Where did he go?
“Ready?” I heard him whisper at my side again, and a small sound of alarm escaped my lips at his sudden appearance. He laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He said and pushed me forward. “Come on let’s go.”
“Go where?” I asked on a whisper and wondered why I was whispering.
“You’re about to find out.” He fiddled with the securely tied knot at the back of my head, while trying not to pull at the flyaway strands of hair that attacked his invading fingers. I felt the material loosen as slack around my eyes, as he opened the ends but left the blindfold against my eyes. “one,” he started the countdown, “two, three.”
Three things happened at once:
The blindfold was removed.
I was momentarily blinded by soft lighting.
And I was then shouted at by a room full of people anxiously waiting to yell ‘SURPRISE’.
A surprise party!
My face flushed and I covered my flaming cheeks with my hands, but I managed to extend out a genuinely enthusiastic smile at the eyes that were waiting for my reaction. I was immediately covered in bright, shiny birthday themed confetti and streamers, while other guests blew noise makers and poppers into the air. I ducked my head into Scott’s shoulder, trying to avoid getting the colorful confetti in my hair. I could feel his laugh rumbling up through his chest as he hugged me to him hard, twisting me from side to side in his arms.
I heard the music start, and realized there was an actual band playing on the stage to my left, toward the front of the room, and couples were filling up the designated dancing space. Long tables, draped in black table cloths, were spread out against the walls of the room. The tables were filled with different types of foods, deserts and drinks. There was also one table near the stage filled with differently designed, wrapping paper and gifts bags over flowing with tissue paper. The room was sprinkled with light fixtures that polka dotted the room with multi colors. To my left, two open doors led out to an outside patio that was covered in twinkling lights, and people were already occupying the large space.
“Were you surprised?” Scott asked into my ear so I could hear him over the music. He had his arms wrapped around my waist and he was pressed up against my back.
I nodded, smiling. “I had no idea.”
“That was my plan.”
“Did you do this all by yourself?” I asked.
“I did not. Eli was a big help in the planning and decorations part.”
“I’m surprised she was able to keep this a secret!” I had been with her all day, and had not noticed any weird behavior on her part. She was the worst at keeping big surprises secret, so I was extremely impressed with her self control.
“She was just as excited and I was. Speaking of, look who is on her way over.” Scott released me and took my hand pulling us over to meet Eli in the middle.
“Surprise!” She squealed, and I let go of Scott’s hand so I could wrap my best friend into a big hug.
“Thank you!” I said rocking us from side to side. “You’re a sneaky, sneaky girl Eli.”
She giggled into my hair. “I’m so proud of myself! The temptation was killing me!” We pulled back and laughed. “It was Scott’s idea. I just helped execute the plan.” She said coyly. “I’m glad you were surprised.”
“We did good kid.” Scott said to Eli and draped his arm over my shoulders, tugging on my hair with the weight of his arm.
“Thank you guys. It’s really a great surprise.”
“Are you ready to party?” Scott asked me.
“Like it’s 1999.”
We were interrupted, then, by a small group of people that I remembered from school, coming to wish me a happy birthday, and thanking Scott and Eli for the invite.
The next hour and a half consisted of countless hugs and happy birthdays from old classmates, but most recently from Scott’s and Eli’s senior classmates. We passed from group to group to make the rounds and thank everyone for coming to celebrate with us. Mingling served as a decent distraction from the slight throb in my head, probably from the band, and the slow descend of my energy as the party went on. Despite the fact that I was actually having a decent time, and since Scott and Eli had put so much effort into this for me, it was easy to join in on their obvious enthusiasm.
