Shattered Trust

Ch.15: A Birthday to Remember

Claire woke up on her seventeenth birthday feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. The day felt special, different from her previous birthdays. She could sense something big was coming, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Downstairs, the house was already filled with the delicious aroma of her favorite breakfast-pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Her parents had gone all out, decorating the kitchen with balloons and a colorful "Happy Birthday" banner hanging over the table.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" her mom exclaimed as Claire entered the kitchen, wrapping her in a warm hug. Her dad was right behind, holding a small box wrapped in shiny paper.

"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad," Claire said, her heart swelling with love for them. She sat down at the table, ready to dive into the feast they had prepared.

As she ate, her parents exchanged knowing glances, clearly excited about something. Once breakfast was over, her dad handed her the small box.

"This is just the beginning," he said with a smile. "Open it."

Curious, Claire carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a sleek keychain with a single key attached to it. She looked up at her parents in confusion. "What's this for?"

Her mom grinned, unable to contain her excitement any longer. "It's the key to your new apartment, Claire. Happy birthday!"

Claire's eyes widened in shock. "What? An apartment? Are you serious?"

"Completely serious," her dad said, his smile widening. "We wanted to give you something special for your seventeenth birthday, something that would give you a little more independence as you get older. The apartment is yours, and we've arranged for your friends to live with you too. They already know about it and agreed."

Tears of joy welled up in Claire's eyes as the reality of the gift sank in. An apartment-her own space to share with her best friends. It was more than she ever could have imagined.

"This is... amazing," Claire said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I don't even know what to say. Thank you so much!"

Her mom hugged her again, tears in her own eyes. "You deserve it, Claire. We're so proud of the young woman you're becoming, and we wanted to give you a space where you can grow and make new memories with your friends."

Her dad nodded. "We trust you to make the most of this opportunity. And of course, we'll always be here for you if you need anything."

Claire couldn't stop smiling. "I can't wait to tell the girls. They're going to freak out!"

"Actually, they're already waiting for you at the apartment," her mom said with a wink. "We planned a little surprise for you there."

Claire's excitement doubled. She quickly finished getting ready and grabbed the key, practically bouncing with energy. Her parents drove her to the apartment, and when they arrived, Claire was stunned by how beautiful the building was. It was modern and stylish, with a great view of the city.

As soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted by the sound of her friends shouting, "Surprise!"

Madison, Emily, and Sarah were already there, grinning from ear to ear. The apartment was decorated with even more balloons and a huge "Happy Birthday, Claire!" banner strung across the living room.

"You guys!" Claire exclaimed, rushing to hug them. "This is incredible!"

Madison laughed. "We've been dying to tell you, but we had to keep it a secret. Can you believe it? Our own place!"

Emily nodded eagerly. "It's perfect, Claire. We've already started picking out rooms and making plans for how to decorate."

Sarah wrapped an arm around Claire's shoulders. "This is going to be the best year ever. Just imagine all the fun we're going to have living together!"