The Secrets of the Aorta Ruins

Chapter Five

"Happy Birthday Zack!" Becca yelled excitedly while bouncing on his bed to wake him up. He had been smart enough to lock the door that connected his room to the hallway, but he forgot to lock the one that connected his bedroom to the bathroom. It was the one day a year she was always awake before he was. It helped that today he was sleeping in anyway.

"Becca," he groaned dragging her name out, "What time is it?" he asked.

"Almost eleven," she answered happily, obvious she already had quite a bit of coffee.

"Yeah but it's also Saturday...I can sleep in" he complained.

"It's also your birthday! Get dressed!" she said, bouncing again before getting up and leaving his room. She still needed to get dressed herself. She had spent the morning getting ready for his little birthday party. He had been hoping he would have changed his mind about not wanting a party, but he hadn't. She would have been able to scare some guests into coming if he had wanted. Once she was dressed, she pulled out her phone and flipped it open. She sent a quick text to Derek to make sure he was still planning on coming over. Before she even flipped the phone closed he replied he would be over in an hour.

By time the two headed down the stairs, the smell of bacon had made its way up the stairs to them. Zack instantly noticed the streamers and balloons that had been set up while he was asleep. His mother gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the top of his head.

"Moom. I told you not to make a big deal over my birthday," he said.

"It's just lunch dear," she said smiling, knowing he meant the decorations.

"No, it isn't. Streamers and balloons?" he pointed out.

"Well, that wasn't my doing. Ask your father," she said with a shrug, heading back over to the stove. Becca headed over to the coffee pot trying to appear busier than she was humming while Zack asked dad where they had come from.

"I didn't do it either. You said you didn't want a party or anything Zack," he quickly noticed Becca humming and not complaining about morning. He gently nodded his head towards her.

"Look, I don't know anything about them either, but if you don't like them you might not want to go into the backyard," Becca said, joining her father at the kitchen table. Zack hesitated for a moment, before deciding it was better to wait for Derek to arrive and them all see the backyard together. He joined everyone else at the table as there was a knock at the door. Becca jumped up to get it quickly, joining Derek outside on the porch.

"Did you go to the backyard first like we planned?" she whispered.

"Yup," he answered with a thumbs-up.

"Did you put his present at the table?"

"Nope I only looked around at your decorating," he laughed for a moment until he saw Becca's very serious face looking back, "Kidding, just kidding. Relax. Yes, I didn't forget to put it with the others,"

"Ok good," she said still whispering, pulling Derek into the house with everyone else. "Hey, look who I found. Derek's here now too. Now it's a family birthday party." Becca said happily.

"Hey bro, happy birthday," he said pulling Zack into a hug.

"Thanks!" he said, giving Derek a big hug back. Once released, Becca and Derek joined their mom in the kitchen, helping her set up the table with "Happy birthday" plates and napkins. Their mom gave everyone BLT sandwiches with no crust cut on a diagonal. They looked way fancier than they actually were. Once everyone had finished, Becca covered Zack's eyes and safely led him out to the backyard.