Plan B

27

Loud music played as I walked in.

"See what I meant?" Kelsie asked me.

"Oh Kelsie!" I exclaimed almost crying, "This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. How did you know it was today?"

"It was actually Dale who told me a few weeks ago."

"Dale Bryce?" I asked all surprised.

"Yes . Actually he's right over there," Kelsie said pointing in Dale's direction, "He and I have been planning on this party for weeks. We hope you like it."

"That explains a lot!"

"What?"

"Never mind that. Thank you so much Kelsie!" I hugged her tightly.

"Happy birthday Kristie," a voice said behind me.

I slowly broke away from Kelsie's hug to see who was talking to me.

"Thank you so much it's really... " I stopped talking. Is she... is she...? It couldn't be. First the surprise party organised by Dale and Kristie and now Khloé Starks wishes me a happy birthday, this is one perfect dream.

"I'm Khloé Starks," she said stretching her hand out for a handshake with a big smile on her face.

This is no dream, it's all real!

"Hh... hh... hi..." I said almost breathlessly, giving her a handshake.

"How did you get Khloé Starks to come to my party?" I whispered to Kelsie still holding Khloé's hand.

"She's my mom."

Khloé Starks is Kelsie's mom. KHLOÉ STARKS is KELSIE'S MOM!

"You said you knew everything about my mom so I figured you'd know that too."

I was in an unusually big living room with MY party going on as I found out that my biggest idol is actually my best friend's mom.

"This is such an honour for me Khloé, I mean, Kelsie's mom. I'm a BIG fan!"

"I'm flattered, really," she said in her sweet voice. This encouraged me to continue talking.

"You have no idea how much I love your work, your shows, you in particular! I've collected ALL of your merchandise from shoes to hoodies to my phone cover!" I removed my phone to show her then I placed it on a nearby table. I'm a Khloé Starks' maniac.

"Kelsie told me all about you and she was right, you truly are my number one fan!"

"YES I AM!" I said jumping, "Can I give you a hug?" I asked Khloé without thinking.

"Gladly."

As much as I wanted to squeeze Khloé out of her skin I had to be cool and easy. I had to impress her, she's Khloé Starks!

"I must leave now, I hope you'll enjoy enjoy the party!" She said going out the front door.

"I honestly can't believe you're Khloé's daughter, that makes you a Starks'! You're in the Starks' family and you've never told me."

"Take it easy Kristie. This day is all about you, not me. We'll talk about that later." 

The music playing was catchy and we danced to it. 

"I think I should go before I become the third wheel," Kelsie told me as she looked behind me.

"Hey! You made it!" Dale said as he came up from behind me.

"Of course, its my party."

"It is. Kelsie didn't tell you about it, did she?

"No. She told me that I was coming for an interview with the journalism club. I'm surprised you're involved, Dale," I said sitting on a nearby sofa. He sat next to me.

"Why would you be?" He asked me. 

"Is there a reason why I wouldn't be?"

"Kristie," Dale said my name, holding my hand. It brought back a déjà vu kind of feeling," I already expressed my feelings to you."

"Yes I know but..." I fell silent.

"But what Kristie?"

"How do you explain the silent treatment you've been giving me?" I finally blurted out my bottled up observations.

"That was all part of the arrangement of this party. I probably would have told you about it the minute I thought of it." 

"How did you know my birthday was going to be today?" I asked him.

"You told me."

"I don't remember telling you," I said squinting my eyes at him. He was lying.

"Okay I'll tell you. I got a form with your details from Mr. Paisely on the day he announced The Drama Competition results."

"That form has all my personal information! How did he even give it to you?"

"I'm sorry but I had to find a way to make it up to you somehow. I felt guilty after you left that day. It wasn't easy getting it from him."

I was pissed that he had to go through my personal information, I couldn't even look at him.

"Hey don't be mad," he turned my face towards him by my chin, "It was for a good cause, see?" He said looking around at the ongoing party.  

"I guess so..." I said plainly.

"So what was your interview with Kelsie going to be about?" He asked rapidly to change the topic of discussion. This was actually going from bad to worse.

"Lindsey Park."

"Oh... " Dale said in an 'I-shouldn't-have-asked-that' kind of tone, "I'm sorry."

"It's in the past now."

"Kelsie and I waited for you on that day but you didn't show up."

"I did, way later that day. My mom had passed out that morning and I couldn't leave her. She's having a baby."

"That's amazing!" Dale said enthusiastically. 

"Yeeeeaah..." I said sarcastically.

"You don't sound too happy about that."

"It's not that I hate the idea of having a baby, it's just that it's too much work."

"You'll get the hang of it with time," Dale said before jumping out of his seat, "I love this song!" He said holding out his hand for me to join him.  I hesitated a little. I slowly reached out and he pulled me out of the seat with so much energy I could have sworn he dislocated my arm.

"Let's start a human train, the birthday girl gets to go first!" Dale announced. He came right behind me and a couple of other people joined in behind him. We danced around the house, I mean palace, in one long line. 

We all ended up in the backyard where some guests were swimming. 

"Have you ever wondered what it would feel like when you jump in a pool with your clothes on?" Dale asked me. Before I could answer, he pushed me into the swimming pool and he followed. One by one people jumped into the pool screaming and shouting. 

On the positive side, one thing was off my bucket list. I always wanted to jump into a swimming pool with my clothes on. The negative side was, I COULDN'T SWIM!