diary of a teenage girl

Chapter 9: Annual Fantasy (Iris' pov)

(Time Jump) October 28th, Friday

Today is October 28th, and it's a Friday. I've spent the whole month of October hanging out with our friend group at least two times a week, and every other week I go on a date with James. In between, we text until we fall asleep, he walks me to and from school, and we sit across from the window in our apartment like we once did on September 29th, on a Wednesday. I memorized these dates, simply from thinking of them so often.

Tiana's Halloween party is this evening, and it's currently four. I am meeting her at her house once I'm dressed, and I will help her prepare. I am Avery Grambs, while James is Jameson Hawthorne, mind the pun. I dress myself in a ballgown and run happily to the parking lot. James stands there in a suit, holding a single rose to him. I ran into his arms, capturing the moment in my mind. His touch makes my heart go like a race car and pulls my hair back to kiss my neck.

"Hello, Avery." He whispers in my ear. I giggle. "Jameson, is that rose for me? What about the press?" I say breathily. He laughs and tucks the rose behind my ear, pressing me into him. He kisses me intensely, much less gently than he once did. He lets go of me, and I feel lightheaded as if he was the only thing holding me up. "Time to go?" He says, and I merely answer "mmhmm," dazed.

"Come on, princess." He says, guiding me into the passenger seat. "It's heiress," I say. "Okay, heiress." He says, buckling my seatbelt for me. As he drives I talk to him about the book, filling him in. He answers with "mmhmm" and "ohh," while he focuses on the road. He should seem ignorant, but I feel reassured that every word is going right into his brain.

Once we arrive, I start to open my door as he's getting out. He appears at my side. "Heiresses don't open doors for themselves, silly." He says, reaching his hand out and assisting me out of the car. He keeps his hands in his pockets as I loop my arm through his. "You made it!" Tia says, opening her door. When she was twelve, her parents won the lottery. They obtained one hundred million dollars, and they rarely spend it.

Although they did spend around eight hundred thousand on their house, which is a steal for their mega mansion with four floors. Tia has offered many times to pay for my education or help us out, but I refuse every time. James pulls me inside. Her house looks as though it's already finished, with not very Halloween decorations, so I ask her what she needs help with.

James unhooks his arm from mine and turns me by my waist to look at the staircase. "This," he says, leaning down to my ear. "Surprise!" Confetti rains down as people emerge from everywhere. I gasp and step back, bumping into James as he steadies me. I turn to face him and kiss him. I laugh, "You have lipstick on you, sorry." I wipe his cherry red stained lips.

Everyone is wearing formal wear. "Happy birthday, princess," James says to me. I am ushered away from him, bombarded with happy birthdays. Tia drags me to the kitchen, where a four-tier vintage cake sits on the table. It's pink and white, with "Happy Birthday Iris!" Iced on the top. Hikaru takes an apron off. "You made this?" I ask him.

"James and Tia helped," Hikaru says. "Make a wish, birthday girl," James tells me. I count the candles with my finger. "Trust me, there are seventeen," Hikaru assures me. I blow out the candles, wishing that this year will be the most memorable of all. They sing me happy birthday as I cut into it, and Aspen catches my slice as I almost drop it on the ground.

"Sorry," I say, and he gets me another piece. "Don't drop this one, Iris, you're just blowing money at this point." He jokes. "Ha ha, whatever," I say, tasting the cake. Tangy cherry and passionfruit tantalize my tongue. I tell everyone that they can dig in, and so they do. Tia places a ruby plastic tiara on my head, and James pulls me to a chair.

"Thank you guys," I say, gulping down tears. "Of course," Tia tells me. Tia's birthday was in May, and I remember wishing that I would have a birthday party like hers. "When is your birthday, James?" I ask him worried. He looks at me nervously. "Well . . . Last week?" He says. My mouth gapes open. "Last week? I missed your birthday. James, I'm so sorry." I say to him, feeling disappointed.