A loud bang startles Willow awake and she stumbles out of bed, into the hall, alarmed. There's no more noise so she stands at the top of the stairs, poised to go back to bed.
"Oh good, you're up. Your mom is making breakfast." Jordan says, appearing at the bottom.
"Why are you here?" Willow asks her blankly.
"Hullo Willow." Bowen says, sticking his head around the corner.
"I see you two made up." Willow says, sighing and rubbing her face vigorously. "What was that noise?"
"Ah, there might be sum, ah, wee problems." Bowen says sheepishly, scratching his head.
"Spit it out Bo." Willow orders, folding her arms and leaning against the railing, feeling like this will be a very long day.
"Ya know how Ken and Pipes 'ave a wee little bit of a mess in da garage? We tried ta move da grill." He admits and Willow holds up a hand. Parts of bikes, old shop projects, and more cover every inch of the garage Willow and her mother don't use to park their cars in.
"Say no more." She says tiredly. "Just don't upset my mom."
"Breakfast in 10 then." Bowen says brightly, darting back outside.
"Need any help?" Jordan asks and Willow flinches, rubbing her temples.
"Get me a large class of water and a lot of drugs please." She requests.
"Water and some Advil, on it." Jordan says and Willow sighs, heaving herself up to change. She comes downstairs to a noisy breakfast- her brothers and Bowen are arguing over who broke what in the garage.
"Is my car in one piece?" Willow inquires.
"Yes." Ken says.
"Then I don't give a flying fuck about it. Shut up." She scoops eggs onto her plate as Jordan snickers.
"Do you have your outfit picked out for today?" Lyla asks and Willow nods. "Does anything need ironing?"
"No, I've had the dress hanging in my closet so it should be ok." Willow says and Lyla smiles.
"Which dress?" Jordan asks curiously.
"You haven't seen it. It's new." Willow says and Ken and Piper exchange looks. "And don't you two even think about going and inspecting it, you'll ruin it and then I'll rip your heads off and stick them on spikes outside TM for everyone to see." She threatens. They stare at her, wide eyed.
"I should not have let Happy babysit you as a child." Lyla says with a sigh, pouring more milk.
"Are you running errands with me or him?" Willow asks Jordan as they clean up breakfast. Jordan glances at Bowen then shrugs.
"I'll come with you." She says nonchalantly.
"Good cause I need an explanation." Willow says, dragging her out the door.
"Hair at 4!" Lyla yells.
"I know!" Willow yells back. She backs out of the driveway then fixes Jordan with a stare.
"What?" Jordan protests.
"Explain yourself woman. Why were you with Bowen at my house?" Willow questions.
"He called me last night." Jordan divulges and Willow wonders how hard it must have been not to tell her and Camila instantly. "He said he was coming to get me and he pulled up on a bike. He took me out to that state park and told me that he's never missed a girl like he's missed me and how I'm the first girl he's gone after and that he doesn't know what he's doing in a serious relationship so I have to understand that—" Jordan rambles.
"Can we fast forward to the part that I'm actually asking about?" Willow asks her, parking at the nail place and getting out.
"Why are you being such a little shit today?" Jordan observes and Willow gestures wildly.
"Because a billion of my crazy uncles are riding into town today to congratulate me on graduating and then will drink themselves into oblivion and try to blow everything up. I'm a bit touchy."
"Fine, I'll do the short version." Jordan relents and despite that promise, it still takes all of Willow's manicure for her to tell how Bowen decided that he wants a relationship and for Jordan to agree.
"Did he specify what a relationship meant?" Willow asks, intrigued, admiring her nails.
"No but I'm sure we'll put a label on it." Jordan says confidently. Willow raises an eyebrow.
"You're so naïve it's painful." She mutters, headed to the next stop.
"Am not!"
"Good lord I never thought I would be so excited to see this place in my entire life." Willow groans, pulling into Red Woody. "Will you drive all this to the club? I'm sure my mom will drive me." She asks Jordan, who nods.
"Willow!" One of the girls shrieks the second she walks in. She's swarmed in an instant and finds herself in a chair, getting her hair curled and eye shadow dusted on. The girls chatter around her and Willow halfhearted listens, her mind on her party tonight.
She drifts off into a daydream about her party and how different it would be if Abel were there. She knows there's no way he would ever be there, but that doesn't mean the idea doesn't float through her mind. He would be in a full patch, over a tee shirt so he doesn't die in the California heat. Dark jeans, like the one she'd always seen him in. She wonders if he has tattoos. He has to, they always do. She's never seen him without a shirt on, but she assumes he would.
He would stand with the guys on the club, a beer in one hand, laughing. He would glance at her periodically as she hugs everyone, thanking them for coming. He would wink and walk over, teasing her that it looks like she's getting tired, but would go get her something to eat and drink since he knows she can't move.
"Whatcha thinking about Willow?" One girl asks, standing back and appraising her work.
"That I'm going to kill Ellie." Willow says honestly, hopping out of the chair and shaking her curls out. "Am I good to go?" Someone holds up a mirror and Willow admires herself, impressed at the restraint with the make up.
"Your dress is hanging in the office, your mom is walking in." One woman says and Willow nods, locking herself in. She's got a missed call from Ellie so she responds as she unbuttons her shirt.
"Wills." Ellie barks.
"What'd they fuck up?" She demands, shimmying into her dress.
"Nothing yet, but you should hurry up. People are showing up." She informs her and Willow nearly falls over. She checks the clock. 4:45.
"My party doesn't start till 5:30!" She protests.
"Tell that to some Sons." Ellie scoffs, hanging up. Willow swears loudly, grabbing her heels and running out.
"Mom! We gotta go!" She yells.
"Why?" Lyla asks, looking up from her computer screen in alarm.
"Apparently people are already there." She says and Lyla swears, giving orders as she shoos Willow to the car. They speed to the club, Willow strapping herself into heels, trying not to ruin her hair or makeup.
"Hey." Her mother said suddenly, parking. Willow pauses, already halfway out the door. "You look beautiful Willow Jocelyn. And if your father were here, he'd say the same. We love you, so much." Her mouth twitches up into a sad smile. "There's not a day in my life where you haven't made me proud."
"I love you too mom." Willow says honestly, leaning over and giving her a gentle hug. "I'm sorry I'm such a terror some days."
"Never, Willy-Bear." Lyla promises and they get out, walking into the clubhouse arm in arm. Ellie whistles when she sees Willow and both Ken and Piper burst into protest.
"You can't make me change, get over it." Willow says flatly.
"I think it's adorable." Ellie says, eyeing it. "Besides, a black button down shift dress is harmless."
"She looks like she's wearing a guy's shirt." Ken grumbles.
"That's the point." Willow says, kissing his cheek and going to greet the people arriving.
"I don't like her point." Piper says with a frown.
"I don't believe she cares." Ellie says, amused, going to kiss Gavin as he walks in.
AN: I love that you guys love Willow. She's a little bit of the best of the people I love and I love that you guys love her as much as I do. Please keep leaving me your thoughts on this story, it really does make my day to see that people are reading this and loving it. And if you've never reviewed, this chapter would be an excellent place to start, hint hint...