My Firsts With You

Chapter 15

RACHEL'S POV

It has been a week since Jeremy and Jessica broke up, and him trying to win her back. I also tried getting them back together, but Jessica got annoyed and told me to stop what I was doing. It was always me and Kenneth who ate lunch together because of their situation. Claire is busy doing school-related activities, and Martin does what he does, so I'm always with Kenneth. We both sighed and put our hands under our chins. We don't have the appetite to eat, so we are only sitting now. "I'm getting bored," Kenneth started as we stared into space. "So am I," I agreed. "Do you really think they could-?" Kenneth turned to me and asked. "Yes, they will. Let's think positively, okay? They will work it out," I cut him off, and he nodded in agreement.

"You truly support them, don't you?" Kenneth asked and removed his hands from his chin. "I do. I mean, I always thought they look good together," I responded while following the way he is sitting, and now we're facing each other although we're sitting side by side. "They do look like a couple, but enough about that. Your birthday is in two days. How do you want to celebrate it?" Kenneth asked, and I sighed. Yeah, I almost forgot that my birthday is in two days. Do you want to know a secret? I'm still turning 18. I kept saying before that I am already 18 because, for me, Claire, and Jessica, we turned 18 as soon as the year started. But yeah, I'm turning 18 in two days. "I don't want many people in my party, so I will only invite the five of you," I answered. "Including the two?" Kenneth asked, and I rolled my eyes. "That's why I said "five." They can forget about their problem for a day and celebrate my birthday," I explained.

We sat in silence until I saw Caleb walking to his friends. He saw me, and I smiled at him, to which he returned. "Do you like Caleb?" Kenneth whispered, and I jumped a bit. "What? No! Can't I be nice to him?" I protested. "Yes, you can't," he said with a serious face. What? "What?" I asked him the question in my mind. "Because he's not as nice as you think," he argued. Okay, why does he have to be serious? "Well, have you talked to him?" I sassed, and he rolled his eyes. "No, but I heard things about him," he responded. "And you believed them?" I asked. "Yes, because their group is worse than us," he pointed out. I know that, but I know that Caleb is still the nicest. "But he doesn't look like someone who does dirty things, and have you ever seen him do it?" I argued, a bit annoyed now. "I didn't, but the people who told me saw him doing it," he still reasoned. This argument is pointless. Why are we even arguing about it? Do I like Caleb?

"You know what? I don't want to talk about this. This argument is going nowhere," I finished and stood up. "Hey, don't leave me!" he whined like a little child. Ugh, he's being childish again. "Why?" I asked annoyingly. "Because I'm lonely!" no, you are annoying. "Then go find someone else!" I said, and I heard him huff disappointedly as I left.

== 2 DAYS LATER ==

Today is my birthday, and I know I'm going to hear it all day. It's great to be popular, but it's not fun on days like this. For breakfast, my mom made me my favorite, waffles. She made me three mini waffles with chocolate spread on each. "You're inviting only your friends?" mom asked as she took a sip of her tea. For my drink, mom let me drink coffee gladly. "Yes, please. Don't invite people I don't know. It's my 18th birthday, and I want it to be special, so only my friends are invited," I explained and sipped my coffee. Mom nodded, and I heard my phone ringing. It's dad. Mom and I looked at each other, and I took a deep breath before answering it. Dad spoils me, but I get a bit nervous talking to him because he's strict. "Hey, Dad," I greeted him with a polite smile. "Hey, princess. Happy birthday!" he happily said, and my smile grew bigger. Yes, he still calls me princess.

"Thanks, Dad," I thanked him, and he smiled. "Are you sure you don't want a big party?" he asked, and I sighed internally. Every year, they invite people I don't know. They always make it a big deal when it's my birthday, and it is stressful. "Yes, dad. I don't want to make it big like before," I answered, and he nodded in understanding. "Just tell us what you need, and we'll get it for you," he said, and mom nodded in agreement. I forgot to tell you that we're doing a video call. "Thank you, but I think we can handle it this time," I assured him. I don't want them to keep spoiling me, you know? Besides, I'm 18 already. "You're really 18," he chuckled, and I smiled. "I hope you weren't drinking liquor before 18," he said in his business tone, and I chuckled awkwardly. Mom looked at me and shook her head while chuckling. She knows that we were drinking.

"Oh, your gift. It will arrive later, so wait for it, okay?" dad informed me. "I hope it's not a dress. You give me a dress every year," I said in a business tone. Dad has this business tone wherein he seriously talks as if nothing can make him laugh, and it's funny for me. "No, it's not a dress. This year's gift will be the best," he assured me, and I nodded curiously. I wonder what his gift will be. "If you say so," I told him, and we talked for a few more minutes. When it was time for me to go to school and dad to continue his work, we said our goodbyes and ended the call. I ate everything on my plate and said goodbye to mom before kissing her cheek. I left the house and saw Kenneth standing with a small box in his hand. "What's that?" I asked him. "I don't know," he teased, and I looked at him with arms crossed and raised eyebrows. "Okay, it's the bracelet you wanted to buy. I know. You don't have to say it. You're welcome," he cockily said and handed me the box.

