Charlie’s POV
My parents gave me a list of demands before they each gave me a hug and took off.
– Don’t stay up too late
– No Alcohol!
– Don’t do drugs!
– Keep the party simple.
– No loud music.
– No one is allowed upstairs!
– Make sure nobody breaks anything.
Of course, Ella was already making plans to break a few of those rules.
“So, my cousin can get us some alcohol, only if you want?”
I looked over at her. “Sure. As long as I’m not paying.” I smiled.
“Of course not, it’s your birthday! I’ll pay.” She whipped out her phone and began texting her alcohol dealer.
We spent the past half an hour party proofing the house: hiding anything that can break. The last thing I need is my mom coming home and killing me because her precious China collection is broken.
“What did you get for your birthday?” Ella asked.
“My parents got me the new PlayStation, and Nora bought me a pendulum.” I replied.
“A pendulum? Is that one of those things that you always see in therapy scenes on tv?”
“Yeah. Guess she thinks I need therapy.”
Ella chuckled.
“Do you think Clayton’s mysterious girlfriend will come tonight?” I wondered.
“I hope so. What if she’s like a celebrity?”
I laughed. Classic Ella, always so dramatic.
“What? You never know.”
“What else do we need to do?” I asked.
Ella stood up and clasped her hands together. “We should go out and buy some snacks, cups and all that stuff.”
“Okay.”
~
Later that night, the party was in full swing.
The backyard was where the main party was, but the house was still scattered with people who were dancing, mingling and drinking out of cheap plastic cups.
I made my way to the backyard, hoping to find someone that I actually knew.
“Happy birthday, Charlie!” A girl from my English class hugged me.
She was definitely wasted, and I didn’t have to smell the alcohol on her breath to know it.
“Thanks.” I put on my best smile and continued to the backyard.
Ella had lined it with Christmas lights that she had dug up out my garage. I protested, of course, but she decided it would make the party better, somehow.
Apparently she’s an expert.
Upbeat electronic music was playing through the speakers, and people were dancing to it.
“Charlie! There you are!” Ella linked her arm with mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
She began to lead me back into the house. “Clayton and I have a surprise for you!” Ella beamed mischievously.
God, it better not be a birthday prank.
It’s going to be a birthday prank, isn’t it?
We arrived into the dining area to see a cake on the table with seventeen lit candles on top.
Happee Birthdae Charlie! Was written on it. It looked exactly like the birthday cake Hagrid got Harry Potter for his eleventh birthday.
I can’t believe I have to hear the birthday song twice in one day.
“Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Charlie!
Happy birthday to you!”
Nora held the cake in front of me, motioning for me to blow the candles out. I inhaled a deep breath before releasing it, the candles fluttering out with it.
“Now do a shot!” Nora urged, reaching for a nearby bottle of tequila.
“No, i’m good.” I said.
“Fine, more for me.” She took a swig from the bottle, barely even flinching at the taste.
“We have another surprise.” Clayton said.
I looked over the table at him. He was smiling, almost laughing, and his eyes were looking behind me.
I anxiously and cautiously turned around to see a clown standing right behind me.
On instinct, I clenched my fist and punched it right in the nose.
“Gaaah!”
Clayton burst out cackling, as did Nora. Meanwhile, Ella ran towards the clown.
“Charlie! Why’d you do that?!”
I can’t believe I just punched a clown in the face.
“You know I’m afraid of clowns!” I practically growled at her.
Don’t judge me, Coulrophobia is a real thing. I mean, have you ever seen a clown? They’re psychotic. And have you ever seen a clown movie? Name one clown movie where the clown wasn’t evil.
“Ow.” The clown spoke, and his voice was very familiar.
It was Ryan dressed up as a clown.
“Ryan?”
“Happy birthday!” He cheered, holding his hand over his nose.
“I’m sorry.” I apologised to him, even though he’s the one who scared the absolute heck out of me by dressing up as one of my greatest fears.
“OH MY GOD!” Nora appeared beside me, laughing loudly.
Clayton approached on the other side of me, laughing equally as loud.
“Are you okay?” I asked Ryan, not looking directly at him.
Ella helped him to stand up.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Great, now you can go get dressed.” I urged.
