In Omnia Paratus (AU) - Book 2

Happy Birthday

My birthday was this Sunday and I wondered why everyone was making such a big deal about it. Last year I was so depressed everyone left me alone. Though this year it was weird and everyone wanted to do something, go somewhere.

"I don't know." I said to Lily.

"You must know what you want to do?" She moaned at me for like the fifth time that week.

"No and I really don't want to talk about it." I hummed scratching the back of my head as I walked into the classroom.

"Jenna."

"Lily." I copied.

"This is serious." She sighed.

"You pick then. I don't really care." I shook my head and I signalled that this conversation was pretty much finished and nobody mentioned my birthday until the actual day.

- - - - -

It was annoying because I wanted to wake up with Richard on my birthday but he had a meeting or something early in the morning when we had assembly so we weren't planning to see each other until after which was annoying.

"Assembly time come on." Lily said to coming into my room and pulling open the curtain. I almost died with the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. She didn't mention it was my birthday or that we had planned to go to a theme park today after assembly.

She hardly glanced at me until we had to sit next to each other in assembly.

We sat in silence in assembly so there was no talking there. I started to feel a bit sad. Had she forgotten? No because all we talked about was getting to go out today.

I was thoroughly confused.

- - - - -

"I felt so bad, I didn't even say happy birthday to her this morning." Lily said to Richard down the phone as she escaped her presence for a minute.

"That's exactly what we want. Complete surprise. I had to tell her I had a meeting this morning so I didn't have to see her. Where is she now?" Richard asked.

"With Lucy and Olivia having breakfast - I say that she doesn't even eat breakfast." Lily scoffed.

"Great, bring her to the place in half an hour." Richard smiled hanging up the phone.

- - - - -

"Oh look at this someone's acknowledging that it's my birthday." I frowned at Lily as Richard greeted me in the corridor with some balloons. We were actually heading out for a walk.

Before I could say anything more Richard threw the balloons away and handed me a little box. Bigger than a ring box, smaller than a necklace box and I smiled a little wondering what it was.

"Wait a second." He said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards one of the exits to the car park.

"Can't I open it first?" I complained until we stopped abruptly. "What's going on?" I mumbled moaning every word. I was getting a bit fed up.

"Open it." Richard nodded.

"Okay." I hummed placing my hand on top of the box and pulling at the lid. I opened it and it really confused me to begin with. There was a pair of keys. My eyes widened when I realised it.

"No." I snapped quickly looking back at Lily to see her grinning uncontrollably. "No." I said again completely in disbelief.

"Jenna, may I introduce you to your new car." Richard smiled leaning on the door and revealing it parked just outside the door with all my friends stood by it.

"No way." My eyes widened.

"Yes." Lily smiled excitedly.

"It's about time you actually had your own car, you've only been driving a year Jesus." Richard scoffed placing a hand on my shoulder as I stepped outside.

"It's from all of us." Lily confirmed as we stood there staring it.

"I can't believe it." I breathed heavily.

"Well you better. Come on." Lily smiled walking me towards the car to where we got inside and tested everything inside it.

"Thank you." I smiled stepping out of the car. "I literally don't know what to say. Thank you, all of you. You really didn't need to do this." I announced to the group.

"You deserve it." Oliver said suddenly.

"You are 18 now." Lucy smiled.

"Yeah I am." I smiled back super excited to get in and test it. I quickly turned to Lily and smiled widely. "Thank you especially."

"Don't thank me, it was Richards idea." Lily raised her eyebrows at me.

"You did this? You were in cahoots with all my friends?" I laughed at Richard walking up close to him.

"I wouldn't put it that way but yeah. I'm sick of you not having your own car, you need it for your job and to go out and come and see me..." Richard trailed off.

"Thank you!" I leaped up and hugged him.

"Well you can still thank me, I did pay my share." Lily scoffed behind us.

"I have to thank you all." I announced smiling my head off. I turned to every person in the group and gave them a big hug. "I can't believe it really."

"Well believe it Jen, come on let's see you go. We're driving to the theme park still yeah?" Oliver smirked at me as I stepped back from hugging him.

"Yeah? I'm up for that. Let me grab my things and we'll go." I smiled running off with Lily to get our things. Richard drove separately in his car and Matt in his car just so we could fit everyone in. I just drove Lily and myself there.

Richard took Lucy and Olivia and Marty. And Matt took the rest of the guys when Richard refused to take Oliver.

- - - - -

"I gotta say I'm very jealous." Matt smiled at me as we headed into the theme park.

"Jealous? You've had your own car for over a year!" I laughed.

"I know, but you're very lucky." He smiled glancing over at Richard as we queued to get in.

"I know I am." I smiled back looking at Richard thinking how fantastic he's been lately. Really really fantastic.

- - - - -

I hadn't stopped smiling all day. I was so crazyhappy with what they had done. It was something that I had never dreamt they would do. It did show that I had some good friends though.

We had a great day at the theme park and Richard finally got a chance to hang out with everyone again and it was so nice. Everyone got on, I had a short but nice conversation with dad and I said I'd Facetime him tonight telling him everything.

I had calls and texts from the family and friends I forgot I even had. I literally had one of my best birthdays with all my friends. They were like my family now.