I take Alec's present last. He has a smile playing about his pink lips. That smile surely means something. What did he get me?
I open it to reveal a rose diamond necklace and I gasp. It was so gorgeous and am sure it will cost a fortune. My heart melts at the sight of it and try to handle it with care to prevent the precious jewel from falling.
"Its beautiful" I say holding it up. The cafeteria becomes noisy with full blown whispers.
"Would you like me to put it on you?" Alec asks
"Sure!" I say quickly. I wanted Kate to die of jealousy and Jake to be so mad. I giggle at the thought. Alec takes the necklace from me and walks behind me. He puts it around my neck and everyone coos in the cafeteria making me blush.
"Happy Birthday Buttercup" Alec says loudly and pecks my cheek before taking a seat.
I look at Kate and she is about to collapse. Jake too has his jaw tightly clenched and eyes narrowed at Alec. I just smile pleased.
"Thanks Alec! I love it! I'm sure it was very expensive" I say and he brushes it off.
"Nothing is too expensive when it comes to you Nikki" he says and I blush.
"Awww! So romantic!" Troy says and I chuckle.
"Alec! Can you teach me some of your romantic skills?" Troy asks and Alec laughs.
"Oh Troy! Okay I will" Alec says
"You will? Thank you!" Troy states and we all laugh.
"You haven't opened our presents yet Nikki" Jenna alerts.
"Yeah right!" I say. Alec's gift and his gesture a few minutes ago has got my brain mushed up. Jake and Kate looked like they were about to explode and it makes me feel on top like I have the upper hand now!
I take Jenna's present which was wrapped in purple and black. I take a deep breath and open it to find a Gucci tote.
"Oh my Gosh! Jenna this is beautiful!" I gush and she smiles proudly.
I look at the Gucci tote again.
"Thanks for the watch too" Jenna says and waves the watch in my face. It was around her wrist shimmering.
I take Melissa's present. It was surprisingly flat and I chuckle. Everything about Melissa is flat!
I open it and there's a coupon or voucher or something. I furrow my eyebrows. People are still whispering in the cafeteria and looking at my direction.
"What the fuck did you give her Melissa? A fucking cardboard?" Alec spits out of annoyance.
Melissa chuckles and straightens her red hair.
"I wish! But I had to get her that fucking voucher" she replies.
I read on it and its a thousand dollars voucher.
"A thousand dollars voucher? " I blurt unexpectedly and people are talking now.
"Yes hun! You can buy whatever you want today" Melissa says.
Alec chuckles.
"That's very generous of you Melissa" Alec taunts and ruffles her hair. She growls at him and he laughs.
I get up and hug her. I wasn't expecting this kind of gift from a sassy person like her!
I sit down and put the voucher in the Gucci tote.
"Now finally our presents!" Kimberly announces.
I take Claire's present. I open it to find a pair of cool shades.
"I love these shades! They are so dark and big" I say trying it on.
"Whoah Nikki! You look good" Danny gushes.
I take it off.
"Thanks Claire! I love them"
"I knew you would! You always wear them" Claire says with a shrug.
I smile in response and reach out for my last present from Kimberly.
"Why do you have to open my present last?"she grumbles.
" sorry baby"I reply.
"No! I'm just joking! Now open it!" Kimberly says and I open the small navy box. I gasp when I see what's inside.
"You bought me a watch?" I blurt without thinking. The watch had a few crystals on it and they sparkled in the light.
"You like it?" Kimberly asks.
"I love it! The crystals, the colour! Everything!" I blurt and she laughs.
"Thank you all so much for your wonderful presents! I would never forget this!" I tell them and they all smile.
"All we can say is......" Troy trails off
"HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY NIKKI" they all yell and I'm caught by surprise. I just laugh and they applaud making everyone is the cafeteria laugh and applaud.
"Thank you so much! I love you all" I yell and they smile.
The tocsin goes for lunch over and I gather all my gifts and place them in my satchel. I walk with my friends to our next class.
