The First Tribrid

Chapter 3: Birthday Plans

I looked at myself in the mirror one last time before heading out for the day. My dark brown hair fell around my face to my shoulders in gentle waves. I didn't use much makeup as it was a waste of money; just a little mascara to make my hazel eyes look brighter. I tried not to be a burden on my mom, who gave up a lot to raise me alone. Someday, I promised myself. Someday I'll repay her for everything she's done for me. I'll be able to take care of her and make sure she has everything she wants. Until then, I have to finish school and get a good job. I managed to get a scholarship to the local community college and have been working hard ever since to maintain my GPA to keep it. Sighing to myself, I decided I looked fine and turned around. Time to start my day.

Mom was in the kitchen making breakfast when I was headed downstairs. "In here Lara!" I guess she heard me coming. Lara was the nickname my mom gave me when I was little, and by far my favorite. Now my friends use it too.

I peaked my head around the corner into the kitchen. "Do I smell bacon?"

"I don't know what you smell. It's your nose, not mine." I groaned at my mom's antics, but I wouldn't change her for the world. "I made bacon, eggs, and pancakes this morning." mom said with a smile.

"Oooh!" I squealed in excitement. "What's the occasion?"

"I need an occasion to spoil my daughter?" I noticed my mom wasn't looking my direction.

"You're being evasive, and yes. When it's with my favorite breakfast, you definitely need an occasion! What's up mom?"

"First of all, your favorite breakfast isn't that unusual." mom teased without making eye contact.

"It's a classic for a reason mom. Seriously what's going on with you?" I was starting to get freaked out and imagining what sort of horrible thing she could possibly not want to tell me.

"It's nothing really." Mom was not convincing, so I just waited her out. She finally looked at me and saw me watching her. She sighed audibly and I knew she would give in. "Fine. I haven't given up yet, but something's wrong with the car again. If I get it fixed..." She trailed off, but I didn't need the end of that sentence to know where it was going.

"We can't afford a birthday party?" I guessed. Mom nodded. "That's ok, I don't need one." I tried to be reassuring, but she still looked upset. "Mom, I'm turning 20 on Sunday. I'm not a little kid anymore, and it's not a big deal. It's not like I'm gonna be legal drinking age or anything. Don't worry so much."

"Are you sure?" Mom c****d an eyebrow at me. I hate when she does that! I can't get my eyebrows to move independently of each other like that. It's weird, I know, but it's so cool when she does it!

"Positively mom." I smiled cheerfully so she would know I meant it. "Can I invite a couple people over to watch movies or something? That would be plenty for me."

"That sounds like fun! You can have some microwave popcorn and sodas too." A strange look crossed her face, but was gone so fast I wasn't sure if I really saw it. "Can you do that Saturday? I'd like to spend the day with you Sunday if that's all right with you?"

"Sure mom. I have a midterm study group early next Monday morning, so I'll probably go to bed early on you. If that's cool, than I'll invite the gang for a Saturday movie marathon." None of this really bothered me. I didn't need to do anything for my birthday, but I knew she would insist. She didn't like to let the day go without "celebrating my baby coming into my life".

"That sounds like an excellent plan!" Mom seemed to be cheered, but that strange look crossed her face again, and this time I knew I wasn't imagining it. "Eat your breakfast now dear. When is your first class today?"

"It's Monday, so not till 11. Heather is in the same class, so she's picking me up in a little bit and we're gonna go to the library to catch up a little homework beforehand." My Monday schedule and Heather picking me up has been the same all quarter, but I figured she just wanted to change the subject so I let it slide. "I should have time to eat first though." I added with a smile and grabbed my fork.

After breakfast, I grabbed my backpack and rode with Heather to school. Heather has been my best friend since high school, though we couldn't be much more opposite. I'm the short, brown haired, hazel eyed, introvert. She's the tall, blonde, blue eyed, extrovert. I would rather stay in with a good book, while she prefers to party. She is, however, the most loyal person I've ever met. Our freshman year of high school together, she stood up for me when she didn't even know who I was. I got a friend for life, but she got shunned by the populars. She definitely got the s**t end of that deal, no matter how often she denies it when I bring it up.

"Why won't you ever just let me throw you a party Lara?" I hate when she uses the whiny voice. Heather always seems to forget that it doesn't work on me. She says I'm immune and it's why she loves me so much. I'm the only one who can withstand her crap.

"You know why! My mom would feel bad she couldn't do it for me. I can't do that to her!." I resist the urge to facepalm myself. I know why she doesn't like the idea. "If you'd rather spend your weekend at some frat guy's party than with you best friend watching movies, you know I won't hold it against you."

"b***h! With the guilt trip! Really? Ugh!" She glared at me for a moment before turning back to the road. "Fine! I'll come to your movie marathon. I get to pick the first movie though!"

"Deal!" I laughed. I could handle a rom-com once in a while. "I was thinking we could each pick one. If you wanna go first, I could go last so Jay doesn't make us watch some gory horror flick before we go to sleep." This time we both laughed.

We got to the main parking lot and found a space. Our friend Jameson was waiting in his usual spot on the nearby sidewalk. I took a moment to admire his athletic build. He had so much more confidence than when we were kids together. The scrawny, uncoordinated little boy had grown up and filled out. I would never admit this to his face, but Jay was a very good looking guy now. He has always been perfect boyfriend material too; sweet and supportive, patient with girl drama, and quick with a joke to cheer you up. The only problem is, he couldn't seem to find anyone worthy of his time. He says it's because he already has two beautiful women in his arm, to which I always suggest he just date Heather, but it'll never happen. The three of us are more siblings than friends; it would never happen. Maybe someday we'll finally succeed in finding his dream girl, but until then he's stuck with us.

