Chapter Nine: Happy Birthday, Ang
Maxs Pov
"Okay crew, we have an hour before the guests start arriving and an hour and a half until the Birthday girl does!" Nudge announces, standing on a chair so everyone will take her seriously.
Fang's beach house is almost ready for the party -all of the decorations are hung or set into place. We're just waiting for Caden to finish filling chips bowls and Ella to set out the drinks.
Fang and some guys from the football team move furniture and some other heavy things around, making it impossible to sit anywhere normal, so I'm currently taking refuge on the steps.
Gazzy's out with Angel currently, distracting her until the party starts. Iggy and I, being the two clumsiest and most un-trusted people here, were given specific orders from Nudge to "not touch anything" and "Find something to do".
So that's how we ended up sitting across a few steps from each other on the large marble staircase, trying to see who can catch the most skittles in their mouth.
"Shit!" Iggy screams, as he misses another skittle.
"Isac, pick that skittle up now or I will shove it down your throat myself." Nudge demands.
Iggy and I make eye contact with each other and instantly burst out laughing at Nudges orders but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit scared. Mostly because I can't tell if she's kidding or if she's serious about shoving that skittle down his throat.
From what I know about Iggy so far, he'd probably like it though.
He takes the last few skittles from the bag, tosses them up in the air and catches them all in his mouth one-by-one.
"Eleven, twelve, thirst ten. I win."
I roll my eyes. "Cheater," I exclaim, getting up and heading for the kitchen.
As far as anyone knows, I won.
When I walk in, Ella is sitting on the counter eating whatever's in reach while Caden fills the remaining chip bowls, while also trying to keep her out of everything.
I don't blame her though, Nudge has had us working for hours and wont allow us to eat anything, so we have to sneak food.
I'm just lucky Iggy happened to have skittles with him.
I don't know why she is freaking out so much over this party. I know it's for Angel and we all love her but the house looks amazing. We painted the gate surrounding the house with white and gold temporary paint so that it looks like the gates of heaven or what it's shown as in pictures and movies. Once you enter the house, every inch of the floor is covered in huge cotton balls, to make it look like clouds and we have a few smoke machines to give it that misty look. The boys will be standing at the door in their white suites and golden tridents, pretending to be guardian Angels as Angel and the guests arrives (and also checking for invites). The white, diamond jewels hanging from the pillars and on tables don't have anything to do with heaven really but they look pretty.
"It looks really good in here," I compliment.
"Yeah it does," Caden agrees. "Thanks to you though. Ella told me you came up with the idea."
I shrug. "I did but if I was on decorating committee, I probably would've bought some crappy halo's and a white cake and called it heaven. I would never have thought of all of this. This was all Nudge."
"I thought heaven was suppose to be some magical place where you're never hungry or tired" Ella comments. "Well I'm both right now."
Caden stands between Ella's dangling legs and pops a few grapes into her mouth before allowing her to rest her head on his chest. "Better now?" He jokes but she still nods happily.
"You guys are soo cute," I glare. "I fucking hate it."
I hear them both laughing as I exit the kitchen, in search of a non lovey dovey environment. I enter the dining room and find Fang, Riley and some other guys moving the large table out of the way. They pick it up and sit it back in the corner to make more space for the guest. I try to quickly leave without being noticed but Riley sees me and begins approaching.
"Hey," he smiles. "long time no see."
"Yeah, sorry about that." I look away, not even attempting to think of an excuse to why.
"Its cool... Are you hungry?"
"I'm starving," I say a little too eagerly but my stomach is eating itself at this point.
"There's a Donut place right down the street. I was thinking of going to grab a couple dozen for everyone, since no one's eaten in hours. You can come, if you want. I'm gonna need help carrying boxes."
I hesitate at first, the last time I was in a car with Riley it got pretty awkward. But I guess I can't avoid him forever and if I say no now, he'll just ask me to go somewhere with him tomorrow.
"Yeah sure."
I set off to find Nudge and tell her that Riley and I are leaving to get food but I don't think she heard me over her own thoughts. Oh well, I tried.
"Food?" Iggy exclaims in excitement. Apparently he heard me though.
"Yeah. Riley and I are going to get donuts. You can come if you want," I offer.
please come, I beg with my eyes. I don't know Iggy that well but him and I have gotten along really well the last few times we've been around each other and he's funny and lightens up any mood.
"I'm in," he instantly stands and runs out the front door.
Riley doesn't seem very happy about Iggy coming but he's one of his close friends so he doesn't say anything about it. For once, I thank God for putting Iggy on this planet.
He hops into the passenger's seat, next to Riley, while I ride in the back. Whether I wanna admit it to myself or not, I actually kinda like Iggy. He's completely perverted and disgusting and maybe a little off his rocker but makes for good company.
