the reason | 13rw

t h i r t y - f o u r

"okay, that movie was not scary." i shook my head at piper and my brother. 

"yes it was!" piper exclaimed. 

"they were thirteen year old boys chasing a clown." i said as i unlocked the front door to my house. 

"well i hate clowns." piper said. 

"same here," elliot said. 

i rolled my eyes, "a couple of pussies is what you are." 

i pushed the front door open as the light switched on. 

"surprise!" people yelled as they jumped out. 

i jumped as my brother laughed. i looked around, seeing my friends and other people from liberty. 

"happy birthday!" jessica squealed as she hugged me. 

i laughed, "thank you jess." 

"let's get it started!" elliot yelled as loud music began playing loudly. 

i pulled away from jessica and smiled. 

"where are the other girls and monty?" 

"chloe said she'd show up soon, she has a minor problem she has to deal with. that's all she told me. hannah is still trying to drag clay here. i haven't heard from monty." she shrugged. 

"well thank you jess," i said. 

"oh, i didn't do this." 

"who did?" i asked. 

"your super cool older brother." elliot said, putting his arm around me. 

"thanks E," i smiled. 

"me and piper are going to go dance." he said and pulled piper away. 

"i'm going to change." i told jess. "i'll be right down." 

she nodded as i ran up the stairs. i went into my room, finding scott sitting on my bed. 

"hey," i laughed. "what are you doing up here?" 

"i have a present." he said and pulled a small box from his jacket pocket. "i wanted to give this to you now." 

"you didn't have to get me anything." i told him, dropping my jacket on my desk chair. 

"well i did," he said and handed it to me. 

i ripped the paper off, seeing a small box for a necklace. i pulled it open, seeing a silver chain, an N resting on the bottom. i grabbed it, holding it up. 

"it's beautiful scott." i said. 

"look at what it says." he laughed. 

i looked at the N. 

"nicolette i don't know your middle name james." i read with a laugh. "i love it." 

i hugged him tight. 

"thank you so much." i pulled back. "help me put it on?" 

"sure," he said and grabbed it. 

i pulled my hair back and let him situate it on my neck. i turned and faced him. 

"let's go party," i smiled. 

....

after an hour, most people were drunk and bryce had shown up. i didn't care, no one did. he was in the back yard playing beer pong with the baseball guys. chloe said she was on her way and there was still no word from monty. i pushed past people, walking towards the front of my house. i reached the foyer and saw chloe walk in. 

"chloe!" i smiled. 

"happy birthday," she hugged me. 

"thank you." i pulled back. "are you okay? jess said you had something to deal with." 

"yeah, i'll tell you tomorrow. it's time to party." 

"i'm actually going outside to call monty, i'll find you later." i said. 

"of course," she smiled as i walked past her. i went on the front porch, met by a bunch of smokers. i walked down the walkway to the driveway where it was slightly more quiet. i pulled my phone out, calling monty. i put the phone to my ear, listening to it ring. 

i heard it click after the second ring, "you've reached monty de la cruz, you know what to do." i heard my boyfriend's voice. 

"hey monty," i said. "i'm at my house where my brother threw a birthday party. no one's heard from you all night and i'm kind of worried. babe, if you could just call me back or come over. love you." 

i hung up and pushed my phone into my pocket. i looked over and saw a car stop in the middle of the road. i watched as someone stood, i recognized them as ryan shaver. i jogged over. 

"ryan, what are you doing?" i asked. 

"get in the car," he said. 

"what?" 

"monty's is the hospital for fuck's sake. he wrecked his jeep and broke his leg." he said. "his phone is trashed. i was there when they brought him in. get in the car, i'm taking you to him." 

i jumped in the car as he took off down the street. i pulled my phone out, calling jessica. i placed my phone to my ear and listened as it rang, but she didn't pick up. i tried all my friend and even bryce but no one picked up. 

"fuck!" i said. 

"i'll drop you off and go back." he said. "just relax." 

"not helping ryan." i shook my head. 

he pulled into the hospital parking lot. 

"room three oh two." he said. 

"thank you," i yelled and hurried inside. 

i went straight to the elevator and rode it up. the doors open and i took off down the hall. i found his room, bursting into the room. i saw monty's parents inside as he laid on the bed. they all looked over. 

"oh my god," i said and exhaled. i hurried over as monty's parents moved. 

"hey," he smiled softly. 

"what happened?" i asked, placing my hand on his cheek. 

"i was on my way back to your house from getting your present. i got hit by some drunk." he shook his head. 

"i'm so sorry monty." i said. 

"this was not your fault." he said. 

"i know," i sat next to him. "but, i feel so terrible that this happened." 

"how did you find out anyway?"

"ryan came and got me from the party." 

"he shouldn't have done that, it's your birthday party." 

"i don't care." i smiled. "i wasn't having much fun without you anyway." 

"sorry to interupt, but monty we're headed out." his mom said. 

he nodded, "see you guys in the morning." 

they continued out of the room. 

"why are they leaving?" 

"no point in them staying." he said. "i'm only in for a night and then i'm home." 

"well then i'm staying with you." 

"don't you have work tomorrow?" 

"monet's can suck my ass." i laughed. "i'd rather spend the night in the hospital with you." 

monty pulled me down against his chest, wrapping his arms around me. 

"happy birthday nicolette." he kissed my head.

"thank you monty." i smiled.