He spotted us a we got out of the car and jogged over. "Heya ladies! How're you both this fine morning?"

"Hey Jay! Making birthday plans." I replied since he was closer to my side of the car. "You free Saturday?"

"For you? Always!" He smirked and winked. I rolled my eyes. "Movie marathon again?"

"Am I that predictable?"

"Yes!" my friends said in unison.

"It's ok though, we are too." Jay was quick to pacify any situation, even when there wasn't really a situation to diffuse. "You always pick movies at home, Heather always wants to go to parties..."

"How else am I supposed to get free alcohol?" Heather interrupted, "my fake ID plan was a depressing failure." she pouted.

"That's because you made your birth year to far back!" Jay pointed out, laughing. "You could've passed as 21, but not 31!" I chuckled.

"I wanted to seem more sophisticated."

"Maybe stop pouting all the time then." Jay pointed out, as she was indeed pouting again.

"Older women can pout!" She shouted indignantly. "At least I wanna do something fun! All you ever want is food!"

"I'm a growing boy!" announced Jay.

"Keep eating like that and you'll be growing the wrong way!" Huffed Heather, back to her signature pout. I rolled my eyes. These two had issues, but secretly serious chemistry that they were the only ones not to notice.

"My point," said Jay, turning back to me, "is that we're all predictable in our own way. Most people are if you pay enough attention."

"Was that the point? I kinda got lost in the argument for a minute." I teased. "Though I guess you two arguing is also sorta predictable now I think about it."

They were always bickering about some nonsense. They could even find a way to argue over popcorn without even trying. I guess it could be annoying, but it didn't bother me much. I usually just stayed quiet and eventually they would work it out. They were never actually mad at each other, they just both seemed to enjoy arguing. Who was I to question it?

"Can we go to the library now? I think I have an assignment due today." Heather was always procrastinating and I suspected only did homework on the days she picked me up early.

"Yeah, let's go. I need to do some research for Mr. Peterson's class." I agreed.

I didn't have to specify the class. It was just a boring History class we were all taking. I hadn't declared my major yet, but Heather was going into politics, and Jay was taking anything to do with history and teaching. He was dead set on being a professor and taking Mr. Peterson's job some day. He declared frequently that he would be able to teach it better and actually engage with the students.

"Allow me to escort you ladies." Jay said with a ridiculous fake English accent. "I cannot allow two such beauties to walk alone in such perilous times. There could be ruffians about, eager to take advantage of your innocence."

"You're being ridiculous and I have no innocence to protect." Heather almost sounded proud of the end of her statement.

"I can still protect Lara's innocence." Jay pouted.

"Maybe you shouldn't." Heather regarded me thoughtfully. "Can we do a makeover instead of the movie night? Dress you up and take you out for your birthday? Lose the virgin vibe and find you a d**k to play with!"

"NO!" I shouted, making both my friends jump. "Sorry, but I just want a lowkey birthday Heath. My mom would literally kill me if I ever wore anything like you do, and I'm incapable of being an extrovert. Remember last time you took me to a party?"

She had the decency to look ashamed for about 2 seconds. "Yeah, that didn't end well." I spent 5 minutes talking to a guy she introduced me to. He yawned, looked me up and down, asked if I was prude, then walked away. I spent the rest of the time sitting in a corner by myself until she was ready to leave. "Wait! What's wrong with my clothes?" She looked shocked and gestured to herself. She was wearing a red cut off that had been cut in the front to allow more cleavage to spill out, black miniskirt that left nothing to the imagination, fishnet stockings, and stiletto heels, carrying a red clutch.

"You look like a ho!" Jay laughed a little too loudly. Heather and I glared at him.

"I didn't say anything was wrong with it! It's your body and you're an adult to dress however you want. It would probably just give my mom a heart attack if I showed half that much skin, and I still have to live with her." Not to mention the fact that her clothes would definitely not fit me! I'm shorter, so more of my belly would be hidden, but I'm also curvier, so everything else would be falling out.

"Fine! I give up!" I doubted that, but I wouldn't give in on this one. "We'll do movies on Saturday. I'll just have to find some other way to get you laid."

"I don't need to get laid." I mumbled.

"Yes you do!" Jay agreeing with Heather? What alternate reality did I just end up in?

"Hey! Whose side are you on?"

"Heather's." Jay tilted his head like he was thinking. "Yours too. You need to get laid and loosen up a bit. You don't know what you're missing."

We had just walked up to the big two story library building, and my friends both ducked inside while I stood stunned on the stairs in front. I wasn't a prude, or at least not intentionally. Yes, I was a virgin, but it wasn't a conscious decision, just a side effect of lack of dating. I couldn't do the whole one night stand thing, and I honestly just wasn't attracted to anyone at school that way. I had a boyfriend once in high school, but he said it wasn't serious, so I wouldn't let it go past kissing. He called me a prude too, but I couldn't give myself to him if he wasn't serious. I had to put way too much effort into getting over my anxiety just to talk to new people, so I wasn't going to waste myself on guys who just wanted to screw around.

I don't know how long I stood on that sidewalk with my thoughts swirling around my head before I finally went inside. I do know what shook me out of it was a growing feeling of being watched. I looked around, across the street, and back towards the parking lot we walked from, but I didn't see anyone. I shrugged and shook my head. I was probably just imagining things, and I really did want to start on my assignment even though technically it wasn't assigned until later today. Mr. Peterson always posted assignments to his class site the morning he planned them for, so any student who wanted to could see them before class even started. He claimed he did it that way so he wouldn't forget and anyone who missed class could still get the work, but I think it was for overachievers and scholarship kids to get a head start. I still had the creepy feeling of being watched anyway, so after looking around one more time, I turned and went inside the library.