[ C h a p t e r - T w e n t y - N i n e ]

Chapter 29

I technically ruined the plan…or my mother did. Instead of waking up at 6 o’clock and pretending to attend school like Jonah and I planned, my mother allowed me to sleep in until 8, an hour into the school day.

“Wake up, birthday girl,” my mother sang as she entered my room. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I’d been up all night on the phone with Jonah and then my father. I stayed up until 2 in the morning just talking to my dad. My dad was the first one to tell me happy birthday; he said he wishes he was here with us to say it in person but his job wouldn’t allow that. I told him that it was okay and that it’s only a birthday. I'll have plenty more in the future.

I groaned and laid back down, putting a pillow over my face. My mother just laughed. “Birthday girl breakfast is on the stove; you better hurry up or else Jer will finish it before you; it’s your favorite.”

I sat up immediately and rushed to the bathroom. After showering, I realized that I had to call Jonah. I checked my phone to see text messages from my friends saying ‘Happy Birthday’ and a voice mail that I’m scared to open from Mere. She tends to be loud about birthdays.

“You’re late, birthday girl,” Jonah said. Why is everyone calling me that?

I groaned. “I know, my mother let me sleep in. Can the plan wait until ten? I have breakfast on the table; it’s my favorite.” I grinned at the thought of eating my favorite breakfast and then spending the day with my favorite guy. Francis…kidding.

“Fine, just know that we’re going to be eating, too, so don’t eat too much,” Jonah told me and I rolled my eyes.

“That’s impossible,” I retorted and he laughed. We hung up and I ran down the stairs, or at least I tried but I was encased in a bear hug by my only brother, Jeremiah.

“Hello, birthday sister!” Okay, I prefer birthday girl. “How does it feel to be 17?”

“That’s a stupid question. I’ve only been seventeen for a few hours; besides, it’s not like you feel like you’re flying once you turn a certain age.”

“Oh yeah? Wait until you turn 18,” my brother patted my head as we walked down the stairs.

At the table, I was greeted with bacon, eggs, bagels, muffins, and chocolate chip pancakes. My mom went all out. She made pancakes for my idiot brother, but added chocolate chips for me. Remembering Jonah’s reminder, I groaned. Forget that! I dove into the plate of pancakes, placing three onto my plate before buttering them up and soaking them in the thick syrup. Thank you, Canadians.

After I finished eating, I felt stuffed and was convinced that I couldn’t move. “Well, I’m off to class. I’ll see you guys in two hours," Jer stood up and walked out of the house, grabbing his bag that was on the couch.

I realized that my mother allowed me to say home, something she never did. “Mom…why am I here?”

“Well, your father and I loved each other-,” I cut her off immediately, disgust taking over my features.

“No, no, no, not that! Please, not that. What I meant was why am I home? It’s 9:30 AM and it’s a Wednesday, meaning it’s a school day yet here I am, eating like a pig,” I explained as she stood up and walked over to the sink.

My mother shrugged. “I heard you talking to Jonah about skipping school, which I do not appreciate young lady, so I decided to allow you to sleep in and stay home- with my approval. You barely miss school and when you do, it’s because you’re sick, so why not?”

I was quiet for a minute. “Does this mean I can stay home any day?”

My mother scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

I groaned and my mother shook her head. I exited the house and got into my car before I realized I had no idea where I was going. Taking out my phone and dialing Jonah’s number, I waited patiently in my car.

“Yes?” Jonah asked.

I licked my lips. “Well, Jonah, I’d love to spend the day with you but I don’t know where I’m supposed to be going.”

“You’re supposed to be sitting inside your house because I’m 5 minutes away,” Jonah stated and I sighed before getting out of my car.

“How about sitting on my porch?” I asked him.

He made a disapproving sound. “Not quite, you need to be in your living room, on the couch.”

“Not going to happen, babe,” I felt my face redden as I realized what I said.

“Since when do you call me babe?” Jonah questioned.

I scoffed. “I never said that.”

“I’d further my assumption but I’m scared you’re going to shout ‘cheeseburger’ and hang up.” Jonah laughed and I glared at the ground.

I sighed. “You stupid saltine.”

