Waiting on You

Chapter 22

"Happy birthday!"

My heart stopped in my chest, making me sit up abruptly and gasp for air. I look around frantically, but my eyes are blurry from sleep.

"She looks like a zombie," I hear a small voice say. It is followed by laughter.

"This is what every girl looks like when she wakes up," Juliette says. "That's what makeup is for." I can tell it is her even before I look her way.

When my vision clears, I look around my room, looking at all of the different faces that surrounded me.

My mom stood in my doorway, a smile on her face. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

I smile groggily. "Thanks guys. What are you all doing here?"

Tucker falls onto my bed, resting his head on my legs. "We wanted to see if you looked any different at seventeen years old."

I laugh. "Couldn't you do that later?" I ask. "And I don't turn seventeen until 11:52 tonight."

"Well then we'll have to check and see if you look any hotter at your party," Juliette smiles down at me.

Suddenly Belle appears, sitting next to Tucker. "And you will look especially hot since we're going dress shopping," she sings.

I look over at mom who nods. "I'm going with you girls to buy you a dress."

Hopping out of bed I run to my mom and hug her. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

She laughs. "I love you to. Happy birthday."

"Can I go?" I feel a tap on my leg and look down to see Sam, Tucker's little brother. I smile and scoop him up into my arms.

"Do you want to buy a dress for yourself?" I ask giddily.

He crinkles his nose in disgust. "No! Dresses are for girls."

"Than why do you want to go, little man?" Juliette asks, poking him in the stomach.

Sam smiles. "Because Tucker said he wants to go dress shopping so I want to go."

We burst out laughing. "You want to go dress shopping, Tuck?" Juliette asks.

"He just wants to see Rory in a dress," Sam giggles, looking over at his brother with a wicked smile.

Tucker swoops over and picks his brother up by the feet, swinging him upside down. "That's enough."

Sam squeals with delight.

Tucker looks at me and I feel myself blush. He gives me a small smile, and without breaking eye contact, says his goodbyes. "See you at your party, Ror."

Butterflies flutter around in my stomach. What was happening to me? "Okay, see you later."

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"I've worn too many dresses this year," I say, pulling at my short light pink dress. My hair is an a messy braid that falls down my shoulder, and my shoes are off. After all, I am just standing in my kitchen.

Juliette laughs. "You can never wear too many dresses."

Of course Jules would think that, she pretty much owned only dresses.

More people show up than I expected too, and a lot of them I didn't know but had only recognized from some of my classes.

A hyper Belle bounds up to us, her short brown hair that had originally been in a bun on top of her head are now in crazy waves. "This is such a cool party, Ror!"