A few weeks later
Rowan's POV
I woke up on the morning of my sixteenth birthday to the loud sound of my family singing me happy birthday. I fluttered my eyes open and saw my mom standing with a tray of food. My dad had a party hat on and Jamie was holding a birthday banner. Josh was playing the guitar. They really loved me.
I laughed. "You guys are such dorks." I loved them.
"Here you go sweetie. Your favorite." Mom said with a sweet smile, placing the try on my lap.
I smiled feeling so lucky. "Thank you! This is amazing!." I hungrily anticipated the cinnamon waffles on my plate.
"Any big plans for today Row?" Jamie asked me, suspiciously. I could tell they were plotting something.
"Nope." I sipped my orange juice. "I'm all yours."
There was a knock at the window before Sabrina crawled into my bedroom window.
"Have you ever thought to try the door Sabrina?" My dad asked her.
"Not even once." She smirked before running over to me and attacking me with a hug. "Happy Birthday!" She exclaimed.
"Thank you Sabrina!" I smiled at my best friend.
My family left Sabrina and I to finish breakfast and plot birthday stuff which was funny that they thought they were being secretive. After we finished eating I went and got a quick shower in. My mind was racing thinking about how life was so different this time last year. I was a different person. I was naive and innocent. In a span of one year I became so broken and beaten up. It was tragic to have to change so much from trauma but I've also learned so much. I'm thankful for my life. I was doing a lot better recently. I started getting better grades again and taking a more positive route to life again. It's made healing a lot easier and having a great support system is everything. Lucas was there for me too. It was so nice to not feel like I was fucking everything up constantly. I felt so lucky to have him. He made me feel safe. have hope for once and it's been great to have that. So much in my life has been changed in a year and I'm proud of myself for getting where I am today.
Lucas' POV
Sabrina texted me about Rowan's surprise birthday party. I laughed knowing that they could never pull off a surprise party on her. Cory and Topanga were the worst at keeping surprises a surprise. I had a really nice moment with Rowan a few weeks ago at Sabrina's party. There was a comment she made that has thrown me off ever since that night. That she was sorry it took so long for her to see me. I couldn't tell what that meant and I was scared to bring it up to her. It's been great seeing her doing so good lately. I found her the perfect gift but I was so nervous about giving it to her tonight.
I grabbed my phone and called Rowan. "Hey Lucas." She answered.
I instantly smiled widely hearing her voice. "Happy Birthday!" I yelled in excitement.
She giggled. "Thanks."
"Are you doing okay?" I wondered, knowing she might be having a rough time.
"I'm good and better than I thought this day would be." She said softly. I could tell she was being genuine.
"That's great." I was relieved.
"So are you coming to my surprise party tonight?" Rowan asked me boldly.
I chuckled. "I knew you knew." She laughed. "Of course I'm coming. There's nowhere else I'd want to be."
Rowan's POV
I stood in my mirror hours later. I put on a black dress with a rose pattern on it. I felt really pretty and I hadn't felt this good in so long. It felt amazing to not be in such pain. I walked into my living room after my mom had locked me in my room for an hour to set up. She was clearly great at this whole surprise thing.
"Surprise!" My family yelled in my dark living room.
Startling me even though I knew it was coming. I took a deep breath and my heart was racing. I turned around and ran into my room.
"Rowan?" I heard Sabrina's voice from behind me. She was concerned but she knew what was going on.
I was having a panic attack. She held me in her arms. A few seconds later we were joined by Lucas and he rubbed my back. I felt so bad for making a scene. I really thought I was okay. I thought everything was good but that surprise sent me into a panic.
"You're going to be okay. We aren't going anywhere." Lucas whispered.
They made me feel so safe. "I'm sorry for making a scene." I said once I gained my breath back.
"Don't be sorry. We should have known." Sabrina said pulling away and looking at me. "You had a normal reaction from the trauma you've been through."
"All we want if for you to be okay." Lucas added.
"I'm so embarrassed. I thought I was doing better." I looked down.
Lucas took my hand, I looked up at him. "Rowan you're doing great and a panic attack is something you can't control. It doesn't take away the progress you've made." He reassured me.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed by." My mom said, standing with my dad in the doorway.
"We all love you honey." Dad added.
I walked over and hugged my parents. "I love you guys so much." We went back to the living room once I was able to.
"You okay sis?" Jamie asked me immediately.
"Yeah I got a great family." I smiled at him.
"Pizza?" Josh asked me while he and Shawn were in the kitchen setting the table.
We ate dinner and then they sang me happy birthday. It was a perfect moment of feeling so thankful. My parents were laughing and my mom was teasing my dad and uncle Shawn for their inside jokes. Jamie and Lucas were bonding over some movie. Sabrina and Josh were all over each other to the point where Shawn was throwing chips at them. It was so much fun. I had this whole plan for my sixteenth birthday that was so different from this day. I had everything planned since I was a kid. I was so excited but none of that mattered anymore. What mattered was this. The people I care about and the good moments and memories I'm making that overfill the bad memories in my mind.
"Rowan can we go somewhere quiet?" Lucas asked me once the night was pretty much over.
I nodded. "Where? My room?" I asked him.
"I was thinking the roof." He mentions.
We went up to the roof and there was lights set up. My eyes widened. I looked over at him as he was smiling.
"Did you do this for me?" I asked him, shocked. This was so unexpected and sweet of Lucas to do.
"I wanted to give you your birthday present somewhere special." Lucas smiled, pulling out a tiny box out of his pocket before he handed it to me.
We sat down on the cold concrete wall. I was nervous for some reason. I've never been nervous to receive a gift. Lucas made me feel lucky.
I opened it and my breath was taken. "Lucas." I say softly. I looked up at him, seeing his handsome smile.
It was a beautiful silver ring with my aquamarine birthstone diamond.
"Do you like it?" He asked, nervously.
I was astonished. "I love it." I teared up.
He smiled. "It's engraved." Lucas gently wiped away my tears.
I looked at it again. "Warrior." I read to myself, I looked at him. "Lucas this is the kindest gift I've ever received."
I put it on my finger. "I'm so glad you love it." He hugged me.
I didn't want to let go.
He pulled away and I stared into his eyes.
I took his hand and pulled him closer. "What did I do to deserve getting to stare into you beautiful green eyes." I watched Lucas' eyes light up.
He leaned in and kissed me. In this moment the whole world was quiet. The pain was gone. It was just the two of us.
Author's Note:
I know it's been a long time since you've heard from me. This past year was really hard for everyone and I couldn't get in the past of writing when the world was falling apart. The pandemic, the election, and lots of self revolutions about myself it was a lot. I use writing as a coping mechanism and this year I didn't do that much. I wrote some but I couldn't get into it and I couldn't let myself cope. I was miserable and depressed. Then I started seeing the good things again. Taylor Swift released two albums that really spoke to me and got me inspired again. I realized many things about myself this year and I'm trying to accept it and heal from past things. I'm hoping everyone is doing okay. I'm here if you need to talk.