“That’s me,” Jonah muttered. I heard the sound of tires on gravel and I stood up to see Jonah’s familiar blue car in my drive way. I grinned as I walked over to it. Jonah opened his door and got out, holding me in a tight hug. I grinned into his chest as the sun shone down on my face.

I’m glad it’s a sunny day, today. Well, any day with Jonah is a good day. “Happy Birthday, Savannah.”

I smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

He opened the passenger’s side door for me and closed it after me. I sat there and waited for him to get into the driver’s side. When he did, he closed the door and pulled out of the driveway.

“Where are we going?” I questioned and he was quiet, I figured he wasn’t going to tell me so I sighed melodramatically. “It’s my birthday and you’re keeping secrets from me?”

He laughed. “Well… where do you think we’re going?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know; if I did, would I have asked you?” I sarcastically retorted.

“Where is a fun place to go on a sunny day?” he asked me as if the answer was obvious.

“Chuck E. Cheese?” I suggested and he scoffed.

“Well, yeah, but a different place.” He replied and I shrugged.

“I don’t know…the beach?” I asked him and he sighed.

“Yes, but….?” he was still hopeful that I’d get it. Third times the charm, right?

“The carnival?” I questioned and he grinned.

“Ding, ding, ding.” He exclaimed and I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Where’d you find one of those?” I questioned. I swore the carnivals started coming here around April, not mid-February.

Jonah shrugged. “I did a little digging, and it turns out that there is a carnival only two towns over. They’re open today!”

I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I thought they were closed.”

Jonah scowled. “Are you always this sarcastic on your birthday?”

“Only to you,” I replied while he laughed.

~~~

“Why are there so much people here?” I asked Jonah as he shrugged.

“I don’t know; I don’t live in this town,” Jonah shrugged as we looked around at the large groups of people. I’m pretty sure that a high school took a field trip here because there seemed to be a bunch of stray teenagers walking around.

Jonah and I approached the Ferris wheel. He looked down at me, squeezing my hand a bit tighter. “I hope you’re not scared of heights.”

“In your dreams, Davis,” I stated as we got in line. Only a few people were in line, most of them in groups and pairs of friends and the rest were couples. I didn’t know which one Jonah and I fit into. I mean, are we still dating? We hold hands, like we are right now, and he kisses me on the cheek. We also hug for long periods of time but we’ve never had real kisses and we don’t speak about our ‘relationship.’

As we boarded the small cart, I decided that now wasn’t the time to ask him. “You’re thinking about something, aren’t you?”

“Aren't we always, technically?” I asked Jonah.

He shrugged. “It seems as if some people don’t.” This remark earned a laugh from me.

As the cart moved up, Jonah stare at the bottom, watching as the people shrunk. “I know this is cliché and all, you know, taking you to the carnival on your birthday and then going on a Ferris wheel but I promise that I have more plans.”

I shrugged. “I think it’s sweet.”

Jonah frowned. “Most girls would be upset that I wasn’t more original.”

And cue the most overused line in history of all females. “I’m not like most girls.”

Jonah chuckled. “That's because you're a man, right?”

I punched his shoulder and laughed as he started to chuckle. We maintained eye contact before I looked away, my face red. I hate how he makes me blush just by looking into my eyes. I hate how he doesn’t realize the full effect that he has on me and how I’m hopelessly falling for him.

~~~

“Look, it's bumper cars!” I pointed out. I was currently drinking my weight (which was a lot, trust me) in soda. Jonah was holding my hand in his own, swinging them casually. He looked in the direction I was pointing and looked at me.

“You want to crash my car into the wall, don’t you?” he asked, amusement clear on his face.

I nodded as I sipped the drink. “You know me so well.”

We walked over to the colorful cars and I let go of his hand and ran to the purple car. “I call the purple car!”

“I call the blue car, not that it matters,” Jonah replied as he gave the ticket lady our tickets. He walked over and sat in the blue cars. We put on our seatbelts and waited for the lady to turn on our cars. I laughed evilly as the lady turned on the bumping vehicles and we slowly started moving forward.

Once the cars were fully on, I went full speed into Jonah’s car. His car swerved and spun in circles before it hit a wall. I laughed loudly as he swung around the car like a rag doll.

