Birthday Surprise

Chapter 1

Carmen
Over the next few weeks, I focus on my schoolwork. It feels weird to go to school or even act somewhat normal again after the past few months. It hurts to go anywhere without Andrea but I still have my other friends. It helps a bit knowing that Claudia and I have each other's backs.
One Friday after school, we're hanging out at her house with our friends Courtney and Miranda for a sleepover. Claudia came up with the idea to make it like a 'traditional sleepover' that we've seen on screen for the fun of it. We agree and do everything to a t- we make popcorn, told people to bring their own pillows and blankets which we sprawl over the living room, watch iconic 2000s films, and talk about boys while giving each other mani pedis.
"What's the latest with you and Josh?" Courtney asks me.
"What's the latest with you and Nathan?" I fire back.
I knew that she likes him but hasn't said anything to his face.
"Touché."
"I want to know the answer," Miranda says.
"I just basically admitted that the answer is nothing," I say.
She gives me her bitch I know you're lying face that I've seen many times since we met.
"It is. We've only hung out a few times. Claudia was there so it doesn't count as anything special."
"Why haven't you hung out with him by yourself?"
"It's 'cause he makes her nervous," Claudia says.
I grab my pillow and lightly smack her with it. She laughs.
"I didn't plan to have a pillow fight but we can do that too."
"Does he?" Miranda asks, ignoring us.
"No," I insist.
"Bullshit. I've seen the way you act around him," Claudia says.
"Interesting. Does he know that?" Miranda asks.
"I don't think so," I say, feeling embarrassed.
"Then I dare you to call him and tell him. You can use my phone."
"No."
"If you do it, I'll do the same thing with Nathan," Courtney says.
"Yeah right."
"Cross my heart."
"Alright. But only if you actually do it."
"I will," she says seriously.
"Okay. Hand me the phone," I tell Miranda.
"Really?" She asks incredulously.
"Yeah. A dare's a dare."
"Okay."
She unlocks the phone and hands it to me. They watch as I actually scroll through her contacts and find the right one. I'm practically shitting myself but try to act confident.
"Remember. You just have to say that he makes you nervous," Miranda says.
"Yeah," I say with understanding.
Although a huge part of me was hoping that I'd get his voicemail, of course it doesn't happen that way. My heart nearly stops when I hear his voice.
"Hey, Miranda," he says.
"Hey. It's actually Carmen. Miranda's just letting me use her phone."
"Oh okay. What's up?"
"Um, I was just calling to say that you make me nervous."
I immediately hang up before I could catch his answer. I practically toss the phone to the side and bury my face in my hands.
"Holy shit," Claudia says.
"I was just dicking around. I didn't think you'd actually do it," Miranda says.
"Believe me, I wish I didn't. But a dare's a dare like I said."
"Whew."
My face stops burning enough to look at Courtney.
"Your turn. I get to decide what you have to say," I say.
"Fine. What do you want me to say?"
"Wait. You're actually doing it?"
"Yeah. A good friend doesn't let their friend suffer alone."
"That's dark but thanks. You have to say that you have sexy dreams about him."
"What? That's a weird thing to say for our first conversation."
"I thought you didn't want me to suffer alone."
"Hey. If he's into it, this could go somewhere. If he's not, at least you'll know that," Miranda says.
"Alright. What's his number?" Courtney asks.
"I have it," Claudia says.
"Why do you have it?"
"Long story."
She hands the phone over, intending for Courtney to do the same thing that I did. She types the number into her own phone instead. She holds the phone to her ear and put her thumbnail near her mouth nervously as if to bite it.
"Hi. You might not know me but I'm Courtney Hunt. I'm friends with Claudia."
Pause.
"Oh okay. Well, I don't want to keep you if you're busy. I just wanted to say that I have sexy dreams about you."
Pause.
"Hello?" She asks, raising the phone to look at it and hangs up.
"Damn. Tough break," Miranda says.
"I'm sorry," I say.
"It's okay. You were right. I needed to do it to know if he was into me. Turns out that he isn't."
"You're too good for him anyway."
"Thanks," she says with a smile.
"And at least one good thing came out of this," Miranda says with a smirk.
"What?" Claudia asks.
"Josh has been blowing up my phone since you hung up."
"What? What did he say?" I demand.
"Oh, now you're interested."
"Shut up and just tell me."
"Great sentence. Anyway, he's asking what the hell is going on. He asked me where we are."
"Are you going to tell him?"
"Yeah. He knows half of the story. It's too late to leave him in the dark."
"Fine. Go ahead."
She looks at me.
"Hey, I could always make some shit up if you don't want me to do it."
"No. I'd rather face him now than later."
"Okay. If you're sure."
She texts a quick reply and puts her phone away. We keep hanging out but it feels different because of the past ten minutes. Apart from letting me know that he's on his way, we just let the current movie do the talking. I offer to answer the door since we all know who's at the door. I brace myself mentally and open it.