39| the victim of surprises

Serine

***

"Oh my gosh you're growing way too fast! You're finally 18," she cries and I roll my eyes at her. "You're impossible, were you like drinking or something?" I ask even though I know she can't drink alcohol. "How can I drink stupid? According to my parents, I'm 18."

I don't even know what facial expression I should make. "You aren't though,"

"Well technically, when you enter into a new year, you're one year older. Until you're official on your birthday." I shake my eyes and sip the creme soda drink. The music booming through the speakers as the neon lights filled the room.

I certainly did not expect this for my 18th birthday. Yet I actually liked it.

The decor definitely went to my two best friends. I didn't even have to ask because I knew how powerful they were in that department. Everybody was here. That included our close friends, other friends that weren't always in the picture and basically half of the school. I didn't want to witness any sweat, sex- maybe make outs but I didn't want any typical teenage party. Hell no.

"Okay I think it's time to open the presents?"

"Really? Is that a good idea?" I ask not sure if I can open all my presents that were at my front door. Levine made a strick rule of, 'Don't come if you don't have a gift,' Which I feel like should be a motto to every body on earth.

"Okay let's all go to the back yard," by 'all' she really meant; Myself, her, Sarah and the guys. Once she was done gathering everybody, she held my wrist and dragged me out. Leaving the rest to party amongst themselves.

"Alrighty," Sarah squeals and I'm surprised to see that every one of them had brought gifts. It's not like Liv was going to let anybody with a present in though. So it really shouldn't shock me. I sat down on the grass in my back yard, tilting my head up to catch a glimpse of the night sky.

I was truly grateful for all the friends I had. I had considered them family, after all, because that's what they were. I am the only child so I didn't know what it was like to have any siblings or two have girls- who have supported me and became my best friends. I appreciated the both of them. Darek was like my older as I already said, like a hundred times even though he was only a year older than me. He still treated me like his blood- his year younger sister. Now I didn't wanna say little.

He truly was there when my sister's couldn't be there. He supported me, he fed me brutality but in the best way possible. Yup. We were truly close until I got mad at him for leaving without telling me like a day before. He left for a much needed vacation and did half of his senior year online until he came back not to long ago.

I snap out my thoughts the moment I hear another squeal. "It's time for the giiftts," Sarah jumps happily as she sits down right next to me. "What's up with you? How are this excited?"

"Oh, y'know,"

"No, I don't know." I say folding my arms. Lately Sarah been all- how can I say this... gittery and super energetic- and may I add, a little sassy? Truthfully, I always felt like Sarah had this all inside her. She did. Why the hell am I even fooling myself- she always had. But due to her introversy- which is not a word but ok- and shyness, she couldn't really express that when people had expected it. It just happened.

That was Sarah for you. She was like one of those closed flowers. I don't know what they were called. Not interested in knowing.

"Okay everybody," I hear other familiar voices. "time for the gifts."

ugh. Just why did Levine have to always interrupt when I was about to get the tea?

"So who is going to start?"

"I am," David volunteers. There was a box covered in a red Christmas cover. He hands it over to with a smile. "Merry Christmas lil sis," I chuckle inviting the rectangular box into my hand, placing it down softly on the grass. I untie the bow and I then begin unwrapping the cover. When I opened, I spotted a turquoise blue box and I furrowed my brows. Is this one of those- WAIT. "No way," I look at it in shock. "Dude this has to be- oh my gosh thank you so much!" I exclaim, engulfing him the tightest hug I could offer.

It was three individual perfumes that I dreamed to gift myself for Christmas. The blue Versace one was already my favorite because it had my favorite color- I recall when I was kid, I always thought perfume was water that was food colored. Hey, I was a kid. There was pink cylinder one in the middle with a gold top. The last one was a silver Chanel perfume. I was definitely going to fall in love with these.

"How'd you know that I wanted these?" I look at him after completing my first round of gushing over these. "Well you wouldn't stop talking about them, the whole of January,"

"Thanks. I really love them."

"Yeah dude, if I hadn't helped you, you would've gotten her something like a stuffed animal," she intervenes.

You can already guess who that was.

"Okay, mine next." she says loudly. "You're gonna love it," I trust what she says and look at the bigger box. Surprisingly, Sarah had the biggest present. Hers is not wrapped in a box. I'll just have to close my eyes before I unveil it. Levine adds to more gifts next to the book and I stare at her. "What? There was like quite a few things and I sorta got carried away," she shrugs. That's so her. She could never buy just one thing.

