I gave a little wave to Leah as she pulled her car out of the driveway. I turned and walked into the house with a little bounce in my step. The reason why I was so happy was because I had finally admitted to myself that I do like Seth, and I do mean really like Seth. Especially after all the time I spent with him today.
"Where have you been?" Drake asked from his spot on the couch.
"Out," I answered with a grin.
Drake quirked an eyebrow at me. I walked over to him and ruffled his hair before going into the kitchen.
"Mom! There is something wrong with Cady! And I mean really wrong," Drake shouted.
"Why do you think that Drake?" Mom questioned. She turned away from the stove and observed my happy self.
"She's like, absurdly happy. That's why!" Drake said, sounding somewhat distressed.
"Oh honey," Mom chuckled. "There is nothing wrong with being really happy."
I smiled wider at Mom. I walked over to the kitchen cabinets and pulled out a cup to fill with water.
"Yeah, but Mom," Drake said, his voice growing closer. He stood himself in the doorway with his arms spread wide. "Happy Cady is really weirder than her normal self, the normal self that I'm used to and comfortable with."
"Hey," I objected. "I'm standing right here." I turned and tried to stifle my giggles as I filled the cup with water.
Drake looked away from Mom and over at me. "See, look!" He exclaimed. "She's smiling as she's protesting. That's really weird."
"Oh, Drake. You're such a drama queen," I said as I reached to ruffle his hair once more. Drake dodged my hand and turned to Mom.
"Please fix her Mom," Drake said quickly. He ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs into his room.
Both Mom and I laughed at Drake. "He's the weirdo," I commented.
"So what did you do today that has got you so happy," Mom conversed as she turned back to the dinner on the stove.
"Well I met up with somebody while I was out. I ended up going to his house and I just had a really good time with him; talking and bonding and stuff. I think I really might like him," I said.
"And who did you meet?" Mom asked.
"Is… Briget around?" I said quietly.
"She's in her room, why?" Mom said, turning around to give me a look of curiosity.
"Well, I was with Seth," I answered.
"What?" Mom said, surprised.
"I was with Seth," I repeated.
"No honey. I heard you the first time," Mom said. A bit of worry toned her voice and it took me a moment what she was worried about.
"Mom, this is different. For Bridge, she just likes him. For me, I like him and he likes me. That's two completely different situations," I explained. "And I'm not just assuming he likes me. We've already been on a date and he asked me out again today."
"Wait," said Mom, raising her hand to stop me. "When was this first date of yours?"
"Um, it was when I went to the movies with Kim and Jared."
"Where did Seth ask you to go for your second date?"
"He invited me to a bonfire that's tomorrow night, and I'm going by the way," I said the last bit forcefully, wanting to prove my point. "I'm going and I don't care what Briget thinks or does. I am going out with the boy that I like and my little sister isn't going to stop me."
Mom sighed. "Alright, you can go."
I rolled my eyes, I wasn't asking for her approval.
"Do you have a ride?" Mom questioned.
"Yes, I do," I said. I left the kitchen then, not wanting Mom to pull me down from my happy high.
Instead of going into my room, I walked into the sunroom. I had spent far too much time contemplating things while staring at my ceiling, which I now probably knew all too well. I sat myself on the chaise lounge. Lying back, I studied the graying clouds as well as thinking about the weird parts about my time with Seth.
There was the shampoo bottle for fleas and the 'pack' thing. He had seemed slightly flustered when he was trying to explain himself for both things. From the first way he had easily answered my question of who was coming to the bonfire, I had a very good guess that he was fudging his words -as in- he was lying to me.
But what could Seth be lying about? Why would he have to lie about some flea shampoo? And what was the real reason why Seth called his group of friends a pack?
So many questions… and too much time to worry about them.
By noontime on Saturday I was getting really nervous about the bonfire. I was completely unlike myself, worrying about what to wear and how I should act.
My best explanation for being so nervous was that this was the first time I would be with Seth when I was fully accepting and aware of the fact that I really liked him.
Briget apparently was picking up on my nerves.
"Come on Cady! You've been in the shower for nearly an hour! Get out!"
Or it could be the fact I had indeed been in the shower for more than my normal 25-minute shower.
