Perfect

Chapter Forty Three

-2 months later-

-ALEX-

  I held my keys with my teeth as I threw my arms into my leather jacket, taking the keys back into my hand again when I pulled it completely on as Stefan opened my bedroom door.

  "Jeez, does NOBODY in this house knock?" I voice my clear annoyance to the world.

  "Where are you going?" He eyes me. "I thought we were going celebrating for your 23rd."

  "No can do," I spoke, adjusting my sleeves against my wrist. "Got a hot date with my girl."

   "Another one?" He sighs, crossing his arms as he leans against the frame to my bedroom door. "You've gone on a date with this girl nearly every single day the past month or so."

   "Not nearly every single day, I think that's an exaggeration," I think about it. "I mean, believe me I know it's not nearly every single day because the days I'm not with her, I'm wondering why I'm not with her, and wish I was." I stare off into the distance. "And there are many days like that."

   "That's literally the sappiest thing I've ever heard," I roll my eyes. "Jeez, are you ever going to introduce her to us?"

   "Never," I throw at him before I walk past, and down the spiralled stairs towards the grand front door of our mansion. "I love her too much for that!"

   "Wait, you love her!?" Is all I heard before I closed the front door behind me, grinning at the shocked tone of his behind his words.

   I could drive to Ava's house in my sleep now, that's how used I got to the route to her place. It has been nearly 3 months since we first started dating, and it has been the best few months of my life to date.

   As soon as I jumped out of my car, a random Emma just ran out from nowhere, linking her arms around my leg in an attempt for a huge hug.

   "Hey!" I knelt down to pick her up, letting her hug me properly as I carry her, closing the door of my car and locking it.

   "Happy birthday Alex!" She exclaims, pulling away from me but kept her arms around my neck. "Mummy said you're 23, so you're old now!"

   "Hey, that's so unfair!" I stick my tongue out at her. "You're going to be 23 one day as well."

   "I know, but that's going to be in a looooooong time, you're 23 now so you're old now!"

   "Wow, you're exactly like your Mother, you're two big meanies." I tease as Ava walked out of her house, smiling as she wiped her hands down her denim covered thighs.

   "What are you two doing?" She smiles brightly as she saw Emma giggle into my shoulder.

   "Emma just told me I'm now ancient apparently."

   "Well to be fair, you kind of are."

   "See, I told you, you two are big meanies!" I gasp playfully, causing both girls to burst out laughing again.

   "Alex, come inside, Emma has something she wants to give you."

   "What?" I look down at Emma again, who nods enthusiastically my way. "You didn't get me a present, did you?"

   "Yeah!" She looks shocked that I thought she'd never get me a present for my birthday.

   "EmEm, you didn't need to do that," I pinch her nose gently, causing her to giggle again. "Seriously girls, you didn't have to."

   "Yes we did, because you're Alex and we love you!" Emma exclaims, and I raise both my eyebrows whilst glancing towards Ava who suddenly became slightly red with embarrassment.

   "Why don't you ask your Mummy if she would tell me that she loves me, eh?"

   "Mummy," Emma began to speak up. "Why don't you tell Alex that you love him?"

   "Because Emma," She slightly bends down so she is eye level with her daughter who I am still carrying. "Alex is a silly person who has to work harder for me to say that to him."

   "See how mean she is to me, Em?" I look down at Emma again. "But at least you love me, right?"

   "Yeah, like this much Alex!" She spreads her arms out as far as she could, making me laugh.

   "Thank you sweetheart," I gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and then turned to Ava again. "Well it looks like one's down, and there's one more Perfect girl to go."

   "Just get in the house, Darkbloom." I smirk as she turns away from me, walking ahead of us back into the house.

  "I love it when you walk in front of me, it's a lovely view."

  "Alex, stop!" She swivells around quite violently. "You're literally carrying my daughter!"

  "I love messing with your Mum, look how mad she gets." Both Emma and I cascade into a fit of laughter, causing Ava to roll her eyes with a smile on her face, and turn back around to continue on into the house.

   Upon entering the house, I place Emma back down onto the ground before she runs off into the living room. I follow her in there after closing the door, finding both girls at the opposite end of the room, Ava placing a blue box into her daughter's hands.

   Upon seeing me, Emma ran up towards me, extending her arms to put the box in my direction. I crouch down to her height, taking it off of her.

   "Let's have a look at this then," I smile at her, opening the ribbon.

   "I hope you like it, Alex." She beams at me. I pull the top of the box off to find something wrapped in tissue paper.

   "Now, will you look at that?" I ask after pulling the picture frame out of the box, looking at the picture of me, Ava and Emma inside.

   "She saw the picture frame and knew she wanted to get it for you." Ava said as she sat herself down onto the sofa. Emma hiding her face behind her hands causes me to smile and reach over for her.

   "Come here, EDP," I pick her up again, falling back onto the sofa next to Ava. She burst out laughing as I hug her tight, still with the picture frame in my hand. "I love it so much Emma, and it's going straight up in my bedroom at home when I get back."

   "Promise that you like it?" She holds out her little finger.

   "Pinky promises forever that I love it." I reply back, linking my pinky finger with hers. I then look towards Ava, who had one leg over the other and her hands entwined over her knee. "And shall I expect your gift later tonight?"

   "Alex," Her smile drops and she playfully hit me across the shoulder. "Not in front of Emma, please."

   "I'm joking." I reach over and plant a sweet kiss on Ava's cheek before I look down at the little 4 year old again who was focused on the picture frame she had just gifted me, smiling. She probably caught sight of the ever so hilarious Rory the teddy lion again who had his place right in the middle of the picture, in Emma's arms. "You all right, Ems?"

   "Yeah," She replies, looking up to me again. "It's my favourite picture ever!"

   "I'm glad," I sat up again. "It's my favourite picture too."

   "Mine too." Ava joins in. I smirk, tapping my cheek which caused her to giggle as she leaned over, wrapping her arms loosely around me as she pressed her lips against my cheek in response to my earlier kiss on her cheek.

  "Ew, that's icky!" Emma pulls a horrified face, causing us to both burst out laughing.

  This was definitely turning out to be the best birthday ever, for sure.

Author's Note: Please remember to vote and comment!

I'm a very bad student right now because exams start in 4 weeks and here I am, writing stories instead of revising.

My teachers would be massively disappointed in me if they knew, oh dear haha.