Write on me

Chapter 12| Did he just call me beautiful?

Birthdays.

I had officially been on Earth for eighteen years, and counting, and I wasn’t in the mood for celebrating. I never really liked my birthday; my parents always made a big fuss over my sister and I. Then I would just go about my day at school before having our annual birthday dinner at the restaurant.

The last time I had truly enjoyed my birthday was probably the last time I shared a birthday party with my sister which had been when we were 10 and had a Harry Potter theme.

I chose to wear a long floral dress accompanied by my cardigan since the Autumn chills were upon us, not that I needed cool weather to wear something over. I just traded in my shirts for jerseys and cardigans I guess. I did my hair into two Dutch braids which drew attention to my face, but I didn’t really mind because no one would be staring at me anyways.

I moved out of my room just as Melissa left hers and it was weird having the awkward tension on our birthday. We usually tried to be the first one to wish one another before anyone else and whoever was in the other’s room first won our little contest.

“Happy birthday” She offered a small smile before she hugged me and I told her the same. “Can we talk before we have our family dinner tonight?”

A sense of relief filled me due to her soft tone, “Sure. Do I have to walk again today?”

“No. It’s our birthday, you know dad insists on taking us every year” She reminded me.

“I suppose we should cherish it since it is our last year and all” I added as we didn’t really know what our next birthday would look like, but I knew it wouldn’t be the same since we wouldn’t be in school.

“I hadn’t really thought about that” Her face fell as we slowly made our way down the staircase and I felt the same.

I bumped into my sister due to her freezing at the bottom of the staircase as our parents had set a horn off before they started singing Happy Birthday.

An 18th birthday banner was set up across our living room wall along with several pink and white balloons; they always went all out.

We shared in an embrace with them as they wished us before we took our seats to start digging into the breakfast feast that had been prepared for us.

“I can’t believe you two are officially 18. It feels like just yesterday we were running around with bags under our eyes and juggling life with not one, but two newborns” My mom smiled, and I could tell she was holding back the tears as best she could.

It was something we were used to, so we soaked it in and allowed them to make the day as special as they felt it to be.

“I have soccer practice this afternoon, so I might be a few minutes late for dinner. I will probably get a lift into town with one of the girls” I voiced at some point during breakfast just so they wouldn’t be alarmed.

“They would do that for you?” The surprise wasn’t hidden well by my sister.

“Yeah, some people do actually like me” I shrugged even though it had come as a surprise to myself.

“I am happy to hear that you have given them the chance to” She nodded and I searched for any negative tone but there was none.

I didn’t walk into school beside my sister because we hadn’t done it for the last week and I knew what would be happening. As soon as she entered, her friends greeted her with several balloons and began singing to her while Adam had a bouquet of red roses to accompany the huge gift box.

I smiled as I saw the overwhelming emotion overcome her and I was happy for her like I was every year. She put in so much effort for everyone around her, on top of all the work she did with school events, if they didn’t treat her like a queen on her birthday I would have been disappointed. She would have been as well even though she would say in advance she wasn’t expecting anything.

I made my way to my locker but as I opened it, my eyes furrowed as I noticed something that I was certain was mistakenly left in it. I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to confuse my locker for my sister’s as hers was decorated just like the other cheerleaders, yet they had.

There was a single rose with a stem that had been snipped, so it didn’t take up much space, accompanied by a small box with a post-it note on it.

Happy birthday, Meredith!

I giggled due to Princess being crossed out and my name being written instead and quickly realized it was in fact meant for me. I glanced around to see if anybody was paying attention to me or even him, but they were all busy adoring my sister while he was nowhere in sight.

I opened the box and saw the most beautiful necklace.

It was dainty and had a small sparkling autumn leaf attached to it. I didn’t wear any jewelry apart from my subtle diamond earrings my grandparents had gotten me when I turned sixteen.

Why on earth would he gift me this?

How did he even know it was my birthday?

●●●

“You know, for someone that claims to not be interested in the hot new guy he does seem to be drawn to you” I heard Emily and frowned as we grabbed water from the table setup as we had just finished practice.

She gestured towards the bleachers and Dane was seated casually with his legs extended with one foot over the other while smoking a cigarette. I would say he was lucky our coach wasn’t here for the day but somehow, I knew he wouldn’t get in trouble for it.

