When Friday night came rolling in, and it was time to set up for Theodore's and Eleanor's surprise party, dedicated to congratulate them on their first restaurant finally opening that morning, the couple wasn't the only one in for a big surprise. Nobody was expecting the sight they would behold when the doorbell rang.
"That must be Brittany," Jeanette grinned when the familiar toll echoed throughout the house. As she stepped off the black stool she had used to help her tape a compilation of colorful streamers along the top of the arched entryway, she glanced over at everyone who was in the kitchen, currently surrounding Simon as they read through the detailed instructions for the cake they were baking. Ms. Miller was in a floral dress wearing a white apron, holding a white spatula with a fierce expression on her face, looking as if they were about to go up against their greatest battle yet; Dave was currently wearing a blue sweater and had some tan pants on, and he was staring meticulously at the paper Simon held, rubbing his chin a little; Simon, dressed in a casual, cotton, navy blue T-shirt with some dark jeans, like Dave, was looking at the paper like it was some complicated physics formula.
"Um, you guys know," Jeanette began, earning a simple "Hm?" from Simon, "you can always do a different recipe. We have the two other ones you can choose from…"
"No, I—I think we got this, right?" Simon said, taking a moment to look at Dave and Ms. Miller.
"Well, of course, dearie. Anything is possible when I'm here. We're going to whip this cake out like it's a piece of cake," Ms. Miller proclaimed in her nasally, slightly goofy, voice.
"Yeah, I agree with Ms. Miller," Dave agreed.
"Well," Simon shrugged, smirking a little at Jeanette. "I think we got this."
"Okay," Jeanette grinned. "I just wanted you guys to know that it's always an option."
"And we'll keep it in mind," Simon reassured. "The decorations look great by the way. You did a good job, of course."
The bespectacled girl felt her face heat up as a smile graced her features. When she took a look at her now finished work, she had to admit, it did look pretty good. At least from it being done by her hands; Brittany and Eleanor would've done a much better job. They probably would've given the kitchen a lot more flare. All she did was simply line all seven colors of the rainbow (the streamers) and hang them up all along the white walls and ceiling, occasionally making it so some of them hung singly straight down from the ceiling like they were flexible, colorful icicles.
"Hey, didn't the doorbell ring?" Dave suddenly asked, and Jeanette's eyes widened.
"Oh, my gosh! I totally forgot!" and she booked it to the front door. "Brittany's going to be so mad," she muttered under her breath as she ran down the hallway and out into the small foyer. She nearly slipped on the ground in her socks on the smooth checkered floor, but her hand helped save her fall, and as she scrambled to find her balance, as if she were running on ice, her clothed feet weren't allowing her to reach the door as fast as she was trying to. When she finally was within distance to latch her hand onto the door handle, she turned it, opening the door to two voices bickering. She blinked when she recognized her eldest sister and the guy standing right next to her. "Oh, my gosh, you're here!" she exclaimed.
.
"No, Alvin!" Brittany facepalmed herself. "I said turn right! Not left! Those two words don't even sound the same!" she yelled, huffing as she crossed her arms across her stomach.
"No you didn't! You said turn left!" Alvin countered as he used his hands for emphasis before quickly putting them back on the steering wheel. As they approached the next light, he made a right turn. He was just going to drive in a circle and make his way back to that intersection, and make a left turn onto the road Brittany had told him to go.
"No, I didn't!" she shot back, heaving out a frustrated sigh while her eyes looked up to the ceiling of the car. He was hopeless. He wanted to go see what Eleanor's and Theodore's new restaurant looked like after he took her to go shopping for some new underwear and clothes, before they headed over to Simon and Jeanette's home, and of course, he had to screw everything up and take a wrong turn. She had told him they could go some other time, like after they had their surprise party (they were already late to arrive at Janette's house), but noooooo. Some days she just wanted to take that dumb head of his and dropkick it to Antarctica. The cool air might freeze his mind from thinking up any more stupid ideas.