"So what are you girls wearing to fit the angel theme?" Iggy questions.
I sigh. "Nudge bought White Corset tops and Tutus."
He looks back at me with a weird glint in his eye. "Tights?"
I shake my head. "Why?"
"Are you kidding me?" he grins widely. "Short skirts and no tights. It's gonna be Panty Paradise."
"Iggy you're disgusting!" I slap his arm.
I should have expected that response coming from him.
"Don't worry, Martinez. I'm not going to be looking at your granny panties," Iggy continues. "Besides, Friends don't check out other friends. Remember that next time you can't keep your eyes off of this rocking body."
I can't help but laugh. He's so full of himself. "It'll be a struggle but I'll try."
"Right, because there's not a perfectly good body right here that's been trying to get your attention for weeks," Riley remarks flatly.
Iggy and I both pretend we didn't hear him and instead focus on the radio, which we both sing along to. Pretty terribly I might add. It's jot long until we pull into the drive through of The Donut shop. Riley orders a few dozen donuts, One in raspberry, one in chocolate, one sprinkled and the rest just plain glazed. The total comes to around fifty dollars.
"I'll pay half," I offer.
"No it's fine. Everyone pitched in a few dollars so that covers most of it."
"Okay, Well let me pitch in like five, too."
We both know I'm going to be eating at least half a dozen, so it's only fair for me to pitch in too. Plus I don't like other people paying for my stuff because then I feel like I owe them something and I like being for the most part independent.
"No. I'm paying for you."
"Riley-"
"Max, I got it!" He yells.
I groan and sit back into my seat. He may feel like he's being nice and other people probably see it that way too, but to me it's just annoying. And of course when we get back to the house, Riley doesn't let me carry anything inside because they're "too heavy" even though that was his whole excuse for asking me to come.
Like come on, they're fucking donuts, it doesn't take a bodybuilder to carry them. He's just set on the stereotype that because he's male and I'm female, that I must be weak and need protecting and looking out for.
Which I don't.
I do a pretty good job holding my own.
Iggy, being his lazy self, was going to let me carry his portion of them when I asked to help, which I liked, but Riley made a big deal about it so he just carried them himself.
"Donuts are here!" Iggy calls as we enter the house.
We're instantly swarmed by tens of people, all trying to get first dibs on what donut flavor they want. I assumed this would happen though, so I ate mine before we got here, so did Iggy and Riley.
"Where have you been," Nudge exclaims, pulling me past the crowd and to the stairs. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"I told you we were going to get food. You must not of heard me."
"Sorry," She apologizes. "Well the point is you're here now. The guest are going to be here in thirty minutes, we need to start getting ready."
Nudge leads me up the stairs and to a room at the end of the hall, where Ella's currently getting ready. I quickly strip my sweatpants and T-shirt and put on the tutu and corset Nudge hands me. I finger brush my wavy hair in the mirror, while Ella ties the back of my corset, restraining my breathing.
Nudge tries to convince me to let her straighten my hair and it takes me two whole minutes to convince her that we don't have time. She instead settles for putting some glitter into my hair and on my cheek bones while I slip on the angel wings and some white socks.
Ten minutes until guest arrive.
I hesitate going back downstairs. I don't feel comfortable at all in this exposing outfit and I dont know if not knowing majority of the guests here on a person level makes it better or worse. But Ella talks me into to walking down, hand-in-hand with her.
Together.
Unfortunately, like I expected, people do stare at us though as we come down the steps. It's nerve racking and makes want to change into my sweats again. Thankfully though, Nudge comes strutting down the steps in here outfit and white heels, and passes us, turning the majority of the attention to her. We take the opportunity of everyone checking out And Ella and I slip away into the kitchen, where no one is.
"Is it just me or do you feel like a complete joke in this costume, too?" Ella looks down at herself, frowning.
"I feel like a cross between a six year old and a hooker. Not sure which more, but I'll let you know when I figure it out." I assure her.
Caden comes walking into the kitchen, clearing looking for Ella. He smiles when he spots her but it quickly drops when he sees Ella's outfit. "So these are the outfits everyone was whispering about?"
"I know, I know, I look stupid," she sighs.
"No, not at all. You actually look very sexy…" he assures her. "That's the thing, I don't want anyone else trying to hit on you."
Ella smiles at his obvious jealousy, which I can tell she finds cute. She kisses him on the cheek then wraps her thin arms around his large torso. "Trust me, they won't. And besides, I'm your girlfriend so it doesn't matter even if someone did."
I feel arms wrap around my waist and I recognize the familiar tan skin and scent of musky body wash as Riley. I turn around, simultaneously breaking out of his grasp as I do.