I had the same class with Danny and Alec so we went together. When I got to the classroom, I pulled out my diary and wrote down all the gifts I received and the people I received them from.
It looked like this.
From my adorable family:
Trina--- a fashion magazine
Mom--- an iPhone 8
Dad--- a glossy black Honda Civic
From the boys:
Aaron-- Golden bracelet
Troy--- Black adidas tracksuit
Danny-- a pair of white double       deckers
Alec---Â a rose diamond necklace.
From the girls:
Jenna--- A Gucci tote
Melissa--- a thousand dollars voucher
Claire--- classy dark shades
Kimberly---- a sparkling crystal watch.
I place my dairy back into my satchel and smile.
"Nice smile there!" Alec spits and I blush.
"She's excited! Today's her special day" Danny says with a smile
ððð
I dump my books into my locker and shut it. Kate's face comes into view. She doesn't quit does she? School has ended and I want to go home in peace. She has a mischievous smile etched on her face.
"What is it Kate? I already made it clear to you that I don't have time for useless conversations" I state clearly with a stern face.
She smiles pleased.
"You don't have time for a birthday gift too?" She spits and I'm astounded.
"You...you brou....brought me a birthday gift?" I stutter.
She nods. Her mischievous smile never leaving her face. What is she up to? I laugh in her face.
"You think I believe you?" I spit and she smiles.
She takes a box wrapped in pink from one of her minions and shows it to me.
She really had a gift for me! But I don't really trust her. She has never done this before.
"Kate! Let's go! " Jake calls down the hall frustrated
"Coming babe! Just giving Nikki a birthday gift!" She yells back.
"Go on! Take it and open it Nikki!" Kate urges and I'm in doubt.
She nods with a huge grin.
"Stop bothering her Kate!" Alec yells out of the blue and stands in front of me facing Kate.
"Oh yeah right! Your rose diamond necklace is better than my gift right?" Kate states angrily. I knew she was jealous about the necklace
"Yes it is! Far better than yours! Nikki doesn't need yours!" Alec states firmly.
Kate chuckles and leaves the pink box containing my so called gift on the floor.
"I know you'll love it Nikki! Just open it!" She states and walks away with Jake. I roll my eyes.
Alec kicks the box.
"Stop! It might contain something fragile!" I scold.
"It doesn't contain anything proper! Only frogs" Alec states and I shudder.
"How did you know?" I ask puzzled.
"I saw it with my naked eyes! Kate was filling this box with frogs! She said she wanted to see them hop on you" Alec explains and I'm shocked.
"Hey guys! Ooh a gift" Troy says and picks up the box.
"Is it for you Nikki?" He asks
"Yes! But don't open it!" I scold
"Why?" Troy asks
"It contains frogs" Alec states and Troy laughs.
"You've gotta be kidding me" Troy replies doubtfully and takes off the ribbon.
"Troy please dont"I plead.
"Come on! There's no way someone would give you frogs for a birthday present"he opens the box.
"Troy No!" Alec and I yell and a few frogs hop on him.
"Shoot!!" Alec yells and pulls me and Troy out of the place.
We get to the parking lot and Jake's car is gone.
"I told you not to open it!" I scold Troy.
"Sorry! I was just curious to know what was inside" Troy apologises.
Alec scoffs under his breath
"I told you! I told you she filled the damn box with locusts!" Alec spits.
"Who?" Troy asks
"That.....that slut! Kate Sanders!" Alec states and my blood runs cold.
"Oh" Troy says realising
"I'm happy you didn't open it buttercup! But don't trust Kate!" Alec tells me
ððð
Jake POV:
Kate cackles wickedly like a witch in the car as we move steadily down the road. I'm furious with her and not only her, with my fucking stepbrother, Alec!
Alec gave Nikki a rose diamond necklace! Holy Shit! It must be really expensive! And what got me more furious was when he took it and placed it around her perfect neck like some couple. I wish I was the one to do that! My stepbrother is such a charmer! I hate him!