"Well, I know these roads like the back of my hand, so don't worry. I'll just find my way back to that road," he sighed, running a hand stressfully through his tousled hair.
"We're already so late," Brittany grumbled, turning her body away from his as she fixed her gaze out the tinted windows. It was nighttime, and for once this month, the sky was actually fairly clear. They were supposed to arrive at Jeanette's place at 11:00 P.M., but now it looked like they would be arriving at 11:20 P.M. instead. She didn't like to be late. Not even fashionably late. Ugh….
"See, look, I already got us back on the right road," Alvin gloated, making Brittany roll her eyes. "Alright, so where do I go now?"
"Just keep going straight and we should be passing it on your left, soon," she guided. Her eyes dropped down to her loose, chiffon black top and dark skinny jeans; she was wearing a leather jacket and some block sandal heels, all of which were brand new, and up a size or two, minus the shoes. It almost hurt her pride a little to be buying a size that wasn't something she originally would get, but she had to remember that this was because she was pregnant, and that none of this should matter. All she should worry about was that the twins were healthy and in good shape. She still refused to wear to anything that showed she was pregnant, however, despite her change in confidence.
"What is it called?" Alvin distractedly asked, driving slightly slower than usual. He normally speeded whenever he drove, so he probably was now going the actual speed limit.
"You'll know it when you see it," was all she could say. When she looked over at him, watching his head move forward a little as he tried to identify his little brother's restaurant, she couldn't help but admire his attractive face. Realizing what her thoughts were about, she gritted her teeth and stubbornly turned her head away, but her ice blue eyes still found their way back to him. It was crazy that someone could make her be this way, not to mention think this way. But it was nice to have him back. For the first time in forever, she was actually beginning to feel like herself again.
He suddenly gasped, saying, "Wait, I think I see it. Is that it?" He then pointed over at a new-looking building. It was a one-story building, shaped with rectangular smooth walls and had greenery adorning all around it very nicely. Palm trees and bushes, along with flowers of all sorts of colors, outlined along the building and along the cemented pathway to the front revolving glass doors. There was a warm, welcoming glow within the building, and it already seemed like it was a great hit. You could see that the parking lot was still full, and people on dates or coming as a family were emerging out of the new restaurant.
"Oh, yeah," Brittany distractedly confirmed, leaning forward a little; she could feel her soft, wavy hair brush against her neck as it slipped forward. "That's it." They would most definitely have to go try it sometime soon.
"Dang, I knew our siblings were good at cooking—but I didn't know they were that good," he snickered sarcastically, causing her to roll her eyes and lean back against the black leather seat.
"Well, that's what's going to happen when you're gone for so long," she muttered bitterly, crossing her arms. "Now you saw it, hurry up and get us over to Jeanette's and Simon's place."
"Hey, alright…sheesh…" he grumbled. "Give me a break…"
Brittany looked up towards the heavens. What was she going to do about him?
.
By the time Alvin finally was pulling up their black sports car to the driveway of a large white house, he then turned the engine off and turned to Brittany, about ready to say something, but instead thought better of it and he got out of the car, walking over to her side. She already had opened the door and was getting out. He shut the door for her, and when he turned, he found that she had left him behind. Sighing, he ran after her.
"Brittany," he called to her in a singsong voice.
"What?" she snapped as they arrived at the lit up front porch. She went and pressed the round, glowing, orange doorbell button placed at the side of the white door. On either side of the door, hanging flower baskets hung on the extended roof, overflowing with a sea of hydrangeas.
"Oh, c'mon, you honestly can't be that mad…"
"Try me," she fired, crossing her arms with a huff.
Alvin sighed when suddenly a thought came into his head. "Hey," he began leisurely, walking closer to her. "When you went to see the doctor, they didn't by any chance prescribe you a…I don't know…chill pill by any chance?"
Brittany's face twisted and she turned on him in a silent rage. "Really? Ugh—sometimes I just really want to…"
"Want to what?" Alvin challenged, crossing his arms.
