"Two weeks until your big day!" Aunt Mia squeals.
"I know," I reply with a smile. "I'm excited."
Right now, two of my friends and I are helping Aunt Mia clean up the house - heavy duty house cleaning.
"You know, you still haven't told me what you want."
"You know what I want, Auntie. I want to know about Dad."
"And you'll get that. But what else do you want?"
"Why would I need anything else?" I ask her.
"Because you're a teenage girl," Apollo points out.
"I know that, idiot."
"She didn't ask what you needed," Charlie says, "she asked what you wanted. So, Beth, what do you want for your birthday?"
"A car."
"You have a car," Auntie tells me.
I picture my old, beat up red heap in the garage that's been on it's death bed for two years. "That's not a car, that's an abomination! I want a new car. And when I say new, I mean new."
"Okay, you'll get a new car. Is that all?"
"Yep."
I hear Apollo's phone rings. He answers it and steps into the kitchen.
"Beth, can you get me the broom?" Aunt Mia asks.
"Sure." As I pass the kitchen door to get the broom from the closet, I hear Apollo speak into his phone.
"I know." He sighs. "Yes, sir...I'm taking her to lunch on Saturday."
He's got to be talking about me. Apollo had asked me for lunch on Saturday, two days from now. "Tell Mom I'm on my way." He must be talking to his dad.
I grab the broom from the closet and walk back into the living room. A minute later, Apollo enters as well.
"I gotta go," he announces. "Family wants me home for dinner."
"I'll walk you out," I tell him. "Tell your family I said 'hello'."
"I will. Beth, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why do you want to know so much about your dad?"
I shrug. "I don't know. I never met him. He died a few months before I was born. My mom and Aunt Mia never told me much about him. I don't even know how he died." I shrug again. "I guess I just want to know that I actually had a dad, even if he never met me."
"I understand. Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow, Beth." He kisses my cheek.
I blush. "See you then." I sigh as I watch him climb into his camero and drive away.
"Oh, god, Beth," Charlie says as he walks up next to me. "Just tell him already."
Charlie is one of the only two people that know of my feelings for Apollo. He's totally cool with it and always pushing me to tell him.
"I'll tell him when you tell Patrick."
Patrick Cortes is one our friends. Charlie is totally in love with him.
Charlie fake glares at me. "Evil woman."
I laugh. "You love me anyway."
He nods. "That I do." He checks his watch. "I have to get home. Do me a favor, Beth?"
"Sure."
"Keep your eyes open."
"What do you mean?"
"Not everything is as it seems. I'll see you tomorrow, Beth. Have a good night." He gives me a hug then leaves.
"What was that all about?" Aunt Mia questions from behind me.
"I don't know."