06/29/19
Here’s the story…
Our friend group of five went out for ice cream to celebrate the loss of Keegan’s last baseball game. (Keegan wants to be famous so I say his full name here but the rest of the friends will just go by letters).
I know I joke all of the time about not having any friends, but I really have the best. They made my 18th the most memorable.
N’s early graduation present was fun to drive, I showed them my drifting skills and B dramatically collapsed onto the ground, kissing the concrete once we arrived.
Suddenly they all became very…weird?
I had this suspicion that they were all hiding something. Everyone knew something I didn’t.
We drove back to the field where all of our cars were and I observed how awkward they all became. Starting up small talk and B tucking her hair behind her ear every twelve seconds. A stated something about the weather that he heard on the news…the hottest summer in five summers…dead giveaway.
We pulled up to B’s car and A blurts out, “YOU’RE MISSING YOUR NECKLACE!”
I felt my neck and he was right, my little silver initial was gone.
“Darn, that was real!!” I whispered.
He was positive that it fell off in the bleachers or on the field when we walked out. That’s the last time they all remembered seeing it.
We turned on our phone flashlights and started searching.
The sun had set, the street lights flickered on as it started getting dark. N and I searched together while the others checked every place I’d been in the pass three hours.
It looked like we were robbing the school. All you could see now were flashlights floating around.
We walked towards my tree. We sat under it this evening because it gives the perfect shade at 5:00.
“I haven’t given you your birthday present yet,” N exclaimed.
“You stole my necklace, did you? Hand it over,” I teased.
He smiled and unzipped his dirty baseball backpack, handing me a tiny silk grey box.
“Oh” I hesitated.
“I know you have freakish small wrists so if it’s too big we can fix it.” he stated.
“My wrist are normal size thank you.” I said untying the black ribbon and flipping open the box.
He smiled.
“Wow…It’s beautiful, but…” I paused, trying to find words.
He held his phone over it so I could see it sparkle.
His home screen is still Thumper, (my bunny in middle school).
I was expecting a new book, like last year. I still couldn’t find words.
“I thought it was pretty and it made me think of you.” There are papers in my car you’ll want to keep,” he said.
B ran up to us. “We can’t find it, maybe it’s in the car or we could call Cold Stone? Awww that’s cute N, why didn’t you get us matching ones?” She gasped.
She probably thought it was from Versona.
But he knows I don’t like wearing fake jewelry.
I didn’t realize it cost more than my parent’s car until he gave me the papers.
I sat in his car with the door open, using the interior lights to read the papers.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because, you deserve it.” he said casually, resting his hand on the top of the car door.
“What did I do to deserve it?” I muttered.
He just looked at me.
“Do you like it?” He asked.
“Of course I do, but It costs more than most people’s wedding rings.” I said putting the papers back in the dash.
“It’s not a wedding ring,” I said slowly. Confirming we both knew that obvious fact.
“Common,” he said as I put it in his pocket.
I grabbed his hands and moved them off. Pacing back to the tree.
“Is it?” I said turning around.
He uncrossed my arms, grabbing my wrist with both of his hands. “It’s stunning on you, maybe a little too big, but I can take you to fix that tomorrow.”
“I can’t date you.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t have to be your boyfriend. I don’t care about titles.”
…
“You have feelings for someone else.” He reasoned.
“I don’t feel ready for a boyfriend. I don’t even know how to be a good daughter yet. I’d be a horrible girlfriend.” I said.
“That’s not true and your parents don’t deserve you.” He snapped.
…
“Is that the reason?” He questioned.
…
“I do have feelings for someone else.” I said finally.
“Does he share these feelings?”
“That doesn’t matter.” I said.
“Well, he’s a fool if he doesn’t.”
…
“Will you wear it until I drop you off?” He asked.
“Sure.” I said.
“We can talk about this again later?”
“About?” I asked
“About college and your scholarships.”
“Oh, sure!.”
“And how you feel. Later.” he stated.
…
He put it on my wrist, looking proud of himself even though I wasn’t excepting it.
I raised my eyebrows at him.
“You’re annoying you know that?” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
We walked to the middle of the field, it was pitch black now and the stars twinkled almost as bright as my wrist. My hair was down and super curly from swimming earlier. My swimsuit was finally dry under my clothes.
After our conversation I felt better. I don’t want anything unsaid or assumed between me and N. I just want us to stay friends, and keeping talking like we always have.
Austin came running towards us, he grabbed my face with both hands, smudging wet mud on my cheeks with his thumbs. “Now you’re ready to go pro,” A shouted.
“I don’t know how to play.”
“Aw you’re so cuuuuuttteeee. Look at her face N.”
All of the blankets and chairs were packed up and gone, concessions were closed and trash cans were already emptied. It looked like we were the only ones there until…
…”SURPRISE!”
My dance friends jumped over the gates, fairy lights twinkled by the benches, Keegan carried cupcakes out and 18 by FSS started playing on the speakers. I was so surprised.
B held up the silver k necklace.
“You had no idea did you?!” She laughed.
“I knew something was up but I’d never guess this. Thanks B!!” I said hugging her.
“Happy 18th GIRLIE!!!” she said squeezing me.
We started a baseball game, and the team taught me how to play.
“Losers have to jump in the lake after curfew next month at camp,” screamed some kid I didn’t know.
I’d never do that.
or would I?…
I would have won if I wasn’t wearing Keegan’s ginormous batting helmet that tilted to one side. Has anyone watched Chicken Little? That’s what I looked like.
N didn’t want to invite more people but Keegan had the basketball team come. I didn’t even know them but they seemed to know me. They all brought me flowers.
Suddenly I was in the middle of a 15-person group hug. Suffocating by the smell of boy and too much cologne.
Two of them lifted me up on their shoulders and I SCREAMED “I’m not old enough for her. I’m just waiting ’til I’m eighteen oooooh.”
I thought I was going to die.
“Alright, that’s enough,” N said aggravated, but laughing.
I appreciated their birthday wishes, but I only trust Libs and Lex to lift me off the ground.
Before we knew it, it was midnight and we had to go home.
I gave N the bracelet. “It’s really sweet of you, thank you.” I said hugging him. I’ve only hugged him one other time and he looked shocked.
“Are you blushing?” Keegan teased him.
B and I walked to her house since it’s so close to the field. N wanted us to call him when we got there since both of our dads were asleep. lolz
That’s life my friends.
I went to Bella’s for a sleepover since it was Friday night.
I laid there until the sun came up, thinking about everything. “It made me think of you!!” Did he call me pretty? And how did they get my necklace off without me noticing? Why did I hug him, was that rude after I told him no? Would he take it the wrong way? I thought about S, and how stupid I feel wasting so much time thinking about him. We don’t talk. Ever. He wouldn’t care that I hugged him because he doesn’t care about me.
I thought about college, dance, and how S’s name sounds in my head. Thinking about the diamond necklace my mom gave me for my birthday. Her words replaying in my head, “never say yes to a guy to be nice.” I thought about my dad buying this diamond, originally in a wedding ring that now hangs around my neck. How he doesn’t know me and twenty-two years ago he promised to love my mom forever. He’s not here.
Then I thought the tone in his voice and the look on his face. What am I going to do when he tells me he loves me? How would I feel if he actually did? Why did he give me a diamond bracelet? It feels like it means something if I wear it. What would S think if he saw me wearing it, would he even notice? Probably not.
Then I thought about how big God is and how small I am and everything is right in my world again. I drifting off to sleep.
Thanks for reading. You won’t believe what happened when I woke up…
-Elaina
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