"Hold on Briget!" I yelled back. I sighed; I didn't want to get out. I was finally nice and calm due to the effects of the hot water.
"Cady!" Briget shouted.
I groaned and turned off the shower. I stayed there standing, letting the water drip off me before stepping out of the shower and into the real world.
I pulled the curtains back and stepped out of the shower. The cool air hit my overly warm body and I shivered.
I heard faint sounds of talking coming from the other side of the door.
Growling I grabbed a towel and tightly wrapped it around myself. I pulled open the bathroom door to see not only Briget but Drake as well.
"What is it Cady?" I said, stepping back behind the door.
"Mom and Dad want you to come down for lunch," Drake answered, backing away.
"Alright I'll be down in five minutes," I said.
Drake left and Cady followed behind him down the stairs. I quickly walked to my room. I brushed out my hair and put it in a bun. Then I pulled on a t-shirt with Pon and Zi over my still wet hair. I quickly stuck my legs into a pair of jeans and pulled them up.
I went down the stairs and made my way to the dining room.
"Happy Birthday!" my family shouted.
A small smile touched my lips.
Dad came over and pulled me into a short hug. He kissed the top of my head before letting my mom at me.
"Aww, my baby's turning seventeen!" Mom said into my shoulder.
I hugged Mom back. "That's what you said when I turned sixteen last year."
Mom gave a watery chuckle and let me go.
"So can we have cake now?" Drake asked hopefully.
"Drake!" Dad scolded.
"You're supposed to sing 'Happy Birthday' first Dum-Dum," Briget said, grabbing the lighter from the table. She lit all eighteen candles and Drake ran to turn off the lights.
They all started to sing 'Happy Birthday' and I smiled.
Once the song was over I blew out all the candles, wishing for good luck for Seth and me. Dad turned the lights back on and I started to pull out all the candles. I licked off the icing of one and Drake did the same.
"You two are such freaks," Briget commented.
Drake took another candle from my hand and smiled at Briget. "Thanks for the compliment."
I handed off the rest of the candles to Drake and picked up the knife. I cut the small round cake into pieces.
Once everyone got a piece of cake we all started eating.
"I want ice-cream cake for my birthday," Briget commented, forking a corner of cake into her mouth.
"Nuh-uh, I wanna get ice-cream cake!" Drake protested with his mouth full of cake.
"Drake, honey, please don't talk with your mouth full," Mom said.
"You can both get ice-cream cake," Dad compromised.
I finished off the food and turned to my parents. "Not wanting to break up this warm fuzzy moment, but… could we start doing presents?"
Dad looked at Mom and she smiled. "Sure, hold on a moment." Mom put down her plate then left the room. She returned with two cards and a small box. She handed off the presents and I took them.
I put the box and the card from my Mom down. I held onto the card from my Dad and opened it. A gift card to Borders for fifty dollars slid out and I smiled up at my Dad. "Thank you so much Dad!" I gave him a one armed hug as I read the witty rhyme on the card.
"I'm glad you like it Cady," Dad said.
Briget snorted. "You always get gift cards to bookstores."
"Yes, that is because I like to read and therefore love gift cards to bookstores," I replied, not even put out by Briget's tone.
I put the card down and picked up the one from my mom. The card was funny and I laughed at it. I picked up the little wrapped box and started to open it. I popped open the lid and stared quizzically at the empty key chain. "Uhh, thanks Mom."
Mom grinned at me and began to explain. "That will be the key chain you would use to put your new car keys on, when you end up getting your license next month."
My confused face changed into joy. "I'm getting a car?" Mom nodded and I squealed. "I'm getting a car! Hell Yes!" I jumped up in down in happiness as I continued to shout my joy.
"Freak," I heard Briget murmur.
I quickly went over to Briget and gave her a bear hug. "You can ride shotgun if you stop being stuck up."
"I'm not stuck up," Briget countered. Briget probably didn't know it, but she had a smile on her face.
I gave Mom another hug and gave Dad and Drake hugs as well. Drake quickly left the room with his cake and Mom and Dad followed.
