margaret nodded.
"Claire how did you know this place existed?"
"After you said comics were good I went out and bought one."
"Really? Which one?"
"Spider-Gwen." Claire answered, pulling a graphic novel off the shelf.
"Cool." Owen said, setting down four comics.
"Let's see here, a Star-Lord, a Guardians of the Galaxy, a Captain America, Uncanny Inhumans, that's a really good one." Margaret said, as Claire slapped down the money for Owen's comics and her graphic novel.
The two headed back home.
"You can probably join my mom and I for dinner you know." Owen said as there neighborhood came into view.
"Sorry I have to help my mom make dinner. But I'll see you tomorrow." Claire said turning into her driveway.
"Oh, well thank you again!"
"No problem Owen." Sure Claire had spent most of her allowance, but making Owen happy was better than all the money in her Rainbow Dash piggy bank.
...
"So did Claire like her gift?" Miss Grady asked tucking Owen into bed. Owen's face turned pale and Miss Grady took that as a sign that he hadn't given it to her get. "Well give it to her tomorrow or sometime soon. Goodnight my little Star-Lord."
"Goodnight mom. I love you."
"Love you to sweetie." She said closing the door.
Owen waited until he heard her door close before getting out of bed. His reached into his jean pockets for the necklace and pulled it out. He grabbed his flashlight and climbed out his window, which took him a good ten tries before he made it out. He flashed the flashlight in Claire's window hoping it would wake her up.
Claire was in bed reading her new book, when she saw the flashing light. She opened the window and looked out.
"Claire come meet me in the tree." He hissed fleeing to the tree. Claire sighed and grabbed her flashlight and quietly made it to the backdoor, her parents were heavy sleepers and she made it past them easily.
"Where do you think you're going?" Karen said, causing Claire to jump in surprise.
"Um, no where?" Claire said, well more questioned.
"Tell me where you're going and I wouldn't tell mom or dad."
Claire sighed. "Owen's wants to meet me in the tree in his backyard."
"Oh, well have fun, but not to much fun."
"Ew, gross, Karen." Claire said pulling open the backdoor.
It didn't take long for Claire to climb up the tree (Owen had been teaching her). Owen shined his flashlight in her face, as she got on the branch on the tree. "Well what do you want?" Claire asked.
"I forgot to give you this." Owen held up the rose gold bar necklace.
Claire gasped. "Owen I couldn't-"
"Nonsense. My mom gave this to me today. She said to give it to someone special." This caused Claire to turn the shade of a firetruck.
"Thank you." She said. Owen put the necklace around her neck. "I love it!" She whisper-shouted.
"I'm glad you like it." Owen said taking her hand. The moon was full and the stars were bright. It was the best moment of Owen and Claire's young lives.
"Happy birthday, Owen Grady." Claire said, giving Owen a kiss on the check.
Miss Grady watched from the window, a huge smile across her face.
AU: This was the longest chapter ever! Over 1,500 words?! You guys must love me. Tell me if you got the refernces to the comic books or Guardians of the Galaxy. Thank you to everyone that reviewed, followed, or faved, it really brightens my day. Specail thanks to dinorico10, supertintin, AmazingGraceless, vana9, 85 for the wonderful reviews! Thanks again!
P.S. Next chapter has board shorts!