Okie dokie here's chapter 19! the party - Part one. The party is going to be split into two chapters because i wanted to make the most of it xxx after the party I will begin to focus more on Claire's illness and the treatment she will have to under go as well as Aria and Michael's personal stories xxxx Hope you enjoy part one xx R&R! Oh and I'm sorry if I don't update for a week or so, i have some GCSE's but after that you have my undivided attention!
Thalia's Tree xx
Claire's POV
I woke up to rose petals scattered all over my bed and balloons scattered around the room.
Giggling out loud i threw a handful of petal up in the air, feeling eight years old again
No, I was eighteen. I. Was. Eighteen!
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"I giggled.
The door opened slightly and Shane poked his head through, grinning like the Chesser Cat.
"Happy Birthday beautiful." He greeted as he walked in the door, hands behind his back.
"Hey yourself." I laughed, throwing petals at him.
He came over to my bed and leaned half over me, placing one neatly rapped present on my lap before giving me a sweet, passionate kiss on the lips. As he pulled away he looked searchingly in my eyes.
"How you feeling this morning?" He asked.
He knew I hated him asking me that "Shane how many-"
"I know Claire, but come on, let it go and answer me yeah?"
I sighed, a smile tugging at my lips.
"I've never felt better. I think my guardian angel is looking over me." I replied as I gave him another peck on the lips.
"Guardian angel eh?" He mused. I knew he didn't believe in angels, and I wasn't going to make him talk about them, so I changed the topic.
"That for me?" I asked, nodding to present.
"Nope," He replied, still grinning."They're for Eve." He shuffled his way next to me on top of the covers and handed me the present.
I looked at it, trying to see through the wrapping. I loved the whole prospect of opening presents. The excitement before hand, the noise the paper made as you teared it open, and the joy afterwards. Whats not to like?
"Should I open it now?" I asked, bouncing up and down a bit in bed.
"How about first you look to your left at your bed-side table." He suggested. Huh? What did he mean. I looked at him to see if he was trying to play a joke but he actually looked serious. I turned my head and looked and a gasp escaped my lips.
"Oh my goodness Shane how did I not notice it?" I exclaimed, because there to my very left was a purple touch lamp.
"I dunno, but it's not because you're stupid that's for sure." He laughed.
"You remembered." I whispered as I touch it, my eyes filling up with tears of joy. And sure enough, as my I placed my fingers on the lamp, it light up. It was so simple, yet so beautiful.
"Hey, no crying Missy. Not today." He order. So instead I laughed.
"Here." Shane said as he placed the small, squared shaped package on my lap. "open this one first."
"Yay." Gently I unwrapped one corner, and then the other until finally I could open it with ease. But before I looked at what it was I turned to my boyfriend and said, "You didn't wrap these yourself did you." Not a question, a statement. I knew that Shane could never wrap something as neatly as this.
"You caught me." He relied with his hands up. " Now hurry up, I want to take you out a little later."
I looked down at the gift and pealed the last two parts and before me I saw a small white box. I opened it and inside there was the most beautiful charm bracelet I had ever seen. I was a charm of a book, an owl, a teddy bear (go figure!) and finally a small photo frame with a picture of me and Shane in.
"That's just a few charms to get you started. I know its not much but -" I cut him off by throwing my arms around him and kissing him.
"I love it so much! Thank you Shane, this the best birthday present ever!" I exclaimed. He grinned back at me. God he looked so hot.
"Well," He started. "That's not all. But you'll have to wait till later to find out what the other surprise is." Before I could ask him what he meant Eve barged in in through the door and full on jumped on my bed.
"Happy Birthday CB!" She sang at the top of her voice.
"Yeah happy birthday Claire." Michael said as he coached Eve from jumping up and down too much.
"Thank you guys!" I laughed, giving them both a hug.
I don't remember the last time I had smiled so much. And then I remember something I'd read from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Eve and Michael had worked together to put a photo album together for me. It was a pretty butterfly pattern on the front, but not like a kiddy's one. A very grown up and sophisticated pattern that was absolutely beautiful. When Eve had told me that she had made it herself I couldn't believe it. I'd jumped up and hugged her so hard and I think even she was surprised.
There were photos of us Glass House Kids in, photos from back when had first moved in to a months ago when we had all gone to the New Year's Eve party. Even compared to all those birthday parties my parents had thrown me when I was younger, this had to be the best yet.
I was sat at my dressing table starring at my reflection in the mirror, with Eve behind me brushing out my hair, getting it ready to curl. I'd told her that she didn't have to do this, and that I'd just wear my hair up in a ponytail, but she had insisted.
"CB, I wanna spend time with my bff on her eighteenth birthday by myself, and i'm pretty sure this'll be the only time I'll be able to do that." She'd tried to reason with me.
"Why will this be the only time? I mean I'll be back from going out with Shane at about 2 o'clock and we can spend time together then." I'd asked.
"Um well, you know, the boys will be around and I just think that they'll want to spend time with you too." Then she changed the subject. "Anyway, I want to doll up my girl before she goes on her fabulous brunch date!"
"Its not like I haven't been on a date before Eve!"
But she wouldn't take no for an answer, so here I was. I was wearing a simple but absolutely gorgeous long black dress with sliver sequins on that Eve had chosen for me and I had changed into it a little while ago so that I wouldn't ruin my hair.
For a moment my best friend stopped brushing my hair and went to put the hair curlers on to heat up, turning down the radio that was blaring Madonna as she did so. Eve then walked back to where I was sitting and looked at me in the mirror and smile.
I smiled back. "What?" I asked. But she just shrugged and said "Nothing, don't worry."
"No, tell me." I insisted. I turned around and looked at her properly.
