The Story of Us

Birthday Party

I woke up and sat up in Ally's bed. So it had actually happened. Noah, Ally, Thomas, and Autumn had woken me up at midnight to tell me happy birthday. I looked down and held the necklace Noah had bought. And I saw the ring on my hand Ally had gotten me. I shook my head, laughing. I went downstairs and Ally was putting up streamers, her dad and Thomas helping her, and her mom in the kitchen.

“Hey!” Ally looked over her shoulder at me.

I waved.

“There's the birthday girl,” Ally's dad, Tony, hugged me.

“Thanks,” I said. “So, what's all the streamers for?”

“Your party, silly,” Thomas chuckled.

“You hungry?” their mom, Leigh-Anne, asked.

“Sure,” I shrugged.

“I called Autumn and told her you'd be a little late to work,” she said as I sat down.

“Thanks,” I smiled at her. “I'm just glad my birthday's on a Sunday, so I can't be embarrassed at school.”

Ally began to laugh. “You aren't getting out that easily. Ms. Kano already has a plan.”

“Yay,” I muttered.

“Here,” Leigh-Anne laughed putting a plate in front of me.

Two chocolate pancakes and powered sugar. “This looks amazing.”

My phone vibrated and it was a text from my “mom.”

Hey, happy birthday!

Thanks.

I wasn't in the mood to talk to her. I later got one from my “dad,” but not one from Leah.

Ally's phone went off and she answered it. “Hello?”

Everyone watched her, waiting to see who she was talking to.

“How'd you get my number?” she asked.

After a moment she laughed and said, “Yeah, that's true. I guess. So, did you need somethin'? Not to be rude or anything, but no one really calls me unless it's Rachel, and she's here, so—”

She closed her mouth, apparently interrupted by the person on the other end.

“We're gonna have a party for her here when she gets off work. You can come if you want,” she told the person.

Who could she be talking to?

“Yeah, bring anyone you want. To be honest, I think Levi likes her a little,” Ally chuckled.

Noah.

Ally put her hand over the phone and looked at me. “What time you get off work today, Rae?”

“Um, five,” I said.

“She gets off at five, so yeah,” Ally said. “Okay, see ya then!”

“Was that Noah?” Thomas asked.

“Yep,” she put her phone in her pocket. She looked at me. “I seriously think he likes you.”

“Why'd you say Levi liked me?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “I saw him talkin' to one of his buddies yesterday when I got to your work, and I swear, he said your name every two minutes.”

“That doesn't mean anything,” I shrugged.

My phone went off again and the text scared the living shit out of me—and I don't cuss unless I'm scared or mad.

Happy birthday, Rae. I got ur surprize in my truck. I'll be waitin' at the Sandwich House for ya. ;)