While I was leaned over laughing, I didn’t realize that Jonah had come from his wedged position and hastily slammed his bumper into the front of my car, sending me shooting backwards. I stared at him as my car refused to move forwards. When the car came to a complete stop, I stepped on the gas pedal.

I slammed into Jonah’s car and he whimpered as he struggled to stop the spinning. “I’m going to puke by the end of this game.”

“This is not a game.” I exclaimed as I sped up and hit his car again. “This is Sparta!”

Jonah laughed loudly at my aggression. “No, this is Patrick!"

“You're such a nerd!” I replied as I sent my car hurdling into his once more. The cars slowed to a stop as the round of bumper cars ended. We got out of the cars and walked over to each other, entwining our hands.

“I totally won,” I stated as we exited the rink.

Jonah rolled his eyes and imitated an obnoxious girl. “Totally.”

~~~

When we finished riding all of the rides in the carnival, Jonah and I made our way to the car. He attempted to win me a stuffed animal for nearly an hour but eventually I had to drag him away from the stand when he started saying that he was going to dip into his savings account. It was almost 6 o’clock and Jonah said that we were going to go eat; we just had to swing by his house for a minute.

I was complaining that I had to use the bathroom and Jonah told me as soon as we get to his house, I can go. “It’s only a thirty minute drive to my house.”

“Only 30 minutes? Gee, I’ve only been holding my pee for about an hour! What’s thirty more minutes?” I gave him a flat look and he frowned.

“You could’ve gone in a portable bathroom,” he stated and I scoffed.

“Do you realize how stupid that sentence sounded?” I asked him and he shrugged.

We slowed to a stop in front of his house and he tossed me the keys. I ran out of the car and to the house, hopping around as I unlocked the door. His aunt and uncle are at work; his sisters are at an after school club; Georgia is at work; Weston is at football practice, and his parents are currently house-searching. I put the keys on the table beside the door and ran to the nearest bathroom.

I heard the door closing downstairs as I rushed into the bathroom. After washing my hands, I exited the bathroom and went downstairs. I left the house to see Jonah leaning against his car. I locked the door and walked over to him, tossing him the keys. He opened the passenger side door for me.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he got into the driver’s seat. I noticed an old fashioned picnic basket in the backseat.

“The beach," he replied casually. I nodded my head, internally screaming. Isn’t the beach the place of romance? Or is that France? Same thing, right?

According to Mere, if a guy takes you to the beach, it means he likes you! I hope her statement was correct because if not, then I don’t know what I’ll do. My brother took her to the beach for their 4th date, where he asked her to be his girlfriend. Why can’t it be that easy for me and Jonah?

When we arrived at the beach, Jonah insisted on opening the door for me. I bet if he got hit by a car, he’d crawl to the door and open it before he allows me to open it myself.

He also opened the backdoor and took out the picnic basket. He took ahold of my hand with his free one and walked us to a nice spot on the beach, not too close to the water but close enough that it’s walking distance.

When I looked at him, he smiled at me. He opened the basket and took out a red and white striped beach blanket. He laid it out on the sand and tried to make it straight but eventually got frustrated and gave up on that. He motioned for me to sit down so I did.

He plopped down across from me and put the basket beside us. He dug his hand into the basket and pulled out boxes of sweets. He had a box of chocolate chip cookies, a pan brownies, and red velvet cupcakes. I stared at the food in delight before my gaze met his. I stared at him in amazement. Not even five minutes into the picnic and it’s already perfect. He then pulled out a 12 pack of cherry cola and then bags of various chips.

“I would light a candle but I’m afraid it’ll fall because of the lumpy sand and light everything on fire,” Jonah explained while I smiled at him. I opened the box of cookies and began eating them. He took my free hand and held it while we watched the sun slowly go down.

I decided to speak up and quench my burning curiosity. “Jonah?”

“Hm?” he asked, turning his attention to me.

“Why are we still doing this?” I asked him and he looked confused. I raised our entwined hands. “This?”

“I was wondering when you’d ask. Why didn’t you ask sooner?” he asked me, turning to face me fully.

