"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Wren! Happy Birthday to you!"
"EAT MORE CHICKEN!" Kayden screamed at the end of the song.
I rubbed sleep from my eyes and looked at my family standing around me. They had just finished singing happy birthday to me.
"G' Morning." I slurred.
"Good morning baby! Happy sixteenth!"
"Thanks Mom..."
"Whenever you're ready come downstairs, we have a surprise for you." Dad added.
"'Kay."
"Let's give Wren some privacy." Mom said motioning for everyone to leave my room.
I curled up into a ball under my sheets until it actually hit me. A surprise on my sixteenth birthday! Could it be?
I popped up and hurried downstairs still in my pjs. I burst into the kitchen and raised my eyebrows at my mom. She smiled knowingly.
"Settle down. Eat some pancakes." She set a plate down in front of me with a stack of about ten pancakes. A whipped cream smiley face topped them. I ate my pancakes quickly. Kayden passed me something.
"I made it for you all by myself." He announced proudly. I glanced at what he put in my lap. It was a card made from blue construction paper, the front read, Hapy Birday!, I opened it, I luv you sisy!
Have the bestest birday ever! There was a picture under the purple crayon writing of what I assumed to be me and Kayden holding hands.
"Aw, Kay that's so sweet." I hugged him tightly.
"Ready for your present?" Dad asked, in response I smiled widely. Eric came up behind me and wound a blindfold around my head. Kayden and Mom each took one of my hands and led me outside. My smile widened.
Eric took the blind fold off. "Ta Da!" Kayden yelled happily.
"Oh wow." I said laughing. There was a red Toyota convertible waiting for me in the driveway.
"We got it for a great price, its safe, and has good mileage. We hope you enjoy."
"Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!" I gave them each a huge hug. Dad placed the keys in my hands.
"I want to go for a ride!" Kayden screamed out.
"Alright then, hop in!"
"Can I sit in the front?"
"I don't see why not." I looked to my parents for permission.
My dad gave a small nod and Mom fretted, "Just drive carefully..."
"I'm always careful." I said a huge dopey smile covering my face as I hurried into the car. My car. I let down the roof and watched as Kayden put his hands up as if he was preparing to ride a roller coaster. I noticed, as I pulled out, my dad putting a reassuring arm around my mom.
"Be back in ten minutes! We have to get ready to go!" My dad called after us.
I gave him a thumbs up then left them far behind. The entire ride Kayden screamed, "FASTER, FASTER, FASTER," but as his big overly protective sister, I maintained the speed limit and might have gone just a bit below it. Despite the ride not turning out to be as "fun" as he wanted it to be, when we got back to the house he cred out, "Let's go again!"
"Can't." I answered shortly. He pouted but followed me inside. I went up to my room to get ready. I slipped on a plain grey t-shirt, a pair of black skinny jeans, combat boots, and a black jean jacket. I was ready to go and slipped back downstairs where I found Eric impatiently tapping his fingers on the coffee table in the sitting room. I stared at him for a while. He was completely oblivious of my presence until Kayden came rushing in screaming bloody murder. Eric glanced up, saw me looking at him, and asked, "What?" defensively. I didn't have to answer him because Kay continued on with his screaming and went to curl up on Eric's lap. Dad came in, a furious expression on his face. "Kayden! You have to take a bath!"
"NO!"
"Kayden!" He cried warningly.
"NO!"
"Kayden I don't have time for your games! Get in the bath!"
"Never! It's to hot! It will burn my skin off!"
"Kayden!"
"Dirt's healthy!" Kayden screamed out his new excuse.
Dad rolled his eyes, "Fine. Stay here."
"What! NO!"
"Do you want to be dirty when you meet your brother."
"Yes." Kayden said with less determination.
"Think again." Dad said nodding to Eric who swopped in, grabbing Kayden and tossing him over his shoulder. They rushed upstairs, me following close behind.
Eric dangled Kayden over the full bathtub by his feet. "Prepare to meet your doom."
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It took thirty minutes, but Kayden came out clean. We made it to the Ride's house only four minutes late. That was until I realized that I hadn't ever gotten Jared a present.
"Mom! Turn around!"
"Why?"
"Because! I didn't ever get Jared a present!"
"But we did sweetie."
"But-but- Mom PLEASE!"
"What do you think Dan?"
"Turn around Kath."
"We'll be late!" Mom argued.
"We already are." Dad pointed out.
"Fine. But you have to call to tell Max we're not going to be there for another thirty minutes."
"Alright Kath."
We got to Walmart in three minutes. I was the only one to rush in. I wasn't sure what to get him. I fumbled about the store for a while when it hit me. I raced to the food section and picked up a yellow rectangular box. I bought it, then realized I hadn't gotten wrapping paper. I bought that too then sat on the bench in between the restrooms to prepare my present. When it came to wrapping the present, I realized I forgot tape and scissors. THIS IS TAKING FOREVER, I thought impatiently.
Finally, the small package was wrapped. I ran back to the car, slipped in, and we drove back off.
When we pulled into the Ride's driveway, Kayden screeched, "I get to ring the doorbell!" Which he did before any of us could say otherwise. When no one went to the door, Kayden let himself in impatiently.
"Oh God." Mom said as watched him slip into the house. She gave me a look and I raced in after him.
"Surprise!" Everyone popped out from behind furniture. Kayden screamed, "Bloody murder!" and Mom and Dad came running in, Eric walking leisurely behind them, a large wrapped gift balanced in his arms.
"Sorry about that! He's going through a phase."
