Chapter 5

Encounter by Showers

When Toni got up the next morning she was running late. She quickly took a shower and got dressed. On the way downstairs she tripped and landed on her face. Shane was already dressed and ready to go.

ÒHey, Birthday girl.Ó said Mr. West grinning, ÒYour mother left you a message.Ó He told Toni pointing to a piece of paper on the table. Toni just glanced at, to excited to read.

Shane came in the dinning room ÒReady to go?Ó Toni just smiled. She looked Shane over: He had dirty blonde hair and had deep green eyes. He had a little goatee and his hair was messy like he didnÕt bother to fix when he woke up this morning. He was wearing baggy jeans with a light blue T-shirt and a light blue hat that represented the Yankees. Like Justin, Shane also had a lip ring.

ÒCÕmon letÕs go or weÕre going to be late.Ó Toni said. She hugged her father then motioned for her older brother to follow her.

At school Vanessa greeted her with a big hug. Ò Sooo, Happy Birthday, Your sweet sixteen.Ó Vanessa handed her a wrapped box, inside was a pair of gloves.

Ò Thanks,Ó Toni said confused. She tried them on and it was a perfect fit.

Toni glanced at Vanessa questionably, but Vanessa just smiled. She walked up to first period with her.

They walked through, the automatic doors opening as they stepped through. Walking up the escalator, she spotted Shane, Mark, Orlando, and Alex talking with one another. She wondered what they were talking about. Before she got off the escalator, she saw Alex jump into the air then accidentally fall on Mark while landing on her feet. SheÕd ask Alex later what that was all about.

She and Vanessa got off the escalators, and looked around in the library. Vanessa spotted some new additions and headed towards them. Toni stopped her and dragged her out the library doors. They looked out into the hall when they were drifted into the sea of students.

They some how managed to get to their first class, Language 1. Justin, AlexÕs best friend, spotted her before the bell rang.

ÒHey, Toni! Happy 16!Ó He shouted and then tossed something to her over dozens of students. Toni caught it before it landed on the floor.

It was a basketball.

ÒThanks Justin!Ó She shouted back. He waved to her signaling that he heard her.

Her and Vanessa walked into Language 1 and sat down in random seats. She saw Alex walk in a minute later and waved to her.

Alex came over and sat down.

ÒHAPPY B-DAY!!Ó Alex yelled. She threw over a wrapped rectangular, small, box. Inside was a necklace; it was a chain with a bike on the end of it. Toni once again looked confused.

ÒThanks, AlexÓ Toni whispered back. Just then the Intercom came on, it was Shane.

Ò HEY EVERYBODY! I JUST WANNA SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LILÕ SIS!!!.Ó Then another voice came on,

ÒSHANE WEST!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF CLASS???? WAIT TILL I GET YOUR PARENTS ON THE PHONE!!! IÕLL......Ó it then sounded like the microphone dropped, and then there was running.

The class burst out in laughter, until the teacher quieted them down. ToniÕs face was red with embarrassment.

Katherine ran in and sat down at a seat in the back since the rest of them were full.

ÒDETENTION, MS. VINCENT!!!Ó The teacher then started to lecture about how being late was bad for your school records. The class ignored him and continued to until the bell rang to go to second period.

The class filed out groaning as they went downstairs to the gym. The only person who was really excited was Toni.

When they got to the gym, the coach gave them instructions; the students were going to be playing basketball. Boys against the girls. As the females went to their locker room to get dressed. Katherine asked Toni if she was going to do anything for her birthday.

ÒNo, I donÕt think so.Ó Toni said while changing into her gym shorts and shirt. She then left to the court.

On the court, the girls lost by five points. Exhausted, they retreated to the showers.

Josh hadnÕt found time where he could talk to Toni. He knew it was her birthday today, but he didnÕt know what to get her. He was new at the school too. Every now an then he had to look at the school map, so he wouldnÕt get lost.

He was looking for a place to exit the gym (He was watching the game. He had some spare time.) When he spotted a door to his right and went for it. Hot steam blew into this face as he entered. Was this the exit? He couldnÕt see through all the steam to go back to through the door so he went forward.

Josh heard someone singing Jessica SimpsonÕs ÒIrresistibleÓ. He couldnÕt make out if it was a man or a woman.

Toni didnÕt know why she couldnÕt get Josh out of her head. She knew she thought he was cute, but she didnÕt think there was emotional attraction. Just then an image of him popped into her head. His brown hair was styled into a crew cut. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, under a brown open button up shirt. He wore cream-colored khaki's and dog tags. He reminded her of a solider.

Unexpectedly her image began to blink and cough.

ÒAHHHHHHHHHH!!Ó Toni screamed as she punched him in the face. She then grabbed a towel to wrap around her naked body.

ÒWHAT THE HELL IS YOU DOING!!!!Ó

ÒUh... IÕm sorry. I thought this was the..... the exit.Ó Josh said, while turning around covering his face. He felt her go pass him.

ÒHey, you exited right into the girls locker rooms!Ó Toni began to re-dress herself.

ÒLook I'm sorry. Okay. Oh, by the way happy birthday......can I look now?Ó he said peeking through his fingers. Toni laughed and said he could. She looped her arm into his and they walked out of the locker room together.

The rest of the day went by quickly; before she knew it, Josh was taking her home. On the ride there they had the same argument about what songs they should listen to.

When he pulled into her driveway, she could have sworn she saw someone peek through her window.

ÒHey, IÕll walk you to your door.Ó Josh insisted. They got out the car and headed to her door.

Toni took her keys from her pocket and stuck it in the keyhole. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Why was everything to dark?

ÒSURPRISE!!!!Ó

The lights went on and she saw all her friends and family, including her mom who wasnÕt supposed to be there until tomorrow. She looked at Alex, thatÕs when she remembered she had to ask her something.

ÒWhyÕd you fall on Mark?Ó

Alex looked at her like, ÒWhat are you talking about?Ó Then she remembered. ÒOh! I was excited about your party, it was a last minute thing, and we just planned it today. And I tripped thatÕs why I fell on him.Ó Alex looked at Mark and stuck out her tongue at him. She muttered something under her breath and then headed towards the garage along with Katherine, Vanessa, Dragon, Josh, Orlando and Mark. Where was Shane?

She walked into the garage and spotted a Yamaha SV67. It was silver and blue with a number 12 painted on the side. On the seat was a helmet it was silver and on the back of it, it read: ÒSoldierÓ.

Shane patted his pockets searching for something.

ÒCrap!Ó he swore, ÒI think I lost the keys!Ó

They groaned, the search was on, for the case of the missing keys. It seemed like days until they finally found it.

Shane walked up to his sister, ÒHappy Birthday, lilÕ sis!Ó

Toni hugged him, ÒThanks for the bike bro!Ó

When Toni first started up the motorcycle, She looked like a little girl who had just gotten her first dolly. Toni road it up and down the street, just like a shooting star.