Chapter 15

Today was a pretty chill day. Adrianna and I got dragged to the farmer's market with Selene and my mom. I didn't mind though once I got there. Everything was so beautiful. There were hundreds of crates spilling over with colorful fruit, stands selling freshly baked bread, vases of just cut flowers. We didn't have any of this kind of stuff at home. It was really cool. Adrianna and I ended up buying a bunch of bracelets at one of the stands. I love small beaded bracelets. After we bough them, Adrianna slipped them onto her wrist above the ones I got her for her birthday.

We were walking back to the car with our moms when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I asked. The sun was shining too bright, so I couldn't read the caller ID.

"Hey babe. What's up?" I smiled. 

"Hey Wesley. Nothing much. Adrianna and I are packing a bunch of stuff into the car from the farmers market." I told him.

"Sounds cool." He said. I could tell that he was smiling on the other end of the line. He started speaking again. "So we're throwing Keaton a little surprise party for his birthday." Wes started, "Do you guys wanna come?"

"Uhm, I'm not sure." I told him biting my lip. So far all the parties that I've been to haven't exactly worked out in my favor. Wes must have sensed it because I heard him chuckle through the phone.

"No worries Aves, it's kinda a family party. Just a couple of relatives and some of Keaton's friends." The confidence flowed back into my system. I felt relieved.

"Oh, are you sure you want us to come then? If it's a family party?"

"Keaton said that you guys are considered his friends. Plus my mom said it was cool too." He replied.

"In that case, we'll be there." I grinned at Adrianna. 

"Cool. I'll see you guys tonight then." He spoke through the phone. I heard a bunch of scuffling in the background. I heard a voice say my name.

"Hey Avery!" It was Drew.

"Yeah. Drew says hey." Wes said. I laughed.

"Thanks Wes, I kind of figured that out." I joked.

"You're so mean to me." He said jokingly. I could practically see him pouting like a little baby on the other end. "I'll see you in a few hours. Starts at 6."

"Okay, bye!" I said before hanging up the phone. I clicked end and bounded over to Adrianna who was sitting in the backseat of her mom's Range Rover. She looked at me to see what was over.

"Wes invited us over to the house for a surprise party for Keaton." I told her. She lit up.

"Aww yay! I almost forgot it was his birthday! That kid is too cute!" She laughed. 

"Hmm. Should we get him something?" I asked her. She stopped bouncing in place.

"I don't know. I would have no idea what to get him." Adrianna pointed out. "You saw what I got Owen for his birthday present." I laughed, remembering as Adrianna handed her brother a package of new socks and an iTunes card.

"Yeah... maybe you should let me pick it out." Our moms got into the car and drove home. When we pulled into the driveway Adrianna asked if we could borrow the car.

"What for sweetie?" Selene asked. We all got out and helped unload the groceries. Adrianna talked as she followed her mother into the house, bags in hand.

"Our friend Wesley invited us to a party for his younger brother Keaton's birthday party, and we just wanted to run out to the mall." 

"Will there be drinking at this party?" Selene asked raising her eyebrows at her daughter.

"No! Mom! He's turning 15! And his mom's going to be there." Adrianna said, sealing the deal. Selene hesitated for a moment before tossing her daughter the keys.

"Okay." She smiled. "Have a good time!" She cheered. Adrianna set the grocery bags down on the counter and hugged her mom before we went back out to the car. Before we left I plugged my iPod in and turned up the Emblem3. We both sang along to Reason, and rolled the windows down while jamming out to Curious.

Before we actually got to the mall we went and got some iced coffee and Paninis for lunch. The mall was about a 15 minute drive. When we got there, the parking lot was packed. We both groaned as we searched for an open space. When we found one it was pretty close to the front entrance. I was blasted with the cool air-conditioning the minute I stepped foot into the building. It felt so refreshing.

