So, after the last arc that was a lot of school and making friends fun, now we get to move on to the fun of celebrating Bayley's birthday (hence, why I'm calling this the Bayley's Birthday arc)! =D Just what will this arc entail? Well, you'll just have to read on with this first chapter of this new arc. Enjoy, my loves! =)
"Uh, Dean? Is Seth okay?" Bayley asked, confusion quite apparent on her face as she looked at the two-toned Gem.
Looking over from where he was rummaging through the cabinets for a snack, Dean saw that Seth was slumped down in the recliner in the living room, a quite...depressed look on his face. Dean couldn't help the snicker that escaped as he then said "Seth, suck it up, bro! We all knew this day was coming sooner or later! No need to be so bummed out!"
"Shut up, Dean! Just leave me alone with my sadness!" Seth shouted around a moan as he sunk further down into the plush covering of the recliner.
"Sadness? Why's Seth sad, Dean?" Bayley asked, immediately beginning to feel worried about one of her caregivers.
"I think it's because of what day's coming up in three days," Dean said, going back to his search for a snack. Looking over to see that Bayley still seemed fairly confused, Dean let out another snicker before saying "It's your birthday, Bayley. Thought you would've known that."
"Well, I knew it was my birthday coming soon," Bayley said, sticking her tongue out a bit at Dean. "I just don't know why it seems like Seth's so upset about it." Although as she made mention of her own birthday after Dean, Bayley could just hear Seth moan a bit in what sounded like pain.
Finally having managed to find a snack in a bag of potato chips, Dean opened the bag and said "I think I know why."
"Really?" Bayley asked. Seeing Dean nod his head, Bayley asked "Well...why's he so sad?"
"I think it's because he doesn't want to face the reality of you growing up quite yet," Dean said as he took a chip out of the bag and ate it. "I mean, you growing up is something that we've all been happy to be a part of, but...I think it's a bit hard on Seth because you've always been like his little girl. And, now that you're going to be entering real teenagerdom in three days, it's making him feel a bit bummed out."
"What? Me turning 13 is making Seth feel upset?" Bayley asked, beginning to feel a bit upset...and oddly guilty.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't worry too much about it," Dean said, in between bites of the chips he was eating. "He'll get over it once we can all start making plans for your birthday. There anything in particular you want to do this year? You can invite Sami and the rest of your friends to whatever it is that you want to do."
But, Bayley hardly seemed to hear anything Dean just said. She was still feeling a bit hung up on the fact that it was because of her getting older that Seth, one of the people that she considered family, was feeling so upset. If she could, she would turn back time at least a year or two-or, maybe even three-if it meant that Seth and the others could spend more time with her as a kid before she got older. Feeling her eyes start to sting a bit with a few tears, Bayley ran over to Seth and, throwing her arms around the still-seated two-toned Gem and hugged him as tight as she could, hoping that her hug would help Seth feel a bit better; and she felt that it was working since Seth hugged her back.
Seeing Bayley hug Seth, Dean didn't really make much of it at first because he knew that this was all Bayley's way of trying to help Seth feel not so upset about her turning 13 soon. If the sandy blonde Gem could be completely honest with himself, the prospect of Bayley getting older actually bummed him out quite a bit, too. But, he knew that this was all something completely normal that happened with humans; they aged and got older until eventually... Shaking this thought from his head, Dean said "Um, Bayley? I think your Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Naomi are gonna be here soon" in a bid to lighten up the mood in the house.
Pulling away from Seth, Bayley excitedly asked "Aunt Naomi and Uncle Jimmy are coming?!"
Laughing a bit at Bayley's enthusiasm, Dean said "Well, it is your birthday, kiddo. Of course they're going to come. They love seeing their girl, especially on her big day every year."
Starting to bounce in place a bit, Bayley said "Oh my gosh, I can't wait! I wonder what kind of surprise they have for me this year. Ooh! Maybe Aunt Naomi'll take me out for another girl's day this year. Or, or maybe Uncle Jimmy..."
As Bayley went about rattling off possibilities of just what she was going to do with her aunt and uncle this year for her birthday, Dean walked over to Seth and said "Now, you're sure Roman said we're going to tell Bayley this year."
"That's what he told me," Seth said, finally managing to come out of his depressive slump a bit. "After all, chances are that Bayley'll find out at some point in the future, so...what better time than the present?"