She opened her mouth, frustratingly clamping it shut and huffing. She just couldn't bring herself to say the words. Because even though he seriously made her mad, what she was about to say wasn't right, and she didn't mean any of it truly.
Alvin simply smirked at her with complete adoration in his eyes, a combination he only could have around her. That's when he couldn't resist. He had to do it. "Hey, Britt?"
"What—?" she huffed, turning towards him, only to find his lips crashing against hers while his hands grabbed her face. Butterflies scattered to life in her stomach, and as her lips responded against his, she had to forcefully pull herself back, gasping, even though she really didn't want to. No way was she going to let him have it. It was going to be a lot harder than that. "Alvin—!" she began.
Alvin simply took a step back, holding his hands up with a mischievous grin and no regrets whatsoever written across his face. "Hey, you kissed back…"
"I swear," Brittany began, raising her voice and taking a fierce step towards him.
"Oh, my gosh, you're here!" a familiar delicate voice suddenly interrupted, and both blue pairs of eyes moved to look at who had opened the door.
"Well it's about time," Brittany seethed, crossing her arms.
"Alvin!" Jeanette continued, amazed as ever. It was like she had just discovered unicorns existed.
"Yo, Jeanette!" Alvin greeted, going in to give the brunette a hug.
"Brittany never mentioned you were going to be here!" the bespectacled girl exclaimed once they pulled back.
"Yeah, well, I wasn't exactly aware he was going to be here, either," Brittany grumbled, fixing her leather jacket around her shoulders.
"What? You don't really sound happy…" Jeanette inspected, furrowing her eyebrows.
"No, really?" She rolled her eyes. Thank you, for pointing out the obvious.
Alvin rolled his eyes as well, placing a hand on Jeanette's shoulder. "It's alright, don't worry about it. She'll change her feelings later tonight," he said, winking at Brittany, making her slightly gape in disbelief. Jeanette glanced between the two, completely confused.
"Still thinks he can get whatever he wants with that smile of his," Brittany muttered with narrowed eyes. "C'mon, Jeanette, let's go inside. Just ignore him. He doesn't know what he's talking about," she said.
Jeanette simply stood there in her skinny jeans and baseball tee, dumbfounded, but she nodded her head and followed after Brittany inside her house. "Okay, so we're in the kitchen, so you can just meet us all in there once you've taken your shoes off," she instructed, adding, "please," with a sheepish grin. Once she earned herself a couple nods of acknowledgement, she headed on her way.
When Brittany's little sister left the couple alone in the foyer, they each began slipping their shoes off. Brittany sighed when she was on her final shoe, keeping her back facing Alvin. She did not want to look at that stuck-up, egotistical, dumb, stupid, idiotic…
She suddenly froze when she felt his hand touch the back of her neck, gripping it gently as he leaned forward from behind, brushing his lips against her ear. "Just wait and see," he murmured, immediately making her turn her head away from his. He let go of her neck, and eventually she took the dare to turn and look at him. She immediately regretted it once she found a testing smirk fixed onto his face. Rolling her eyes in an irritated manner, trying to play it off, she then finished taking her last shoe off and marched forward, heading to the kitchen. She grit her teeth, stealing one last glance at Alvin who was now just barely starting to take his shoes off, before she walked out of perspective. Exhaling deeply, she cursed her stupid body for always feeling the need to react to his. Her heartbeat had risen at his touch, and she could feel the infamous butterflies within her stomach get excited. She was going to have to train all of her energy on self-control. There was no way she was going to let him win…
Upon arriving at the kitchen, her eyes immediately got distracted from the many colors that now adorned the normally clean, simple, white kitchen. Streamers of all colors were strung across the walls and ceilings, but her attention didn't remain on the colors long, for it quickly got pulled away to something that was even more unusual: Dave, Simon, and Ms. Miller, who were all splattered with some sort of chalky white dust. When Brittany noticed the spatula in Ms. Miller's hand, that's when she figured out what the white stuff was flour.