I smiled at Briget and squealed once again. "This is so awesome! I got my car now –well eventually—that you will get to ride shotgun in," a full smile spread across Briget's face, "and I have the bonfire later tonight with Seth!" The smile on Briget's face slipped away. I clapped a hand over my mouth realizing my giant mistake. My happiness evaporated and was replaced by sadness.
"With… who?" Briget said quietly, a hint of anger coloring her tone.
I took a deep breath and looked Briget square in the eyes. "Briget, I'm dating Seth. I really do like him, and we are going out later tonight."
"No… Cady – that's… you suck!" Briget exploded after scrambling over her words. "You know I like him Cady! You're such a horrible sister! You know I like him yet you still went after him!"
"Bridge, you don't need to be making a big deal-"
"-It is a big deal Cady! I have liked him for the longest time and – you! You are the one to go out with him!"
"Yes Briget, that may be true," I said steadily. "But Seth likes me and he is the one who asked me out!"
"And what? It's just my crappy luck that he didn't like me back?"
"No, you just need to get over him," I said sternly, lowering my loud voice.
Briget made a growling noise in her throat and lunged at me. I let out a shout of surprise as Briget clawed at my arms. It took me a moment to react. I reached my arms out and pushed at her to get away. I managed to grab hold of both of her wrists. Extending my arms, I kept her as far from me as I could. I shook her wrists sharply, wanting to get her attention.
"Briget! Stop!" I demanded. She tried to pull out of my grasp, but held on firmly. "Briget, I am not trying to be a bad sister or anything. I love you, but you are really overreacting right now!"
"Let go Cady!"
I let go of Briget's wrists and she ran from the room. Feeling bad, I followed her. But instead of Briget running to her room like I had thought, she ran out the front door. I ran and caught the front door before it shut.
"Where are you going?" I yelled after Briget.
Briget just kept running down the street, disappearing around a bend in the road.
"Briget!"
I groaned and turned around to see my Dad coming up to me.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Dad," I said, panic in my voice.
Dad began to look worried. "What is it?"
"Briget…" I gestured over my shoulder to the door," … Briget, she ran off."
"What do you mean "ran off"?" Dad said, taking a small step forward.
"Sh-she ran off down the street when I told her I was going on a date with Seth."
Dad stared at me for a moment then he left quickly making his way up the stairs, calling out my mother's name.
I blew out a breath, hoping to calm the nerves that were rising once again. I turned around and closed the front door. I lifted my right hand to stare at the keychain. The keychain that started it all.
"So Briget ran away?"
I looked up, startled. Drake was lying on the couch, watching me with curious eyes.
"No," I said quickly. Drake attempted to raise an eyebrow at me. I giggled and walked over to the couch. " Well… I guess-"
"-Cady," Mom interrupted. "Tell me exactly what happened." Mom came to stand by me with Dad at her side.
I repeated the incident for everyone. When I was finished Mom took a deep breath and looked to Dad. "Jerry, I'll start calling up some of her friends and you take your car and start driving around."
"Okay I'll call you if I find her," Dad said, pulling mom to his side to giver her a small kiss. Dad grabbed his keys off the key ring and headed out through the front door.
"What can we do?" Drake asked.
"You kids can just stay right here," Mom said, quickly leaving the room.
Drake sat up on the couch and I took the empty spot. I just sat there on the couch, not paying attention to what TV show was on.
I sat on that couch watching the minutes tick by. Those minutes turned into hours. During the first hour, Mom gave up on calling people. In the second hour Dad came home with no Briget.
I had sat on the couch for the past four hours wondering what I should have done and what I shouldn't have done. Should I still go to the bonfire?
"Guys, dinner is ready," Mom quietly called from the kitchen. Drake and I got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Drake got some spaghetti and sauce from the pots on the stove-top then walked out. I did the same and walked into the dining room to take a seat beside Drake. Just as Mom sat down at the head of the table the phone rang. Mom placed her fork onto the plate and quickly left the room. Neither Drake nor I started eating or spaghetti.
Mom came back with the phone in her hand. She held the phone out for me. "It's for you Cady."
I got out of my chair and took the phone from Mom.
"Hello?" I said, leaving the dining room for some privacy.
"Hey Cady," Seth's voice answered.
I quickly walked into the sun room and closed the door behind me. "Seth?"
