Finding Jordyn

Chapter Six: Happy Birthday!

Carter's pov.

Update? I'm now dating Crash, who is a little more messed up than I originally thought. Also Crash is now supposed to go to prison tomorrow, which means I have to rely on someone I'd really rather not ask for help- Elizabeth. Taylor tried to date Gabe but ended up dating Max. Oh & Crash isn't going to prison courtesy of Elizabeth (I know, weird right?).

After receiving about a million and a half messages from Max, I showed up with Crash to Max's work where he was acting very weird. "Max? What's wrong?" I asked and he jittered until two familiar figures came out of the aisle and stared at me. "Carter?" A voice asked and I smiled wide, "Jordyn!" She ran over and engulfed me into a big hug, mom coming up and holding both of us from behind us. She wiped some tears from her eyes, "Crash this is my mom and my sister." "I figured, hi." he said smiling. "Hi, I'm Lori, this is Jordyn." Mom introduced. "Crash," he said and Jordyn giggled, "typical Carter I see." "I hate to break this up but you are in the middle of a very well lit store," Max said and mom grumbled, "you used to be cool Max."

 Carter led us to the back room of the store. "Hi," I said to Jordyn and she smiled, tears welling up in her eyes again. "We're gonna be together again, all of us." Mom said, handing me a burner phone and a number. "Tomorrow we're meeting here and leaving for a very special adventure. We get Russian passports! How fun is that?" Mom said a little too enthusiastic about this latest disaster we'd found ourselves in. I looked at Jordyn but she had stopped smiling and her stance was off. Max came in, "my shift is almost up and I'm not sure if the next guy is down to house 'America's Most Wanted' so I'd wrap this up if I were you." Jordyn flashed a worried look to Max but it was deeper than getting caught. "Tomorrow night. We'll leave this life behind baby, and we can be a family. Just the three of us." Mom said again, this time it felt like she was trying to convince herself and us that this was the right thing. Only this time it sounded wrong. "I love you" mom said. "I love you too.." I mumbled. "Has it been so long that you've already forgotten how it goes?" Mom asked in a slightly hurt voice. "Oh sorry.. No." I said and she smiled, "I love you." "Love you more." "Not possible" she said back and held my hand, "yes possible." I finished. Jordyn kept quiet during our exchange. "We have to leave now," mom said and Jordyn hugged me one more time, "it's okay to stay."

Jordyn's words echoed in my ear as they left the back room and headed for the car. I followed after them and my breath hitched as I watched her leave. Jordyn. She knew.

The next morning...

"Knock knock! Happy Birthday!" Dad exclaimed and woke me up. "What? It's my birthday?" I asked, confused and he smiled. "Yes. 6:06 am now you are officially 17." He said. "What happens now?" I grumbled, half asleep. "We wait 25 minutes and then we wake up Taylor." He said. "Even then she was smarter than me," I grumbled. "Wait.. what time was Jordyn born?" I asked and he tapped his chin, "6:16 am. Ten minutes to the dot after you." "So Tay is the youngest and the smartest then?" I surmised and he smiled. "And you are the oldest and most impatient," he joked. "Ha ha." I said sarcastically.

When me and Taylor made it downstairs the house was filled with Joan and Buddy, Max, and balloons. I stared at Taylor, "excuse us for a minute." We went into the other room since she seemed as equally confused as I was. "Do you get this every year?" I asked and she shook her head, "I dread my birthday. It was the yearly reminder of you and Mack not being here." "I can top that. I didn't even know that today was my birthday. I just turned sixteen a few months ago." I said. We went back into the kitchen and Buddy smiled, "the last time you two shared a birthday together you were three years old." "and you carried me around on your shoulders and said I was as high as a balloon.." I remembered suddenly and Buddy smiled, "that's right." "Was I wearing a plaid dress?" I asked and dad nodded, "yes you were." "you know.. Fourteen years apart.. You two deserve a birthday party." Gammy said and we smiled, "we would love a party." Even though it felt hollow without mom and Jordyn.