by Amare, Mercy
“Mom?” she asks.
“Yep. She’s been calling me non-stop since Chloe and Phillip got engaged.” At first, I liked it. I have missed my mom since moving here. It’s been almost two months since I’ve seen her. But once she started dropping hints about me coming home on my birthday and trying out for Drama Queen, I stopped talking to her. I have other things to worry about other than my immature mother… like school, and college applications. I’ve already sent my application for Columbia, but I need a few back-up colleges. I am going to send in an app for NYU soon, and I’m also considering Harvard, but I’m not sure about that. I just want to stay in New York. Massachusetts is just too far away.
I am officially one of those girls. A girl who bases her college choice around a guy.
Well, that’s not completely true. Now that Candice is here, I want to be close to her too. And Dad. Family is very important to me. But, if I am being honest, having Tristan close by is a definite perk.
After eating breakfast, Candice and I head to get a mani-pedi. I also get my eyebrows waxed. I’ve definitely been slacking lately, because I want to spend every spare second with Tristan. Having Candi here is definitely good for me.
6pm
Perfect hair.
My feet hurt. I’m tired. And I’m cranky.
“Try this on!” Candice puts another dress over the dressing room door. I groan, but take the dress anyway. I am not sure how she is so energized right now.
I put on the dress and walk out. “If we are going to continue this shopping much longer, I am going to need caffeine.” I traded my heels for flip-flops when we got our mani-pedi, and I’m glad I did. I can only imagine how bad my feet would hurt if I had been wearing heels all day. My excuse was that I didn’t want to ruin my toenails, but it’s a lie. I just didn’t feel like torturing myself all day.
“Perfect!” she says.
I look in the mirror, and admit that I do like this dress.
“I’m buying this for you. For your birthday. Don’t take it off. You’re wearing it to dinner. Now let’s find accessories and shoes!”
Thirty minutes later, I am walking out of the store wearing my brand-new dress, a cute pair of heels, and a matching scarf. Candice also got a new dress, and we look cute.
“We should should stop by the house before we eat dinner,” she says. “I want to touch up my hair.”
“Okay.”
She looks at me. “How can you shop all day, and still manage to have perfect hair. I’m so envious.”
I’ve always been that way. Even after sleeping all night, I will wake up with my hair the exact same way that it was before I went to sleep. “I don’t know. I guess I got all the good genes.”
“Ugh, definitely. You, little sister, are freaking gorgeous. It’s so not fair.”
“If anybody is gorgeous, it’s you,” I tell her. “Everybody has always called you the hot one.”
“I have to wear make-up to look this good.”
“I’m wearing make-up too.” Though, I generally don’t wear it that much. I don’t like to wake up in time to do my make-up before school, and unless I’m going out, or going to some party, there really isn’t a point.
We get in the limo and head back to the house. As we are on our way, I text Tristan.
Me: Are you coming to dinner with Candi and me tonight?
Tristan: Sure. What time?
Me: Meet at my house in like thirty minutes?
Tristan: See you then.
7pm
Surprise
“Where do you want to go for dinner?” Candice asks me as we climb onto the elevator.
“I don’t know, and don’t really care. I’m just starving. I want something really big and full of delicious calories and carbs,” I say as the elevator jerks up.
“Yeah, that salad from lunch really wasn’t very filling.”
“That’s why I had a burger and fries for lunch.” When I’m shopping, I really shouldn’t eat so much. I always get bloated, and look fat in all the clothes I try on. But I was really hungry. “Maybe I’ll make some coffee while you fix your hair. I am exhausted from all the shopping.”
When the elevator doors open, I jump when I hear a large crowd shouting “SURPRISE!” Candice and I step off the elevator and I look out at the crowd. There is a huge banner that says ‘Happy Birthday Charlotte!’, and there are a ton of hot pink and black balloons all over. There is a four-tiered cake with purple sparkly icing on top, and eighteen candles. The lights dim slightly, and music starts playing.
A surprise party? I so wasn’t expecting this.
My dad is the first to come up to me. “Happy early birthday,” he says.
“Thanks.” I give him a hug. And now I get why Candice took me shopping all day. They had to decorate and set everything up. It also explains why she wanted me to wear my new dress tonight. “This is really awesome. Thank you for doing this.”
“It was actually all Tristan’s idea. He and Candice planned it all.”
I see Tristan looking at me with a huge smile on his face. I walk over to him, and give him a kiss on the lips. “Thank you.” I’m pretty sure this makes Tristan the best boyfriend ever. “I’ve never had a surprise party before.”
“So you were surprised?” he asks.
“I had no idea,” I answer. “Candi wasn’t at all acting suspicious.”
“I’m glad I could throw you your first surprise party,” he says. “Since it’s Saturday night and there is no alcohol, a lot of people will be splitting early, but Candi, Christian, Layla, and I will all be hanging out until after midnight to ring in your official birthday.”
This is officially the best birthday ever. “I’m excited.”
“Are you ready to turn eighteen?” he asks.
“No way. I want to be seventeen forever. But since I am forced to grow up, I guess eighteen isn’t so bad. But I’m telling you, after twenty-nine I will be claiming twenty-nine forever.”
