My apologies to all my readers for such a long delay in this story. I promise, as long as I am in control of any or all situation, it will not happen again. I had my reasons behind such a delay but…not admirable ones but some excuses aren't.
And also forgive me for the shortness of this chapter.
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Mimi closed her eyes and without a sound, counted to ten. She focused on each number in her mind, each number making a visual appearance in white with a black back around. She felt her nerves slowly dwindling with each number that flashed in her mind, but even then, she did not open her eyes right away. She could still hear the voices in the distance that caused her small retreat from reality and she was very close to letting go of her disposition.
Mimi was aware of what people thought of her, not that is was all-bad. Those who did not know her thought her to be a pretty flake. Her true friends, the people who took the time to know her, thought differently. Well, not completely, they too thought believe her to be beautiful and, well she could not claim that statement to be false. They knew her as sensitive, honest, bubbly and intelligent depending on the subject of discussion. Yes, she knew that was could be a little egoist as well but it was her trademark, the bubbly persona, which was becoming hard to maintain. They had no idea how hard it was not to stand there and shout at them. No, she had to smile no matter how much they tend to get to her because, after all, they were her friends, an extended family… almost.
"No!" Mimi winced as she heard her boyfriend shout. "Did I just tell you not to put that there?"
"No." She heard something heavy drop on the floor. "You told us not to but it over there!" Davis shouted back.
"Well…good I don't want it there either!" Mimi peeked open an eye to see Tai turning in a circle. "Over there, put it over there."
Davis followed the older boy's outstretched arm, "Over there?" Davis asked.
"Yes, over there."
"You sure?"
"Positive." Tai nodded his head.
"I'm just asking." Davis put out his hands. "Because ten minutes ago when the table was way over there, you thought it wasn't a bloody good idea!"
"Just move it!" Tai gripped his hair.
"Don't sweat it Davis." Izzy picked his end for the table off the floor, "In a few minutes this will all be over."
"Minutes?" Tai looked around the apartment, his friends scattered around as they hurried to put things in order. "Listen up people. We are falling onto the last minutes of this surprise party."
"Thank god!" Davis groaned and Tai glared.
"But," Tai glared over at Davis. "We are not nearly done. We need to pick up the pace."
"Maybe if you would stop shouting orders and help…" Joe said from the sofa.
Tai leaned over the back of the couch, "And maybe if you would get off your ass and help!"
"Darling." Mimi purred as rushed over to Tai's side and wrapped her arm around his. "Just calm down and stop tearing at your hair, you will grow bald."
Immediately Tai put his arms down at his side and looked down at his girlfriend. "This is y our fault."
"My fault?" Mimi placed a hand over her chest and blinked up at him. "I cannot see how it would be possible to cast the blame on me!"
"Yes, your fault. If you had planned this party a little better, no, if you had not planned this party at the very last minute, I wouldn't be tearing out my hair at all!"
"No, this is your fault." Mimi batted her eyelashes up at him. "See this is the party that I planned at the last minute and you dear, are taking over my ideas. All you could have done is sit down on the sofa like Joe and relax but you took matters into your own hands. Your future baldness will be your own damn fault."
"First off, I'm not going to go bald over this party…"
"I you say so…" Mimi hummed.
"And second off, you just stood in the middle of the apartment staring at the walls with your finger on your lips for fifteen minutes!"
"I was thinking of the possibilities the place had to offer in ways of decorating." Mimi sighed. "Really, Tai. Is this how you are going to behave when we get married?" Mimi asked.
"Married? Married! What the hell are you talking about?" Tai's brown eyes bulged. "We just started dating!"
"Don't you love me?"
"Yes….but."
"Then what is the problem? Don't you see our relationship going anywhere?" Mimi placed her hands on her hips and stared at her boyfriend. "That's it isn't it? Well if you don't, we mind as well end it now."
"No."
"No, what Tai? No you don't see our relationship going anywhere or no, you don't want to break up."
"Yeah…I think." Tai frowned in confusion.
"So you do want to break up!" Mimi's eyes started to tear up.
"No. No." He had no idea why she took great pleasure in tormenting him with her own confusing logic. "I mean, yes I think we will get somewhere and no I don't mean yes about breaking up."
"Good, I'm glad you understand." Mimi patted his arm and walked towards Sora.
Tai clenched his jaws. Somehow, he knew she got him on something.
"Sor…not there. I think with these boys you ought to place the vase in a closet." Mimi step beside her redhead friend as she was about to place a vase near the window.
"Is that what this is?" Sora held up the glass object with a quizzed look.
"What else could it be?" Mimi tilted her head.
"I thought it was err…I have no idea but look, there isn't a bottom to this thing so it can't be a vase!"
"Oh, yes you are right." Mimi tapped on the surface. "It glass…isn't it?"
"No, I think its clay or something along those lines."
"The colouring is marvellous!" Mimi smiled.
"Really? Do you honestly believe that?" Sora wrinkled up her nose.
"No. I was merely trying to find an explanation on why anyone would keep that in their home."
"Well…what do we do with it?" Sora asked.
"For the best interest of the family, a family that we both love and do not want to damage any kind of relationship with due to bad taste, I believe you should forget my first advice and keep it out so the boys can break it." Mimi shrugged and walked over to the snack table where Izzy was displaying the finger food with the help of Yolei.
Sora looked around the apartment and spotted a small end table beside the bathroom door to place the vase like object on.
"Everyone." Cody flew through the door. Tai had volunteered the small boy to be the look out spy due to his height and ability to blend into the crowed. Cody, who beamed with pride for being nominated for an important task, took his post down below, guarding the nearest open elevator and annoying hotel visitors. When he spotted the small family, he took off to inform the rest of the group.
"Okay hide!" Tai yelled.
"Wait before everyone hides; remember that there is a baby so no loud screaming!" Sora told the group, staring mostly at Tai and Davis.
"Okay when they walk into the room, everyone whisper surprise." Tai informed them.
"Shut up and hide!" Someone called as the lights went out.
"Who ever said that, will be eating my gym socks for dinner!"
"Tai!" The group groaned.