Chapter 8: The Storm

"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday Steeeellllla. Haaaapy Birthday to you!" My Dad sang loudly, waking me up from a good sleep. I couldn't help but smile though.

I sat up and grinned as my Dad continued his song. "How ooold are you? How ooold are you? How oooold are yooooouu? How old are you?"

"I'm eighteen." I say, not in tune with the song at all.

My Dad frowned. "You're no fun nowadays." He set my chocolate cupcake on my bedside table. "Happy Birthday sweetie." He kissed my forehead. "I'm going to work until 7, but be ready for you're birthday dinner, okay? Unless you go out with Brandon…" He trailed off.

"No, Dad. This is tradition. Wouldn't miss it for the world." I grinned again as he brightly smiled and kissed my forehead again. He deserved this for when I ditched him at the Fireworks party. "See you tonight then." With that, he left for work.

I check my phone to see that it's around eleven o'clock, but I had a text message at 12:00 midnight. It was Brandon.

Happy Birthday, gorgeous! See ya l8r for your present. ~B

I sigh contently and get ready for the day. Today is July 28th. Not only is it my birthday, it's our 6 week anniversary. I still can't believe we have been going out for over a month now.

After dressing, I run downstairs to grab a bowel of cereal. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I answered Flora's call.

"Sup, girly," I say casually.

"Happy, Happy Birthday to yooooou," she said excitedly. "You're legal now. Well not drinking wise, but legal nonetheless. Just like me! Are you excited?"

"You seem more excited than I am actually." I observe, laughing as I wash away my now empty bowl.

"What are you doing today. We have to celebrate. How about now? Have Brandon come over and I'll bring Helia and we could go to the mall or something like-"

"Flora, Flora, Flora! Slow down. Brandon has that back-to-school event planning meeting today, remember?" I told her. "I won't see him until later. Plus, I have dinner with my Dad."

Brandon is apart of the Back-to-School jamboree thing we have every year before August. They start planning really early so they can have everything ready. Brandon was asked to join since he's new to the town. I think they believe he'll bring some new ideas to the table.

"Oh, poo. I have to give you you're present." She said pouting. "Helia stop." she giggled to someone off the phone. Presumably Helia.

"Hi Helia." I say over Flora's giggling.

"Hey Stella! Happy Birthday."

"Thanks. I'll let you guys get back to your…business," I snicker. "Bye." I hang up before Flora can protest.

So…what am I going to do today? I could visit Brandon at the meeting. Surprise him with lunch or something. Nothing better to do and he's always forgetting his lunch.

I drive in my car to Subway and order two subs and two large drinks. Once I have my order, I go down to my school's recreation center, where the long behind meeting is held.

The woman behind the front desk looks up at me with a scowl. "Can I help you?"

"Yes you can." I snap. "Do you now where the members of the back-to-school committee are?"

"Yep." She looks back down at her magazine while I stare at her. Rolling her eyes she tells me, "Out in the back," and returns to her magazine. Bitch. I think as I offer no thanks and proceed outside.

There were about twenty something people out here. Apparently their on break, because everyone was walking around, doing there own thing. I spotted Brandon immediately walking around the opposite corner. As I got closer, I noticed he was talking to…Bloom. What the hell?

Calm down Stella. I knew she was on the committee, like she is every year, but I don't want her talking to Brandon. At. All.

Brandon looks up as I approach and gives me a surprised smile. "Stella! What are you doing here?" he asks while coming over to give me a tight hug. I can feel Bloom's eyes on us so I pull back to give him a kiss on the lips.

"I brought you some lunch. I figured you were on break by now." I explain enthusiastically. Bloom decides to butt in before Brandon could speak.

"Actually, Brandon and I just ate. I bought him some food at the place around the corner." She says smiling at Brandon.

I try to control my boiling rage as I look back to Brandon. "She bought you lunch?" I just had to here it from him.

"Well… yeah. She spotted me today. Forgot my money at home." He turned to Bloom. "Thanks again, Bloom. I owe you one." He OWES her one?

She waved him off. "For the last time, it was nothing. I'll see you two later." With one last smug look at me, she darted off in the opposite direction. By now I'm seething. Brandon's making nice with the enemy. Did he not remember what she did at the party?