"Yeah. I don't know if you know, my guess is no, but – your sister is in my backyard."
"What? She's in-!" I quickly lowered y voice. "Why is my little sister in your back yard, and how did you find her?"
"Well, I had been in the woods and I was walking to my house. Your sister jumped me, sounding really pissed. I talked her down and… apparently I'm an idiot for picking you."
"I'm so sorry Seth. This is all my fault," I said, sitting myself on the floor.
"This isn't your fault Cady."
"Yes it is. I let Briget know about our date tonight and it wasn't in the nice way that I had planned. Can you make sure she doesn't leave before my Dad or Mom gets there?"
"Sure," Seth agreed. "And Cady?"
"Yeah, Seth?"
"Make sure you tell your sister not to go into the woods again, and you shouldn't either," Seth added.
"But didn't you just say – whatever. I'll see you later then," I said, not wanting to discuss his odd request.
"Yup. See you soon."
I hung up and put the phone away. I walked into the dining room, over to my seat. "Hey Mom, Briget's at Seth's house right now. I'd go now before she leaves."
Mom looked surprised for a second then snapped out of it, quickly leaving the room.
Twenty minutes later I was in the kitchen, washing the dishes Drake and I had used for dinner. I was just starting to dry them off when I heard the front door open and somebody run up the stairs, probably Briget. I heard Mom and Dad enter the kitchen but continued to dry off the plate.
"Cady?" Dad asked.
I looked over my left shoulder to see my Dad looking troubled. "Yeah, Dad?"
"I think you should try talking with your sister," said Dad, walking over to my side.
I placed the dish in the drying rack and looked warily up at Dad. "I don't know… that doesn't seem like a good idea to me."
"Cady, you and your sister shouldn't be fighting like this… you two need to…" Dad's paused for a moment, looking for the right words to convince me.
"Clear the air between you two," mom supplied. Dad looked down at her and gave her a warm smile.
I sighed and started to slowly make my way out of the kitchen to Briget's room. "Whatever you say Mom and Dad…"
As I made my way up the stairs I tried to think of something to say to Briget that wouldn't instantly piss her off. I paused in front of Briget's bedroom door before I knocked lightly on it.
"Go away!" Briget shouted.
"Come on Bridge, let's talk things out." I said leaning my forehead against the door.
"No!"
"Let it all out Bridge. Curse me if you feel like it, I'll forgive you because your my little sister and I am so sorry I caused all this," I said, hoping Briget was able to hear how sorry I was through the door.
"No!" Briget cried again, but with less vigor as before. I pressed up closer hoping to talk her out of her anger.
"Briget… I am sorry for what happened. I wish I could change everything , I wish I could change so much about how things happened – how you figured things out. I should have told you myself, when it first started. So you wouldn't have had to punch me," I heard a watery laugh and smiled a little myself, "and so you wouldn't have to miss that concert."
I paused a moment hoping Briget would say something.
I sighed and continued. "Briget, I'm going to the bonfire with Seth tonight. But next time I'll ask if you could come along, if you would like." I heard an indistinguishable comment through the door. "I know you probably won't want to go with me and Seth being there, but hey, you never know, you just might meet one of Seth's friends and come to fancy him."
"Cady," I heard Briget say close to the door.
"Yeah?" I answered eager to hear what she had to say.
"You read way to friggin' much," Briget said.
I laughed a little, feeling good that my sister was feeling good enough to tease me instead of push me away.
I hurried to my room marking the Briget problem as accomplished for now. I only had a little over an hour to get ready for the bonfire.
After changing outfits three times I was finally happy with myself. I was wearing my Butt Jeans that showed my ass off so well I had deemed them Butt Jeans. I was wearing my red high-top converses and a matching red shirt, which was partially shown under my deep blue winter fleece. I had minimal make-up on and I had my hair in a high ponytail with my bangs brushed to the side.
I grabbed my cellphone and checked the time; 7:28. I put my cellphone into my jeans' pocket and hurried out of my room and down the stairs to the front door. I pulled it open to see Seth raising his hand to ring the doorbell.
"Hey Cady," Seth greeted, dropping his hand back down to his side. "Ready for the bonfire?"
"I sure am," I said.