“Please tell me someone recorded that!” Nora said.
I scoffed at her and walked towards the table and poured myself a drink.
“That was the best prank ever!” Clayton stated through laughter. I wanted to punch him also.
“No it wasn’t! It was mean!” I said before taking a long sip from my drink.
I think my entire life flashed before my eyes. How the hell did they convince Ryan to dress up as a freaking clown!?
When Ryan returned looking like himself again, I smiled. “Hey stranger!”
“I can’t believe you punched me in the nose!” He pouted.
“I’m sorry.” I hugged him.
“Here, I got you a present.” He pulled out of the hug and dug his hand into his right hand pocket and pulled out a bracelet?
He handed the bracelet to me and I gave it a once over.
It had Ryan’s name engraved in it.
Aw, how sweet.
I could feel my cheeks turn red as I slipped the bracelet onto my hand.
“Thanks, I love it.” I smiled.
“Good, it cost me a fortune.”
“How much?” I asked.
He winked. “It’s a secret.”
“You guys are adorable.” Nora stated the obvious.
“Okay, cute moment is over. Now let’s party!” Ella encouraged.
Ryan took my hand in his. “You want to go dance?” He asked me.
I smiled. “Yeah, I’ll meet you outside. I need to go to the bathroom.”
I headed towards the staircase before turning back to Ryan, who held a hand to his nose. “You should put some ice on that.” I suggested.
I hurried upstairs to relieve myself.
~
After emptying my bladder, I headed to go back downstairs when I saw my bedroom door open.
My blood instantly boiled.
“Nobody’s allowed upstairs!” I shouted, barging into my own room.
Ace stood next to my bed, holding something in his hand. He looked as if he had just got caught robbing a bank.
“Oh, it’s you.”
I couldn’t explain the sudden warmth that I felt inside, I was just happy to see him. I smiled at him before looking at the thing he was holding in his hand.
It looked like a rolled up piece of paper?
“What is that?” I gestured to the paper. “Did you bring homework to a birthday party?”
He let out a slight chuckle.
“No, it’s uh.” He held it out for me.
“Happy birthday.”
I took the paper from his hand.
“You didn’t have to get me a present.”
“Just open it.”
I untied the string that was tied around it and unrolled it.
It was a sketch…… of me.
Done in great detail too, not one of his annoying little doodles. It was an actual sketch. My leg cast was even realistic.
“You did this?” I asked, completely surprised.
“Uh, y-yes. Yeah, I had you for that art assignment that I missed the deadline to, since I was, you know.”
Since he was under house arrest.
“You had my name?”
“Yeah.” He shifted uncomfortably.
“It’s awesome. Thank you.” I hugged him without thinking.
“You’re welcome.” He said after an awkward moment of silence, finally returning the hug.
“Uh, there you are.” Ryan interrupted.
“Hi.” I said awkwardly, distancing myself from Ace.
“I better go, just wanted to come by and say Happy Birthday.” Ace excused himself from the awkward situation.
“What was that about?” Ryan wondered.
Was he jealous?
“Uh, Ace just wanted to wish me Happy Birthday.”
Ryan pointed down to the drawing in my hand.
“What’s that?” He asked.
“Homework, Ace dropped off notes that I gave him.” I lied.
“Why did you hug him?”
“Friends can hug.”
“You’re friends with him?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Kinda?” I put the rolled up drawing in my desk drawer before walking back to Ryan and taking his hand.
“Let’s go dance.” I smiled up at him.
We exited my bedroom, switching off the light before closing the door. We started towards the staircase when the sound of something dropping to the floor came from Nora’s room.
I halted. “Why do people keep coming upstairs!” I groaned, turning back to storm into Nora’s room and shout at whoever was in there.
“Wait, Charlie!” Ryan called from behind me.
I opened Nora’s bedroom door, prepared to shout at some people making out with each other.
Only they weren’t random people.
My jaw dropped.
It was my sister and my best friend!
“What the f-“
_________________
Stayed up all night to write a new chapter for you all!
Hope you enjoy!
Also, I wrote this while I was hella tired, so please let me know if I made any mistakes!
Thanks for reading, pls vote and leave a comment 🙂
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