[Thanks for the life-threatening reviews. I'll put black curtains on my windows.]
I couldn't believe my ears.
"Lorene Pendanski has been granted custody of Deyna Pendanski." Stanley shot up from his chair.
"NO!!" I was right behind him.
"You can't decide that!"
"I'm sorry, Miss Pendanski but seeing as how your father is dead and he's not exactly trustworthy, I have to give you to Mrs. Pendanski." Stanley and I passed a look and then looked back at the judge.
"This isn't right and I'll be darned if I let it happen!" I kicked over the desk in front of me in my fury. The judge got angry.
"You do that again and I'll give you to her right now!" Stanley cradled me in his arms to cool me off. "Now, Miss Pendanski, you are to report back here tomorrow at 12 so your mother can pick you up. You have until then." He pounded on his desk and left the room. Lorene got up and walked to us.
"See you tomorrow, kid." She laughed, left with her lawyer, and slammed the door behind her. I sank down in my chair, confused and crying. D-Tent was leaning over the wooden barrier, watching my scene.
"Are you going to stand for this, Hercules?" I turned to X-Ray and smiled.
"Thanks X-Ray, but what can I do? I feel so helpless."
"Don't worry, it'll be okay." And for once, Stanley was right.
I drove with Stanley to my grandparent's old house to pack my things.
"Okay, what do I pack?" He stood in my enormous room, looking around.
"All the books in the small bookcase, the stuffed animals on my bed, my blankets, my hair stuff, my clothes, my movies, and my photo albums." I looked around the room and saw my Pirates of the Caribbean stand-up. I groaned. "I can't bring that. But I'm not selling it." He began to pack my favorite books and I started packing my clothes. Like I was going to let him see my underwear. Please!
We packed all of my essentials and my favorite things but there was still stuff left over.
"I guess that I'll have to leave this here." I remembered the envelope in my pocket suddenly and sat down on my bed. "Stanley, come here for a second." He dropped the bag of movies that he was packing and sat down next to me.
"What's on your mind, babe." He laughed and got serious.
"Stanley," I fought to find the right words. "Here." I handed him the envelope to save conversation. He opened it and almost dropped it with surprise.
"Deyna, this is the deed to this house, and it has my name on it." I lightly touched his hand.
"I want you to have it. I thought that since Lorene is getting my money, and me, she shouldn't get this house. So I talked with my lawyer and we got your parents to help sign the house over to you. You can take care of my stuff for me." I stopped talking because my throat caught with tears.
"I don't want to take care of this house." He threw the papers and took me in his arms. "I want to take care of you."
"Oh Stanley! I don't want to leave you!" I pushed him until his back was on my bed and kissed him. I poured in all my love for him and my thanks for his help during my rough times. I had never kissed him that passionately before.
Unfortunately, a throat cleared above my head and I lifted my head to look at Stanley's mom.
"Well, it seems that you do need my help with packing. At the rate that you're going, you'll be packing to go to the maternity ward."
"Mom!" He got up and his face turned red. (Guys are so cute when they're embarrassed!)
After my stuff was packed, we went to Stanley's house. Stanley and his mom were stalling outside to keep me from going inside. They fussed with my bags and parking my car.
"What are you two up to?" They looked innocently back at me as if to say "Us?" I rolled my eyes and opened the door.
"Surprise!" Everyone jumped out from their hiding places and shouted.
"What's this?" I asked, waving away some confetti.
"Well, Deyna. You mean a lot to us so we decided to throw you a going away party." Stanley's dad rolled out a cake on a tray with the words "We love you, Deyna" on it. I was speechless.
"It's beautiful. I don't know what to say." Stanley walked up to me.
"Make a wish and blow out the candles."
"But it's not my birthday."
"Who cares?" I shrugged and made my wish - that Stanley would get me back from Lorene. I blew out all of the candles in one breath.
We ate the cake and everyone gave me presents. All of the guys gave me a picture of everyone together and the adults gave me some books. Stanley saved his for last and wouldn't give it to me until all the presents were opened.
"I've been meaning to give this to you for a long time." He started reaching into his pocket to bring out a small box but the doorbell rang so he put it back and got up to answer it.
Lorene stormed into the house and pointed at me.
"You, kid! Come with me, now!" She made me get up and start to leave but I stopped.
"Goodbye, Stanley. I love you." I pressed my lips to his for a few seconds but then Lorene pulled me away and he was gone.