After visiting with everyone out on the patio, we moved back inside just in time to catch one of Eli’s favorite songs. I wasn’t much of a dancer, but the choice was ripped from me, just as my arm was, when Eli pulled me out onto the makeshift dance floor. She stared dreamily up at one of the four male singers who were playing a current pop song, as she danced to the beat. It was that star struck moment when you realized how hot a guy was because he could sing, and the more he looked like he was singing to you, the cuter he got. Yeah it was just like that. Every once in a while, Eli would turn toward me and mouth the words to the chorus -something about not knowing how beautiful I was- to me, and I couldn’t help, but laugh at her cute goofiness, and neither could the curly headed singer as he continued to have eyes only for her.
When the song ended, I hauled Eli off the dance floor and away from the stage before the next song started leaving me trapped to further embarrass myself with my lame dance moves. She dragged her feet every step of the way, while sending a quick goodbye wave at the singer. I could practically hear her swoon when he gave her a deadly smile and winked at her as the next song started. Once I felt we were a safe distance from any sort of dancing, I stopped and let go of Eli’s hand. She was a beaming mess and I couldn’t help, but laugh with her when she cupped her hands around my ear to tell me how flippin’ cute she thought he was.
“Do you know who he is?” I asked, over the music.
“No, Scott found them. They’re not from around here, as far as I know, but they are really good.” She said and then added. “And cute right?”
Before I could answer her, I was being wrapped in a sloppy hug from behind. Scott nuzzled the side of my neck and asked if we were having fun.
“I’m having a blast!” Eli all, but screamed.
My eyes widened and I laughed. “No more punch for you tiger.” She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“What about you?” He said, directing the question at me. “I saw your awesome moves on the floor.”
“I’ve got the moves like Jagger.” I said, quoting the song.
He busted out laughing and kissed me soundly on the ch eek, and that’s when I felt it. I felt like I was being punched in the stomach and I didn’t understand the angry feelings that accompanied the sensation. I wasn’t angry, but I could feel the anger vibrating, and then my flutter was there, bursting with life.
Eli waved a hand in front of my face and frowned. “Sara? What’s wrong?”
Scott, suddenly concerned, turned me around and held me out at arms length and searched my face. “Sara?”
I blinked and tried to smile at both of their worried faces reassuringly. “Nothing.” I said with a laugh. “I’m fine really!” I couldn’t think of an excuse fast enough, and I knew my attempt to brush it off wasn’t really working as Scott eyed me suspiciously.
When he realized he had no choice, but to take my word for it, he dropped his hands from around my arms, and continued to watch me.
I tried not to be too conspicuous about it as I searched the crowded room for his familiar face. I knew he was here and close by, judging from the strength of the flutter, but I couldn’t see him. When I noticed Scott still watching me, I smiled at him and stopped surveying the room.
“Oh, look its Jasmine and…oh.” Eli’s sentence ended and I didn’t need to turn around to know who she had seen. Her eyes darted toward me for a quick second and they were full of uncertainty.
I looked anyway, and my eyes instantly connected with his. As a group parted, letting them through, they made their way toward us. I felt Scott’s muscles tense and he quickly slipped his hand in mind, entwining our fingers together and squeezing tightly. I looked
up from our clasped hands and looked to the couple who was approaching us. Adan’s eyes had been locked on our hands too, and I felt that kick of anger again. I frowned, wondering if that was coming from Adan. His eyes slid up to mine as him and Jasmine stopped in front of us. I tore my gaze away from Adan to smile sweetly at Jasmine, who was currently throwing daggers my way. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by her either, the way I held Adan’s attention from the minute they walked into the room.
Kill her with kindness, Sara.
“Hey, guys.” She said, and I already wanted to unleash my eye rolls on her.
“Hey, Jaz.” Eli said seeming uncomfortable with the whole situation.
“You guys know Adan, right?”
“Happy birthday.” Adan said to me, shocking us all. I couldn’t help the pounding of my heart at the way he was looking at me, like we were the only two people in the room.
“Thank you.” I said, sneaking a glance at Scott. And He was glaring at Adan.
If looks good kill, I thought to myself.
“Yeah, happy birthday.” Jasmine added, and but I had the sneaking suspicion she didn’t wish it was happy at all.
