"T-tyler?" I speak, my voice cracking a little bit.
"Happy birthday! Welcome to adult hood." He says with a forced chuckle.
"Tyler? Is that really you?"
"The one and only." He replied tired. His voice sounded different. I'm pretty sure he looks a whole lot different.
"Oh my god, Tyler."
"Yeah?"
"Oh my god, where are you? Where have you been? How are you doing? Are you in college?" I asked all in a rush.
"Easy there tiger. I'm okay but I can't tell you where I am."
"Please come home." I pleaded.
"I can't."
"Why?" I asked as a tear slips from my eye.
"I...." He paused. "I just can't okay."
"But we need you. I need you.'' I tried to plead with him.
"I'm sorry Lee..... I.... I just can't anymore " He sighed. He sounded, he sounded really tired.
"Tyler."
"Oh and Lee, please don't call this number again, okay? Please don't." Before I could reply or say anything, he hung up on me.
I dialed his number again and again. But it wasn't going through. I could feel the tears building up and I so do not want to ruin my makeup.
Before I could start crying, I heard a knock on the door and knowing it would be probably Trish, I gathered myself, picked up my things and walked to the door.
I opened the door to see Trish about knock again and her eyes widened.
"Oh my gosh Ash. You look beautiful." She exclaimed.
"Thanks." I say, trying my hardest to smile for her.
"I.Love.The.Dress. It's soooooo cute."
"Thanks." Now I'm truly smiling. "C'mon. We don't want to be late." I say as I come out and lock the door behind me.
Trish is dressed in a backless sequin crop top, wide legs split pants and silver sequin heels. Her hair, packed in a high pony tail with black highlights added to it.
Her makeup is neutral, just like mine.
As we entered her, Trish handed me a card.
"You know who said I should give you this."
"Really" I ask as she hands it over.
"Yeah. Now let's go par-tay!!!" She shouts and drives.
While Trish was busy talking about her date with Caleb last night, I was reading the card she gave to me.
"Shower fake compliments
On you I will never
I'll impress you with
My honesty and condor
Treat you like a mere fling
I wouldn't dare to
Because the truth is
I genuinely like you."
"Okay now we are here!" Trish stated bringing me out of my small bubble world.
"Now let's go." I say unbuckling my belt and getting down.
Trish gives her key to a velvet and we walk towards the entrance.
Before we could enter, the bouncer named Steve, stopped us.
"You can't enter." He says sternly.
"What do you mean we can't enter." Trish speaks up.
"You can. But she can't " He says, pointing at me.
"And why can't she?" She speaks again.
"Because she doesn't have these." He hands me a tiara and a sash with the words "FINALLY AN ADULT!!!!"
"Happy birthday." He says to me and I smile.
"Thanks." I mutter and he steps aside.
"Why is it so dark in here?" I ask as we entered.
"Well, it's always dark in here."
"Yeah but-"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!'' To say I'm shocked will be an ultimate understatement.
"Happy birthday Ashley." Trish whispers to me. In front of me stood my school mates, Emily, Mark, my dad, some other people I don't know before, and Christian.
"Oh my god, you guys." I said referring to everyone but looking at Christian.
Emily walks up to me and gives me a hug. So I had to take my eyes off Christian.
"Happy birthday honey." She smiles at me and hands me a small wrapped box.
"Thanks. You didn't have to do this." I say but she just shrugs. I open the box to see a gold Rolex watch in it.
"It's from both of us." Mark chimed in and I look up to see Emily elbow Mark.
"Yeah right." She mutters.
"Thanks guys." I hugged them but tightly.
"I don't think this is our kind of party, so we will leave it to you guys." Emily stated when I released them and they left.
"I look to where Christian was before but he wasn't there anymore. As I was about to go look for him, my dad walked up to me.
"Hey dad." I hug him. "Thanks for being here." I mutter and he chuckles.
"How can I not be at my daughter's 18th."
"Is mum here too?" I ask with a glint of hope in my voice even though I already know the answer.
"I'm sorry kid."
"Oh." I say disappointed. "Tyler called." I changed the subject.
"He did?" My dad asks surprised. Really surprised.
Yeah. He did. To wish me a happy birthday." I added with a little smile.
"Really?" He asks and I nod. "You mean, Tyler. My own son Tyler, called you to wish you a happy birthday?"
