Learning From The Bad Boy

Birthday Surprises

Three Weeks Later

Ed and Irene were the grandparents I'd always longed for, but never got. Now they were in my life and I couldn't be more thankful. Sadly enough, they had headed back to their own home shortly after giving me the green light to stay at the beach house as long as I needed.

Axel wasn't fond of the idea of me staying at the house by myself and had repeatedly said, 'You could just stay with me' as if it were that simple.

I'd be lying if I said that the house wasn't lonely, but I'll be damned if the view didn't make up for it.

The buzzing of my phone pulled me from my thoughts of the last few weeks.

For a moment, I hesitated to answer. I'd talked to Sarah about Steven and she's expected me to call him or at least visit, but that's something I haven't done or even thought about.

Flipping it over so I could see the illuminated screen, I let out a relieved sigh at seeing Axel's name.

"Hello?" I was almost anxious to hear his voice being that I hadn't seen or heard from him since school ended for the week, commencing Winter Break.

"Come outside." He answered back shortly before ending the call.

I looked down at my clothes with a frown. A hoodie of Axel's and my sweatpants would have to suffice for the moment.

Shuffling to the door I wondered why exactly he'd called and why he'd been so short with me. Quickly, I pushed back the few stray flyaway hairs standing straight up on my head.

Unlocking the front door and pushing it open, my jaw dropped in shock upon seeing Lana, Joseph, Emily, Scott, and Andrew. What Andrew was doing here, I couldn't figure out.

"Happy Birthday!" They all cried out, smiling widely.

Birthday? Oh. I forgot about that.

The shock must've been clearly evident on my face.

"You forgot your own birthday?" Lana questioned, almost yelling.

I picked at the hem of Axel's hoodie. "Um, yes?" That happens often, right? I wasn't the first person on the planet to forget their birthday.

Lana looked outraged, her brown eyes opened widely. "No! Nobody forgets their own birthday!"

Joseph put an arm around Lana, and smiled at me. "It's okay because we remembered. Happy birthday C."

"Thanks Joseph."

It was then that I realized how happy I was. I wouldn't have ever met these people and befriended them, never would've had a boyfriend, well Axel, I would probably still be living with my uncle and her, never would've known about my mom, and never would've felt this degree of happiness.

These five people standing in my doorway with colorful balloons and a cake are irreplaceable.

I looked around, hoping to spot Axel. If Andrew was here, it meant he was too.

"Have you guys seen Axel?"

Andrew groaned loudly and ran a hand through his brown hair. "Axel this Axel that. I swear my mom talks about him more than she does anyone, and now you too?"