Teen Trials

Birthday Blues

"You wanted to see me?" Emma asked, walking into Amy's office.

"Yes ma'am. Sit down please." Emma threw herself down on Amy's couch and threw her legs over the arm of the couch. She wracked her brain for what she could have done wrong. Her homework was all done, she had straight A's and in the five months since Christmas she had only gotten a couple of swats for having a sassy mouth. "Daddy and I were talking about what you want to do with your birthday. We figured we could do a family thing tomorrow and a party next weekend when we have you again...anything you really want or need?"

Emma looked over incredulously at the other woman. "First of all I have more money than God, what could I possibly need?"

"Drop that elitism crap at the door. You are spending too much time with your parents." Amy scolded.

Emma rolled her eyes at that. "Second, Daddy said that dress was my gift through my wedding."

"Yeah then he saw you in it for formal and knew it was worth every penny." Amy said, shifting as she thought of the strapping she had earned for buying it. "So what do you want? Do you want a party?"

"THIRD," Emma continued as if Amy hadn't spoken. "I'm like buffy the vampire slayer, I don't do birthdays."

"What do you mean you don't do birthdays?" Amy asked.

"I mean I don't celebrate...something bad always happens on my birthday. One year my Nana died, one year they fired my nanny, one year my brother broke his arm...something always happens."

"That can't be true..."

"It is. If you really want to do something, we can have tacos and cake for a dinner tomorrow. Sounds good?"

"Is this some weird test?" Amy asked.

Emma laughed, "No for real I don't do birthdays."

"You don't want Honor and Logan to come over?"

"No ma'am." Emma waited a moment while Amy thought about that. "Can I get back to it?"

"Yes. You're coming over tomorrow still right?"

"I am. You have me for two whole weeks." Emma told her.

"I thought it was just Friday and Saturday until next weekend."

"I mean I can stay at my parents house, but they said they had something to do...so they will be gone."

"You know we'd like to have you full time, Ems. Don't be like that." Amy told her.

Emma swing her legs around and stood up. "I'm not being like anything. I will see you tomorrow after dance." She walked over and allowed Amy to give her a hug and kiss to her temple before leaving.

That night, Emma was anxious to get the night over with so she could relax at Amy and Hunters house for a few weeks. Her Mom had been home more, but colder and more distant, so Emma was glad to have space from that.

When she pulled into her driveway though she noticed there were big trucks in the driveway. Something she knew her mother would have a fit over.

She parked in front of the garage and went into the house. She wandered around and watched people pack up the house that she had lived in her whole life. Finally she spotted her father's secretary overseeing the sea of people in the room and walked up to her. "Hey, do you know where my dad is?"

"Hey Emma, he's in his office. You can go on in."

"Thanks." Emma said before going off to find him.

"Are we remodeling or something?" Emma asked.

Wes looked up from his laptop, surprised to see his daughter there. "Hey, princess. I thought you were with the Harts tonight."