"Good point there," Dean said, giving a slight nod in agreement. "I just wonder when he's planning on letting us tell her. I mean, I know he'll want to let Bayley spend some time with Naomi and Jimmy first, but...when's he gonna let us tell her?"
"Whenever him and those two want to, I guess. But, I guess we'll just have to focus on crossing that bridge when we cross it," Seth said, looking back over to where Bayley was still excitedly rattling off possibilities for what she could do for her thirteenth birthday.
A Bit Later That Day
"Thanks for inviting me and the others to your birthday party," Becky said as she looked around at the different kinds of candy that were on the shelves in the store where Josh and Emma worked.
"You're welcome. And, it's not problem," Bayley said, smiling as she grabbed two chocolate bars. "My uncles and my dad said I could invite you all, so, if anything, you all should thank them."
"We'll be making sure to do that, love," Becky said, smiling herself as she finally decided on a bag of Sour Patch Kids. Walking up to the checkout counter with Bayley, Becky asked "So, what do you normally do at your birthday parties?"
"Nothing much, really. Usually my uncles get me a cake and a few presents, and that's about it," Bayley said, thinking back on her past birthdays. "The only real bummer is that my dad's never really at home."
"Why isn't your dad ever at home for your birthday?" Becky asked, stopping in place.
"Well, it's usually because he has to work, but...it's no big deal. I've gotten used to it, so I don't really pay much mind to it anymore," Bayley said, shrugging a bit. "Besides, my Aunt Naomi and my Uncle Jimmy come to visit every year, and they usually make up for my dad not being at home."
"Well, that's good," Becky said. "Maybe this year, you can introduce me and the others to your aunt and uncle."
"I'll make sure to do that! I think they'll both like meeting you and the others, too," Bayley said, smiling.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you turning this year?" Becky asked.
"13," Bayley said, her smile still in place.
"13? Wow. Guess that makes you the oldest in the group," Becky said around a whistle of surprise.
"Really? I'm the oldest in our group of friends?" Bayley asked, stopping in surprise.
"Well, yeah," Becky said, laughing a bit. "But...don't feel too old, love. Before you started going to school with us, Finn was the oldest, so I guess that'll be a load off his shoulders to not be the oldest anymore."
"Yeah, I...I guess not," Bayley said around a bit of an uneasy laugh. Paying for her chocolate bars after Becky paid for her candy, Bayley and the goggle-headed preteen talked a bit longer before they had to part ways and head back to their homes for the evening. All while Bayley ate dinner, showered, changed into her pajamas, and watched TV up until she went to sleep, she couldn't help but let all of the talk of her getting older bounced around in her head. In Becky's case, she knew the "getting older" talk was all in good fun, but...to see just how her turning 13 really seemed to affect Dean and Seth-and possibly Roman, too-it made her feel a bit bad; mostly because she didn't like seeing the men that had been raising her all her life seem so upset about something like this. 'If only I could do something to make Seth, Dean, and Ro not seem so sad about me getting older. Then, maybe I could see them all happy,' Bayley thought to herself as she closed her eyes, totally unaware of the pink light that seemed to begin in her belly button, and completely spread out to envelop her.
The Next Morning
Walking out of his room as he yawned and stretched his arms out, Dean rolled his neck around as he thought 'Better go wake Bayley up for the day. Wouldn't want her to sleep in too late.' Walking into the living room area of the house, Dean walked over to the short flight of stairs that led to Bayley's "room" and proceeded to wake the ponytailed brunette up. "Baaaaayleeeeey. I know it's a Saturday and all and you normally sleep in on days like this, but you gotta get up. Auntie Naomi and Uncle Jimmy'll be here soon to see you," Dean said, gently nudging the lump in the bed that was hiding under the bedsheets that were covered in cartoon hamsters.
"OK, Dean. I'm up, I'm up," Bayley said. ...Although, to Dean, something in Bayley's voice didn't quite sound right to him. It wasn't until Bayley pushed back her bedsheets that Dean saw just why Bayley didn't sound quite like herself.
His jaw almost dropping at the sight before him, Dean asked "Um, Bayley? Wha... What did you do to yourself?"
Yes, Bayley. What did you do to yourself that's got Dean so, should I say, freaked out? I, as the author, know what it is, but you all, my dear readers, will have to wait for my next update. Until then, don't forget to R&R please with possible guesses. =) (Also to come in the next chapter is the arrival of Bayley's Aunt Naomi and Uncle Jimmy, so I hope you guys all like their intros into this, and what they'll bring to the story. =) )
