Tutor

Twenty Nine

Demi

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" I jumped as I stepped into my living room, but the smile on my face widened at the sight that I was greeted with. The room was full of pink and white balloons, a number 1 and an 8 floated by the mantel piece. There were presents stacked up on the coffee table and Odell, Heather, Lani and Marissa were all scattered around on the sofas.

"Guys" my hands flew up to cover my mouth as tears burnt at the backs of my eyes. Odell laughed as he pushed himself up from the sofa and wrapped his arms around me.

"Happy birthday, Baby."

"I gave you that key for emergencies" I lightly jabbed my index finger into his chest.

"This is an emergency. It's not every day you turn 18" I leant up to press a peck to his lips. "Come on, we have presents and cake to have" I rolled my eyes but the smile on my face was huge. I wrapped Marissa and Heather in a hug and then settled down onto the couch. Lani moved herself onto my lap and I smiled as she cuddled herself into me.

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Princess" she giggled as I kissed her forehead. She slid off my lap and headed for the presents. She took one of the smaller ones and held it out to me. "Is that for me?"

"They all for you" we all laughed as she rolled her eyes as if my question was completely absurd.

"Is it from you?"

"And mommy" she pointed to Heather who sent me a wide smile as I briefly glanced to her. I took the present off Lani and slowly began to unwrap it, glancing up at Lani who stood in front of me. Her eyes kept darting between my face and the wrapped present I had in my hand. The slower I took to unwrap the present, the more her eyes filled with impatience.

"Am I going too slow for you, Lani?"

"Yeah" we all laughed as she stuck her hip out and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You are far too sassy, Little Miss" she loudly giggled as I poked her in her tummy. I went back to unwrapping the present, once I had removed all the wrapping paper and Lani had tossed it onto the floor, I was left with a little square black velvet box. My eyebrows furrowed together, but the smile on my face widened at the charm bracelet nestled inside. "Oh my god, it's gorgeous, thank you" I pulled it gently from the box, glancing over to Heather who had a smile settled on her face.

"You really like it?"

"I love it. Thank you. You really didn't have to get me anything" she shook her head, the smile remaining on her face.

"Yes, we did. You're family now, Demi, and like Odell said, it isn't every day a girl turns 18" my lips twitched into a smile. I glanced down to Lani as she gently tapped my hand.

"You my sister too" my eyes burnt with tears.

"I love you, Lani."

"Love you more" she giggled as I wrapped my arm around her. I placed the charm bracelet back into its box, laughing as I glanced up at Lani as she handed me another present. The presents kept coming and with every one, I felt like crying. I haven't been celebrated this much on my birthday since before my mom died. My dad never really did birthdays.

-

"Odell, where are you taking me?" I grumbled; my eyes covered by the black blindfold that Odell handed to me the instant that I slid into the passenger seat. "You know that I hate surprises" he lightly laughed from where he sat in the driver's seat.

"And like I told you on our first date, you're just going to have to deal with it" I rolled my eyes behind the blindfold and turned to face the window. I wish I knew where we were going. "I plan to surprise you a lot throughout our life together" my lips twitched into a smile at his sentence and I felt my cheeks beginning to blush. I hope we get to spend our life together.

"You really think we're gonna grow old together?"

"I hope so" I felt my cheeks beginning to heat up as I felt his hand run along my thigh. I ran my hand along his and linked our fingers together. I smiled at the way his touch made me feel. A comfortable silence fell around us, the only sound in the car was coming from the radio.

It felt like we had been driving for hours, when in fact it was probably only around 20 minutes. Odell brought the car to a stop and slid his hand from mine.

"Don't move" he gently whispered, his lips against my temple.

"I can't see to go anywhere, Odell" he lightly laughed. He pressed a peck to my temple and then he climbed from the car. I slumped back against the seat, trying so hard to keep my excitement reeled in. I even bit down on my lower lip to stop my lips from spreading into too wide of a smile. I jumped as the passenger door was pulled open causing Odell to laugh.

"Don't need to be so jumpy, Babe" he leant over me to unfasten my seatbelt and then helped me to climb out. He moved so that he was stood behind me, his hands taking a hold of my arms as he guided me forward. I could faintly hear the sound of yapping in the distance which just heightened my interest.

"Hi Odell, you can both go straight in" before I could question what was going on, I was guided through a gate. My stomach began to bubble with excitement as I felt fur against my legs, along with tiny little paws.

"Odell, can I remove the blindfold now?" he lightly chuckled, his hands dropping from my arms so that he could remove the blindfold. I blinked due to the harsh sunlight, my hand flying up to cover my mouth as I glanced down at the puppies dancing around mine and Odell's feet.

"They're Australian Shepherds, and this one here..." he bent to pick up the puppy who was sat on his foot. "She's yours."

"Are you serious?" light tears were rolling down my cheeks as I took the puppy from him. "Hi Cutie" I giggled as she instantly began to lick at my cheek.

"Happy birthday, Demi."

"This is the best present ever. She's better than the bike I got when I was 7" he lightly laughed as he leant to kiss my forehead, my attention fully turning to the overexcited puppy.

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