Target Down - The Ghost Assassin

18 Spree

About to turn 18... Yet another milestone my mother wanted me down to celebrate with her. I didn't mind. I needed a good dose of my Nate and co.

With my schooling years now at an end, I was coming on adulthood. So with a Spring in my step, a little black book safely tucked away in my luggage and a plane ticket clutched in my hand, I faced my aunt and uncle one last time. I'd probably see them over a festive holiday or something but hopefully not too soon. My uncle, I would definitely miss. His wife... Not so much.

Before walking off through the terminal I give them an appreciative hug and promise to call them soon. One last look and I'm gone.

Landing at home was pretty much the same senario as my 16th birthday, with my mother standing there with arms wide  only Nathan had nearly quadrupled in size. The man was ripped! He was now not only tall as heck, I could hardly wrap my arms around him.

Looking at my mother trying very hard to control her tears, I raise an eyebrow at her. "You've been feeding him, haven't you?" I made sure to lace my tone with as much suspicion as to make both of them guffaw hysterically.

That night I discovered the new tradition that my home coming consisted of Nate sleeping over and dealing me the dish on everything that I've missed out.

That's how I learned that my dear friend took my YouTube advice literally. This man had exhausted every martial arts video YouTube could offer and when the videos had run out he'd gone and joined a mixed martial arts dojo. I was so proud of him.

As we fell asleep curled up into each other he had made me promise him that we'd have a sparing day at the dojo he frequented, as well as convincing Cheyenne and Mila to do something to celebrate the fact that all of us had graduated.

To me... I first had to survive my mother's emotions of me turning 18.

The next morning there were no secret looks, nods or winks between my mother and Nate over breakfast. There was however, my mother's announcement about taking the next couple of days off work.

Oh boy, I was in for it this time, much to my friend's entertainment, and so began the bithday planning without any imput from me what-so-ever.

Soon after the planning began, there was a knock at the door, to which Nate jumped up and let the expectant guests in.

Squeals of joy reverated through out the house as Mila and Cheyenne's gazes landed on me. Arms being thrown around for hugs, kisses on cheeks and happy tears falling. Our close group of friends were back together and just as strong as it had always been. That made my heart pound with love. I missed this so much.

The catch up conversation steered to that of my birthday and the plan these toturous souls came up with was to start our day with a shopping spree, then a trip to a new skeakhouse that had recently opened and were offering an all you can eat buffet. Last but not least a night out at one of the trios favorite clubs just outside of town. My mother, would be joining us until we would head out to go clubbing. She would need all her strength and wit about her to deal with four highly hung over young adults.

I was nervous to say the least having my mother tag along with my unfiltered friends for the day. This group was out there crazy, but that's what made them the ultimate friends and fun to be around. Nate was flamboyant and expressive. Mila was blunt and not shy at all. Cheyenne's mouth was a damn side quicker off the the mark than her head could ever be. My mother, well, she was my mother, she'd had never been around our group outside the house before, so her reaction was going to be new to all of us. So I was expecting to be embarrassed at every turn.

The shopping trip didn't go too badly at all. I discovered that my mother could not only keep up with my friend's banter but had good taste in clothes and trinkets which made shopping for gifts much less painful than I origionally anticipated.

I could actually go as far as saying my mother was hip enough to hang with. Which made me oddly proud.

With the shopping done, our energy wavering and our stomachs complained in a choir chorus, we decided to head out from the mall.

With my mother's sedan filled with bags and friends we made our way to the all you can eat buffet. Staving and ready for meat we walked around the tables, grabbing plates and picking the dishes that caught our attention and hunger. We sat down on the plush, comfortable booth seats under a pale yellow light hanging from a lantern type shade. Drank from a bottle of red wine my mother ordered and just totally enjoyed the atmosphere, company and delightful conversations about everything and nothing all at the same time and then repeated this pattern a couple of times. Our laughter increasing in both volume and length with every sip of wine.

A bithday that was definitely worth remembering.

On the ride home to drop my mother off and to get ourselves club ready, I was drawn into a self made bubble of a sad but proud silence. I wished it could always be this way. I wished my father could see the friends I had. How pure and awesome they were.  Who wouldn't want this?

One day, when the time comes, I would come back and rebuild the times like this with them, if I could. Because this right here  was precious.

Nate, noticing my silence, nudges my arm to claim my attention and to see if I was ok, with a nod from me he then pulls me in for a side hug, tucking me into his side as snug as he could make it and just kept me there unnoticed by the sedans other ecstatically chatting occupants.

By the time the brakes were applied, the doors flew open and the girls poured out already in full sprint for the front door. My mother hung back and waited for Nate and I to climb out before she did the same and then unlocked the front door for the eager hoard.

The empty house burst with the giggling girls as we headed up to my room to clean up and change for our night out.

Getting club ready with a group of bitches wouldn't be the same without all the "you are not wearing that", "No I'll do your hair, you're useless at that" as well as all the "Oh my god you're smoking hot!"

Once all the comments had been made and we were dressed to the nines we made our way back down stairs to say good night to my mother as she both blushes and glares at us for the way we're dressed. Before she could throw in her conservative motherly response, Mila yelled out that our Uber was outside, saving us from the parental lecture.

It was time for some young adults to party and party hard.