“I am guessing you won’t be needing that lift from me?” She smirked and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“We are just friends, Emily.” I tried to hide my smile that wanted to appear even though I was being honest.

“Those rosy cheeks support that completely” She nodded and grabbed the bags filled with the soccer balls we had used during practice.

I felt my cheeks that were indeed heated but shook my head, “I am hot and sweaty because we just practiced. Anyway, I am not sure about the lift, I will let you know”

“Okay, whatever you say Captain!”

I watched as she walked off with the rest of my team while I made my way towards the bleachers even though I didn’t want to because I smelt and looked horrible.

I wouldn’t say Emily and I were friends, but she had become someone I would make more effort to talk to. If I had taken note before, I would have realized she was in my English class and I wouldn’t be stuck with nosy, Lilly.

I remained a few feet away from him and he raised his eyebrow above the sunglasses that draped his face due to the distance, but I didn’t acknowledge it. He was wearing a jean with a white t-shirt with no hoodie in sight, that was different, especially for school.

“I looked for you everywhere today” I had literally searched the halls for him during every period change and gone to every location during lunch before I settled in my comfy chair and hoped he would make his way to me.

I had just given up on seeing him on my birthday and gotten to the conclusion that someone had pranked me with the gift but the reminder of the note quickly ruled that out again.

“I ditched.” He simply said, and I waited for more or even a ‘happy birthday’ but received nothing.

I didn’t understand how he hadn’t been at school when he left the gift in my locker, “But you left…”

“Get showered and dressed, I will be waiting in front of the school.” He killed the cigarette before he walked off and I rolled my eyes as I turned on my heel to do what he had said.

“I have a blow-dryer if you want to do your hair?” Emily questioned as I tied my towel-dried hair up into a high bun before I slipped on the floral dress that hung just below my knee and accompanied it with some sandals.

“That’s okay. I don’t want to keep him waiting” I shrugged.

“I am sure he wouldn’t mind. You clean up nice for your birthday!” She eyed me up and down. It felt like every time I chose to wear a dress and not drown in my sweats it was acknowledged by someone.

“Uhm thanks” I smiled before I lift my bag onto my shoulders and said my goodbyes.

I exited the school and walked towards the parking lot where Dane stood against his motorcycle and was smoking yet again and I wondered when he had picked up that habit. He moved towards the compartment of his bike to take out a helmet I believed but I stopped him.

“I can’t go anywhere with you, Dane. I have a family dinner to get to in like an hour.” I really wanted to be able to have a moment to talk to Melissa and hopefully clear the air and I didn’t want to be late because I knew how much the day meant to my parents.

“Fine. Then we’ll just stay here for a bit and hang out” He shrugged and seemed disappointment by my dismissal to go somewhere and I felt bad.

“We can always go wherever you planned some other day though” I briefly glanced at my watch and followed him to one of the school’s benches located beneath a tree.

“Sure. You should wear dresses more often” He randomly said while I hadn’t caught him taking in my attire, he was so easily discrete at times.

“I don’t like them, I mean I do cause they are freeing but I just feel overdressed if I wear them for a normal school day. But since I have the family thing after this, I packed it” I explained but realized it was pointless because he probably didn’t care for the explanation.

“You can’t take a compliment, can you?” He smiled as we sat down.

I frowned, “I didn’t know that was a compliment”

“You didn’t know a lot of things I said in the weeks we have known each other were compliments” He shook his head and I tried to think back but he spoke again.

“Anyway, it’s nice to be reminded you’re a girl, that’s all” He smirked, and I narrowed my eyes and pushed against his shoulder.

“Now that definitely wasn’t a compliment!”

“I am kidding. Why do you think I kiss you here and there?”

“I just love how we have reached a point where we casually bring up kissing one another” I glanced into my lap.

“I hoped that if I did, you would stop being awkward after we kiss”

“I am not awkward!”

I was.

“Whatever you say. You always push me away and then want to run away, it's cute but also annoying cause I am not sure if you enjoy it or not” I was about to point out how he had just disappeared after Emily caught us in class the other day but knew that was a different situation.

