Okay, this is it, the final part, FINALLY. I'm so this took me so long, I got really stuck on how to end this. Honestly, I'm not to proud of the ending, it's not as good as I wanted it to be. I hope any of you who read this really enjoy it.
Now, for the thank yous. I wanna thank everyone who's read this and left a review, it means a lot that you too the time to tell me how much you enjoyed this story. The person who deserves the most thanks is u/2013431/knk4891. She's been reading this since I posted to first few chapters on the Forum, and has helped to keep me from looking like someone who failed 3rd grade english classes XD She's been there for me to bounce ideas of off, and she's been my beta on the last two chapters. If you haven't read her stuff before, get off your ass and do it! Her stories are fantastic!
Now, on with the show...
Jeanette sat at her vanity, humming softly as she prepared herself for bed. She let her ribbon out, and her hair tumbled down past her shoulders. Brittany and Eleanor were already asleep in bed, Brittany snoring lightly. Jeanette smiled faintly. Brittany never believed her or Eleanor when they told her she snored. She finished brushing her hair and got up, still humming as she practically waltzed across the room to her bed. She settled down into it, and pulled her light blue comforter up to her chin. She looked over at the picture of Simon she kept by her bed, and let her mind wander over what had made this the best night of her life so far.
Dave had taken all of them to one of their favorite restaurants. They had a wonderful meal as they talked about how great it was that Brittany was passing, that Alvin and Eleanor were champs, and how Simon would be receiving another award from the school. Dinner went smoothly, aside from Brittany fuming when Alvin started to flirt with their waitress; but Brittany got him back by flirting with some guy (she assumed it was an actor) at the next table over.
The dinner lasted maybe an hour and a half before they headed home. Dave invited Ms. Miller over for some coffee, and Brittany and Eleanor leapt on the opportunity to keep the evening going. Dave led them all inside and to kitchen, getting a pot of coffee going for himself and Ms. Miller while Theodore and Eleanor went to the stove and began making hot chocolate for all of them. Brittany and Alvin sat at the table, trying to argue quietly (for them) about who was more of a shameless flirt. Jeanette saw Simon crack the door leading to the dining room and she walked up to him.
"Should we set up the dining room Simon?" she asked, leaning over his shoulder a little. Simon's head snapped up and he quickly shut the door.
"N-no, um, there's already silverware and cups in there…." he said, glancing nervously around.
"Oh," she said, sounding a little disappointed.
"Um…you, you like very nice tonight," he told her, and she could see his cheeks coloring lightly, despite the fact that he was looking down at his feet as he scuffed them on the floor. She was about to thank him when Dave spoke up.
"Well, I think everything is done. Let's move into the dining room and enjoy our drinks," Dave picked up a tray of steaming mugs. The kids crowded around the door, and opened it. The lights weren't on, and it was difficult to see inside.
"Jeanette, get the lights," Brittany told her sister. Jeanette's hand groped along the wall until she found the switch, and flicked it.
"SURPIRSE!" came a chorus of voices from all around her. Jeanette shrieked, stumbled back, and tripped over her shoes. Luckily Brittany, knowing her sister so well, had moved behind her to catch her. She was laughing as she helped Jeanette to her feet.
"Jeanette, you didn't think we'd really forgotten your birthday had you? I know I can be self-centered, but how could you think everyone would forget you?" she asked, hugging her sister. "This has been so hard. Thankfully I'm a fabulous actress, or I'm sure you would have figured it out," she said with a smug look on her face.
"Oh gag," Alvin muttered. Brittany shot him a glare.
"What was that, Alllllvie?" she asked, stretching out his name. He hated it when she called him that.
"I said, um," he said, when Dave gave him a look over Jeanette and Brittany's shoulders, "Ahem, I said, Happy Birthday, Jeanette!" he said, and smiled at her, "Now come on, let's get to those presents!" Alvin said, taking her hand and leading her into the dining room.
Leave it to Alvin to think of presents first, she thought with a smile. She was a little sad when Simon didn't insist on leading her, but when she looked at him, and he looked a little pale. Sick, even. Jeanette hoped he was okay. Alvin let go of her hand to pull open the doors to the dining room.
"Oh, this is…this is wonderful," she said, sniffling a little. On the table was another cake, candles ready to be lit. Behind the cake presents were piled neatly. They looked beautiful with their bright wrapping and bows. Dave quickly pulled out some matches and lit the candles, and as he did, they all began to sing.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you," they all sang. Jeanette walked to the table and sat down with the cake only a few inches from her. She looked at the candles and thought of what she'd wish for. She decided she would wish for what she always did, for her and sisters happiness, but then, just before she started to blow them out, a new wish popped into her head.
I want a kiss from Simon. She finished blowing them out, not really believing what she had just wished for.
"Jeanette, sweetie, are you sure you're all right? You've gone red as a tomato!" Ms. Miller said, concern on her face.
"I'm… I'm fine Ms. Miller. The candles made it a little hot over here is all," she said, looking down at the cake, not wanting to look at the others. She knew they would know she was lying.
"Well come on! Presents! Presents!" Alvin started to chant. Jeanette looked at him, but he was looking at Simon as he began to chant, and Simon seemed to go paler. She would have stopped to think about this, but Brittany pushed the pile of presents at her.
"Open mine first," she said, and pushed the one wrapped in red with a pink ribbon at her. Normally, Jeanette would have taken the time to untie the ribbon, and carefully unwrap the present, but she sensed something in the room…as if they wanted to get this over with quickly. She tore into the paper with abandon, and pulled out a new set of ribbons for her hair.
