“I thought you might be here. Is she okay?” he asked.
I nodded, nervously pulling myself out from under her. She replaced me with the pillow, and continued on sleeping. I walked out of the room with her dad.
“Her mom said she needed to sleep,” I said, closing the door gently. “I just waited until someone got here,” I said more urgently.
“Don't worry. You did the right thing,” he said, grinning.
I raised a brow. “You're not going to pull the 'boy in bed with daughter glare' at me?” I asked.
He laughed. “I trust Julie.”
“Oh,” I said, and then we both laughed.
♥
I told Ava what had happened, and she called Julie's mom later that night to check on her. I texted Julie that I loved her, but she slept through the night. She didn't text me until five a.m. the next day, when I was dead asleep.
She said she wouldn't be at the hospital the next day, but I went anyway because Liam and Hilary would still be there. Liam said that Julie might come by after her doctor's appointment, but she didn't.
I went by their house after I picked Ava up and dropped her off at work, and hung out. We watched scary movies, and I held Julie during the bad parts.
She said she wouldn't hear any results for a few days, and then, she started talking about my birthday.
No party, I said. Julie rolled her eyes.
“Of course you'll have a party,” she replied.
“Never pass up an opportunity for cake,” Liam replied, winking.
I rolled my eyes. “No party.”
“But, it's your eighteenth! You can't not have an eighteenth birthday, especially when your girlfriend is desperate to throw you a party,” she replied, squeezing my arm.
“Don't pout. Don't pout. Don't pout- ugh! Fine,” I said, after she looked up with her puppy eyes and pushed out bottom lip. I kissed her softly and then growled. “Throw me a party. Do whatever you want.”
So, she did.
♥
The days leading up to my party were tell-tale signs that I was still being drowned beneath the water that was known as ignorant bliss. I heard once that depression was like drowning, and being able to see everyone around you breathing. Happiness was like that too, only you didn't care that you were drowning, and everyone's breathing looked mediocre compared to how you felt.
I didn't speak to Julie the first part of my birthday. Honestly, I assumed she forgot, and it didn't bother me. If Ava hadn't woken me up with one lit candle on a brownie that morning, I would have forgotten.
She didn't forget. Before I was getting ready to leave to go to the hospital, Julie texted me. She instructed me that I was not to take Ava's car to work. Liam was going to drive me and Hilary to a secret location later that day.
Julie would not see me all day. She was heading back to the doctor, to hear the results. She would meet up with us that night, and until then, I was to behave.
I hated surprises, but I didn't ask about my party at all. We were at the hospital and barely spoke at all. Which was fine, but as the clock got closer and closer to cleaning up, I began to grow nervous.
Julie stopped texting me, and Liam told me not to worry about it. Tonight, everything would be worth it.
After cleaning up, we stopped by Hilary's house because she wanted to change. She said she couldn't see any vomit, but she smelled it. Also, she wanted Liam to pick her clothes, which I thought was weird, but for a blind girl, I guess it was a big deal because Liam looked choked up. I hoped Julie never asked me to pick her outfit.
Hilary came out in a simple, white lace dress, and she looked as happy as can be. I didn't understand it, but it wasn't my relationship. It was just one of those things.
Midway through the trip, Liam tossed a bandana to me. I held it up, a brow raised at the pink design and asked Liam what it was for.
“Blind-fold yourself,” he instructed.
“Why?”
“Orders from the boss lady. She told me to blindfold you, and take you to this undisclosed location,” he replied.
I stared at the bandana, and then smiled as I folded it and then tied it. Liam slapped me across the face to make sure I couldn't see. I couldn't. I really wanted to slap him back, but he had moved.
We drove for another few minutes. Then, the car stopped, and I felt hands. I assumed it was Liam. He helped me from the car, and then laughed when I bumped my head on the headliner.
He closed the door, and then there was nothing. He wasn't leading me anywhere, or even talking to me.
“Liam?” I asked. There was silence, and for a moment, I thought about what a real douche-bag he would be if he drove me someplace and then left. It seemed like something Liam would do.
And then she was there. I sensed her even before she took both of my hands in hers and whispered in my ear, “Happy birthday.” I smiled, and started to reach for my blindfold, but she held my hands back. “Not yet. Soon.”
There was a catch in her voice, and I drew my brows together. “Is something wrong, Julie?” I asked her.
There was silence around me, and then that catch disappeared. “No. It's just a surprise,” she replied, and then she pulled at my hands and we started walking.
We didn't walk far before I heard murmurings, and someone saying “Ssh!” Then Julie let go of my hands and her hands moved to
