Twelve Reasons.

Chapter Twenty Nine.

I was getting ready with Starr, Georgia and Liv. Alex was on her way, I couldn't wait to see her again and celebrate my birthday with everyone I loved, everyone I adored.

"So, on a scale of one to ten, how good is Pel in bed" Liv chuckles, taking another sip of wine. I roll my eyes laughing. "Liv, that's my brother I really don't need to know this information" Starr whines, pulling a face at Liv's question. "I agree with that" I chuckle whilst curling the rest of my hair. "I just wondered you know what they guys say about him" She whispers, her eyes going wide with the realization of what she had said. "I know his past Liv, you don't have to hide it from me" I chuckle, placing the curling tongs on the heatproof mat. She shrugs her shoulders as my front door knocks. I excuse myself and run down the stairs, opening the door to Alex. "This place is nice" She gushes, I smile embracing her in a hug. "I cant wait to meet this famous Perri I keep hearing about" She chuckles as we walk up the stairs to my room. "Alex, this is Starr Perri's sister, Geo and Liv" I smile, pointing to each one who smile and wave. "So no Perri?" She chuckles, looking at me. "No, I told him I wanted a girls getting ready thing, much to his dismay" I smile, sitting in front of the mirror and finishing my make up off.

I zone out whilst the girls talk amongst themselves, thinking back to the day I first met Perri. The day he knocked me over and I sprained my ankle, thinking about how different he was that day to days later at his party when who he was come out to play, and I seen him for what everyone said he was, a cocky player. I think about to how things had changed, how I had cheated on my boyfriend of two years and let that secret eat me up over the  days I kept it from him, I eventually told him and he took it well, but nothing made me feel better knowing that he had been cheating on me for months.

I think to the day me and Perri kissed in Sam's apartment, the thrill of sneaking around, but the constant worrying that I was hurting Sam. The worry that Sam would never forgive me, but now he was okay with me and Perri, he was happy for us, he was happy for me, and that's why he was my best friend.

I think back to the first night I was intimate with Perri and how it had become a regular thing, not that I was complaining. Perri had made me more confident, he had made me love myself when I didn't feel like I did, he made me feel like I mattered, like I was important.

"Em, what you thinking about? I think you have enough powder on your face" Starr chuckles, taking the brush out of my hand and wiping the excess powder off my shoulder. "Shit" I mutter, standing up and brushing the powder off. "You was literally in a different world then, thinking about Pel?" Geo asks laughing. I shake my head smiling. "Photo timeeee" I sing, pulling my phone off charge and looking at the texts Perri had sent.

The boys are literally worse than Starr with getting ready o.o x
Aha, well we are all ready x
Really? Can I come round then? x
No, i'll meet you there x
How much have you had to drink? x
Only half a bottle of wine, i'm fine, i'll see you later x
I cant wait to see you x

"Are we going full photoshoot?" Liv chuckles, as we all pose for the camera, taking photo's in different poses, but I post the one of us all stood smiling to my Instagram, getting likes and comments from the boys. I smile and place my phone in the clutch bag I had brought specially for this occasion. "I cant believe you turn 24 tomorrow" Alex whispers, tears filling her eyes. "How much have you had to drink?" I chuckle, pushing her shoulder playfully. "I've known you for years Em, I can get emotional about your birthday" She chuckles. I shake my head laughing. "Shall we head down and have a few drinks before the lads eventually turn up?" I ask. Starr nods her head approvingly. "Right, c'mon then" I smile as Geo starts singing 'Here Come The Girls'

__________

"There's apparently been a change of plan" Starr says over the quiet music playing in the background of the cocktail bar. "What do you mean?" I ask, taking another sip of the mock-tail I had, I didn't want to get drastically drunk, I wanted to remember this night. "The boys have set something up at the studio, they've told us to finish our drinks and head over" She smiles. I roll my eyes, of course the boys would change the plans because it suited them. "But what about the pizza?" Geo whines, making us all laugh. "We can grab it for takeout on the way over?" Liv suggests and we all nod our heads approvingly.

It wasn't long before we were all finishing out drinks and heading round to Domino's, it was the only Pizza place on the way to the studio, but the cashiers face when we ordered 20 odd pizzas was the highlight of my night so far. "Hey aren't you guys from Diversity" He questions, looking over Geo and Starr in particular. "Yes sir, yes we are" Geo says saluting him. Okay, maybe these guys were slightly more drunk than I thought they were. "It's our beautiful Emmie's birthday tomorrow so were having a small get together, that's why we need the pizza's" Geo carries on, I laugh at her and she shoots me a 'what are you laughing at' look, making me laugh more. "In that case, for Diversity these pizza's are free, it's not everyday you have talented people enter this pizza parlor" He smiles, making my eyes go wide. "Can we have a photo with you"? I blurt out, causing him to look at me weirdly. "Of course?" He asks, but he seems unsure. Me Starr and Geo pose with him and a pizza box, and I upload it to Instagram.

Massive thank you to  for the free Pizza's tonight, blessed to have the support we do for Diversity! x

I upload the photo and thank him for the photo and the free Pizza's once more before we all grab four boxes each and head down the road to the studio. I was really thankful for wearing flat shoes because all this walking wasn't working for me, I wasn't the active one, but luckily everything was more a less in the center of town which helped. "What do you think they have planned?" Starr asks as we walk. I shrug my shoulders. "Could be anything with them lot" I chuckle as Dance Work Studios comes into view.

I smile as we walk into the reception, seeing all the balloons dotted around the place. "Happy Birthday Emmie" Hung from banners, balloon's with '24' on them dotted around. It was beautiful. Starr opens the door to the studio first, walking inside, trying not to drop the pizza's. I look around the studio and see the fairy lights dotted around, balloons and banners taking over the mirrors and the floor, making me smile. "Emmie" Jord shouts, running up to me and lifting me in the air making me chuckle. "This is beautiful you guys" I state, as he sets me on the ground and i'm embraced in hugs. "You didn't have to do this for me" I whisper, feeling emotional. "Oh, the best is yet to come" Sam chuckles, coming over and hugging me. "Please tell me you guys haven't done some routine on the down low because I will cry" I chuckle. "No, no special routine today, that's tomorrow, as for now were all going to sit here in good company and enjoy the night with Domino's free pizza" He chuckles, walking me over to the table sitting down.

I glance around the room looking to catch the brown eyes I loved. "Where's Pel?" I ask. "Oh he just popped out, he should be back in a minute, we can wait for him if you like" Ashley states. "No, the pizza will get cold, we can just save him some" I reply, pulling my phone out of my bag and texting him.

Where are you? x
Outside, will be inside in a min x
Are you okay? x
Of course I'm fine x

I shrug it off, eating the pizza and engaging in conversation with the boys.
Then the studio door opens and Perri comes walking in, but behind him is Libby with a smug look on her face. What was she doing here? but more importantly what was she doing walking in with Perri?