It is less than a week away from Laura's birthday and I don't have a solid plan of attack. I've talked to a few of our friends and they've agreed to give her a surprise party at her house. That would mean that I would have to contact her parents and put them on board with the whole idea of a surprise birthday party. Talking sucks. Especially when it is coming from me.
Besides our friends Sabrina and Rosalee, I didn't know who else to invite. It has been a few months of sitting down with Nolan and his friends at lunch and I've really gotten to know them more. I, personally, would not talk to them one on one outside the lunch table but that's because I'm not as social as she is. Laura does have a different standard with what she considers as friends. Once she talks to them outside of class, they are considered her friend. I have a higher standard of friendship. People are acquaintances until they invite me to some after school activity not involving the school. I admire those people who can get friends so easily like Laura.
In the end, I decided to Facebook message Nolan and his friends, Corbin, Lily, James, and Conrad by creating a group chat. After several drafts and edits of the text, I told everyone in the chat that I am planning a party for Laura for her 17th birthday. Before I got too ahead of myself with sending the address to her house, I texted her parents after reading what I was sending 10 million times and asked them if the plan can work.
A few hours later, her mom responded to my message.
Karina Lightwood: This is an amazing idea. We are completely on board for that Saturday. Is everyone bringing certain foods?
Me: Awesome! Thank you for hosting! I am planning on baking cupcakes and I'll ask other people to bring stuff too. What do you want them to bring?
Karina Lightwood: That's okay! You don't have to do anything! I can make dinner and buy food. If you really want to, you can bake cupcakes.
Me: I love to bake so if it's no trouble, I would like to make cupcakes for Laura. I have a really good recipe saved on Pinterest that I am planning on using. I want other people to contribute! I feel bad to leave you with all this preparation. How about everyone has to bring some sort of snack or appetizer? I can also come really early to help you with food preparations.
Karina Lightwood: This is no problem on my part! I can make the main meal but that would be nice if kids came with some sort of side appetizer dish. I talked to Dave and he will take her on a daddy, daughter date to the bowling alley to take her out of the house. If you come at around 4 to come help, that will be awesome! Tell the rest of the crew to come around 4:30 since we will be expecting them to arrive back home around 5.
Me: That sounds great! Thank you for organizing this!
After our last goodbyes ended over the text conversation, I opened up Facebook Messenger to text the group chat.
Me: Alright, things have been finalized, it will be this Saturday at Laura's house, 9080 Northwood Drive. She's supposed to be out of the house with her dad for a little distraction so come around 4:30 since they'll be expected to come back at around 5. Bring an appetizer/snack; dinner will be provided. If you have any food allergies please speak up now. Also if you're driving, park 3 houses down either in the driveway or alongside the road, the people living in the house have confirmed that we can use their driveway. Let me know if you can come so I know the number of people.
I sent the message and then set my phone beside me while turning it off. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to read my book for the rest of the day while taking breaks to eat and making a friendship bracelet.
***
This whole week was super hard not to spoil the surprise for Laura. When all the people at the lunch table knew about a secret that one person didn't have, it was extremely stressful to not slightly mention it. One little fumble from someone will make Laura suspicious. For all she knew so far, she was just going to go bowling with her dad for her birthday on Saturday.
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Only in My Dreams
RomanceA lot of times girls think that they won't find their true love because they aren't pretty enough or not skinny enough to get a significant other. One 17 year old girl's thinking has changed when she falls in love with a boy that thinks she is beaut...
