From Mystery to Romance

An Emily Chapter: The Little Surprise

Xander left. I didn't really want him to leave though. It was nice having him over. It brought me back so many flashbacks when we were kids.

After he left, I plopped myself down on the couch. 

North came downstairs.

She was smiling.

But not like the time she came into my room.

This was a more suspicious smile.

"Hey," I said.

"You like Xander, don't you?" North smiled.

I scoffed, "Of course not! We hate each other!"

"Then why do you always act weird around him?" North turned her smile to a smirk.

"I don't act weird!" I debated.

"Oh, really?" North laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "Go read a book."

She groaned, "Fine,"

And then North was back to her room. North and I had been making little progress on friendship. It's been nice getting to know North.

I laid down on the couch and started thinking about North's birthday. I wanted to do something special for her. But what? I can't invite relatives to make her happy. And I don't think she has any friends to make a birthday party for her.

I closed my eyes on the couch. Maybe a way to surprise North will come in my dreams. But I wasn't tired anyway. So I just had to watch how North was going to have another terrible birthday.

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It was finally North's birthday. The morning felt like it was such a normal day. We all told her happy birthday tried to get her in the birthday mood, but North wouldn't budge. She has never had a birthday she enjoyed.

Mom made North pancakes for breakfast(even though she knows North hates pancakes.)and Julia and Ruthy told her about what we were going to do today. I stared at my gift all wrapped up on the table. I wondered if it was a good gift. I got North all The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels. Both the Raina Telgemeier books and Gale Galligan books. I thought she might like them, but now, I don't think it's enough to make her happy.

I later got a text from Xander.

It said:

Xander: Hey is your door open?

I looked at the text a bit confused. Why did he care if our door was open or not?

Emily: Yeah? Why?

Xander: Dad and I are coming. U guys okay with that?

Emily: Yeah.

Then our conversation ended. I wonder what was going on with him. Maybe he was coming for North's birthday. They have made a good friendship.

"Xander and his dad are coming," I told mom and dad.

Mom shrugged, "That's nice."

I looked at North, who was smiling at me a bit. I bet she's still convinced about me and Xander liking each other. But I don't! Sure, we did watch a romantic movie and his hand did touch mine a bit. But that doesn't mean I like him!

I was checking some things on my phone and then the door opened. I didn't look up from my phone though. North and the rest of the family got up to greet Xander and his dad.

But there was silence.

A bit of gasping but nothing much.

I looked up from my phone and went to see why everyone was so quiet.

Then...I found out.

Xander bought North a gift.

A puppy.

A small brown and white puppy.

My lips started to tremble. 

I started crying. 

Xander cared.

He cared about North.

He cared about North having a good birthday.

I looked at North who never looked happier.

She wasn't sobbing like me but she seemed so happy.

North and I looked at our parents, Julia, and Ruthy. They were all smiling but they didn't seem as happy as me and North.

Then slight conversations began. Like, "Oh you shouldn't have!" or, "How sweet of you guys!".

But North and I were silent. We walked up to Xander who was holding a basket where the puppy was sitting. There were a few toys and bags of treats in there.

Probably for decoration.

 I looked up at Xander. He was blushing.

I wanted to kiss him on the spot. 

But all I said was, "Who's-who's idea was it?"

Xander's face got red, "Well...um..uh...I mean-"

Mr. Gerkins cut him off, "It was all Xanders, idea. He did everything behind my back. It's his gift for North, not mine."

I tried my best to smile at Xander, but it's a bit hard when your lips are trembling when you cry.

"Well, start playing with the little guy! He's your buddy now!" Mr. Gerkins said.

He and my parents went out to get some other supplies for the dog. Xander put the dog down to let North play with him.

"It's the same dog from the animal shelter," North said.

North told me she went to an animal shelter with Xander and saw an adorable puppy there. Well, she wasn't lying.

Xander chuckled, "You were so in love with that one, I didn't dare to get you a different one."

North opened up a toy and started to play with it. We left her and the puppy alone.

Xander and I walked into the kitchen and I said, "That's amazing what you did there."

 Xander shrugged, "I wanted to make her birthday special. She needs a dog anyway. It'll be a good companion for her."

I nodded.

Each day I was with Xander, I saw him as a different person than who he was when he was younger. When he was younger, I thought he was mean, bossy, boring, hateful.

But now, he was kind, he was caring, he was sweet. That's the new Xander that I saw.