From behind her, she suddenly heard someone whistle. Turning to look, she found Alvin's impressed eyes. Or maybe they were just astounded at the mess. She couldn't tell.
Within a few seconds, Jeanette suddenly came down from the hallway with some navy hand towels. She grinned at Alvin and Brittany as she approached and slipped past them into the kitchen, going over to the sink and wetting the towels down. Afterwards, she handed each Dave, Simon, and Ms. Miller a towel to clean themselves up with while she got to work with a broom to sweep up the white powder that caked the floor.
"Next time, maybe we should just buy a cake," Simon said as he took his glasses off and wiped them with the wet towel.
"Yeah, or leave the baking to Theodore and Eleanor themselves," Dave suggested as he wiped at his powdered sweater.
"Oh, I'm really sorry about that," Ms. Miller sighed. "I don't know how that happened…"
"It's alright, mistakes happen," Dave grinned.
"Yeah, don't sweat it, Ms. Miller. We've got plenty more flour," Simon added. "Just next time, maybe set the flour tub back in the pantry or at least out of height to where it can't be knocked over to create too big of a mess."
"Do you guys need any more towels?" Jeanette cut in. "We have plenty more…"
All the while the four conversed, Alvin mumbled on the sidelines: "How did we not hear any of this going on?" Brittany could only shrug her shoulders while she shook her head. He then stepped around her and past the arched entryway and began to clap his hands as he approached his brother. "Bravo, brother. I think you might be worse than me when it comes to making a mess."
Simon rolled his eyes while he put his glasses back on. "Alvin, nobody makes bigger messes than you, so don't you start—" He paused, blinking. Then he turned to look at Alvin with wide eyes. "It's you!" he exclaimed.
Alvin smirked. "Who else would it be?"
"Well, no, that's not what I meant, but—hey! It's really great to actually see you!" Simon said, going in to hug his brother.
"Missed you too, Si," Alvin said once they parted. He clasped a hand on the bespectacled boy's shoulder, grinning sincerely.
"Alvin!" Dave suddenly said, coming up to the two brothers. "Hey! I didn't know you'd be here!"
And while everyone in the room crowded around Alvin, all smiles and excitement, Brittany remained off to the side. A small smile graced her lips and she sighed, feeling a flutter of slight nervousness throughout her insides. Her right hand went to fiddle with her wedding ring, twisting it around her ring finger as she thought about what Alvin had said two nights ago. She felt like so much has already changed. Who knew one person could make such a difference in life.
Alvin's tour still wasn't actually quite over, and he had a few more concerts to perform at, so he was going to be leaving again for those next Monday; however, this time, she would be coming along. Apparently, he had delayed one of his concerts just to come back to her and eventually convince her to come with him for the remaining tour. He had already made the arrangements and talked to his manager about this and the potential damages it could do to his stardom, but they had settled that it wouldn't do much, and his manager decided that it actually could play in to attracting more fans and boosting his image—the idea of him returning to take care of his wife, out of love, would definitely make girls swoon and other people in general respect him more—so he consented. And now here he was, making Brittany mad, at his brother's home to help celebrate the success of another brother and a fellow friend. It was as if he never left.
"Brittany, is everything alright?"
Brittany looked up at her sister who now stood in front of her. Concern was lightly shading over Jeanette's emerald eyes, but her face was relaxed and welcoming. Brittany grinned, shaking her head. "I'm fine. I think what we should really worry about is getting that cake baked and ready for when the new, official chefs come over, don't you?" At that, Jeanette grinned back and nodded.
Once all of the flour was cleaned up from the ground, they all decided to go for a second round with making the cake, this time with the additional help of Jeanette, Alvin, and Brittany. The timing was close, but by the time they had the cake all baked and decorated, Theodore and Eleanor showed up at the door, looking exhausted but happy. After all, today had been one of the greatest moments in life together for them, and they had finally achieved their childhood dream. They were completely clueless that there was a surprise party waiting in the kitchen, so when they walked in, expecting to help out with the oven (Simon's lame "urgent" excuse he made up on the spot when he called Theodore to lure him over after they closed the restaurant), they were in for a big surprise.
