SECRETS

Chapter eleven

It's when I'm in the shower that I realize I haven't gotten Jeremy a birthday gift. How great Christy! Jeremy's so mysterious, I don't even know what he would like. I mentally make a list of all the things I could get Jerry in the closest time possible and nothing seems right. I'll worry about that later.

After taking a glass of milk with toasted bread, I head to the Brown's. The atmosphere isn't noisy as most parties are and that doesn't surprise me. There's a new decorated car parked outside,  I don't need someone to tell me that, that's Jerry birthday's gift from his parents. I wonder if I'm the only one that didn't get him anything 'yet'.

In the living room, I see a few familiar faces from my school, Shan's friends I guess.

"Do you think he'll be here? " Shan asks as I hug her.

"Who? "

"Mevin! I didn't invite him but I'm hoping he'll be here. "

I want to tell her that most people don't attend birthday parties they weren't invited to but I don't.

"Hopefully he'll be here, " I say.

I hate how her eyes sparkle at the false hope I just gave her.

"Don't you think Jeremy would have preferred a fewer amount of people present?"

The people aren't too much but they aren't too few either.

"Nonsense! if we let that boy decide, he'll have only me and you for his birthday.
You should see the cake mum baked for him! I'll go put it on the table now."

Speaking Of Jeremy, Where is he?
I find myself taking the stairs heading to Jerry's room. I knock slightly at the door.

"Come in, Christy. "

How did he know it was me?

"Happy Birthday Jerry, " I say as I close the door behind me.

He's lying on the bed looking extremely lazy, staring at me. I plead with my body not to tremble at his steady gaze.

"Jerry, I'm the worst friend ever. I didn't get you anything yet. It totally eluded me, I'm so sorry, I'll make it up. Please don't see me as a bad friend."

When I'm done talking, I realize I was fidgeting. I expect him to say something boorish like 'We're not friends'.

"Relax Christy, its okay," he says so calmly that I feel the words in my stomach.

"It is? "

"Yeah, but you get to owe me one."

"That's a relief? What do I owe you? "

"In due time, you'll know. "

Okay that didn't go bad.

"Isn't the celebrant supposed to be celebrating? " I ask.

"I don't know those people, " he says.

"I know but Shan did this for you. You have to try to socialize. "

He laughs and I feel butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"I will be down in a few. "

"See you, nice car by the way. You won't have to drive your mum's car anymore."

It takes a while but Jerry finally shows up. After he cuts his cake, I barely see him. An hour or more later, I see Shan dragging him down the stairs.

It's evening now and very few people are left. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have retired to their room.

"You've been scarce birthday dude, the celebration is for you, " a guy I don't know says.