“Gee, Scott, do you think you can control the evil glares you’re throwing at my date.” She said, making sure I got the last part.
“Maybe you should be a little more concerned about the looks your date is giving Sara, and a little less about mine.” Scott snapped and Adan opened his mouth to snap back.
And there was my cue that it was time to intervene.
“There is food and drinks, help yourselves and thanks for coming.” I said politely, steering Scott in the other direction and grabbing Eli’s hand to pull her along. She had been so shocked by the entire scene that she was in a daze, so I toted her along with us.
“Well that wasn’t at all awkward.” I said, and Eli smiled. Scott, however, did not see the humor in the situation, and raked his hand through his hair in irritation.
“What is he doing here?!” He demanded.
“I’m going to get something to drink.” Eli said, and I was envious of her prerogative to escape the rest of this conversation. She gave me a sympathetic look as she walked away.
Thanks! I thought.
“You heard Jasmine,” I said, answering his question. “He is her date. Yuck.” I made a disgusted face at Eli and she snickered with me.
“Yuck? Why is that yuck?” He asked, clearly upset by my statement.
“Because it’s Jasmine. Or did you forget that she isn’t exactly out favorite person in the world?”
“And neither is he, so in my book they are perfect for each other. Or is she not good enough for him. ?”
“I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong here? I didn’t invite either one of them.”
“Did you see the way he was looking at you?! He doesn’t even try to hide his feelings for you and you-“
“And me what?!” I asked, feeling angry for being accused of anything. “Me nothing, Scott! I’ve done everything I can, short of wearing a leash just to make you feel better. For the last two weeks, I’ve let you basically baby sit me just so you can make sure he doesn’t come around, . You sit at work until I close and you take me home every night. It’s not even like we’re a couple anymore! I’m going to go find Eli.”
The band was playing an upbeat song, and I was vaguely aware of the words - something about being up all night. I had to practically yell over the music. I turned away before he could stop me, and was instantly swallowed by a crowd of people. There was double the amount of people here now then there was when the party first started. I could guarantee that Scott and Eli didn’t know half of them, but no one seemed to mind.
I tried to squeeze my way through the crowd and toward the drinks, where Eli had said she was going in her mad dash to get away, but I was being pushed in the wrong direction. The same song was still playing, and people were going crazy, screaming and jumping up and down to the beat of the song. I was just about to give up and stand still until the song was over, but someone grabbed my wrist, pulling me through an opening on the dance floor. I tried tugging on my wrist, knowing that was not where I wanted to go, but the grip on my wrist was iron tight. When I finally emerged on the other side, I rolled my eyes and smiled when I realized it had been Eli, pulling me through.
When the heck, - when did she get so freakishly strong?
“When did you become the hulk?!” I yelled over the music and singing, but she shook her head at me in confusion and mouthed, ‘what’ to me. I just shook my head at her and she smiled at me.
She continued jumping, and waving her arm in the air, and sang the words out loud with the rest of the crowed. In that moment, I was jealous of how carefree she was, I missed those days terrible, I didn’t want to be plagued with the insanity I called my life.
The crowd went wild as one of the boys pulled a random girl up on to the stage and jumped around her. She was torn between wanting to dance with them and feeling embarrassed for the attention. The one who pulled her on stage sang his part and did some kind of hip thrust toward her, and the girls went wild. The chorus repeated and they were all over the stage again.
Elizabeth looked at me to see my reaction, and my face perked up for her benefit and her excitement grew.
Leaning over to me she screamed in my ear. “No worries. It’s your birthday, now jump around with me!”
Taking my hand in hers, she lifted my arm in her arm and waved it around, shaking her head and throwing her hair in every direction.
What the hell.
Taking her lead, I used the tips of my boots to push me off the ground and started jumping up and down, turning in a circle every now and then, and throwing my own hair around as I shook my head to the uplifting beat. I hadn’t felt this free and exhilarated in a long time, and it felt flipping fantastic, so I closed my eyes and let myself drown in the music.