"Yeah dad, he did." I could tell he was happy
"Then I haven't lost my son yet." He says with a full blown smile. "Listen kid. I have to go but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He adds with the smile still on his face.
"Sure thing dad. Thanks again " I say and he walks out.
I left the spot to go look for Christian and along the way, different people wished me. I looked and walked around for about an hour and still haven't found him.
How big is this place!!!
"Ashley!" I turn to see Kelvin walking towards me.
"Hey Kel."
"Happy 18th." He says and hugs me.
"Thanks Kelvin."
"So here's my gift to you." He hands me a piece of rolled piece of paper. I unrolled it and there layed a drawing of me. The exact shape of my face, my eye color, my eyes, my nose,everything.
"Wow Kelvin. It's wow. I didn't know you draw."
"Yeah. It's kinda of my hidden talent." He smiles shyly. "So.. Do you like it?"
"Like it? Kelvin are you kidding me, I love it. Thanks." I exclaimed and hugged him.
"I'm glad you do." He says when I pull away.
"So have you seen Christian anywhere?" I ask him and his smile falls a little.
"Yeah, I did a while ago at the bar and he said I should give you this " He brought out a card from his back pocket and hands it to me.
"Thanks. The bar you said?" I asked again but he just nods and walks away.
Weird.
I shrug off his weird behavior and read the card.
"What I feel right now
I've never felt before
What I see in you
I totally adore
What I want right now
Is you always by my side
If you feel the same way too
It'll be one of life's best ride."
I smile to myself and start to head towards the bar.
"Hey Ash! You've got to try this tortillas. It's.So.Damn.Good!" Trish slurped as soon as I got to the bar.
"Sure, but I think I want a tequila." I smile to the barman.
"Oooooohhhh. Getting brave now are we?" Trish asks with a smile.
"Yeah."
"Happy birthday." The bar man says as he passes me my drink. "And this is for you." He also passes me a card.
"Thanks." I muttered.
"Ooooohhhh, Christian has done it again. You know, when I saw him, he was looking so nervous and cute." Her eyes widened a bit. "Oh my god, I think I just called my brother cute. Eeeeeeewwwwww." She whined and I laughed.
"You said you saw Christian here?" I asked taking a shot of my drink and damn did it burn my throat. I signalled the bar man for another.
"Yeah. A minute ago with Caleb. They both walked off, leaving me alone." She sighs in deep thought and I use the chance to read the card.
"What I like about you the most
Is the way you walk
The way you smile
When you begin to talk
What I admire about you the most
Is the way you dress
Seeing the way you tuck your hair
Is a sight of pure happiness
There seems to be nothing
That I don't like about you."
"What number is that?" Trish asks, pointing to the card.
"16." I reply and take another shot of my drink.
"Almost there. C'mon let's go dance." Trish stands and pulls my arm towards the dance floor. We danced our butts off. I had a few people throwing me a happy birthday here and there, but they didn't matter.
Trish and I danced for about an hour before we settled at the bar and ordered cocktail margaritas.
A while later, I had to pee, so I excused myself and walked to the restroom. I was a little drunk, but still had my senses. I bumped into Caleb on the way to the restroom.
"So we meet again." I say and he chuckles.
"Drunk now, are we?"
"Maybe. So where's Christian?"
"Somewhere." He replies with a smile.
"Really? Are we going with that now?" He nods. "Excuse me would you?" I was about to walk off but he held my arm.
"Here." He hands me another card and walks away
"Damn it. I wanted to be the one to walk away." I muttered to myself and read the card.
"When I saw you for the first time
I was head over heels
When we bumped into each other
I realized what my heart feels
When we exchanged numbers
All my wishes came through
When you read this poem
You'll realize how much I like you."
I don't exactly remember when we exchanged numbers, but this poem still made me smile.
I walked into the restroom to do my business, and when I got out to wash my hands, I met Lily.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the birthday girl." Lily seethed.
"What do you want?" I ask gently, not wanting a fight.
"What do I want? You little bitch know what I want!" You didn't listen did you? I told you to stay away from Christian, but you didn't listen. You do know he is not for you right?" She asks with a weird smile.
"It is me he's dating not you Lily. So that means he likes me and not you!" I shout but she just smiles.
"Darling. You are nothing but a fun stuff, a play thing for him and I have proof."
What.