birthday surprise

This is Jay. Remember, the best friend Thia talked about. And she's right, I did just go to America to be with her, but it was kinda my idea for us all to go there in the first place. I miss my family back in England—most of all, my dad—but at least he calls me. I hardly hear from any of the others, save perhaps Addison my brother. It's nice in the base, especially when we're playing games when the Commander's out (we don't really get along) I just miss England, miss what we used to get up to. We did all sorts and got up to all sorts of mischief. We even made a band! I wouldn't call it a home though. Then again, I wouldn't really call this place a home either.

I never really had a home since what happened to my own planet. You see, I'm the young prince of Serious. Seriously, there is actually a planet called Serious, and that's where we're from. My family and me, and my friends and Thia's dad too. But it was invaded and we were all forced to leave when I was only two. Since then I've just sort of been a wanderer, never really thinking about having a home. When I was four I met Thia, and since then if I had to call a place home, it would be wherever she was.

It'll soon be my 8th birthday. I'd been hoping my dad and brother might send me something from England, even if it was just something small like a new game or a tablet.

What I got instead was so much better. I was just sitting on my own in the base lounge where most of the other guys hung out, playing on my Ipad Mini. Thia had gone off to some important meeting with her dad. Suddenly Sam came into the room holding three big envelopes.

"This just came for you." He said handing them to me.

Noaba, my other friend who was sat on the sofa opposite me reading a book, looked up and smiled.

"Someone's got birthday mail."

"This early! It's not for another month."

"Oh yes, it's from my brother." I shouted, not listening to the others.

"Open them!" Noaba urged.

I began to open them, starting with the two biggest.

"Oh my god!" I squealed, seeing what was inside. "Oh my god, this is huge, this is wicked! This is so, so cool! I gotta go tell Thia."

With that, I sped from the room. Either forgetting or not caring about the meeting that was supposed to be on, I zoomed into the Command Room.

"Hey Thia, guess what..." but then I stopped, seeing everyone's faces looking at me. They looked really serious.

"Oh...was I interrupting something?"

"Just a little." Said Sky, sarcastically.

I gestured to the door. "I'll wait outside."

And wait I did, though it took a very long time. I just leaned against the wall, arms folded, wishing I hadn't left my Ipad in the lounge. When I thought I couldn't take much more and would go to fetch my Ipad, even if I did miss the end of the meeting, they started coming out. They still didn't look very happy. Thia was last to leave with her dad. She looked slightly worried, looking up at him the way she was.

"Why's everyone looking so serious? Have they all got sky-disease or something?"

She smiled and shook her head.

"I'll tell you later. So, what was it you wanted to show me?"

I grinned widely.

"Look what's just come over from my brother from England." I said holding out the bits of paper in my hands. She looked at them, and her face lit up.

"No way!" she said.

"Mm-hmm" I said, nodding.

"We're going to a wedding!"

"Two weddings. You remember Rachel. The woman who raised you and Tiana."

She nodded. "The one that couldn't have her own kids."

"Yeah, well, she's getting married to this Larry guy, and she says if we'd like to, we can go to that one too."

"In England!"

"Yep. The tickets are probably in this envelope." I said shaking the smaller one that I still hadn't opened

"Wow! This is so cool. And your brother as well."

"Well, if I'm honest I'm surprised they didn't get married before, seen as they've got a child now."

"Is this all from him?"

"I guess so. He says dad's got me a special present for when I get there."

She grinned "I bet he does. Oh my god! This is amazing! Thank you!!!!"

Then for no reason at all, except over excitement, she jumped and flung her arms around my neck.

"Hey. It wasn't me that sent the invites or tickets."

***

Word soon got round about the birthday tickets to England and wedding invites. Of course, the first person Thia told was her dad, then he told the woman he works with, Cat; then she told the others. But, besides Sam and Noaba, the first person I told was probably the one I'd miss most when I left. James. He's the guy in red and they call him leader, the other guys I mean. We get along real well, me and James. He did kinda save my neck back in England, and we've been real close ever since I came to America. I suppose he reminds me of my brother, and if I had to choose someone in America, it would be him.

Most of the others don't seem to mind about it but some, like James friend Zee, think it's weird going back after just a short time here.

"You've only been here less than a month. I thought you were enjoying it."

"I was, and I don't go yet anyway. The plane doesn't go until the 15th, the day before my birthday."

"Even so, you could've given this place a bit more of a chance before you just decided to fly back to England."

"I'll be coming back after, and I really was getting used to it here. But..."

"But what?" James piped in.

I looked at him and shrugged. "It's my brother's wedding, James."

He laughed.

Thia, on the other hand, had to first get the permission from her father before she just flew over to England. I overheard them arguing about it from mine and Sam's bedroom one night. Most others wouldn't have been able to hear it, but I have strong ears.

"I've only just got you back. You think I'm Just going to let you go off on your own to some foreign wedding of people that aren't even related to you."

''God, he's so over protective.'' I thought.

"But dad, it's Rachel. Rachel raised me, and I really wanna see Tiana again. Aunt Rose will look after us. Can I go daddy please can I go?"

"Interesting talk?" Sam interrupted.

I hadn't realised he was still up because I was listening so hard.

"Shush. Thia's dad doesn't want her going back to England."

He became quiet, but I only heard the last bit of what the Commander was saying.

"...you know how it might be after that."

"I don't care. It hasn't happened yet. It might not happen."

"But it might, and if it does. . . I just couldn't live with the thought of not seeing you again, you not seeing me again."

There was silence for a long time, then Thia spoke. From the shaking of her voice, it sounded like she was crying.

"Then come with me. Please daddy, I don't want you to go to...I don't want you to go..."

"I can't. I must stay here. This is my base. I must do what I can to protect it—and you."

"Daddy please..."

"You know I can't. You can go if you must, but I must remain here."

"That was kinda weird." I said to Sam after I'd heard Thia's footsteps go down the corridor and disappear into her own room.

"What. What was it all about?"

"First they were going on about her going to the wedding, then he started talking about never seeing her again."

"Things have been like that for a while. Everything just seems so tense, like we're just waiting for some really bad news. You remember that meeting the other day."

"Yeah. I was going to ask Thia about it, but... I don't know, it didn't seem the right time."

"You're probably right. When you're in a friendship as good as yours, good news from one shouldn't be spoiled by bad news from the other."

"Depends how good the good news is."

"And how bad the bad news is."