I knew my feet were probably going to be killing me in the morning from all of the jumping, but I didn’t care. I could feel the sheer material of my dress swirling around my legs, and occasionally, lifting up around my thighs as I landed back on the ground. The dance floor was so crowded that it was starting to get stuffy in the strained confines of bodies, and I could feel my hair sticking to the damp skin on the back of my neck.
I felt my arm being pulled again, and opened my eyes to realize that Eli was trying to get my attention. She pulled my face to her, squeezing my face between her palms and mouthed to me that she would be right back, while fanning her flushed face. I shook my head and decided I would wait until the end of the song before I made my exit off the dance floor. I could tell the song was coming to an end, and I made the last few jumps count, hoping to release the tension I had gained by my conversation with Scott.
The band sang the last song, and everyone cheered and screamed, getting rid of the last of the songs adrenaline rush. The band announced their five minute break, and the room was filled with the noise of the buzz of conversation, as most of the party goers were making their way toward the table with the drinks. After that last song, reenergizing was an absolute must. I started to follow the flow of the crowd, hoping to find Eli in the sea of people around me.
Once I found my way off the dance floor, I stood on my tip toes trying to spot Eli over the heads of everyone. My eyes found Adan’s instead, and the flutter kicked against my chest hard. He was leaning against the wall, arms folded over each other and one ankle crossed over the other. He had the whole smoldering thing locked down and he knew it. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he knew exactly what he was doing. The minute my view of Adan was swallowed by complete darkness, my body ached in protest and I had to control the urge to tackle the maze of people to find him. It felt like there was an invisible cord linking me to Adan, trying to pull me toward him. The room became hushed, with only a few whispered conversations scattered around the large room.
I went to take a step forward, no longer able to ignore the fight with my body. All of a sud
den, spotlight flashed overhead and started aimlessly roaming around the room, as one of a voice from one of the guys from the band, boomed loudly into the microphone.
“Where is the beautiful birthday girl?”
I heard and felt the shift of bodies and eyes as everyone turned toward me, and the bright spotlight, which should have blinded me by its hard light, found me among the crowd. I lifted my hand, and with a flick of my wrist, I did a quick wave and everybody laughed.
I didn’t find myself being as embarrassed as some might have been by having all eyes on me, but I could feel the slight tint of color stain my cheeks as the band started the first verse of “Happy Birthday”, and then everyone else joined in. A line of people in front of me parted like a curtain, revealing Scott and Eli as they held a giant sheet of cake in their hands.
I pressed my hands together and held them against my lips, as I caught a glimpse of the beautifully made birthday cake. Eighteen black candles surrounded the perimeter of the cake, and ‘Happy Birthday Sara’ was piped in a pink cursive signature. Stopping in front of me, each of them held one side so everyone could see me blow out the candles.
Holding my hair back, I bent over the cake, feeling the heat rise as it escaped the tiny flames. My face was lit with the orange and red hues from the candles, and I could feel my cheeks and neck flush from the heat. As I got closer to the flames, they trembled and quivered under the pressure as the air escaped my parted lips. I could feel the flames getting hotter. I blinked looking down at the orange tear drops, and they looked like they were swaying toward me, as if I were drawing their flame. Odd, I thought to myself, but closing my eyes anyway, I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again to blow out the candles, but again I found Adan in the distance. I couldn’t take my eyes away from him. I felt like I was in a trance under his gaze.
The flames glowed brightly, growing with life the longer I stared at Adan, and I realized everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to blow out the candles. I took a deep breath, starting with one side and following the lines of the cake to other end, I blew out the candles. I glanced at Eli, and she was smiling happily, and sitting next to Scott. I then noticed that Scott was looking to his right, and when I followed his line of view, it ended at Adan.
Flutter (The Discover Series) Page 40