Chapter 7 - Birthday Presents

"So?" Aonghus asked. "Are you going to explain this?"

Amanda didn't look up from her lap. She had planned on telling him, but it had to be at the right moment, and this was not it. She didn't say anything to him. Aonghus nodded his head and walked down from the porch. Without turning around he said, "I live right across the street, so whenever you are ready." Aonghus walked into his house and locked the door behind him.

Aonghus and Amanda did not say anything to each other for a week, and Aonghus seemed to become distant, and Lara has been noticing it. School finals were on Friday. Aonghus found all of them super easy. Aonghus ran out of school cheering. "I am now, officially half-done with this school. Two more years left!"

Aonghus and Lara were on there fourth date now, and Aonghus has barely talked. They went to the movies first, and it is understandable to not talk during the movies, but then they went for hotdogs and ice-cream and they normally would talk about what they were able to gather from the movie. It was a challenge 'cause most of the movie they were in a tongue battle.

"I don't know what has been bugging you but you have to talk to me about it eventually," Lara finally said. "And if I can't, then I'll get Amanda and we can-"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," Aonghus said. HEE then smiled and then wrapped his arm around Lara's waist. "Let's just enjoy our hotdog and ice cream, and then I can show you my surprise."

"You got me a surprise?" Lara asked, now curious about what he got her.

"I'll tell you when we get there." Aonghus said. Lara smiled and watched Aonghus bite into his hotdog.

"Ok. Here we are," Aonghus said. Lara looked around. The two of them were in a jewelry story.

"Wha-" Lara began to ask, but Aonghus shushed her. He then walked up to the guy behind the counter and whispered something to him. He nodded and went into the back of the store. When he came back, he was carrying a small, black, rectangular, case. Aonghus took it from the man. "Thank you." He said. He then walked over to Lara took her outside.

"Now where are we going?" Lara asked.

"The beach," Aonghus said.

"But that's like an hour away," Lara said. The beach was about an hour- 45 minutes neither of them could drive yet either. Aonghus did have his permit, and Lara wasn't getting hers until next week.

"Not the one I found. It's a small beach-slash-alcove I found down by my house. No one knows about it as far as I know. I didn't tell anyone about it. It's not long of a walk either. About 10 minutes from here I guess, maybe 8." Aonghus said.

"Ok, and what's in the box?" Lara asked now. Aonghus didn't answer, he just smiled.

Aonghus and Lara were looking out into the water. It was already dark when they got there and Aonghus' plan was ruined. He wanted to give Lara her gift at sunset. Oh-well.

"So? What's in the box?" Lara asked one more time. Aonghus pulled it out of the bag and opened it up. Lara gasped. It was the most amazing necklace she had ever seen. It was basically a name necklace, but it was still amazing, partially because it must have cost Aonghus a lot. It had her name in script and had each letter with her birthstone. Aonghus looked at her expression.

"I knew you would like it. Happy Birthday," Aonghus said. He ten leaned in and hugged Lara.

"But my birthday isn't until Friday," Lara said, breaking the hug to look at her necklace again.

"I know but I won't be here for that, my Aunt is having a party," Aonghus said. "Here let me put it on."

Aonghus and Lara walked down the street to Aonghus' house. Sitting at the beach-alcove and listening to the mini-waves made Lara really have to use the bathroom. When Aonghus and Lara walked in, Lara immediately ran into the bathroom. Aonghus walked in and saw that the machine was blinking. He clicked the button and listen to the message.

"Hey honey, its mom. The church night cruise ship kind of broke down. There was a problem with the engine and we had to dock so we will be spending the night here, and apparently much of tomorrow. The captain says we might leave at noon if we are lucky. But I don't think we'll be able to get out of here by then. So anyway, I went grocery shopping last night and I picked up a pizza if you want to have that. Ok? Alright, love you. Bye." The machine beeped, meaning it was the end of the new messages.

Aonghus heard the sound of the toilet flush and Lara came out of the bathroom. "My parents are stuck on the church cruise fundraiser thing over night; they won't be back until late tomorrow apparently. So I guess you will need a ride-"

"What? My parents were on that too," Lara said.

"So you don't have a ride?" Aonghus asked.

"Nope," Lara said. "I guess I will have to spend the night. I'll call my mom and let her know." Lara started going through her purse to look for her phone.

"Ok, I'll go put a pizza on," Aonghus shouted to her. When Lara got off the phone, Aonghus shouted back to her again. "We are out of drinks. I'll walk down to the Gas station to get us a bottle of something. What do you want?"

"Diet Coke is fine." Lara shouted back. Aonghus then came out from the kitchen, putting his coat on.

"I have some sweat pants a shirt that should fit you. I have had it since like 7th grade; it's too small for me. If you want to wear it, you can, second drawer has basically all my old stuff. You can find something in there if you want," Aonghus said. "The gas station is right down the street, I should be back before the timer goes off, but just in case, could you take it out?"

"Sure," Lara said. Aonghus kissed her on the cheek and walked out and down the street. Lara then got up and walked into Aonghus' room. She went through his stuff until she found something she liked. She changed into it, and just as she finished, the timer went off for the pizza. She went in and took it out. She cut it into eighths. She went into the refrigerator to get a drink, and then realized there was none, so she closed the door, but then something caught her eye. There were about 5 cans of Diet Coke left. She wondered why he went to get a drink if they had some. There obviously was a reason, so Lara did not bother touching one of the cans.

:

Aonghus walked back in, and saw Lara sitting on the couch. She had the TV on, his sweats on, and was eating a slice of the pizza. "I'll go get us glasses and ice." Aonghus took off his coat and ran into the kitchen really fast. He came back with the sodas and a slice of pizza for himself and sat down right next to Lara. The two of them stayed up watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

"And that's why it is so funny," Aonghus said after the movie was over. Lara just smiled and looked at the clock. It was only 10:13.

"Wow I thought it was later," Lara said. "So what do you want to do for now?" Lara asked, looking him into his eyes. Aonghus smirked and Lara knew what he was thinking. She pretty much had the same idea. "You have all of the stuff we... uh... need?"

Aonghus jumped on top of her. "Hell yea," Aonghus said. Now thanking the man that decided to build a gas station down the street.