He laughs. “You still got a ways.”
“It seems like it. Eleven years. Then I think about how fast the past eighteen years have flown by, and I realize that eleven years really isn’t that long. I mean I’ll probably be married in like… three years. And then in seven years I’ll probably be having my first child. It’s kind of scary, actually.”
“I don’t know. I’m kind of excited about being married to you. And having a child with you.”
“Of course you’re excited. You’re not the one who has to go through hours of hard labor to push a seven pound baby out of your vagina. I’m exhausted just thinking about it,” I say.
Tristan smiles at me. “So does that mean that you plan on marrying me?”
“As long as I don’t get tired of you in the next three years, I’d say its a definite possibility.”
“Well then I better make sure you don’t get tired of me.”
With that, Layla comes up to me. “Happy birthday!” she says, and then turns to Tristan. “She may be your girlfriend, but you can’t hog the birthday girl all night.”
About thirty other people come up to say happy birthday. I recognize them all from school, but I don’t really know a lot of them. All of Christian’s friends are here, and a few of the girls from the popular click — Serenity and Violet. They’re definitely the nice ones in the group.
I grab some food, and we all chill around the living room listening to music. After we cut the cake, a lot of people start clearing out like Tristan predicted. It’s Saturday night, and I’m pretty sure everybody just wants to go get wasted. My dad definitely wouldn’t let any of them drink, but as soon as it’s just us he pulls out a couple of bottles of champagne.
“If you drink, you don’t drive,” my dad says. “There are plenty of rooms here.”
After that, he goes to bed. It’s then that I decide that I have the coolest dad ever. Plus, I’m pretty sure he trusts me. I’m not a big drinker, and I have no intentions of having more than one or two glasses of champagne. Tristan pops
the top and pours everybody a drink.
Tristan’s holds up his glass. “To Charlotte — you will officially be legal in two hours.”
We all laugh and clink our glasses together. “Cheers!”
After drinking a couple of glasses, I turn back on the music and dance with Tristan. Christian decides to question Candice about her life, and Layla listens intensively. Layla told me when we first met that she was a fan of Chloe and Candice, and she does look a little starstruck. It’s weird to think of my sister as a celebrity, but she is.
“I think Layla has a crush on your sister,” Tristan says.
I laugh hard. I’m not sure if it’s funny, or if it’s two glasses of champagne that makes it funny. I’m not drunk, but I’m definitely not sober either. “She so does not.”
“Are you tipsy?”
“A little.”
“You’re such a lightweight,” he says. “Very good to know.”
“I don’t really like to drink that often. Just for special occasions. Like birthdays.”
“Just don’t drink on our wedding day. I want you to remember every second of our honeymoon.”
I feel my face grow warm. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to forget that. But just in case, maybe we should test out your theory now. You know — for experimental reasons.”
“Soon,” he promises.
And I can’t be disappointed that he’s not carrying me to my bedroom right now, because whenever soon gets here, it will be the best damn night of my life… Well, actually, it’ll the be the first of many best nights of my life.
I love that Tristan holds me as we dance. His hands rest dangerously low on my back, yet they’re not low enough. The way that he looks at me like he wants to devour every inch of my body tests my patience and my sanity.
Landon never wanted to dance with me when we were together. Of course, he also never looked at me the way that Tristan does. If Tristan and I were to break up, I doubt I could ever find anybody like him. I love how sweet he is. And his intensity. I love the way he says my name. I love the size of his hands, and how they feel when he holds mine.
“What are you thinking?” he asks me.
“Just how that if you and I ever broke up, I would never find anybody like you,” I answer. “I doubt anybody could ever make me feel the way that you do.”
“I know that I could never find another you,” he says. “I feel so lucky to have you.”
“Well, I think the way that I came here really sucked, but I’m glad I got photographed smoking weed. If I hadn’t, I never would have met you. And by the way, I’m pretty sure it was me who found you.”
“No way. It was definitely me. I was the one who noticed you first at the party. If it wasn’t for me, you’d probably be dating Christian right now.” He makes a face. “I am really glad I decided to come to the city that weekend. If not, I definitely would have stolen my brother’s girl.”
“I’m glad you came to the city too,” I agree. “But I definitely would not be dating Christian.”
“If he had his way, you definitely would be.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I’m pretty sure he’s in love with my sister.”
“All he has been talking about this weekend is his future date with Candice. I seriously hope for her sake that she has a boyfriend next fall when he starts NYU.”
I laugh again, which makes me think that it’s definitely the alcohol, because I never laugh this much. I sound like a giggling twelve year old. But I hope that Candice does have a boyfriend next fall. Not just so she doesn’t have to go on a date with Christian, but because she deserves to be happy. Once she finds herself, I hope she can find somebody to share her life with. Above all, I just want her to be happy.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
12am
Happy birthday.