I checked my phone. We only have 5 hours to find Keaton the perfect gift and get to the party. After an hour of shopping, we settled on getting Keaton this really cool beanie from Zumiez. It was plain gray, but it had thin, black, horizontal stripes going across it. When we checked out, we also threw in a couple of stickers for his skateboard. Adrianna and I decided to get some for ourselves too.

We got back to the house around 3:30, and I decided to take a shower and start some of my summer reading. The entire grade had to finish Wuthering Heights and 1984 by the first day. I cracked open Wuthering Heights first. It was pretty hard to read because it was written a pretty long time ago. Before I finished the third chapter it was already 5:30. Adrianna tossed me one of her shirts and I smiled with gratitude.

It was a black tank top with floral print, and I really liked it. I slipped my stone wash denim shorts on too, and looked in the mirror. It was nice, but it was missing something. Adrianna tossed me another shirt "Here try this over it." She nodded at the piece of fabric in my hands. I slipped the soft material over my head. The shirt was kind of mesh like, it had a bunch of holes in it. I could still see the tank top underneath, and the fact that the shirt had sleeves really balanced out the look. 

"Thanks Ade." I smiled at her.

"No problem." She replied. We grabbed Keaton's gift that we had wrapped and headed out the door. Even though we lived pretty close to them, we decided to drive there. If it got too late we didn't want to be walking back home by ourselves. We parked in front of another house so Keaton wouldn't suspect anything, and we headed around back.

Drew was there rushing us in. "He just called me saying that he was stopping by with his friend Tyler. They'll be here in 5!" The house was packed. I haven't seen this many people since the party they through on Adrianna's birthday. My head hurt just thinking about it. I walked over to Wes. Before I got there, I heard a key turning in the lock on the front door.

"Shit he's early." Wes said. "Everybody hide!" He whisper-screamed. I practically jumped into his arms and we hit the floor behind the couch. Just in time too, because we heard Keaton's voice in the front of the house. "Yeah man, I just gotta get my bag, I left it in the lving room." Keaton said. 

"Okay." I heard another voice say. That must be Tyler. We all held our breath as Keaton stepped onto the plush carpet. Wes made eye contact with Drew, and together they silently counted us off. 3, 2, 1...

"SURPRISE!" Everyone jumped out at Keaton, smiles on their face. I'm pretty sure we scared the shit out of him. His face flashed from horror, to shock, to surprise until he was grinning. He was smiling so big that it looked like his face was going to break. He looked so happy.

I positioned myself next to Wes who proudly wrapped his arm around me.

"You're a good brother, Wes." I patted his arm.

"Yeah, I'm kinda the best." He smiled. I punched him.

"Mehh!" He fake whined. I laughed.

"But actually. Look at him." I said tilting my head over to Keaton. "He's so happy." I saw Wes glance at Keaton. He smiled when he saw his little brother hugging all his relatives and friends.

"He deserves it. Keaton's a good kid." Wes said.

After Keaton had thanked everyone for coming, Adrianna and I crept up behind him and hugged him to death. "Can't. Breathe." He managed to choke out. Wes and Drew cracked up. He turned around to face both of us and we presented him with a cute little birthday bag. He smiled.

"Aw, you guys didn't have to get me anything!" He said politely.

"Nonsense Keats! You're 15 now!" I told him as Adrianna ruffled his hair. He opened the bag and took out the beanie. He stuck it on his head right away. 

"Aw thanks guys! You're the best." He pulled us into a big hug.

"Hey Keaton, man. I know it's your birthday but don't be mackin' on our ladies bro." Drew joked as Keaton let go of us.

"Oh please, he's not the ladies man yet." Wesley laughed. Adrianna and I made eye contact and we each linked one of our arms through Keaton's arms. 

"Come on Keaton. Let's go." Adrianna said. I glancing over my shoulder and saw Drew and Wes with their mouths hanging open. I laughed even harder. Keaton looked back too and stuck his tongue out at his brother.

This kid was amazing.