Blade (Watty Awards 2013)

Part two: Chapter 2

Part two: Chapter 2-

I suppose we did stay together longer than most would because when we pull away there are people staring at us. Some awed, others made a sick face and turned their backs.

I blush and bury my head in Santana's shoulder. She giggles, "Adorable isn't she?"

I don't hear an answer so I look up and glance around again. Mom is glaring at us, but her friends are smiling and laughing. Well, most of them are. "Girls, I've asked you not to that here!" she says as calmly as she can through gritted teeth.

"Sorry," Santana says. Mom had taken our news better than I would have expected. She didn't approve being that it was no secret she had a 'thing' with Santana's Dad, but she accepted it. She made it very clear that her 'Friends' wouldn't be as kind when passing judgments, something that hadn't changed about her over the five months that passed was her obsession with what people thought of us. Of course Santana and I expected nothing less of the snobs she called buddy. It would be out of character for them not to criticize.

"Leave the young lovers be!" Jay says patting out heads. "Don't mind Maggie! Love is something she wasn't capable of when she was your age!" I snicker alongside Santana. Jay is Santana's agent. He was responsible for handling whatever jobs she got outside of Griffin Designs and contract deals. It was funny, I swore mom would have handled all that for Santana; instead she just got her the best she could.

His name is Jason Michaels; it was a mouthful so we just settled for Jay. The man is much like the fun uncle at family get together.

"Did I hear it's your birthday?" he asks. I shrug. He sticks out his lower lip in a pout. "And still not a word. I will make you say something to me eventually Lillian, but for now." He opens his palm and gives me a small velvet box.

I take hesitantly. Inside is a silver and gold ring with a Griffin symbol craved neatly and beautifully in the middle.

"Wow." Santana says under her breath.

"I know your aren't fond of your Griffin status. So I thought I'd let you know, a griffin or ‘gryphon’ is a mythical creature with the head, neck and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. Its symbol is commonly used to signify 'Strength and Vigilance'." he says with a smile. "I know it's not the Rich and snobby Griffin your used to." he points an elbow to my mom who is just as mesmerized by the ring as Santana and myself. "But I thought it would put a smile on your facing knowing there is an alternative."

I'd be a liar if I didn't say I was impressed. Careful I slip the ring on my right ring finger. "Looks good on you!" Santana says. "He's right too Lilly. Nothing is just as it seems or set in stone. You choose who you wanna be!"

I nod my acceptance to Jay, truly thinking about it. What did I want to be? Rich and snobby? Or strong and vigilant?

***

My room is lined off with a bunch of presents. Dad went over board this year. This was his way of staying he was still sorry about the way he acted.

He never actually apologized for his words which hurt more than his actions, but I suppose that was also his way of saying he meant them.  

 I sigh slipping in bed shoes and everything only to have them pulled off by Santana. "You'll make the bed dirty if you keep climbing in it with footwear!" I shrug not caring. She sets my shoes down neatly by the bed and takes off her own then snuggles up beside me.

“So…” She smiles mischievously. “What are we doing for your birthday?”

I pause. “What do you mean?” My birthday was never anything big. Mom usually wasn’t here and Dad usually chooses to avoid being here the best he can. Georgia would make me a cake-Which I love- and sing happy birthday. Mom and Dad would send me gifts from separate locations. Moms always came with a card. The card always had words she would never say to me. It was obvious it wasn’t her hand writing much less her thoughts but Sammy’s and her ideas of what a mom would say to their child on a birthday. Dad at least had the decency to put a little more thought into what he got me. Normally that meant some sort of gadget I wouldn’t use because I was too lazy and impatient to figure out how I to actually use it.