Hennaed Hands

Chapter 16

Christian

"Who has the confetti cannon?!"

Dhia's voice shrills across the apartment, bringing everyone to a momentary stop from their works. The next second, the mayhem becomes worse as the participants continue not only with their own portions, but also for the search of the cannon.

As I walk past Keturah, she bumps into my shoulder and whispers, "She's too into birthday parties. If somebody doesn't calm her down, we're all going to be burning in her wrath."

I nod as I get what she's asking and I slowly place the bowl of potato salad I've been carrying around on the table. Dhia, her fingers wrapped around a piece of tape, tries to walk past me but I get ahold of her shoulder and spin her so that she faces me. Her red eyes have an excited spark, even though she sounds like she's panicking.

"Are the boys here yet? They were supposed to pick something up, but I can't remember what it was." At that exact moment, the door swings open. All of us, - Keturah, Dhia, Myra, Mom, Mrs. Saab and I, - just freeze, our breaths held collectively as we wait for Askari to walk through the threshold and ruin the surprise for himself.

Winslow's head peaks through the door frame. "Why is nobody working?"

The answer to his question is a roll of tape thrown at his head, courtesy of Myra.

"Shut up and get inside, moron. It's you who has the confetti cannon," Dhia says and Barnie pushes him in, before following and locking the door.

I place my hands on Dhia's arms and she regards me with a lifted eyebrow.

"Everything we need for this party is here, so take a breath." She does and her eyes close, her shoulders dropping and relaxing. "Now, let's get to work."

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The confetti cannon didn't go off.

And it managed to slightly set off a certain Saab.

It wasn't the birthday boy.

Askari had arrived with four of his friends and when the door opened, everything went according to plan except the cannon and Dhia, in complete annoyance, had issued Winslow, since he was the one who bought it, to no food until he could make that thing go pop!

So here we are, all of us munching on food while Russell is seated on a bean bag from Keturah's room. She didn't want to let him be alone, so she's seated next to him, talking about tv shows. Dhia plops down next to me on the couch, a plate of food in her hand. Sighing, she leans into my side lightly.

"I'd say this is a success," She comments, her eyes fleeting over Askari and his friends, who are seated on the floor, playing Uno. The kid sitting in front of me has two +4 cards. Askari's smile is going to dissolve like salt on water. I stifle a smile at the sight and turn to Dhia, who too had noticed. We both share a secret smile. She opens her mouth to say something but it is drowned out.

POP!

Overhead, glitter and pieces of coloured confetti fly, dropping to the floor and everybody cheers for Winslow, when he stands up on the bean bag and holds the empty cannon above his head, hollering. He almost loses his balance but Keturah holds his leg and uprights him.

"What were you saying?" I turn to Dhia, chuckling.

"Yes."

"Yes what?" I ask, my brain not making sense of her brief response.

"Yes to the date. I'll come."

"Wait what?" I dumbly ask again, uncomprehending the sequence of events that is happening right now, "Are you saying you'll go on a date with me?" She laughs melodically, before leaning over and whispering in my ear, her warm breath heating up my whole body.