"Ok," She began with a sad smile. "I know I don't l really listen to country music, but I heard this song by Carrie Underwood that really made me think. About you." she said. "The first lines were 'Eighteen years have come and gone, for momma they flew by.' And I know you're not my daughter or anything, but it asometimes feels like you are my little birdie that is getting ready to fly the nest. I feel like your growing up and one day your gonna leave me behind." She took a deep breath and continued. "The lines in the first chorus is from the mum's point of view and she say's;
Then she took my hand and said
'Baby don't forget
Before you hit the highway,
You better stop for gas,
There's a 50 in the ashtray,
In case you run short on cash,
Here's a map and here's a Bible,
If you ever lose your way,
Just one more thing before you leave.
Don't forget to remember me."
And Eve had tears in her eyes as she said, "Claire, just don't forget to remember that we are all here for you."
"Oh Eve." I sighed as I stood up and took her in my arms. "I know, and I won't forget it. And don't you forget to remember that I won't let this thing bet me. I'll always be here with you, don't you worry." Eve pulled away first and kissed me on the cheek.
"OK, now I've had my girly moment let finish making you even more beautiful. . ."
Eve's POV
"Alright the birthday girl is gone so lets get these decorations up now!" I yelled in a jolly tone. "We've got a party to cater for!"
Claire's POV
And hour and half later Shane and I were just finishing up our brunch and my boyfriend was paying the bill.
"Ok babe," He said as the waiter walked away. "Come on, I wanna take you for a walk."
"Ok . . ." I said feeling slightly uneasy. Shane was never one to go on walks. He hated walking.
"Don't look at me like that." He instructed. "I know what you're thinking, but I want this day to be special for you, so just come, let enjoy this rare nice weather!" With that he took my hand and led me away. In Morganville, there weren't that many romantic places to go, but there was this lovely park trail that I used to come on lots when I first moved here. I haven't thought about it for a while. It was still as beautiful as I remember it was, a cobble path walk cutting through fields of lovely flowers and the sun shining through the arched trees.
Shane and I walked hand in hand through the path. Once he began to sing an awfully cheesy song and span me around, making me giggle. We began to dance together then, the two of us singing completely out of tune and dancing like fools. Other families walking past had stopped and began to watch us with smiles on there faces, probably remembering when they themselves were young and in love.
In love. Yeah, that's what we are.
"Come on lets sit down for a sec yeah?" Shane asked. He most have noticed that I'd slowed down slightly.
"Yeah sure, lets enjoy this for a bit." I agreed.
We found a bench and sat down. Shane put his arms around my shoulder and I leaned in, listening to his strong heart beat and enjoying the heat of the sun. After a little while of peace and tranquility, Shane removed his arm from around my shoulder and looked at me. Smiley he said "I love you Claire."
I smiled back. "I know you do. I love you too." I said and kissed him.
"Ok, no interrupting me now ok? Let me say what I need to say." He cleared his throat and began to speak again, words that somehow I knew he meant.
"Claire, ever since the day you walked through the glass house doors all black and blue, I knew that I was going to like you. What I didn't know was that I'd end up falling in love with you." I opened my mouth to agree, but he held out a hand to stop me. Alright then.
"I have never loved somebody like I love you Claire, and I have never wanted to commit myself to something like the promise I want to commit to you. SO I bought you this, as a final birthday present." He stopped talking and put his hand into his back pocket.
And then Shane Collins got down. On. One. Knee.
"Claire Danvers, will you marry me?" He asked, as he opened the box black box.
Oh my God.
I didn't even hesitate when I answered. "Yes," I replied. "Yes of course!" I jumped up and spun around on the spot clapping my hands together.
"Alright alright yes, this is all very exciting but can I please put the ring on you before I drop it?" He laughed, looking eager to join in the jumping. I held out my hand and studied the ring as he put it on my finger. It was so sparkly. A simple silver band with a beautiful diamond at the center. I could not believe this was happening.
"Shane this most have cost you so much! You didn't have to -" I began but he cut me off.
"- Shh Claire. Don't worry about that. Are you happy?" Shane asked. I wondered if he was joking, I mean how could i not be happy? But no, he really wanted to know.
"Come on Shane, of course I'm happy! You've just made me the happiest girl in the world." I whispered the last part so that only he could hear. And then I leaned in and kissed him, long and hard. The headache that had began to form before hand was completely forgotten because all that mattered was me and Shane, here and now.
"So, when I said this was the last surprise, I forgot to mention the one that was waiting back at home. And we need to go back there right now before Eve and Michael kill me." He said as he began to pull me along.
"Shane, whats going on?" I asked suspiciously.
"You'll see."Shane said with a sly smile. "Now come!" I just laughed and let him pull me along, feeling higher than high.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"Ok, close your eyes." Shane told me as we got to the front door.
"Why?" I asked. Ok this was totally weird.
"Just do it." So I did, I closed my eyes and trust him to make sure I didn't fall over as we enter the house carefully.
Everything was quiet, I couldn't even begin to image what was going on.
"Ok Claire, open eyes." I did, and I was looking at the front room, furniture pushed aside and banners and balloons scattered everywhere.
And then I got another shock of my life.
Music began to blare and out of nowhere lots and lots and lots of people jumped out from behind places and shouted "Surprise!"
And I recognized every single one of them. Most of them were from school, about thirty or so of them, I could see Eve and Michael stood by a set of DJ discs with Aria. And then I saw my parents, stood smiling at me.
This really was the best birthday ever. . .
Like my own little surprise? I decided to take it one step further. But trust me, it won't be the last surprise either . . . and as you can see, even through the thick and thin, when things don't look so great, something equally as good will always happen. Its just the natural balance of the world/