The sweet aroma inside the house strangely enough didn't give anything away; it only made Eleanor and Theodore suspect that Simon or Jeanette had made something and maybe somehow messed up or ruined the oven, so they needed help. But once they stepped into the kitchen, they were in for a big surprise. What made it better, mostly for Theodore, was that he had his whole family there to celebrate with him. Seeing Theodore that happy and excited only made Eleanor that much more happy about everything.
Eventually after the brothers and their respective father figure all reunited and hugged, Theodore requested that they finally eat the cake now. He was actually starving, and so was Eleanor; Jeanette suggested they moved to the living room since it'd be a lot more comfortable, so they did so and had the beaming couple blow out the few candles that were lit atop of the dessert. The round layered cake, with its messy "CONGRATULATIONS!" written on it in bright green icing, surrounded by colorful sprinkles and awkward shaped flowers (curtesy to Simon and Alvin who had thought they could draw better than the other for about 5 seconds, until they realized they both sucked—it wasn't easy with the icing they had!), tasted fairly delicious. Eleanor questioned about the candles that had been placed on the cake, since this wasn't a birthday they were celebrating, but Ms. Miller simply contradicted with: "What? It gives the cake more flare!" Everyone chuckled a little, but Ms. Miller simply stared, wide-eyed, not quite understanding what was so funny.
"So, tell us about your first day," Dave said as he took a bite out of his piece of cake. Currently, they had all seated themselves on the three white sofas that surrounded the coffee table, with Eleanor and Theodore sitting together on their own sofa, Simon, Jeanette, Ms. Miller, and Dave sharing the longer sofa in the middle, and Alvin and Brittany preoccupying their own sofa, that was mirroring the one Eleanor and Theodore sat on.
"Oh you wouldn't believe how crazy it was today!" Eleanor enthusiastically exclaimed.
"We had a full house!" Theodore chirped in.
And while the happy couple went on with the events of their day, Brittany tuned out and stared at the cake on her plate, beginning to subconsciously poke at it with her fork, breaking it down into bites she was tempted to take. She had only taken a small bite out of it, and planned to take no more. She felt fine and wasn't sick, but with her being pregnant, she had to be more than just careful when it came to food, even if it mean sacrificing sweets for a little while. No more ice cream for her bad days now, and thinking about that sucked. But she'd rather not jeopardize anything about her health or the twin's health. She would've originally not taken a slice of cake, but everyone in this room, besides her counterpart, still wasn't aware of her actual pregnancy, and they would've looked at her weirdly. She had already discussed it with Alvin, and they had decided to not say until they knew the gender of the twins. She sighed, pursing her lips. The sweet smell of vanilla was still looming in the air.
Alvin, who was leaning over his knees with his elbows set on them, listening intently, having already finished his slice of cake, caught the soft exhale of air beside him, and turned to look at Brittany. His eyes traced down to her now destroyed cake and he gently took the plate away from her, stacking it atop of his as he sat up straight. "C'mon," he softly spoke, moving her body and sliding her onto his lap so she was sitting sideways on the couch. She made no effort to fight him. When she looked over at him, he gave her a cute, lop-sided grin. She couldn't help but return a small smile, moving her right arm so it wasn't sandwiched between her body and his, and rested it comfortably around his shoulders, allowing herself to lean against him as she looked over at the excited pair across from them, still talking. He then wrapped his arms more securely around her waist.
Butterflies fluttered lightly inside her stomach when she felt him kiss her neck. She turned to look at him, and he leaned his head against hers, whispering, "I love you" while her eyes closed. In that moment, it was as if it there was a time-stopping barrier surrounding them, blocking them from the conversation going on in the outside world. She listened attentively to the sound of her heartbeat, and when she opened her eyes, she leaned forward so their lips pressed. When their lips parted, she whispered, "I love you too."
The End.
Thank you so much for reading!