I open one of two small ones she got me and- what I've learned was for the smaller presents, I had to be careful. Unwrapping it finished, I catch a glimpse of a twinkle. Once I open it, I see the sparkling silver layered necklace. The first layer had a cross and the second one had what looked like a... locket. The most beautiful I've ever seen. Once I open it, I almost lose my breathe when I see an image of my mom and dad- with her belly. I clasp my hand over my mouth but don't cry. The other picture is the three of us. We were posing in some weird ass pose, with weird facial expressions.

"Ugh why the hell are so cute?" I avert my eyes from the gem in front of me and engulf her in a tight hug. "Thank you," I whisper. "Don't you dare cry. Or I swear-."

"Ok, ok I won't," I say pulling away and blinking the tears away. My eyes were no longer stinging or hot because of the tears but now I'm pretty sure I had plain white around my brown colored eyes. "Don't open this one," she points to the other small one. "You'll simply burst into tears there so... open that later," I don't question her and just look pass the one that would make me cry some more and begin unwrapping the bigger one.

Knowing her, it could be the smallest thing in a big box. But I open it anyways. Once I open it, it's a portrait. My eyes travel through every detail. The caramel skin, the dark hair, the brown eyes and- it was me. It was a painting of me. A phenomenal one should I add.

"Wow," is the first thing that escapes my mom. "Who did this?"

"Well look at the painters name at the bottom silly," I ignore the fact that I want to glare at her and look. It was him- it was my dad. My heart melts and surprisingly I don't cry. "You're the best I swear,"

"Oh, I know. Your welcome," The night goes on with me opening presents and must admit- best gifts I've ever gotten. Sarah got me huge ass teddy bear. Darek got me an entire jewellery box- along with a packet of cashew nuts. Angelo then got me a portrait of my mother and I couldn't help but wonder, did they all discuss this amongst themselves? To intentionally make me cry?

Then there was one person who wasn't even h- "Hey beautiful," I hear their voice. I turn my head back around to confirm what I just heard and stood up. "Hey," I give him a small smile and he's in front of me almost immediately. He raises my chin with his index finger and kisses me.

My mouth is reminded by that familiar taste and I almost get lost into it. His big hand was behind me neck as he continued but then I nearly forget the others who were sitting there. "Alex," I say in between the kisses. He groans a little. "We can save this for later okay?" I whisper, pulling away slightly. Slowly opening my eyes. He doesn't say anything, his eyes still closed, hand on my neck. "Happy birthday," there's a soft smile after he says that.

"Adorable," I snap my head towards the girl with the chocolate skin. "Shut the hell up Sarah,"

"Dude there was a sign on the door-"

"Don't worry," Alex chuckles at Levine. "I'm trusting you,"

"Okay y'all let's get back to the party,"

It brings me to now where I'm in my room, on my phone, reading an online book but still hear the sound of the water in the bathroom. Alex was taking a shower while I was waiting for him. "Babe could you please bring the towel over?" I furrow my brows.

Did I not leave a spare towel?

Thinking that I didn't, I got up and went over to the last row of my walk in closet and grabbed a spare one. Once I got it, I slowly but surely made my way to my bathroom. I nearly feel like I'd been struck by lightning when I spot him. His there, with water on his skin as the lights make his skin glisten, his wet dark hair and his silver orbs pierces into my genitals. Literally.

"I- I- what-"

"Did I tell you how you can rock in anything? How sexy you look today?" my voice is stuck in my throat and I can only gulp. He walks closer but I'm still frozen on the spot. "I feel like I'm about to lose it," he continues, his eyes traveling around my body. I was in a silk black, backless dress that ended exactly at my upper thigh. Blame Levine for all this.

"I don't want anybody else to look at you," his words sound familiar. But I don't even think about where I heard them. Before I could even think about it, his lips collide with mine and from the first second, holds so much hunger, passion, lust. I reciprocate the kiss and grab a handful of his hair, bringing him closer and I instantly melt at the taste of him.

The best thing I've ever tasted. I hook one of my legs and he helps me hook the other and I tightly wrap them around his waist. But then I feel it, I felt the hardness against my skin and it didn't help that I was in a dress that was butt short. I teasingly move my body slowly and softly on top of it- a satisfying groan escapes his lips. "Fuck," he mutters and our lips separate but they make contact with my nape. A moan escapes me as my sensitive self already feels a throb down there. He bites, sucks, kisses on it. You name it, it felt amazing.

I begin to feel dizzy. A little nauseous, things walking on my skin- feeling like I had drank something.

As if on queue, the phone rings.