"So I hope you got my text. In case you didn't," He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me close, "Happy Birthday," he whispered, kissing my nose. It would have been easy to just melt in his arms right then, but we have more pressing matters.

I jerk back from him with a glare. "She bought you lunch?" I repeated. "You let her buy you lunch, Brandon? If I remember correctly, you never let me pay a dime for anything for you. But you let Queen Slut do it?" I seethed. I may be over-reacting, but Bloom brought out the worst in me. Insecurities and all.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stella, she just spotted me the cash. I'll pay her back later. I didn't know you would be bringing lunch. You should've text me or something." He said defensively.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I try to surprise my boyfriend and he's out eating with someone else. That's really my fault." I sneer.

Brandon looked a little angry now. Good, so am I. "You act like I'm messing around with her or something. It was just lunch with an acquaintance. Relax." He started walking to the tables. I followed him.

"Don't just walk away from me!" I storm behind him. "When did you become so buddy buddy with her?" I inquired furiously.

Brandon sighed and turned around. " She offered lunch and I was starving because I had no breakfast this morning. That's it." He ran his hand through his hair. "She isn't that bad, Stella."

I balked. "'Isn't that bad'? Really. Do you not remember what she did at her party at all? Or did it not matter to you?"

"Yes I do Stella. How can I forget? She really regrets it though. Just talk to her." He said calmly.

I blew up. "Are you frickin' kidding me?" I shouted loud enough to turn a few heads. "She got inside your head too?"

"Stella, calm down," Brandon said quietly yet firmly. "We're not doing this here."

"Have you two been doing this before? Having lunch together every meeting?" I gasp a sudden thought. "Have you been forgetting your lunch on purpose so you can have an excuse to eat with her?"

Brandon looked at me like I finally lost it. He rubbed his hands over his face and looked at me tiredly. "Stella, if you're going to keep acting like this then you need to leave." He said heatedly. "Now."

I laughed out once. "Yeah. Maybe I should go talk to Carter about it. Maybe we can have a 'friendly' lunch too." I spat. It looks like my big mouth decided to make a reappearance.

Brandon tensed completely and stared at my icily. We stood in cold silence for a minute, neither daring to move. He shook himself from it first though and looked at me coldly. "Well, go ahead then. Have a great freakin' birthday with him." He said in a dead voice and turned away, threw his hands up, and walked ahead. I stood shocked for a second, and then stormed off to my car. I sat in the front seat and stewed for a second.

How dare he? He just dismissed me like he didn't care. Didn't he understand what that witch does to me? Why isn't he on my side? What kind of boyfriend is he?

As I drove though, I started to think. I know for a fact that I over reacted. He didn't say anything malicious to me like I said to him. I feel like a jerk now. The way he looked at me before he turned and walked away pierced my heart. He looked so disgusted.

As I stumble out of the car, I see Flora and Helia on the porch, chatting happily. Probably waiting on me. Flora saw me and popped up.

"Hey birthday girl! Hope you don't mind us stopping by." She says brightly. Then she gets a good look at my face. "What's wrong?" With those two words, I burst into tears.

"It's okay, Stella. You two will be fine." Flora soothes me as we sit on the couch and I still chock back sobs onto her shoulder. Gosh, I'm such a screw up. Here's a great guy, and I have to ruin it all with my stupid insecurities.

"You d-din't s-ee how m-mad he w-w-was." I cry. "He h-hates m-me."

"Don't say that Stella. You guys just had your first fight, is all. Once he calms down he will come and talk to you, I promise."

The meeting ended at three and it's now five o'clock. He really doesn't want to see or talk to me. This was probably the worst birthday ever. Helia walks back into the room and looks down at me with sympathy. Gosh, I hate sympathy. Almost as much as I hate feeling weak, but I can't help it this time.

"Were you talking to B-Brandon?" I ask Helia.

"Yeah, he'll talk to you later, Stell." He responds gently. I hope so.

"Let's go to the Parlor. I can get us some food. It will make you feel better." Flora suggests.

"There's actually two subs in the car. I g-got it for Brandon and me." I sniff, trying to stop these insistent tears.

