Crossing Borders

Clean Intentions

"Happy Birthday to you..." They sang.

Damien laughs and blew his candles as everyone clapped.

"Alright!" Derek cheers.

"Happy Birthday, man." Ash says clapping him on the back.

"Thanks man..." Damien says.

"Good thing you all got black listed on time." Mr. Cayce says. "Or else this would've been a very lonely vacation."

"Thanks for inviting us along Uncle Rhaumwald." Ash says.

"Well, it would be pretty cruel if I didn't, won't it?" he laughs, "I can still remember how you boys would go crazy whenever we'd say we're going out of town. I don't think I can handle a 17 year old tantrum."

Damien stifles a laugh, "I don't do tantrums dad."

"Yeah, but you're a hell lot of good in cold shoulders and silent treatment, aren't you?"

They all laughed.

"So what you wish for, Damien?" Jared asks.

Damien grins and stares at the cake, "Same as last year..." he said in almost a whisper.

They all smiled and nodded. Then Mrs. Matthews walked up to him and gave him a motherly hug from behind and kissed him on the top of his head.

"Well, I think it'll come true when it's the right time." she says.

"Thanks Aunt Hannah." Damien gave her arm a light squeeze.

"Now, we'll leave you kids to whatever you want to do." Mr. Matthews says. "Just please, don't get drunk."

"Dad we're 17, no bar would let us drink much more get us drunk." Ash says.

"But brawling knows no age." he reminded.

"Don't worry uncle," Allana says, "I'll keep an eye on the boys."

"And I'll keep an eye on the girl." Collin wraps his arm around her Allana's waist.

Everyone knew of their engagement and they are not showing any signs of going against it, even if it was arranged. But it wouldn't be official until their 18th birthday, a year more and they'll practically be husband and wife.

"You better." Mrs. Matthews says giving Collin a playful look, "We'll see you later."

The grownups entered the house while they were left by the beach.

"So what are we gonna do?" Ash asked.

"I don't know about you guys, but I have ladies to please." Derek says eyeing a girl in bikini who's passing by them sending a wink his way.

"Hey, hey... hold your hormones there casanova." Jared says, "This is Damien's birthday, it's our day."

"But the ladies-"

"Will be safer without you." The others says, except for Damien who stifled a laugh.

"Let him go, you all should." Damien stands up, "I'll just bore you."

"Please Damien, please, please don't tell me you'll be writing on the sand like the time we went to Aruba." Derek says, exasperated. Damien just shrug in response. "That is boring."

"I think it's sweet." Allana said. "You shouldn't have given up on it Ash."

"And what? Be in competition with lover boy?" Ash teased, "No thanks."

"Say what you want." Damien says, "I think it'll move Astrid to come home."

"Well if you're going to play in the sand the whole day, bring this." Jared tosses a bottle of sun screen and towel at him. "We don't want you to burn do we? Astrid might not recognize you."