“I… I do. I just, I guess I am awkward.”

“Nothing wrong with it, Meredith.” He smiled and took off his sunglasses and slipped it into the collar of his t-shirt.

I got a very brief view of his upper chest before I quickly looked away as he stared ahead and hadn’t noticed. “I grew up in a town similar to this one, but I am happy I moved around a lot because it allows you to grow out of the awkward shell you find yourself in at times. When you get too comfortable you just lose who you are supposed to be”

I tried not to show my surprise as he drifted the conversation because I liked when he would dive into more than silly banter. “I guess. If you grew up here, you probably wouldn’t be covered in tattoos”

“And scars…” He mumbled more to himself than me. “Why don’t you ask about them? I know you see them, you felt them. You didn’t ask about my bruise either. Do you just not care or…”

I frowned due to the sudden annoyance in his voice when I thought me not questioning about those things was what he wanted.

“I do care. I just know you have your boundaries and I don’t want to push them”

“I would say you deserve to push a few considering I have blown down yours. You’re scared. To know?” He searched my eyes and I detected the vulnerability in his voice as I weakly shook my head. “You are…”

“I’m sorry” I mumbled because I was scared to know but even more fearful that I wouldn’t be able to control my reaction to what he would tell me, and I would end up offending him.

And ruin our friendship.

“Why? It’s normal. In this town almost everything is consistent so what do you have to fear besides the eventual death? I get why people don’t get me or like me: I am different, I am not consistent, and I look like trouble. But if it were reversed and the whole town was filled with tattooed and scarred people would they deem someone like you a threat?”

“Probably not” I answered because it seemed that was the answer he was looking for.

“Exactly” He huffed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

Silence fell between us and I wasn’t sure what to say but as if sensing my hesitation, he spoke again. “Did you find what I left for you?”

I was reminded that it was my birthday and he hadn’t said anything regarding it until now, “Yes but…”

“Why aren’t you wearing it?” His eyes fell to my neck before he stared up into my eyes.

“Because firstly, I didn’t even know you knew when my birthday was and secondly that gift was way too extravagant, Dane” I didn’t want to sound ungrateful but it was overwhelming knowing that he actually spent whatever money he had on me.

“Where is it?” He ignored everything I said with a straight face as his mind was focused on the necklace I had chosen to leave in its box.

“In my backpack”

“Give it to me.” His voice was low, but I knew I probably shouldn’t have argued because he still seemed a bit frustrated.

I took it out of the box and dropped it in his palm that he had held out.

“Turn around” He said as he unclasped it.

“Dane…”

“Turn around, Meredith” I shifted on the bench, so I could turn my back to him, and lifted my hair to one side. I soon felt his fingers on my skin while he slowly tied the necklace for me and I saw it touch my exposed skin.

“Do you like it?” His voice vibrated over my skin which let me know he was still leaned into me.

“I love it. It's perfect, something I would really wear. Thank you, Dane.”

There was no point in protesting because he wouldn’t take it back, I just didn’t get why he would spend so much money on me.

“That’s why I bought it. It’s something that doesn’t pull too much attention, so you can wear it every day but it’s still beautiful…” I traced my fingers over it and heard his voice again. “Like you…”

Did he just call me beautiful?

His lips draped soft kisses from the nape of my neck to my collarbone and left a trail of goosebumps in its wake. I couldn’t stop myself from shivering as I felt him shift the material of my dress and gently bite onto my shoulder. I leaned back into him, but he had stopped.

I frowned and glanced over my shoulder, but he was simply staring at me. “You’re really not what I remembered”

I turned my body to face him, but he didn’t continue and before I could question he had gripped my face in his large hands and kissed me deeply. I leaned forward and held onto his muscular arm and he quickly lift me onto his lap but this time I didn’t freak out and push him away.

He broke the kiss and trailed kisses along my neck as his hands touched the bare skin of my thighs. I tensed because of the feeling of his hands touching a part of me no one had, and he moved them up to my waist as he had sensed it.

“Dane…” I breath.

“Yeah?”

“You can…”

I heard my phone going off in my bag and briefly checked the time on my watch. “I need to go and it’s not because I am awkward”

He sat back and watched me as I moved off his lap swiftly and tossed the box the necklace had been in back into my backpack. “Calm down. I will drop you off”

“In town?” I stopped what I was doing to clarify that’s where I was going to.