"Its fine."
"Sorry we're late." My mom added.
Max nodded, "Its fine. Really."
Then she came over to me, gave me an uncertain look then decided to go for a hand shake. I went through a long line of handshakes, the last person being Fang. He pushed my hand away and went in for a hug. I always thought a hug from Fang would be awkward, but it wasn't. It was welcoming. I mean really, he is my biological father. I appreciated it.
Then the party started. All the adults clustered into the kitchen to talk about "adult things" while us "kids" sat around the living room. Chris hugged me tight and gave me a peck on the lips with a smile and a , "Happy birthday, babe." When I turned away from him, I saw Jared eyeing us.
"Jared! A happy birthday to you!"
"Back at cha." He answered.
Just then, Kayden rushed to Jared's feet, started to tug on his pant leg, and bombard him with questions. Chris led me away by the hand to an isolated corner of the room and gave me a more passionate kiss than he had earlier. He concurred up a small box from his pocket and gingerly placed it into my hands, closing my fingers around it softly. The box was covered in black velvet and tickled the inside of my palm.
"Open it." He whispered.
I did so slowly. When I opened it, I saw a ring. It wasn't just any normal ring. It was a pair of silver wings that made up the band. Red sun stones encrusted the tips while onyx decorated the rest. The were so finely cut and delicately placed, that they looked like they were small shining feathers. It was beautiful. I mean, I'm not much of a jewlry person, but it really was beautiful.
I let Chris slide it over my finger. "How do you like it?"
"I love it."
I cupped my hand, with the ring on it, over the side of his face and led his lips to my own. After a few seconds, I pulled away and said, "I have to give Jared his present."
"Oh, yes, of course." Chris stuttered. I broke away from him and walked over to save Jared from little Kay's questions. He gave me a very grateful look.
"Awwww. NO! He has to stay here!"
"Kay! Cooperate!"
"But he's so awesome!" I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sure." I said sarcastically, teasing Jared.
"Go away squirt." Jared said. Kayden glared at him for a moment, then took to having a hurt puppy dog look, but he went away, leaving us alone on the couch.
"So here." I said placing his present beside him. He savagely opened it, obviously not giving a thought to recycling it.
"What's this?" I laughed, hard.
"It's a gag gift." I wheezed, another fit of laughing coming over me when I saw the expression on his face.
"Camomile tea. Really?"
I nodded. I couldn't squeeze another word into my continuous laughter.
He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Well I got you a real gift."
I stopped laughing suddenly, "You got me a gift?"
"Yes, I did, but I don't think I want to give it to you anymore."
"Please. Please. Please. Please?" I begged. He rolled his eyes again.
"Fine. Whatever. You're such a nuisance."
I was my turn to roll my eyes, "And you sound just like Eric."
"Well he is my brother."
Then he added, "You have to follow me to get it."
I glanced over to Chris who was talking with Eric. I felt kind of guilty that I was about to leave the room with Jared, but I wasn't doing anything wrong right? So I followed him. He lead me upstairs to his room. He dug quickly through his dresser drawers until he came to something at the bottom of it. He pulled it out. It looked like a book. He held it out to me. "Here."
I took it and realized that this book wasn't just any book. Winnie the Poo, Piglet, and Eor decorated the cover. I opened it. The first page was full of pictures of a pregnant Max, very much like she was now except younger. "That's you." Jared whispered pointing to Max's stomach. I flipped to the next page and saw an ultra sound picture that must have also been me. The next page was full of pictures of a baby Jared. As I went through it, the album just held more pictures of Jared as he grew up. His birthdays, Christmases, Easters, Halloweens, and vacations. I laughed when I saw him dressed up as Spiderman. Then it hit me. He gave this to me because this was the life I was supposed to have led. I felt guilty for the giggles I let out before. I felt guilty generally just because I hadn't been truly thoughtful when it came to my gift, but he had obviously put both time and thought into what he gave me.
I looked up into his eyes meaning to apologize, but noticed that they once again were full of emotion. I had only seen them like that once before. And like that time before, he was leaning in to me. I was about to submit to him, but...
"No! You can't do this again! I love Chris! Chris is my boyfriend!"
"You- you love him?" Jared asked faltering.
I stood uncertain for a moment then put as much force behind my words as I could muster, "Yes, yes I do."
I turned to walk out of the room and as I walked away I thought I heard, " I love you," but I put it off, I couldn't have heard that. Jared didn't love me. He was like a brother to me right? I was just going crazy. More like I have been going crazy.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of cake, more presents, and singing. When it was all over, I was more than relieved. When I was back home, I passed out quickly, but not before reading a text that read, I'm picking you up tomorrow at two, from Gwen.
A/N So so so so so so so so so so sorry that I haven't updated for such a long time! I have been really really busy though... Anyway, I tried to make up for it with a chapter that's roughly 1,000 words longer than usual. I want to get something straight though, Chris and Wren are not related! Chris is the son of Iggy and Nudge. I have had some reviews and PMs pointing out that their relationship is gross and taboo because they are related, but they aren't! Maybe Ella was mistaken as Chris's mom, but she isn't. I'm not an Ella/Iggy fan. If there is anymore confusion about that I guess just P.M. me and I'll try to explain it a little better. Anyway, yesterday, I went to Dragon Con with my family. It was awesome! I got to take a picture with the cast of Being Human (the American version) and I got Tom Felton's autograph. I was pretty happy. I froze a bit when I met Tom Felton though... sometimes I hate my shyness. Oh well, it was still really awesome!