I took the box and opened it to see a silver chain bracelet with the infinity sign as its pendant. I always wanted to buy this, but I think I forgot to do it because we have been busy the past few weeks. There's something about the infinity sign that makes it beautiful in my eyes. Maybe it's because of the meaning. "You're smiling. Is that a thank you?" he asked, anticipating my response. "Where's my happy birthday?" I teased him, and he sighed. "Happy birthday, Rachel," he greeted me, and I smiled at him. "Thank you, my dear friend," I thanked him, and he playfully bowed. We laughed and entered his car to go to school.

"Happy birthday, Rachel," a student greeted me, and I politely smiled as a thank you. As soon as we stepped out of the car, every student we passed greeted me with a happy birthday. I told you this would happen. "It's hard being a famous businessman's daughter, isn't it?" Kenneth teased, and I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, Mr. Handsome. Don't act like you didn't receive tons of gifts on your birthday," I sarcastically said. It's true, though. He even gave chocolates to each of us. He received an excessive number of gifts on his birthday. We continued walking to our classroom, and by the time we arrived, Kenneth and I were holding presents.

"Do you have chocolates?" Claire questioned as soon as we sat down. I automatically gave her some because I knew she would ask for it. "Why is there a c****m hiding in this bouquet?" Kenneth asked disgustingly. He took it out, and we disappointedly looked at it. Whoever put this is very sickening. "Ew, that is so disrespectful," Jessica criticized. She's right. That is very disrespectful. Who would give a c****m to a girl on her birthday? "Don't tell me you're keeping it," I suspiciously told Kenneth, who was still holding that thing with two fingers. "No, I'm not. I'm not," he immediately said and stood up to throw the disgusting thing. "He's never done it," Jeremy said with arms crossed. "And you did?" Jessica asked without looking at him. It's getting awkward. "No, I didn't," Jeremy answered before resting his head on the armchair. Jessica shrugged and played on her phone.

"I'm having a party at our house, but I decided that it's going to be the six of us only," I informed them, changing the subject. Kenneth returned to his seat and looked around us as he noticed the awkward atmosphere. I nudged him, and we talked with our eyes. "Oh, right! Of course, we will go. It's better than many people we don't know," he said, and Kenneth and I laughed awkwardly. "You don't have to be awkward. We will go, okay? Your birthday is more important," Jessica told us, and I nodded with a smile. Whew. "Should we buy some snacks after school?" Martin suggested, and we all nodded in agreement.

== NIGHT ==

"This is better than a place with loud music," Claire remarked as she reclined further on the lounge chair. We are outside by the pool, eating and drinking wine. The three boys are at the pool while we girls are on the lounge chairs. "You guys haven't given your gifts yet," I reminded them. "Hang out with us tomorrow if you want your gift," Jessica said, and I giggled. Of course, they wouldn't forget to surprise me. "Hey, Jeremy and Martin. Where are my gifts?" I yelled at them, and Jeremy groaned. I laughed as they both went out of the pool to get their presents for me. Jeremy gave me two movie tickets while Martin gave me a cute paper bag with something in it, obviously. "Go watch it with someone, maybe a guy you like," he teased and winked at me. I chuckled and rolled my eyes at him. Now, this is the usual Jeremy. "Open it," Martin instructed me, and I opened the paper bag. I gasped and took out the dress from the shop we had gone to before. It was the vintage elegant red dress I was eyeing at that shop!

"When did you buy this?" I asked him with a big smile. "Uh, yesterday?" he chuckled. "You like that dress?" Kenneth asked from the pool. "I fell in love with this at first sight!" I excitedly answered him. "Thank you for this, Martin," I thanked him, and he nodded. "Rachel, come here!" I heard mom yell from the living room. We looked at one another, and we walked to the living room. Yes, they went with me because they're as curious as I am. I gasped when I saw someone else in the living room. "Ryan!" I called, and he gave me a big smile. "Rachel!" he yelled and ran to me. I hugged his little body tightly. Ryan is my 8-year-old brother who went with dad to New York. Dad meant it when he said that his gift would be the best. "I missed you!" he said when we let go of the hug. "So do I, little kid," I responded and pinched his cute nose.

"Hey, Kenneth!" he called. "Hey, little dude!" Kenneth said and held out his fist to bump it with Ryan's cute fist. Yeah, my brother is adorable, okay? "Hi, everyone!" he greeted the rest and waved at them. They waved back with adoring smiles. "So, dad made you go home on my birthday?" I asked him, and he nodded. "And I told him that I missed you," he added, and I hugged him again. "Are you staying here for good?" I asked him. "He is, and I already enrolled him at a school," mom answered for him, and I smiled widely. I'm so glad that Ryan's back, and I won't feel lonely at home from now. I'm not blaming my mom, though. She's always out, so sometimes I'm left alone at home.

"You want to play, little dude?" Kenneth asked him, and he nodded eagerly. Kenneth calls him little dude because, of course, Ryan's a kid and a dude. They raced to the pool, and we all followed while laughing at them. We watched them play like little kids, and I feel the happiest now. I hope every day will be like this.

END OF CHAPTER 15