The Blue House on Wittmer Lane

Chapter 3

Apparently, Lauren wasn't the only one that needed to do some last minute Christmas shopping. The streets were filled with the hustle and bustle of wives getting that perfect gift for their husbands, grandparents picking up a little something special for the grandkids, and boyfriends remembering that the holiday actually required a gift. But right now, Lauren's thoughts weren't on shopping. Instead, they were on something else entirely: her best friend's birthday.

'Oh my gosh, I hope I have Sarah's present in the back seat still,' she thought to herelf. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the box laying in the seat, wrapped up in a snow white wrapping paper with black swirls and flowery designs, and a beautiful silver bow on top. "Perfect," she said, satisfied. Turning her attention back to the road, she hadn't even realized that she had missed her turn. Slowing her speed, Lauren looked for the nearest possible turning point. She quickly found it, made her turn, and headed back toward her destination.

She pulled up to the cute, yet subtle apartment complex. Lauren suddenly felt a chill pass over her. 'Just being paranoid,' she thought, and grabbed a lightweight jacket from the passenger seat. She felt much better once she put it on, but something still didn't feel right. Something in the air had an awkward feel to it. Shrugging it off, Lauren took the present from the backseat, locked the car doors, and headed up to Sarah's apartment.

The apartment complex, named Shady Oaks, was a fairly good size one: two stories in height, and wide enough to hold about three apartments on each level. Sarah's was on the top - apartment number 1D. Lauren made her way up the stairs, careful not to slip, as ice had formed on their tops. She cautiously continued on, down the hall, finally reaching Sarah's apartment. Lauren knocked, took a step back, and waited for Sarah to answer.

The door opened, and Sarah and Lauren's eyes met. The two happily laughed together, giving each other a huge hug, and walked back into Sarah's apartment.

"Happy birthday, Sarah!" Lauren said happily, giving her another bear hug. "Hahaha, thanks, doll face!" Sarah replied, laughing. They walked over to the couch, and sat down. "I've got something for you!" said Lauren, handing Sarah the present. "Oh, wow, Lauren! Ah, I'm so excited! What is it?" Sarah replied, beaming a million-dollar smile and inspecting the box. "Open it and find out!" As if the phrase was her key, Sarah ripped off the bow along with the wrapping paper and stared at the box. The word "TOMS" was written in large black letters on the side. Sarah stared at the word, in utter disbelief. "No way...no way, no way, no way! Lauren, you didn't!" she said, her excitement evident in her voice. "Haha, I definitely did!" Lauren replied. Sarah flipped the lid to the box, and couldn't believe her eyes: there sat a pair of beautiful Toms, their sides made of old-looking white lace. Sarah had been wanting these shoes for the longest time, but her order got backed up, and was expected to stay that way for atleast four months. "Lauren, how did you get these!?" she asked, exasperated, as she put the shoes on. "Oh, I have my ways!" Lauren answered. Sarah, with her face smile still reaching ear to ear, leaned over and gave Lauren the world's biggest hug. "Thank you so so soooo much, Lauren!" she said. "Absolutely, mejor amiga!" Lauren replied. The two laughed, remembering how they used to reply to each other like that back in their middle school days. In fact, middle school is where they first met. Looking back, they were both amazed at how long they had stayed friends, and how close they had gotten. Next to Stephanie, Sarah was like her sister.

"So, wanna go shopping with me, birthday girl?" Lauren asked. "Oh, sure! As long as we hit up Kohl's, and swing by Dean's Diner for some milkshakes!" Sarah replied, half laughing. Lauren returned the the laugh, and replied, "Of course! Anything for the birthday girl!" She waited on Sarah to get ready, and they hit the road, heading into town to do some retail therapy.