It’s twelve AM which means that I am officially an adult. Except I don’t really feel any older. I guess I thought turning eighteen would feel freer, but really it doesn’t feel any different than seventeen at all. Maybe it’s because I know I still have eight months of high school left. Maybe once I graduate I will feel free? Well, then I’ll have four years of college. And then a job. And a husband. And kids. And bills. Yeah, how depressing. I will never be free.
“Happy birthday, baby” Tristan whispers in my ear. It’s amazing how I can go from completely calm to totally turned on in like two seconds flat. Will it always be like this? I really, really hope so. And it’s not like he said anything sexy. He just said happy birthday. Which pretty much makes me the lamest person on the planet, but I don’t care.
“Happy birthday, Char!” Candice hugs me. “I can’t believe my baby sister is eighteen. I feel so old.”
“You’re only one year and three months older,” I say.
“Don’t remind me.” She pouts. “Pretty soon I won’t be a teenager anymore, which is pretty freaking depressing.”
Candice is so melodramatic. Which is why I love her.
Christian and Layla both tell me happy birthday as we all grab another piece of cake. We’re all getting pretty tired, so we will probably be going to bed soon. Candice said something about beauty rest. At 12:13 my phone starts ringing. Aaron’s number pops up, which excites me. I didn’t think he would call for my birthday. His call will completely make my birthday complete.
“Hello bestest friend of mine,” I answer.
“Charlotte?” I hear a voice from the other end, but the voice doesn’t belong to Aaron. It belongs to his dad, Jordan.
“Mr. Rouse?” I am shocked that it’s not Aaron. I’m also concerned. His dads never call me.
“Charlotte, there’s been an accident.”
My heart speeds up when I hear the word accident. My heart is beating so loud that I’m sure I won’t be able to hear anything else he says. My head is spinning. “What do you mean accident? Is Aaron alright?”
“I don’t know if he will be. Aaron overdosed on drugs tonight. The doctors are doing everything they can, but it doesn’t look good. I know that Aaron would want you here. I want you here.”
I get up off the couch and start running towards my room. “Of course. I’ll pack and be on the first flight out.” I end the call, and run into my room. I open my suitcase and start throwing things inside. I don’t even hear Tristan come up behind me.
“Is everything alright?” he asks.
“No,” I say.
Tristan pulls me into his arms, and I take a deep, shaky breath. I needed this hug.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Aaron overdosed on drugs. He’s in pretty bad shape, and they don’t know if he is going to be okay.” I begin to sob. “I didn’t even know Aaron did drugs. All we ever did was smoke pot. Wouldn’t I know if my best friend was using hard drugs? Maybe if I would have paid more attention to him…” I start thinking about Labor Day Weekend, and how I ditched him numerous times to hang out with Tristan. I should have given Aaron more time. He flew all the way to see me, and we basically fought the whole time. I should have begged him to stay the extra day, and I should have called him more once he got back home. I could have tried harder. I am a horrible friend.
“It’s not your fault,” Tristan tells me. “You didn’t make Aaron do drugs. He did them on his own free will. The only thing that you can do now is be there for him. I’m going to go home and pack a bag, then you and I are going to fly to Los Angeles tonight and see him. I bet we will even get there before he wakes up. And he will wake up.”
For some reason, seeing Tristan take charge makes me feel better. “I need to book a ticket.”
“We can take my dad’s jet. I’ll call him on the way home and have him call the pilot.”
“Okay.”
“Now finish packing. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Tristan kisses my forehead and then leaves my room. About three minutes after he leaves, Candice walks in. She goes to my closet and starts packing my bag for me. It’s a good thing, because I’m not sure if I can pack it ri
ght now.
“It’s going to be alright,” Candice tells me as she finishes packing. “I am going to go tell Dad what happened, and then I am going to pack my bag. I will be there for you. And Aaron will be alright. He has to be."
Candice leaves me in my room, and I fall back onto my bed. I stare at my ceiling and send up a prayer for Aaron. I want my best friend to be alright.
2am
On purpose?
We are boarding Tristan’s Dad’s jet at two in the morning. Christian decides to come with us, too. I really don’t care who comes, I just want to get there.
I am having such mixed feelings about everything. One minute I am mad at Aaron for doing drugs. Then the next I’m mad at me for not noticing that he was doing drugs. And then I’m just sad, because I don’t know if he is going to live or not. And then the cycle starts all over again.
I sit beside Tristan on the plane, and buckle up. “Aaron is scared of flying,” I tell him. “Once we went on a ski trip to Colorado, and he cried like a baby when we were taking off. He kept screaming ‘I don’t wanna die!’ over and over again.” I can’t help but laugh at the memory. And then I cry. What if I don’t get to make more memories with Aaron? What if the last time I saw him really was the last time that I saw him? How can I live without my best friend?
“I’m sure he’s going to be alright.” Tristan tries to comfort me. “When his dad called, I’m sure he was just anxious. There is no reason to stress about it. We will get there, talk to his dad and the doctors. Who knows, he might even be all better.”
He’s right. I shouldn’t freak out. It doesn’t do anybody any good if I do. All I can do is be there for Aaron when he wakes up. And then when he wakes up, because he will wake up, I am going to smack him across the face for using drugs. Seriously, how could he?