"Well, Helia wants a burger. You can eat subs some other time." She helps me up and we hop in Helia's truck. The ride to the shop was silent, me in the back-seat while Helia drove and Flora rode shot-gun. I looked at their intertwined hands and felt a stab of envy. I really wanted to see Brandon.

Helia parked and we walked into the parlor. I avoided sitting at 'our' booth and opted to sit at a small table by the window. I don't know how much time passed. Three hours or five minutes. According to my watch, only five minutes. Flora and Helia tried to get me to join there conversation, but I really wasn't in the mood. I was so dazed that I didn't realize someone approach our table. Flora had to kick me under the table to get my attention and I look up at the newcomer. Brandon.

"Hey… can we talk?" Brandon asks me quietly. I simply nod and take his extended hand. We walked out of the shop and a little away from the parking lot. Brandon stopped in front of me. He lifts one of his hands and swipes my dry cheek.

"You've been crying." He stated sorrowfully. I nod and we stand in a slight silence.

"I'm sorry!" We both say at the same time, laughing nervously afterward.

"No, Brandon, seriously. I screwed up. It's just that…I don't trust Bloom. She's sneaky and evil to me." I say.

"I know that, Stella and I wasn't really thinking. I never should have gone to that innocent," he made sure to emphasize innocent, "lunch. I just thought you would trust me to know that it was nothing more than that."

"It's not that!" I exclaim. "Or…maybe it is. I don't know." I sigh, frustrated at myself, and drop down onto a cement bench. "I have slight trust issues I guess. None of my relationships in the past have been trustworthy." I admitted, then looked up at him. "I do trust you though…and it scares me." I whisper.

Brandon knelt down in front of me. "It scares you that you trust me?" He asks, confused.

I sigh again. "You wouldn't understand; just forget it." I say turning my head away. Brandon puts his hand on the side of my face and turns it gently back to his.

"I get that your past guys have been total douches. But I promise you, I'm not like them. Let me finish," He says as I try to interrupt. "I know you didn't say I was, but it scares you that I could become one. That's not going to happen." He grabbed my hands. "This, you and me, is really important to me, princess. I'm not going to let some girl ruin it." He finishes sincerely.

I smile at his reassurance and he grins back. Standing up, he helps me off the bench. "If it helps, I'll ask to be put on some other project in the committee."

"No, don't." I say reluctantly. "You shouldn't have to do that just because of my stupid jealousy. I'll get over it sometime." I lied. There's no way in hell that I was getting over this anytime soon, but I'm not going to put Brandon in between our feud.

"Are you sure?" He asks skeptically. I giggle softly. "I'm sure handsome. Oh and sorry about the whole Carter comment. Me and my big mouth." I apologize.

"It's alright; I knew you didn't mean it. People say some crazy things when their angry."

"Yeah." I agree and give him a big hug around the neck. "That was our first fight, you know."

He chuckled softly into my hair and tightened his arms around me. "Wasn't very fun, if you ask me."

I shook my head. "Nope." Then I pull back to look at his face. "No more 'innocent' dates with other girls, especially my worst enemy, again, okay?" I asked, determined that no one would get their nasty claws on my Brandon.

"I promise, gorgeous." He says, kissing me firmly. "Am I forgiven?"

I look at him, a little dazed. "Keep kissing me like that, and you are definitely forgiven." I say breathlessly.

He smiles my favorite smile. "Well lets get back to it then." He stops centimeters from my lips though. "I forgot to give you your gift." He steps back and pulls out a small white case from his back pocket.

"Don't worry, I'm not proposing." He opened the box to reveal a ring. I gasped as I gazed at it. The ring had a simple silver band that looped around twice to stand a beautiful orange crystal. I noticed on the inside there was an engraving. Looking closer, I saw it said I love you.

Whoa. He freakin' loves me!? We've only been dating for a month and a half, but I can't deny the special connection I have with him that I've never experienced before. Is it love? I believe it is.

"May I?" He asks. I nod, still in shock, and he grabs my hand to glide the ring on my left ring finger. It fit perfectly. How did he know my size?

"It's just a promise ring, but I was hoping you would still like it. Flora helped me pick it out, because you know I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to jewelry." He laughs anxiously. So that's how he knew my size. His face fell slightly when I didn't respond.

