worth the risk • dean portman

chapter ten

morgan

Sometimes, I hate that my birthday is on Christmas.

I mean, I like that I get double presents. It makes me feel like my birthday is somewhat normal. But then again, everyone is also with their families and almost everything is closed. That part definitely sucks, but there's nothing I can do about that.

Don't get me wrong, I also like being a Christmas baby. It makes me feel unique and honestly, somewhat cool. I know that sounds like such an obnoxious thing to say, but I promise I don't only look at it like that. I just like to remind myself every now and then how fun it is.

This year, I'm turning seventeen. It's the awkward birthday that's in between two very big ones, sixteen and eighteen. I want to do something special, but I already know it won't be as special as last year or next. Besides, three big birthdays in a row seems like a lot.

Seventeen also seems like such a weird age, and I haven't even turned it yet. My birthday is this weekend, which gives me only a few days to plan the best seventeenth birthday ever.

I know all of my friends will be with their families on both Christmas Eve and my birthday, which makes it impossible to hang out with anyone. I do get it, and I'm certainly not complaining. Spending the holidays with family is a good thing, and I certainly wouldn't want to take away from that.

I guess I could take all of my friends out to a nice dinner, but having a party is way easier. Besides, I'm sure I can convince my parents to go out with the Kennedys. They'll definitely need an excuse to spend a bunch of their Christmas money, and what better way to do it than a nice dinner with a bar?

Since today is our last day before winter break, I make sure that my reasons for having this are actually convincing. I know my parents will make me invite Jake, which is fine with me if it means I get to have the party. It'll be awkward if Jake catches me and Dean, but I'm honestly hoping that it won't be a problem.

I meet up with Ella and Sadie when the final bell rings, so I can fill them in on the plan. They're sleeping at my house tonight, and they're also my co-party planners. I don't usually host them, so I need all the help I can get. Sadie lives for birthdays and Ella never says no to a party, so I think I'm in good hands.

When I pull into the driveway, I have to swallow the nerves that have started to flow through my body. Asking to have something like this is nerve-racking, especially when I'm not sure how my parents will react.

"Mom?" I call out as I cautiously walk into my house.

"In the kitchen sweetheart! I'm making cookies!"

I stroll into the kitchen like nothing's wrong, and sit myself on one of the barstools at the island. Before I can even get a word out, my mom is bombarding me with typical mother questions. "How are you going to be seventeen in three days?"

"I have no idea." I answer honestly. "I have a question though."

She places the bowl of cookie dough on the island and looks at me. "What's up?"

"Are we doing anything on Saturday night?"

She furrows her brows as she starts to roll the cookie dough into balls. "I don't think so. Why?"

I take a deep breath. It's just a question. "Okay. I want to have a party for my birthday, and I obviously know that nobody will be able to do anything Thursday or Friday night. Since Saturday is the day after my birthday, I figured that I'd ask if you and Dad would let me have something. Would that be possible or is it a no?"

"I don't see why it would be a bad idea." she says with a shrug, placing a ball of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. "As long as you don't let it get too out of hand and invite Jake, I'm okay with it. Let me talk to your father, and I'll make plans for Saturday night so we're out of your way. Just give me a time to leave and come back. Happy Birthday Morgan."

A huge smile forms on my face as I get up and run over to her, giving her the biggest hug I can. "Thank you so much."

"You're so welcome." she responds, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

Once we let go, I run out the door and across the street to Jake's house. I ring the doorbell and wait, not at all shocked when Jake answers the door thirty seconds later. "Why are you here?"

I glare at him and cross my arms. "I'm here because I'm being forced to invite you to my birthday party on Saturday night, but you probably wouldn't want to come anyway."

He narrows his eyes at me and leans on the doorframe. "And why's that?"

"Because you won't know a single person there, and I'm sure you wouldn't like seeing me with my boyfriend." I say in a teasing tone, and I don't miss how his eyes darken with anger.

"It's up to you though." I continue with a shrug. "Otherwise you'll probably be home all by yourself. That sounds pretty sad to me."

He eyes me up and down before crossing his arms, which I'm sure is to mock me. "I'm good. I'm sure I'll figure out something to do that's much more entertaining."

I shrug again and turn around. "Suit yourself."

Now that a possible disaster is out of the way, I'm actually looking forward to this party. With Jake not coming, I won't have to worry about ignoring Dean and trying to make it seem like I don't have a boyfriend. And besides, that wouldn't be fair to Dean. He doesn't deserve that.

Ella and Sadie get to my house around six, and we create the plan for the party. The party will officially at eight, but my friends will most likely be here at seven. I told my mom to make dinner plans for seven as well, so that my parents will be be out of the house by the time my friends get here. With a lot of bargaining, I also convinced my mom to get my parents a hotel room for the night. I told her that she and my dad definitely wouldn't want to come home to such a mess, and I thought that getting a hotel room would be really smart.

Even though I had to pull some strings to get this plan working, I can't wait for the party.

I have a feeling that it'll definitely be one to remember.

**a/n**
hi guys i'm sorry for another sucky chapter, but i feel like this is like the last two books. i have to have a few fillers before the drama, so the book isn't short and the plot can be dragged out a bit. i'm sorry about it though, i feel bad that this one and the next few will be pretty boring. thanks for sticking with me though, it's much appreciated <3
-c