What hurts me the more is that he and Nicole are a perfect match! Another thing he did that got me furious was to save Nicole from the locusts! I should have done that even though I wasn't willing to but he stood in my way and am sure Nikki adores him even more. I have never been so jealous of anyone in my life. And I'm so jealous of him...of Alec. I growl inwardly.
"Why are you so quiet?" Kate spits.
"You should be celebrating with me! I wanted to see Nicole's face so badly when she opened the gift!"Kate says wickedly.
" Do you think she will open it? Because Alec didn't want her to"I ask her.
"I know Nicole! She will open it and I know all those frogs will hop out" Kate says with a chuckle.
"I don't think she would! Alec wouldn't let her" I spill and Kate groans. For some reason, I'm happy Alec stopped Nikki from opening the box.
"You better advice that your stepbrother to stop getting in my way all the time!" Kate says quite furious.
"But you went too far Kate! You shouldn't have done that especially on her birthday" I chide her.
"Oh please! We all know she deserved it! You should be siding with me here!" Kate responds
"I can't side with you this time Kate!" I respond frustrated.
"Oh yeah right! Nikki is your idol now! You side with her now! I see" Kate spits.
"No its not that Kate! You know very well I don't want anything to do with her! " I reply with my voice strained.
"Then you should be siding with me at all times Jake!" Kate yells and I sigh.
"Okay you're right!" I finally say and park whiles she giggles.
We both get down and walk into my apartment holding hands.
"Your apartment is freezing" Kate says when we enter.
"I'll turn on the heater" I say and make my way to the heater.
"No don't! " Kate yells and pulls me back. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"I like the atmosphere! Its so steamy!" She says seductively and I swallow hard.
"Okay?" I say.
She smiles and drags me into the hall behind her.
"I like your apartment! It just needs a few touches to be elegant!" Kate tells me.
"Well I'm not the type who cares about interior decorations and those stuff" I say with a shrug.
"Would you like something to drink?" I ask her.
"Water is fine" she replies. This is the first time she has been to my apartment.
I rush to the kitchen and fill a glass of water for her. I walked back to the hall and handed it to her.
She smiles gratefully and takes a sip. She was pretty though but Nikki was prettier I must admit. Okay so why am I comparing them? I need to forget about Nikki totally! I'm with Kate now!
"So can I stay over? I don't know how that will make you feel" Kate states.
"You can! I have no problem with that"
"Thanks" Kate says with a beam and texts away on her phone.
"I was just texting my parents to tell them I'm staying over at my boyfriend's house" Kate says and a lump forms in my throat
"Boyfriend?" I ask her.
"Yes! Aren't we in a relationship?" Kate states nervously.
I sigh.
"We aren't Kate! We are just friends"
"But you said you want me to be your girlfriend remember? And I agreed" Kate retaliates completely heartbroken
"I said that?" I ask her.
"Yes you did! " she says hurt.
I think I'm starting to remember. That night when I saw Nikki and Alec at the family dinner after she stood me up, I called Kate and asked her to be my girlfriend. I was so angry! I remember I was drunk. I didn't know what I was saying.
"I remember now! I'm so sorry cupcake" I reply and she lights up a bit.
"I'm proud to have such a special person like you as my girlfriend" I add and she giggles.
"You are so romantic" she says and I melt. I hope I'm more romantic than my stepbrother! But no! He's so good in it.
Kate and I sit down together in the couch watching music videos on my phone.
"So Jake, do you have parents? Siblings? I know its dumb to ask but you hardly talk about them" Kate says to me
"I have!" I simply reply.
"Oh! So where are they? Because it looks like you stay here alone" Kate asks.
"They are in England! But I'll be visiting them this Christmas with my dad!"
"That's nice! Your dad is here?"
"Yes he is!"
"I would like to meet him!"
I grin.
Kate yawns and I know she's falling asleep. After some minutes, she was gone and I carried her to my room and laid her on my medium sized bed.
I smiled and took a pillow. Then I went to the hall and slept in a couch thinking about Nikki. I need to stop thinking about her! Why can't she just leave my mind alone!