The Would be Birthday of Zandra
((Usual here, cloud 9 property rights))
The virus was still fresh in everyone's mind, not more than a few months ago it hit. It seemed impossible that it could spread so quickly and kill so many but it did. The adults were now gone, and whatever you could carry with you was all you had.
Cars, power, food, and clothes were all luxurious items not the average person could have or bring with them. Most of it was to be lost and never recovered but in the last few weeks… Zandra, Lex, and Ryan at least had some of this.
Thanks in part to them joining the Mallrats, they now had food (though not very much), water, a room to sleep in with fresh blankets, solar lights by the fountain, and computer that could run on a car battery. Yep in a way they were living the good life for so many kids not only didn't have that but they were enslaved by the Locos or Demon Dogs or Nomad's.
Zandra was grateful though she'd never admit it out loud to Amber and Jack for making this tribe, and getting them what little they had. It was a lot better than the car Lex had them living in. It was also a better alternative to his plan to have them all become Loco's. The Loco's wouldn't have wanted her- Zandra was hardly the violent type she lived for one thing and one thing only- her fashion.
The concept of eating whatever was around over an open fire, waiting for someone to stab you in the back, while enslaving poor little kids, and wearing bad fashion style didn't appeal to her in the least. The only reason she had even considered it was for Lex. Lex, her dream man, and the love of her life. She just wished he felt the same way. She knew it was underhanded but she'd do anything to hold onto him- even blackmail… or in this case forcing his hand.
The minute Tai-san showed up Zandra should have known there would be trouble. She however didn't even consider it- she was too busy worrying about her upcoming celebrations and using Ryan to get to Lex. It had all worked… until Tai-san decided to make her bed partner. The minute Zandra found out- it was war on them both. Mainly Lex though. How dare he try to leave her now after all she went through to get him.
Of course, his fighting didn't last long not only did he agree to marry her but also promised to keep far away from Tai-san and Zandra couldn't be any happier. However, right about now there was more pressing matters at hand than Tai-san like her birthday.
Zandra's 14th birthday was tomorrow, and naturally- virus or not- she wanted something from both Ryan and Lex. Specific things but she wanted them nonetheless- so today's mission was to ensure she got them. Starting with Ryan. After getting dressed for the morning- making sure her hair was great she headed down the hall towards his room.
"Hey Ryan, you got a minute?" she asked from the door wearing her feathery outfit with her pink and blue hair neatly tied up.
"Sur-sure," he replied putting away his book and getting up to walk over to her, "Need me to follow you back to your room?" he asked.
Zandra nodded, "That's fine- now Ryan, this is a very important conversation that has to stay between you and me, okay?" she asked as they walked back.
Ryan smiled, "Right private got it? What about though?" he asked following her into Lex and her bedroom.
"Ryan, my birthday is tomorrow," she announced.
"It is? Wow, Zandra that's great- happy birthday," he said with a big bright smile on his face.
Zandra just turned to look at him oddly- wow Zandra, that's great? That's all he had to say? Zandra shook her head and rolled her eyes- sometimes Ryan was a fool.
"Thanks Ryan but I was thinking that maybe you know- you could get me something…" she suggested subtly.
"Oh of course- I mean absolutely- anything you want Zandra- just name it," he replied eagerly ready to take her order, "I'll spend all night outside looking for it if I have to," he declared.
"Well now that mention anything… Ryan, I want you to get me some jewelry and a birthday cake," she announced with a smile on her face as she turned to him trying to seem as happy as him.
"A birthday cake?" he gaped out, "But Zandra…"
"Ryan, it's important to me that I have some cake. What kind of person doesn't have a cake on their birthday? Come on Ryan, it'll be great like the parties we had before the virus. Everyone can have some here so we have something to go along with our beans," she replied with an even smile.
"Hmm okay! I'll go find one- just tell Lex to be on guard duty for tonight," he said walking towards the exit.
"Will do," she said happily as she then went down the hall towards the café to find Lex.
Sure enough sitting there drinking some water was Lex- she then plastered a smile on her face as she moved to sit down to him.
"Babe," he acknowledged looking at her.
"Lex! Do you know what tomorrow is?" she asked.
"Yea, it's my night for guard duty remind me to make Ryan do it," he replied after a second of thought.
Zandra rolled her eyes, "Not that- it's an important holiday," she proclaimed.
"You mean its Independence day already?" he said.
"No. Not that one," Zandra remarked.
"Christmas?" Lex inquired confused as ever to what Zandra could be possibly be talking about.
"No Lex, it's my birthday," she informed him with a edge in her voice.
"Oh really? That's great Zan," he said dully turning back to his beans.
"Lex! Did you just hear what I said, it's my birthday Lex. MY birthday. I'm your woman Lex and I want a gift from you," Zandra demanded.
"A gift? Are you mad? How am I supposed to pull that off? Incase you haven't noticed we don't even have enough food to go around- never mind birthday gifts. What am I supposed to get you?" he demanded annoyed that she'd even ask him to do anything whatsoever.
"I don't know- surprise me with something. Like a ring- or diamond earrings. Or maybe some chocolate or something," she suggested.
Lex rolled his eyes, "I'll see what I can manage but I'm not staying out past dinner to find you anything- and whatever I get is gonna have to be enough, you got me?" he said to her slightly rude.
"Of course- whatever you find will work- I just want something or else you'll be moving back in with Ryan," she said threatening him as she got up and walked off.
Now, she'd see what they would come up with for tomorrow.
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Zandra woke up early on stretching- Lex had not come back before she had went to bed but before she woke up, he had already wrapped and left a gift- well he didn't- he had made KC wrap it…
As her eyes fixed on the gift she smiled getting up in her nightie and walking over to it. She then tore it open inside was a set of earrings she smiled as she put them on her ears admiring them. Oh yes, what a good birthday…
As she left she heard Lex muttered half asleep, "Happy birthday babe" as he then went back to snoring.
Then, she started down the hall- as she moved towards the café Ryan came from his room and stopped her.
"Here Zan," he replied as he stretched out a wrapped box to her.
"Oh Ryan- thank you," she said with somewhat false grateful voice as she tore it open.
Inside a bracelet and necklace that were light blue- Zandra for once was genuinely impressed by Ryan's actions.
Zandra smiled briefly- at least they looked good, "Here Ryan put the necklace around my neck," she commanded handing it over to him as he moved behind her to put it on her.
Once on, Zandra ran over the side mirror and began to admire herself, she looked amazing with all that jewelry like a real fashion queen.
"That's great Ryan, really it is," she replied honestly, "So did you get the other thing?" she inquired.
"Yea…" he said grabbing her by the arm and escorting her to the kitchen- already on the table a giant yellow cake.
"Ryan! That's great- amazing- how many hours did it take you to get it?" she asked.
"All night- I just got back actually," he said scratching his head as a sheepish grin reached his face, "But it was worth it though- happy birthday Zandra," he told her.
"Thank you Ryan this will be the best birthday yet," she declared, "Hey guys- everyone get up look what Ryan got us," she called out ready to share it with the world.
The world may have ended, the adults may have died, a modern life over, but one thing was for sure the spirit of celebration, birthdays, and holidays would live on literally and figuratively forever in the hearts and actions of this new generation of people and their tribes. And Zandra would make sure of that.
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
The end