"Thanks Britt," Jeanette said, and started to get up to give her sister a hug.
"Don't worry about that now, open the next one!" Alvin cried, and pushed another present her way. It was red, and tied with a yellow bow. Clearly this was from Alvin. She ripped the paper to reveal a new Bunsen burner, the kind she'd been wanting for months.
"Alvin, how did…" she started, when he cut her off.
"Simon helped us pick them out," Alvin said, grinning at his brother. Simon gulped, and gave a shy grin.
"Here Jeanette, this is from Ms. Miller and me," Dave said, pushing the largest box to her. Inside was a brand new set of beakers, test tubes, cylinders, and every other container she had been needing to replace. She kept dropping hers, and they were all cracked or unusable now.
"This is from me and Theodore," Eleanor said, pushing the last box at her. This one had dark green paper with a light green ribbon. After tearing the paper off, she opened the box and pulled out a new microscope with glass slides ready for use.
"Wow, thank you all so much!" Jeanette said, and got up to hug her sisters, Dave, Ms. Miller, Alvin and Theodore. She went to hug Simon, when she realized she hadn't gotten a present from Simon, she stopped, and a look of confusion came over her face. She wanted to ask if he had gotten her something, but she didn't want to seem ungrateful. As if reading her mind, Brittany and Eleanor grabbed her hands and led from the dining room to the kitchen.
"Simon's present is in the music room," Eleanor told her.
The music room? What could it be? Jeanette wondered. If it had to be put in another room entirely, it must be something huge! They walked through the door together, but Jeanette didn't see any presents; it looked the same as always. Well, not exactly the same, she noticed. Normally there was just a piano, but now there was a drum set and an electric guitar in a stand. Dave and the boys entered after them. Dave went to the piano, Theodore the drums, and Alvin to the guitar. Alvin strummed the strings, making sure it was in tune, and Theodore quickly drummed his sticks along the drums, making sure they sounded fine.
"What's happening?" Jeanette asked her sisters. They just smiled, and lead her next to the sofa by the window. Ms. Miller sat down next to her, and she had a big smile on her face.
"David has been telling me about this all month and I can't wait to see it!" she told Jeanette excitedly. Jeanette just gave her a look of confusion. Simon was standing in the center of the room, and Brittany and Eleanor were near him now.
"For your Birthday Jeanette I…I, um…" Simon began to falter, and his face reddened, which was better than when it had gotten paler earlier, Jeanette supposed.
"He picked a song to sing to you," Alvin finished for him, a grin on his face. Simon turned to glare back at his brother. Alvin simply chuckled, and strummed the guitar again. Simon turned back around, and cleared his throat, trying to gain some control over himself.
"Yes, I decided to sing a song to….for you," Simon said. He looked at Dave and nodded. Dave began to play on the piano, and Theodore and Alvin joined after a few seconds. Simon was staring intently at Jeanette, and as the opening notes were played, the color drained from his face again. Dave and the others stopped playing.
"Simon, that was your cue," Dave said, looking over his shoulder.
"What? Oh, right, sorry," Simon said. He looked even worse than earlier, and Jeanette began to really worry about him. Dave started playing from the songs beginning again, and Alvin and Theodore joined in. Simon took a deep breath, and a little color returned to his face. He opened his mouth, and Jeanette almost began to cry when he started to sing, with her sisters backing him up.
Only you
Can make this world seem right
Only you
Can make the darkness bright
Only you and you alone
Can thrill me like you do
And fill my heart with love for only you
Jeanette sat there, tears ready to cascade down her cheeks. This was more than she had ever hoped for….more than she had ever dreamed of. This would be something she would always treasure.
Only you
Can make this change in me
For it's true
You are my destiny
When you hold my hand, I understand
The magic that you do.
When he sang these words he held out his hand to Jeanette, and for a second she didn't realize he wanted her to take it. Understanding dawned, and she took his hand timidly. He gripped her hand tightly, pulled her to her feet, and continued pulling until she was close enough to hold. The song had made him confident, or else he never would have dreamed of doing something like this. He held onto her hand, placed his other on her hip, and slowly danced in a circle with her as he continued to sing.
You're my dream come true
My one and only you, only you
Didn't think Simon had it in him, Alvin thought with a smirk.
Only you and you alone
Can thrill me like you do
And fill my heart with love for only you
This wasn't part of the rehearsals, Eleanor thought with a grin, giving Brittany a look. They stepped back, making sure they gave Simon and Jeanette plenty of room to dance. For once in her life, Jeanette felt confident in her steps, and she knew she wouldn't stumble, wouldn't trip, as long as he held her this close. They continued to move with the music, and although she was closer, or perhaps because of it, Simon's voice lost none of its intensity.
Only you
can make this change in me
For it's true
you are my destiny
When you hold my hand, I understand
the magic that you do do
You're my dream come true
my one my one my one and only you
"My one and only you, Jeanette," Simon whispered into her ear. He leaned back a little, intending to kiss her cheek. She started to turn her head; she wanted to thank Simon for the greatest gift she'd ever received. Their lips met, and their eyes widened in shock. Jeanette wondered if she should pull away, but then, isn't this what she had wished for? She closed her eyes, and leaned in a little…
In her bed, Jeanette's eyes slowly closed, the last few notes of the song drifting from her as she fell asleep.
"…..my one and only you, Simon"