I looked down sheepishly; now’s as good a time as any. Man up and tell him that you like him. Okay, Mere. “I was worried you’d stop.”

Jonah was quiet before he replied. “I wouldn’t have.”

I lay down on the blanket beside him, watching the sky change colors. I’d be officially seventeen at 8:22 PM and it’s 8 o’clock. Although, technically as of 12:00 AM on February 17th, I’m 17, I was born at 8:22 PM. I let out a satisfied sigh as Jonah put our entwined hands on his chest. His soft breathing calmed me down. The silence was beautiful, the whole night was beautiful. Nothing could ruin it.

“Did you realize that if we were to get married, your initials would be STD?” Jonah asked me.

I stifled a laugh as I nodded my head. “I did realize that.”

“Are you admitting to thinking about marrying me?” Jonah inquired and I shrugged.

“I guess I am,” I replied, leaving out the part about repeating my first and middle name with his last name: Savannah Taylor Davis. "But I promise I'm not creepy," I told him, earning a laugh in response.

At 8:18 PM, I sighed loudly. Jonah turned his attention to me. “Savannah, can I ask you something?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

“You have to promise to answer it honestly,” he stated as he sat up, pulling me along with him. I groaned as I propped myself up.

“I promise,” I nodded and he gave me an unsure look. “Just say it.”

“Do you like me?” his question caught me off guard. I assumed he was going to say something like ‘did you eat all of the cookies?’ because I was feeling guilty about eating them and coming clean would do my conscious some good. I didn’t expect him to ask the question he did.

I sighed before nodding. “Yeah, I do.”

It was silent between us as I stared at my hands that were placed on my lap. I just did it. I just confessed my not-so-undying love for him. Okay, maybe it’s not love. Maybe it’s just like…but he didn’t say anything back. I felt my heart slowly deflating. Is this what it feels like to be rejected?

“Savannah?” I looked up, meeting Jonah’s gaze. His fingers slowly reached out and found their way under my chin. Isn’t this what happens when two people are about to kiss in movies? I hope my breath doesn’t stink! It probably tastes like cookies! What am I saying? Cookies are amazing! He’s lucky if he tastes my cookie breath!

Before I could process what was going on, Jonah’s hands were tangled in my hair as his lips were softly pressed against mine. I felt my stomach erupt in tingles; the same tingles that I felt on Christmas Eve at the party. His lips were soft and they were on mine. They were on mine! He’s kissing me! His lips felt familiar. Was he my mystery kisser? Was I right this whole time?

When the kiss ended, he entwined both of our hands, holding them up as if they were against a wall. “Happy one month.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What?”

“We never did break up,” Jonah replied, breathing heavily. “That was technically our second kiss.”

“You were the person who kissed me at the Christmas Eve party, weren’t you?” I asked him and he nodded.

“You’ve been looking for the last piece to the puzzle in all the wrong places; it’s been in front of you the whole time," he explained, his breathing slowing down.

I blinked a few times, processing the information. “That was so cheesy.”

He imitated Chester Cheeto. “It ain’t easy being cheesy.”

I laughed loudly before smiling at him. “So…does this mean we’re official?”

“We’ve been official since the day Caleb saw us in the hallway…at least to me we were,” he replied as he shrugged sheepishly.

“Then this isn’t one month,” I stated and he shrugged.

“I couldn’t wait," he grinned.

“I’ve liked you for a long time.” I told him.

“I’ve liked you longer," he told me. “I mean, you’ve caused me so much trouble, I didn’t think that liking someone could do this much to you.”

“You’ve turned me into a good person. You’re trouble, yourself,” I replied.

“I guess you can say when trouble meets trouble it ends up pretty well," he responded and I nodded my head.

“I’d say that.”

__A/N__

Did you like it? Did you see why I felt it was going to end? Did you guys realize that I wrote this whole entire story to put that sentence about 'If we get married, your initials  would be STD' into it? (No lie.)

Do you guys have any questions about the story or whatever? Because if you do, I'll post a Q&A chapter. Then I'll post the chapters about Jonah's P.O.V.

Thank you guys so much for reading this. Although the journey isn't fully over (Jonah P.O.V chapters) it still is sad because... well, I really enjoyed writing this story. I hope you enjoyed reading it.