"If you don't like it, then I could take it back. It didn't cost that much…okay I'm lying, it cost a pretty penny. I can still return it if you don't want it thou-" I interrupted him by crashing my lips to his. He stumbled back a bit in shock, but regained his balance to return the kiss.

I tugged back from the intense kiss. "I love you too," I blurted out. Real smooth Stella.

His grin was so wide, I thought his face would break in two. "Well that's a good thing. I thought it would be a one-sided love affair." He chuckled and pecked me on the lips. "So, I take it you liked the ring?"

I laughed out. "Of course I do! Are you insane to think I don't?" I stare at the ring again. "It's so beautiful, Brandon. Thank you so much." I jump in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips.

"If this is how you respond to gifts, then I should get them more often then I do." He verbally noted.

"It's not just the gift though. It's the meaning behind it that I love so much." I jump down but keep my arms around his neck.

"You only turn eighteen once. You are legal now." He said.

I giggled. "What does that have to do with the ring, genius?"

He shrugged. "Nothing. It's just that now I can make out with you in public."

"You do that anyway though."

"Well, no need to stop a good thing." He smiled as his lips descended upon me again.

"I'm so glad you two made up. An unhappy Stella is no fun." Flora states as we sat back down in Sally's Ice Cream Parlor. We sit in the back booth, now that Brandon's here. I snuggle further into his side as he pulls me in closer.

"Boo you Flora." I say laughing. "And I'm glad too."

Brandon looked at his watch. "We still got an hour before Stella has to be back home. What do you want to do?" He asks Helia and Flora. While he is talking to them, my phone vibrates. I look to see my Dad calling. It must be important because he usually doesn't call my cell phone.

"Be right back." I told everyone and went outside to get better reception on my phone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Stella," my Dad said, sounding relieved. "You need to come home."

"Dad, it's nowhere near seven yet, and I'm hanging with-"

"That isn't important right now Stella," He interrupted. "Have someone drop you off at home immediately. We need to…talk." His voice sounded strained and quiet. What's going on?

"Um…okay, I guess. I'll have Brandon drop me off." I hung up, a little ticked off at my Dad's horrible timing. It sounded important though, so I ran inside to get Brandon and ask him to take me home. Flora balked.

"What? I thought you still had an hour?"

"Yeah, I know, but something's up with my Dad and he wants me to come home now. I still live there so I guess I still gotta follow his rules." I rolled my eyes and smiled.

She pouted, but gave me a hug good-bye. I waved to Helia as Brandon escorted me to his car.

"Did he tell you what was going on?" Brandon asked as we drove to my house.

"Nope. He just said 'You need to come home.'" I say in a bad imitation of his voice. We both laughed. They car ride was spent in comfortable silence and I just looked at my ring, smiling.

"Text me later, okay?" Brandon said. We just pulled up to my house.

"Of course." I leaned over the console to give him a kiss. "Love you," I murmured.

He grinned. "Love you more, birthday girl."

I got out of the car and ran up to the porch. With one last wave, Brandon drove off. I sighed and went inside.

"Stella. Good you're here." My Dad greeted me immediately. I looked at him like he was crazy.

"Dad what's going on?"

"Well, there's someone here to see you." He looked a bit nervous. What the hell?

"What-" but I broke off my sentence as a strikingly beautiful blond woman stepped into the hallway. She was wearing expensive looking clothes and heels higher than I thought were possibly. Her make-up was a little too much, but I could see that she didn't even need it. My eyes widened. I know who she is. The woman I wished I would never have to see again.

"Hello, Stella." my mother smiled. "Happy Birthday."

A/N: First, Thanks for reading and reviewing. I just love it.

Whoa! Stella's mom is back. Tell me if you don't want Stella to go too psycho on her. Lol!

Bloom is pushing up on Brandon. This girl always asks for trouble. Is there something behind her madness? Trust me, their will still be some drama there.

They had their first fight, but it was bound to happen. Every couple fights every once and a while. Brandon and Stella will in the future as well.

Big question: Should I stop this story at the end of the summer (which will be soon for them) or continue it into their school year? It won't be the entire school year, but definitely the beginning of it. Give me your thoughts.

So… Review!