The Scarlet Girl

5. Happy Birthday! Pt.1

Waking up the next morning Jay felt a little disoriented, not recognizing her surroundings, before the memories of the last couple of days came flooding back. She laid there a while longer, having doubts that this had been the right thing to do. These guys where all in the same boat as her, she could see it in their eyes, did she really want to put them in that much more danger.

There was a knock at the door bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" she said hesitantly.

"It's Peter. We have breakfast ready if you liked to join us."

"Yes. Just give me a moment." She stepped into the attached bathroom, took a quick shower and got dressed.

As she was making her way slowly to the kitchen, she past Peter asleep on the couch with his Bible, Jay smiled and continued on. Upon entering the kitchen she was greeted by the smell of blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs, hash browns and freshly squeezed OJ and coffee. All her favorites. Someone's been talking to Elsie. She smiled at their thoughtfulness, she hadnt had someone care this much about her in awhile. Upon entering the spacious kitchen she noticed most of the guys were asleep at the table and a woman she hadn't met yet was at the counter flipping pancakes.

"You must be Jayme? Im London, but everyone calls me Loni. Im one of Peters sisters."

"Nice to meet you. Jay said shyly. You can call me Jay. Why are they all asleep?"

Loni chuckled. "They spent most of the night finishing your room for you."

Jays eyes widened. "Really?"

Loni nodded handing her a cup of coffee. "Wanna see it.?"

"Y-yes." She stuttered in her excitement, holding on to her cup of coffee like it was the only thing keeping her grounded on hearth.

"Okay. Let go!"

As they headed upstairs Jay looked more at her surroundings. The walls were all a light cream throughout the house. The kitchen was rustic in its entirety, the old support beams where exposed and varnished, the cupboard were painted

She really didn't need Loni to guide her to her room but she did enjoy her company, she kept up a steady stream of conversation.

"Loni, I thought you lived here?"

"Nope, I live in New York. I'm only here visiting for the holidays, I head back home January 2nd."

She looked at her inquisitively. "Holidays?"

"Yeah. Its November. Thanksgiving was a week and a half ago."

"What's the date?"

The 30th. Are you alright?" Loni said looking at her concerned.

"Yeah." Her emotions getting the better of her. She entered her room and sat down on the bed. "It's just this is the best birthday present I could have ever gotten."

"It's your birthday?" Loni asked trying to not sound too excited. "How old are you?"

"22." She said wiping a few tears. "I was taken the year I turned 17."

They sat there in silence for a few moments before Jay finally got up and looked around. The room still smelled like fresh paint. The walls around her bed where painted green and turned into a peachy color as it moved toward the window seats. She loved the décor, she guessed Loni had something to do with it. Books and journals on the shelves around the room along with trinkets that tied the room together. There were painting, sketching and other art supplies. She walked into the bathroom, which she hadn't seen yet, there was black and white tile covering, porcelain sink and tub. The tub/shower was right under a fogged out window, there was built in shelving units to the right of the tub. The colors were a light sky blue and purple, the towels were white, grey and dark purple, and the shower curtain was of peace, love, faith and joy. Then she walked over to the closet, it was small but cute. There was a space with a jewelry box, some perfume and a small vase with white roses and lavender in it. Her cloths that she and Elsie had gotten where all hung up along with some new ones.