"Be honest, on a scale of one to ten how stupid do I look right now?"
He laughs and glances down at my outfit, or lack of. "You don't look stupid. You look really good actually... too good."
"Um, Thanks?"
Was that suppose to be a compliment or…
"I'm sorry about earlier," Riley starts. "I'm use to meeting girls who expect me to do and pay for everything of theirs but I can tell already that you're not one of those. If anything you're the opposite."
"I am," I smile proudly.
"But I never knew that because I don't know anything about you. Like what your favorite color is, when's your birthday, how many siblings do you have, life long goals, where you're from?"
Blue.
August 2and.
No siblings, though I had schizophrenia as a child and actually thought I had a twin, and an older brother; even made up names and birthdays and everything for them.
I don't have any life long goals besides just to be happy.
Consider myself from Arizona, though I wasn't born there, it's the first place that ever felt like home -with my mom and Sam and his mom. It's where I choose to say my life started.
But instead of saying all of that, I smile politely and say, "We'll get around to those eventually."
He smiles too. "I can't wait."
Angels party went smoothly. She was completely surprised when she walked in, not suspecting a single thing. The girl got more presents than items most stores have -some very very expensive, making the album of eleven years of memories, a spa day kit and all her favorite movies that I got her seem like nothing but it was from the heart, which is more than ninety percent of these people here can say.
They probably don't even know her middle name or that today is the day of her actual birthday.
After presents were opened and cake and icecream was served, everyone kinda of split up. Most going out back to play Volleyball, get in the hot tub or head to the beach which is practically in his back yard, right outside the gate.
I hung back in the house though to help Nudge start picking up. It's already going on eight and the house is a mess.
After finishing up the kitchen, I head over to the table, to start clearling plates off. Just as I enter the room, Angel comes through the back door, hair damp from swimming.
"Heyy."
"Hi birthday girl. Are you having fun?" I ask.
"Most fun I've ever had, thank you guys so much for all of this."
She pulls me into a hug and we stay like that, in each other's embraces for a couple minutes. Her and I haven't talked nearly as much as we use to since we got back to school. I know we've both been busy, with classes and sports but it doesn't mean it makes missing her any less.
"By the way," she says, pulling out of our hug. "I know this is not you at all but you are killing that outfit."
I laugh a little and shake my head. "I feel like an actual idiot."
"You shouldn't! You've always had an amazing figure and it kills me that you hide it all the time."
I just don't feel comfortable in revealing clothing. I'll always be the person to choose sweatpants over a dress, in my right state of mind. Just how I am and always have been.
"But I know you hate it, so if you want to change I have my cheer bag upstairs, in the bedroom at the end. It has some leggings and tank tops in it if you want."
"I do want, thank you."
She heads into the kitchen to chat with Nudge, while I run upstairs and change into some black leggings and a marbly looking tank top. When I come back down the steps, Nudge and Angel are sitting at the table talking.
"Better?"
"Much," I smile.
"Max you should go and have fun. Just because it's my party doesn't mean you should be stuck cleaning all night."
"Shes right," Nudge agrees.
I motion around to the trashed house. "But the place-"
"Is fine," she cuts me off. "When you were upstairs Fang came in and said don't worry about it. They apparently have a maid that comes and cleans every Monday so we don't have to."
We've been cleaning for two hours for nothing?
"So go, have fun," Angel insists. "Birthday girls orders."
I roll my eyes, hugging Angel and wishing her happy birthday once more before heading out back. A bunch of random people, who I've never seen before, stare at me from the hot tub when I walk out, but I ignore them and containing walking out the open gate.
Not far from the place, I see Caden, Ella, Gazzy, Fang and Iggy all playing volleyball. It's not hard to tell who's winning even from here but in Caden and Ella's defense it's two of them vs the three guys.
"Max!" Ella yells and waves me over. "Come over here."
"What?" I ask, as I approach them.
They're all sweaty and breathing really hard, especially the out numbered Ella and Caden.
"Please play with us," Caden begs.
"Yea we're getting our asses handed to us," Ella groans.
I pretend to think about it for a minute, just so the look of absolute desperation on their faces linger on a little longer. "Fine," I finally say. "I'll play."
"Yess," she cheers and embraces me in a big hug. "You're going down now boys."
"One rule, though, after we win, no crying or sore losers. Okay?" I say across the net.
"I think we should be the ones saying that to you, Princess," Fang smirks. "I don't care if she is the the best girl on the Volleyball team. With or without blondie, you guys are gonna loose."
I grab the ball from the sand and take it back with me to the serving line, twisting it around in my hands a few times, getting a feel for it.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
I toss the ball up into the air, bringing my right arm up to meet it and smack it as hard as I can across the net.
Game on.
