Sakura's Journey Chapter 28 Happy Birthday

I'd have to say the biggest difference between a human's birthday and a slender's birthday is that I don't think humans wake-up in the morning because of a bunch of faceless relatives suddently appearing in the middle of your room. "Happy fourteenth birthday!" I groaned, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. A quick glance at the clock on my table told me that it was currently 9 in the morning on a weekend. I DO NOT like being awake this early on weekends. That's when I registered what they had said and slowly smiled. It wasn't just any day, it was my birthday. And it wasn't just any birthday, it was a birthday on Halloween!

When I went down stairs, I was shocked to notice that, on top of the usual people being my grandparents, Leo, Sandra, Angie, Johnny and Daemon, my grandparents from my mom's side of the family were there. They were obviously nervous from being here. I didn't really understand why they were here anyway. They never were. I saw my two grandpas interract. They seemed to get along pretty well and were soon smiling and talking casually. It might help that grandpa Charles had returned to human form though. Grandma Martha and grandma Nancy were still eyeing each other suspiciously. Martha had chosen to remain a slender, and she was obvously trying to assert some kind of dominance. "So, you're Sarah's mother." The faceless woman spoke surely. Nancy nodded, still not speaking and still giving the slender a look of distrust. I picked up my old version of Super Mario Bros Wii U and started to play it with Daemon. We were soon joined by my dad, and then later, incredibly, by my grandpa from my mom's side. We were a pretty good team. I can see where my mom got her gaming from.

I noticed my mom go to the door to greet Dill and Fred, who brough Juan along. It was the first time I'd seen him since I got back home. He seemed to be doing well. Jessie dropped by later too. She set down a colorfully wrapped box and was about to leave right away, until she bumped into Laurianne's dad at the front door. I wasn't sure how the French slenders had found where we lived, but I was happy to see little Laurianne again. Jessie seemed mesmorized by the tall blonde man's shining blue eyes. She stayed a bit longer, and I sent her a devious smirk. She snarled at me, but I knew not to feel threatened. I was really surprised at how well my dad got along with his father in law, and mom was too. It was like they were old friends already. The day moved by fast and all these things happened. Games, talking, running...I eventually spoke to Daemon about how I played the eight pages against my uncle and won. The proximity between the two of us made some people mutter things about us making a cute couple. I blushed, but we were together. I guess it was true then. I was then reminded of something as I got the cake. "Hey Daemon, I'm two years older than you now!" He pouted and crossed his arms. "Aw come on, not for long!" I playfully punched his shoulder and he pushed me too. Squible got his own special slice of cake, which was pretty much just peanut butter bread.

After everything, it was time for presents. I got a few necklaces from my grandma Martha. Jessie had given me a neat little black dress with a pink floral pattern. I didn't typically wear dresses, but this one was decent. I got video games from my uncle and aunt of course, a drawing kit from my grandparents on my mom's side and I almost cried when I saw the gift Daemon had made me...It was a poem.

For a girl of pure perfection,
Someone who is special to me,
And the source of my affection.
You've helped me through the bad,
And through the good, too.
You deserve a lot more,
Than what I could give to you.
Thank you for our friendship,
For your love, as well.
It's a precious gift for me,
From a girl who is très belle.
I hope you have a great birthday,
Have happiness wherever you go.
I love you so much, Sakura,
More than you would ever know.

I hugged him and went as far as kissing him, right on the lips, right in front of everyone. I left him stunned, to bring a hand up to his lips. I picked up on all their emotions and feelings, everyone around us. It made me blush and lightly push my more-than-best-friend away. There was only one gift left: one from my dad. I picked up the pale orange box and opened it, seeing a pale grey-pink knitted thing. I gasped when I pulled it out to see it was a scarf. Near one of the ends of it, there were perfectly knitted grey flowers. I looked at it, speechless, then gently wrapped it around my neck. I ran up to my dad and hugged him. He ran a hand through my hair as he whispered. "You're my daddy's little girl, right?" I giggled slightly. "Yes."

Soon after, Laurianne and her dad announced they were leaving. I bent down to the little girl's level and hugged her slightly. "Merci, et bonne chance avec tout!" (Thank you, and good luck with everything!) She smiled up to me with the shining eyes she obviously got from her dad. I'm not sure what had happened to her mom...I didn't really want to ask."Merci, et bonne fête." (Thank you, and happy birthday.) I then stepped back and watched as she changed to her other form. She now stood at pretty much the same height I did, maybe even an inch taller. I smiled and she fadded away with her dad...and Jessie. I hadn't seen Jessie much in my life, but I knew she was a very sad and lonely person. I smiled, hoping she might be a little less lonely now.

I turned to notice that my grandparents on my mom's side were watching me, their eyes going over to the spot that was once occupied by the slenders. My grandpa spoke in a soft, nearly whispered voice. "You can be like that too? All tall and faceless..." I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a bit of comfort sent to me by my dad. I looked back to my mom who sat on the couch. She smiled at me and nodded briefly. I looked back to my grandparents, staring at them for maybe 10 seconds, or maybe a whole minute. Then, I shut my eyes. When I could see them once more, they were both stunned and slightly pale. Then, slowly, they smiled. I didn't sense any big pride from them, and they even had a bit of fear. But I did sense acceptance...and that made me happy. They both hugged me, before they turned to leave. I brought my hands up to my brand new scarf. I have a whole family that loves me, even with my differences.

And as if this day wasn't great enough, it was Halloween night! Good thing I planned it before getting lost in the woods for two weeks. I looked at myself in the mirror, with my white feathered wings and all. I was going as an angel this year. It was funny because Daemon was a demon. It went well with his name. Sure we were pretty old for this, but it didn't matter. We were used to not caring if we got judged. So we got back home, late at night, with loads of candy and both fell asleep on the couch while my mom said she was going to warm up some left over cake. Best birthday ever!