Junie - JJ Maybank

8

Present day... Emery's POV

I wake up to the sun shining into my bedroom and I have to squint my eyes at the sudden brightness to grab my phone and check the time.

I see that it is past eleven, so I get up and throw a sweater on over my tank top and shorts.

I walk into the living room to see all the pogues sitting on the couch and chair.

"Hey! Look who it is!" Kie says, making everyone look at me.

"Happy birthday, sis," John B says.

"Happy birthday, Emmy," Pope tells me.

Happy birthday, Junie," JJ says.

Kiara gets up and hugs me, "happy birthday, Emery," she tells me.

I sigh, "thanks guys," I tell all of them.

I look around the room at all the decorations. They decorated the living room and kitchen with surf board and marijuana leaf decorations all over.

Seeing all the decorations made me a little sad because my dad would always decorate the living room and kitchen with whatever my obsession was at the time.

Last year it was surfboards and the beach, the year before it was skateboards and Hawaiian hibiscus flowers, and when I was in the third grade, it was Harry Potter.

John B gets up and walks into the kitchen then comes back with a plate in his hands.

On the plate is two blueberry waffles, another one of dad's birthday traditions. We always had blueberry waffles...

John B gives me the plate and I thank him then the realization hits me, "how did you make these when we have no power?" I ask my brother.

He sighs and looks at Kiara then she speaks, "I made them at my house..."

I nod, "of course... thanks Kie."

She says you're welcome then I take the open seat on the couch next to JJ and as soon as I sit down he starts nipping at my waffles.

I pull the plate out of his reach, "why are you going for my birthday waffles?" I ask him.

He looks at me with an annoyed look, "Kie didn't bring any for us," he tells me with an annoyed voice that fits his face perfectly.

I cut off a piece of my waffle and give it to JJ.

He gives me a smile, "thank you... happy birthday," he tells me.

"So Ems," John B starts, "what do you want to do today?" He ask me.

I shrug "I don't really have any ideas." I answer.

He nods and claps his hands together, "good because we actually already have the day planned out."

I let out a small laugh, "okay... what're we doing today then?" I ask all of them.

JJ is the one to answer, "we're gonna go surfing, and we planned a bonfire, pogues only."

I look at them with a look that says no thank you but Pope speaks before I can actually say anything, "come on, Emmy. You only turn 17 once."

I look at all of them and see their faces, they all look so excited.

I sigh, "fine... but only if we can listen to Marley all day."

They all cheer and say deal then Kiara speaks up, "open your presents, Emery."

I nod, "okay," I say and everybody gets up and walks into the kitchen before coming back with one present in each of their hands.