Vanessa didn't want a party for her birthday. Not even when her parents proposed giving her the house for the entire day to invite her friends and participate in reckless behavior until daylight. She was 18 after all, and although Christian is extremely protective, he trusts Vanessa to be responsible.
To their shock, she had something else in mind.
"No." Chris shakes his head frantically. "And my answer won't change."
Like a five year old girl, Vanessa pouts her lips and crosses her arms over her chest. "Then I guess I'll spend my birthday crying in my bedroom."
Gabby, who was pouring herself and her husband a cup of coffee, interjected, "Are you sure you don't want the house to yourself? We'll give you any amount of money you want."
"I want to go to Malibu-"
"That's not happening." Christian booms.
"That's not fair! I'm eighteen, I can't have my parents tell me how to spend my birthday."
"Honey, what do you plan on doing all alone in a Malibu inn?" Gabby asks, leaning against the counter opposite her daughter.
"I won't be alone. I'm going with Billie."
What intimidated Gabby was not the absurd statement, rather the assertive look in her daughters eyes. She wasn't asking for permission, she was telling them, specifically her mother who had forbidden Billie from seeing her, that she was indeed going, and no one would stop her.
After sipping his coffee, Christian oblivious began to consider it.
"If Billie will be there, I don't see why not."
Vanessa swings her arms up in cheer. "Yay!" and then she jumps and wraps her arms around her father.
"But I will call her when you both get there to make sure you aren't lying."
Although he trusts his daughter, Chris understands that she's a teenager. Who's to say she isn't using Billie as a lie to spend the entire weekend with some boy. The reason they would've even allowing her to throw a party in the first was because they knew Billie would be present.
"Maybe before we make any rushed decisions, we should set out some rules." Gabby proposes. "To ensure that you and Billie are going to be responsible."
Before Vanessa could give her an attitude filled response, Chris intervenes, waving a dismissive hand as he says, "There's no need. I'm sure Billie will be giving her enough rules when they get there."
He trusted Billie immensely, which is understandable. When she was living with them, she'd proven herself to be quite protective of Vanessa.
Despite her recklessness as a teen, Billie didn't allow Vanessa even the smallest chance to mimick that behavior. Chris knew that no matter what happens in Malibu, none of it would risk Vanessa's safety, or ruin her future. As far as he believes, his daughter was in safe hands.
On that Friday after Vanessa was all packed and ready, Billie pulled up in her dodge and helped her pack in bags that were far too many for just a weekend.
Christian had his hands in his trouser pocket, and shades covering his eyes as he patiently waited to send his now 18 year old daughter out on her own. His wife was beside him, noticeably tenses since Billie had arrived.
They weren't new to leaving their daughter in Billie's hands. Except usually, they'd be the ones packing the car and the two girls would be saying their goodbyes.
Once everything was packed in, Billie and Chris engaged in a firm, and long handshake, while Chris rambled about how appreciative of her he is.
"It's really hard to watch her grow up, you know? Just a few years ago, she wanted to spend her birthday together, and the only thing she cared about was how big the cake was. Now she wants to go out on her own without us.."
He dragged the talk and made it longer than it should be. While Billie stood, listened, nodded, smiled, agreed, Vanessa was losing her patience in the passenger seat of the car, phone in hand while she rolled her eyes at every other word.
"....so grateful that she could have someone there for her to look after her at times like these, someone I know I can trust, and someone she really looks up to.."
At some point he was just rambling. It was hard for him more than anyone. Not only was his child all grown up, but she was less interested in spending time with her parents and more intrigued with being away from home.
"...and someday she'll be off to college, and even though I wish I could send you off along with her, I know that isn't possible. She has to do it on her own at some point, right?"
"I don't know, I'm willing to follow her anywhere."
Chris chuckled curtly, mistakening the statement for a joke.
When it was clear he could no longer stall with conversation, he finally released Billie's hand, nodding towards the car to Vanessa.
"Seems like she's ready to go."
Billie laughs. "Yeah." then turns back to him. "She'll be fine. I'll take care of her. I promise."
He smiles. "I know."
That positively certain smile lifted Billie's spirits. When Vanessa told her she planned on spending her birthday with her, she was especially skeptical of Chris' approval. If he knew of the relationship they shared though, they would be having an entirely different conversation.
She turned her eyes to Gabbys briefly, then quickly and awkwardly diverted them.
She said a final goodbye to Chris, ignoring Gabby almost completely.
He was too engrossed in the moment to see that the both of them hadn't interacted since the brief greeting they shared upon Billie's arrival.
When Billie started the car, Chris leaned against the door of the passengers seat where his daughter sat.
"Listen to Billie." he said as a form advice.
She rolled her eyes, hiding a smile. "Yes, I know. And if there's an emergency that Billie can't handle, call mom and dad." she recited the rules she was usually given when her parents would leave for a business trip.
"Right. And easy on the spending."
"No promises byeeee."
Before her father could retaliate, she rolled the window up. He sighed, waving as they drove off.
The moment they were at a suitable distance, Vanessa reached over, grabbing Billie's face and kissing her cheek multiple times.
"Do you want us to crash?" Billie warned, although the smile on her face contradicted the disapproving tone.
Vanessa released her. "I'm sorry. I'm just so excited!" she rolled the window down, sticking her head out.
"Hey, careful." Billie called.
She was ignored as Vanessa stuck her entire half body out, the night wind blowing through her dark hair, as she screamed at the passing cars.
"WE'RE GOING TO MALIBU!!!"
