Unexpected

Chapter One

The rain fell softly outside my window, causing me to stir. I rolled over to check my phone, and winced at the 27 unread messages. All of them from my best friend, Janine. Shit, I forgot I was supposed to meet her today. 10 minutes ago actually. I rolled out of bed and stumbled to my bathroom. As soon as I finished brushing my teeth, my phone started to ring. Without looking at who was calling, I answered. "Hello?"

"Where the hell are you, Stacy? Get your ass out of bed already!" Janine screeched. "Well good morning to you too." I responded. "Stace, quit messing around! You promised you'd be here." She said. " I know, I know. Ten minutes and I'm there. Okay?" I said. I could hear her rolling her eyes on the other end. "Hurry. Love you." She grunted. "Love you, too." I signed off. I pulled on my jeans, and my favorite green crop top. I've always liked the color green against my brown skin. I put my hair into a simple braid, and put on my little gold hoops. And with that, I grabbed my keys and prepared myself for one of Janine's infamous lectures.

                                            ********************************************

I walked into the diner and scanned the room for Janine. I spotted her immediately and approached her.  Her fair face glowed under the fluorescent lights in the diner. Her long, black hair fell past her shoulders. Her index finger impatiently tapped the table as she glared at her phone. As I sat down, she rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough." She snarled. "I'm here now, can we get this over with?" I whined. Her brown eyes lit up immediately, and she frantically  clapped her hands. "Yes!" She beamed. She pulled a giant binder out her bag and slammed it on the table. This should be good. "So, I'm thinking 23rd birthday extravaganza!" She exclaimed excitedly. I never made a big deal out of my birthday. Mostly because my parents were never there to celebrate it with me. When your dad's a business mogul, and your mom's a therapist to the stars, they don't really have time for you.  It was always me, whatever nanny I had at the time, and an expensive present my parents thought they could buy my love with. 

"I don't know Janine..." I hesitated.  "Please Stace! You never wanna celebrate your birthday. As your best friend, please let me do this for you! Please, please, please?" Janine pleaded. Looking at that cute little face, I caved. "Fine..." I sighed. Janine perked up and did a little dance. "Alright, so who are you inviting?" I asked. "Oh you know, some friends." Janine said as she flipped through the pages. I snatched the binder from her, and nearly passed out. She's invited half of our graduating class from college! I didn't even know most of these people.  "Janine Yang..." I grumbled. She gazed up at me with guilty eyes. "What the hell are you thinking? 200 people?" I scolded.  "What? Who wouldn't want to come to Stacy De Milo's 23rd birthday extravaganza?" She questioned. " Suck ups, and opportunists." I replied. "Come on, babycakes. It'll be fun!" She insisted. I'm not trying to be ungrateful, it's just a bit much. I have unwanted attention all the time due to who my parents are, and the name they've made for themselves. I have a hard enough time living in their shadow, and trying to please them. Now I've got 200 hundred people coming to our summer house so they can all bask in the glory of my parent's riches.  At that moment, bell above the diner door rang. I turned to see who it was and nearly lost my breath. What is he doing here?