“Yeah. Or do you not want to be seen with me?” He questioned with a small frown and I immediately shook my head.

“No. I just… I didn’t think you would want to be seen with me” I mumbled, and he stood up as I did to walk over to his motorcycle.

“The only time I don’t want to be seen with you is when I know other bikers will be around, but they won’t be in town today.”

●●●

“Is no one going to comment on the elephant in this restaurant?” Melissa spoke as we were eating a piece of cake after they had sung for us.

“Melissa, whatever you feel the need to say. Please keep it to yourself until your birthday is over” My dad spoke while I remained quiet as I knew she was referring to the fact that I had shown up twenty minutes late for dinner. It would have been fine had they not seen me get off the motorcycle of Dane’s, courtesy of the large window.

I was grateful that it was our birthday otherwise I would have received a lecture from my mom, but my sister couldn’t let me survive.

“I can’t sit here and eat cake when she just gets to do what she wants. I asked if Adam could join us and you said it was family time…” She whined when I knew she would have a party on Friday with them to further celebrate.

“Dane isn’t here, Melissa” I voiced but didn’t bother looking from my plate.

“Yeah but he is the reason that you showed up late. You ditched our talk to spend time with that guy?” She narrowed her eyes and the fact that she had wanted to speak before dinner completely slipped my mind.

“I just had a lot on my plate today and he isn’t just some guy. He is my friend”

“Girls. Please, it’s your birthday” My mom spoke but we all knew that Melissa wasn’t backing down.

“Our birthday that she couldn’t even show up on time for, Mom!”

I rolled my eyes and set my fork down beside the cake that I had been enjoying before she had chosen to speak. “I was half hour late and I apologized as soon as I came in”

“Mom, can you please talk some sense into her? Do you see the crowd she is mixing with?” She pleaded to my mom.

“Not a crowd. Just one person, Mel. I feel like mom has to be more concerned with your crowd than my only friend”

“Just because the only person that befriends you is him doesn’t mean you have to accept his friendship.” She glared. “Or his gifts…”

“Gifts?” My dad frowned.

“That necklace is new!” She pointed out and I had forgotten that I still had it on.

“No, it isn’t” I mumbled and took a bite of my cake.

“Yes, it is” My mom eyed it skeptically.

“I got it as a birthday gift” I sighed as there was no actual point in lying other than proving Melissa right if I didn’t.

“And you think he can just afford a diamond necklace like that and not be into weird stuff?”

I hadn’t thought about how he could afford it, but I wasn’t going to let her feed my overthinking.

“Why do you care so much about him, Mel? He has done absolutely nothing to you or anyone in this town.”

She sat back, “He is preying on you, Meredith. Singling you out, while I was just joking before, I am very serious when I say that unlike everyone else you are alone and vulnerable”

“And you just can’t stand the fact that I can actually depend on someone else and haven’t come crawling back to you yet”

“Are you…”

“ENOUGH!” My dad slammed his fist down onto the table before he walked off into the kitchen.

My dad hardly ever lost his temper, we shared a look and while we were definitely not seeing eye to eye we both realized that we had gotten carried away.

We stood up from the table and made our way to the kitchen where he stood near the refrigerator.

“I am so sorry, dad” I spoke softly as we approached him.

“We’re both sorry. We are being brats...” Melissa sighed as both of us moved to his sides and hugged him.

“Dinner and the cake was amazing” I added as he had prepared it for us.

He chuckled, “I know you are. I know this day can’t be perfect every year but we love you so much. I just wish you guys weren’t at each other’s throats but I guess all siblings are.”

“We won’t fight for the rest of the night” She reassured him which was basically a band-aid but I nodded in agreement and the door soon opened to reveal our mom.

“Get in here!” We gestured with our arms and for a moment all tension was gone.

She laughed but joined us in a group hug, “No matter how annoying you kids can be with your bickering. We will always be grateful for the day you were born”

◆◆◆

Author’s Note:

What do you think about Dane giving her a gift?

Their intimate moment?

Her sister’s reaction to her being late?

I hope you are still enjoying!