Nick placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Then there won't be a party…"
The next day Nick found out he was wrong with his math problem and he made us dinner that night.
I didn't want to get out of bed, it was finally Saturday, no school. It was a lovely day-of-rest kind of day. The air was slightly cool so it was perfect snuggle-with-a-blanket weather. I was prepared to take full advantage of the day of peace. So I curled up, pulling the blankets closer to my body for warmth, creating a nice lovely cocoon around me, settling in my own little world. Relaxing back in sleep position so I could hopefully go back to sleep. I could feel the tranquility wash over my entire body.
"Good morning."
I jumped about three feet in the air and almost fell off of the mattress. My eyes stretched to their limits. My chest moved frequently, I was frazzled. I was going to kill whoever woke me up.
"What are you doing here? Were you watching me sleep?" I shrieked.
My heart was racing as I tried to get my head to function as I turned to look to see Nick in the doorway. Right now I could exterminate him, and not feel bad about it. My fingers dove into my hair.
"Well I wasn't sure when you woke up. I don't keep track of your sleeping patterns and-"
"Get out!" I snapped as my mind was still foggy.
"But-"
"Get out of my room! You don't go into another person's room to watch them when they are asleep. What kind of psychopath are you?"
I hate being woken up the wrong way. How a person is woken up can really mess with their mood for their whole day. With this start, I was screwed.
"Before I go, happy birthday, Rach," Nick muttered quietly, about to walk out of my room like a dog with his tail between his legs.
"What are you talking about?" I pushed my hair out of my face, it really needed to be brushed and to be restrained.
It was too early to have my brain work after being woken up by being jolted up in the air like I was being electrocuted. This was going to mess with my mind the entire day now. I will have to find a way to get back at him. There was no way he was going to get away with this.
"Today is the tenth."
Nick stared at me as if I had five heads.
"No it isn't till next week," I corrected him.
"Yesterday was the ninth because you had that Science test and so that would make today the tenth, Rachel. Remember how in elementary school we learned to count?"
"No it wasn't," I responded, through gritted teeth.
"Rachel just give it up it's your birthday. You're turning sixteen not forty so why are you freaking?" Nick sighed exasperatedly, as he stood in my door way shifting from one foot to the other. Nick took a step back into my room, his arms being crossed over his chest. He seemed hesitant.
"Because I don't remember it being this close and I thought I'd be home with my family for my birthday."
His gaze softened as his shoulders fell. "I know this isn't what you expected for your birthday, but you can still make the best out of it."
Nick had a point again, but I didn't need to tell him that. Plus it didn't help that he held my eyes with his caring dark blue ones. He appeared so sad I couldn't help, but feel guilty for my outburst. I had to give him a break. I guess I was going to let him go on waking me up badly.
"Now if you get ready we can leave," Nick spoke, shifting his weight from one side to the other again. He was definitely antsy.
"Where are we going?" I asked perking up a little. My curious nature was getting the best of me.
"You'll see," Nick responded, grinning.
Wrong answer!
"Fine I'll get ready, but you're going to have to get out of here for me to get ready."
"Fine be that way."
Nick left and closed the door behind him and I laughed a little. I got out of bed and grabbed jeans and also my big, warm, greenish sweater. The sweater came down to mid-thigh as the sleeves were a little longer than my arms. I put on some make-up, brushed my hair, and left the room to see Nick sitting on the couch. His back was pretty erect as his fingers were tapping out randomly on his knee with a fixed gaze in the opposite direction.
"There, happy I'm dressed?" I showcased with my arms out to further prove that I was in clothes, slightly shaking my head.
"Ecstatic." Nick chuckled.
"Okay, but can we eat breakfast now?" I questioned, even though I just wanted to see what he was up to.
"Yeah, remember you're talking to me. Do you think that I won't let us eat?" Nick replied, with a raised eyebrow and a lopsided grin.
"Good point," I said dryly.
We poured ourselves some bowls of cereal and I glanced at Nick I caught his eyes on me. Yet we never really spoke and he washed the dishes for the two of us. After we ate we left the house and started walking out of the neighborhood, after telling the guard we were going to the library for a project since the school was closed and we couldn't use those computers or books. I was happy that they believed the lie that Nick told them and that there weren't protesters outside the gates like when we first arrived. We were on the side of the busy street next to the school when Nick started to hum a random tune.
"Why are we walking this way?" I started up, keeping a fast pace as Nick strolled casually.
"Well we can't drive and even if we could we don't have a car to get to where we want to get to," Nick responded as he looked over his shoulder and
