Sustainable

Chapter Ten

"Amy? It's time for breakfast, hon." A gentle knock woke me, and Carmen's sweet voice echoed in my large bedroom. "Breakfast? What time is it?" I rubbed my eyes lazily, and stretched my arms above my head.

"It's nearly nine, sugar. Better get there before the good stuff's gone." Her brown curls appeared around the door, and she smiled wholeheartedly. "Ro's up early, just for you."

This news made me jolt awake and she laughed. "Yeah, I know. She's feeling fine, too, Em checked her over already."

Pulling on my still new dressing gown, I hopped out of bed and peeked into Ro's bedroom - sure enough, her room was empty and the bed had even been made. I whistled in approval, and made my way to the kitchen.

It had been two weeks since the boys had left, and I felt a pang of sadness. I had missed Elliot terribly, and listening to Em and Ro bicker grew old quickly. Still, I thought as I pushed open the kitchen door. At least Elliot was due back in a couple of days, and I was excited at the thought. I'd even missed Levi, although I didn't really know him. I just enjoyed seeing him get told off by Carmen, I smiled wickedly to myself.

Pushing open the kitchen door, I sniffed the air and smiled. Fresh pancakes.

"Surprise!" Ro showered me in confetti, and I jumped back in surprise. "What's going on?" I asked, looking around at the brightly decorated kitchen. Paper chains and sequinned paper adorned the normally dull kitchen walls, and the slight movement occasionally flashed me a bright eyeful of pink or purple.

"It's your not-quite-birthday!" Ro grinned, and I smiled at her, still confused.

"Not-quite-birthday? Sounds very Wonderland-y to me."

"Well, since I don't know when your actual birthday is-"

"December."

"-I thought I'd make one up and we'll worry about the rest later. New life, new home, why not a new identity too? Whole new everything."

"Er..."

"Please? I spent ages putting up those stupid paper chains." Ro pouted, and I relented. "Okay. It's my birthday today, Ro, however did you know?"

She smiled, a grin that said the cat got her cream, and I happily walked over to the table which was currently full of sweets, chocolates and assorted breakfast items. Eyeing up the chocolate chip pancakes in the corner, I made a dash for them, only to be swooped up before I could get them.

"Too slow, little miss."

"Elliot!" I gasped, swinging my arms around his neck and encasing him in a bear hug. "You're back!"

"Happy UnBirthday to you, Amy." he smiled. He held up the plate of pancakes, and I happily grabbed one, but not before punching him in the arm.

"Hey, what was th-"

"You disappeared without telling me where you were going, and then you stole the pancakes on my Not-Quite-Birthday. Which apparently, is my real birthday from now on."

He grinned again, and my frown melted. "I bought you a present."

"Forgiven."

"Here. Wrapped it up myself and everything. Got the battle scars to prove it." He held up his pinky, and the smallest slit could be seen.

"It's a papercut." I remarked, deadpan.

"It stung like a moth-"

"Present time! Here, we all got you a little somethin'. Partly welcome, partly birthday." Carmen interjected, cutting off Elliot's would-be profanity. She handed me a small pile, each with small handwritten notes attached. I smiled, placing them on the table, touching each one delicately.

I unwrapped Elliot's first, and gasped. "A camera?" I grinned, throwing my arms around him. "Elliot, I can't accept this. This is a state of the art, professional camera. It's way too much. It's-"

"Yours. It might seem a bit dull here, but you could take some awesome pics of us guys. Start your new life by making lots of memories." He smiled, and I felt tears well up.

"Its perfect, Elliot."