Chapter Nine

" Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! "

It's the morning of my birthday and I'm still in the teen angst part of mine and Eli's fight. I so do not want to celebrate. Throwing my arm over my eyes I grumble and turn away from the infernal noise my dad is making.

" Rise and shine! " He says pulling the blanket off of me.

Lifting my head I glare at him. He's holding a plate of waffles with a 17 candle in it. " Ugh, can we just forget about my birthday? " I say hiding my face in my pillow.

I hear him set the plate down. The next thing I know I I'm being pulled out of bed by the ankles. I fall to the floor and glare at him once more.

" Come on honey I know you're upset that you and Eli had a fight but it's your birthday. It's time to have fun. We can do whatever you like. " He says with fake sympathy.

Once he found out that I wasn't on speaking terms with Eli he has been very chipper. I can't fault him. What father wants their daughter to be friends with the leader of a gang?

Getting up I head to the bathroom for a quick shower. After I get dressed and put on my favorite necklace.

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I let them drag me to L.A. for a day of doing tourist things. Walk of fame, The Grammy Museum, and now we're on our last stop... Neely Guitars. Every time we come here I go in.

" You go on, honey. Me and Veronica are going to see about somewhere to eat. " Dad tells me and I wave them off and head into the store.

I'm home. I head straight for the woman working and have her get me a cherry red Les Paul hooked up. She takes me into a private room and leaves me to it.

I strum a little before playing a tune I've been working on for a month. I've been really waiting to hear it electrically. I start jamming and even add a few extra things to it by the time I finish I feel like a real rockstar.

" That sounds good. "

Jumping ten feet in the air I turn around and almost lose my shit.

Oh. My. Rock. God.

" You scared me. " I say with my hand over my heart.

He chuckles as I try to regain my senses." Sorry. "

" It's okay. Thanks though. The only time I get to play electric is here. I have an acoustic at home. " I say trying my best not to stumble over my words.

He nods. " How long have you been playing? "

The Slash of Guns and Roses is actually interested in my menial playing. I may faint. " I started with the acoustic when I was ten or eleven. There's just something about a Gibson though. "

" There is. " He agrees with a smile.

It's then that my dad chooses to pop in and ruin the moment. " Honey, we found a nice place to eat. Veronica is holding our place. "

" Okay dad, here I come. " I tell him before turning back to The Slash. " I gotta go. " I say before going over and handing the guitar back to the saleslady.

I'm about to head out to meet dad and Ronnie when The Slash comes up and hands me a card.

" They have an open mic night every Friday at the Whiskey. I'm going to be there with some A&R people next month on the twenty-fifth looking for new talent. You should come to one and show off. "

Whoah.

" Thanks. " I say taking it. " I don't usually come to L.A. but it's good to know. "

He nods before saying, " what's your name? "

" Victoria Mars. " I say not believing any of this is actually happening.

" That's a rocker name. " He tells me. " Can you sing? "

Laughing nervously I say, " I've never done it in front of anyone but I'd like to think so. The thing is, I'm only sixteen. "

" I'll give them your name and vouch for you. " He promises. " You can't drink, but you can rock. That's if you show up anyway. But you should come. If there's one thing I know is talent when I hear it. "

" Here I thought rocking while drunk was the expected. " I joke. " But thanks. "

What the hell just happened?

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After eating, I was ready to go home. I didn't dare tell dad about open mic night because there's no way that he'll allow it. I'm hoping a case comes up and he has to go out of town so me and Ronnie can make the long drive back up here. I really want to do this. If the A&R rep likes my music it could mean big things are heading my way.

The two-and-a-half-hour drive home s spent in silence. When I walk through the door I walked in the apartment I see something shiny. Oh my god!

Getting closer I almost cry. It's a beautiful Gibson Les Paul. The same kind I was playing in the guitar shop. It has a red bow tied around the neck. Picking it up I strum the cords a little.

" Now you didn't think your old man wouldn't get you something good for your seventeenth birthday, did you? " Dad says smiling.

Veronica elbowed his side. " It's from both of us. Happy birthday, sis. "

Setting it down gently I pulled them both into a group hug. " Thank you, I love it. "

Veronica's phone starts ringing and she answers in a very cheerful voice. " Hey, Wallace! Really? Okay, I'll tell her. " She says putting the phone to her chest. " Wallace says he has a gift for you but you have to go downstairs to get it. "

" What? Why can't he- " I don't get a chance to finish because she is pulling me out the door.

God, she has a tight grip. " You're hurting me. " I complain as she pulls me down the stairs. " I don't understand why he can't just- "

Then I understand. It isn't Wallace, it's Eli. I glare at my sister and she grins.

Eli matches her grin. " Thanks, V. "

" You're welcome. " She says going back upstairs.

Traitor! I cross my arms and look at the ground. If he wants to talk he would have to work for it.

" Come on T don't be like that. " He says coming up to me and lifting my chin.

I close my eyes because I'm pretty sure looking at his face will break my resolve.

" Look I'm not gonna apologize for what happened between me and Lily. " He starts.

I push his hand away and go to head back upstairs. He grabs my shoulders and pulls me back into his arms.

" No no no. You don't get to run away this time. This time I'm gonna get what I need to say off of my chest. " He whispers in my ear making butterflies travel through my body.

I shiver and I know he can feel it. He turns me around to face him. " I never meant to hurt you. In fact, you're the last person I want to hurt. "

Tears come to my eyes and I try to will them away. " Then why did you cut me out? We were so close and then we weren't. "

" I was trying to figure out the things I was feeling about Lily, you, life... By the time I realized I screwed up you were already gone. Look, I can't change the past but I'm trying to make things right now. " He says reaching into his pocket.

" I had to work extra hours for this, but when I saw it I knew you'd love it. " He says handing me a small box.

I hesitantly take the top off. " Oh, my. "

Surprise is written all over my face.

He takes the necklace out and motions for me to turn around. He fastens it around my neck and then turns me back around. " Perfect. Now you're officially claimed. "

" Honey, I'm making a run to Mama Leoni's do you have a request? " Comes my dad's voice as he gets to the last step.

More like he has had enough of spying so he needs an excuse to show himself. " Umm lasagna is fine with me. "

" Eli. " He says walking past us.

He nods. " Sheriff. "

I laugh and shake my head. " I should go up. Thank you for the necklace and for setting things straight. "

" It's your birthday querida, no need for a thank you. " He says leaning down to kiss me.

Dad clears his throat from behind us and I sigh. " Don't you have some Italian food to get? "

He gets in his car and starts it but doesn't move. I roll my eyes and kiss Eli on the cheek. " I'll see you at school. "