I'm so sorry I haven't updated this book in SUCH a long time!! I promise to do better!! Here's chapter two!! :D

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"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" I heard my parents and Nicole yell. I poked my head up and looked at my alarm clock. Litterally, 12am. I chuckled and sat up. Mom, Dad, and Nicole looked extremely happy. I ran my fingers through my hair and hugged them at once. They were crazy, but I love them. Mom had a present in her hand.

I looked at her. "There are presents this year?"

She gave me a look. "You get presents every year."

I chuckled. "I'm kidding," I said taking the box from her. "Thank you."

"Open it," Dad nodded.

Nicole turned on my bedroom light and I squinted my eyes as they adujsted to the brightness of the room. I tore open the box and tore through the tape. I pulled out a red shirt, blue skinny jeans, and a ring. Given our family name, I decided to try and make joke.

"This a promise ring, or something?" I joked.

Mom cringed, but shook her head. She sat next to me and slipped it on my index finger on my right hand. "It was your great-grandmother's. She wore this ring with love. Because this used to be her wedding ring. Your grandma had it in her jewlery box for a couple of years, and when your great-grandmother died, your grandma gave it to me. Now I'm giving it to you."

"Why a wedding ring?" I asked her.

"Because this is all they found," she said.

"Okay, let's not dim the mood," I laughed awkwardly and looked at Nicole for help.

"Mr. Aden, why don't you give Lexi her present from you?" Nicole looked at Dad.

"Thank you," I mouthed.

Dad smiled at me and sat in front of me. He took a long box from his pocket and opened it. In it was a silver chain with a heart on it. I smiled and looked at him, and back at the silver. "Does this have a sad story, too?"

He chuckled. "Nope. Bought it at Jared."

I made a fake shocked face and looked at Mom and Nicole. "He went to Jared."

They started laughing and Dad put my necklace on. I held the little heart and smiled to myself. Hopefully, today would be a good day--it started out amazing.

"My turn!" Nicole piped.

She handed me her present and I looked at it. I clicked my tounge and looked at her. "It isn't a bracelet, is it?"

She pressed her lips into a line, surpressing a laugh and gestured me to open it. I rolled my eyes and there was a scarpbook and a charm bracelet on top. I looked at her and shook my head. "Hey, on the plus side, I'm all jewled up for the day. But seriously, thank you."

They all just smiled at me.

"So what's the outfit for?" I asked.

"You'll see," Mom laughed.

I looked at her, then Dad, then Nicole. When these three got together, there was no telling what they might do. We went back to sleep and woke up at five to get ready for school. Nicole insisted I wear my new clothes and my jewlery, so I did. She straightened my hair--it was naturally straight, anyway--and I put a glittery red barrette in. Mom and Dad took a picture of me and Nicole, then Nicole took a picture of me with my parents, then one of me and Mom, then me and Dad.

On this day, at first glance, we looked like a big happy, trusting family. But that was only because today was a special occasion. If it were any other regular day, they'd be just as microscopic as ever. When Nicole and I got to school, she insisted on flaunting me--it was actually kind of weird. Chase came into sight and I hid behind Nicole.

"Are you hiding from Chase?" she asked.

"No. Maybe. Yes. It's just... He's doesn't know me, doesn't know it's my birthday, so he's gonna think I dressed like this to impress him," I told her.

She smiled and held one finger. "Hold that thought."

She went to a teacher who had a bullhorn, took it, and turned it on.

"Okay, people! You know Alexis! Or as some call her, 'Book Girl.' Well, it's her sixteenth birthday today, so we're not gonna torture her today!" she said.

Someone kill me now.

Everyone told me happy birthday. I wanted to crawl under a rock. Chase smiled at me and I waved. Nicole walked back to me and hugged me.

"No torture? You killed me," I said utterly embarrassed.

"Hey," Chase walked up to us. "Happy birthday, Alexis."

"Thanks," I said.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Chase asked Nicole.

"Sure," Nicole said without moving.

"Alone?" he asked.

"I'm gonna end up telling Lexi, anyway. She's my girl," Nicole laughed.

"I don't want to be rude," Chase said.

"Just spit it out," I rolled my eyes.

"Do you wanna go out?" he asked. "I mean, I know we just met, but I wanna get to know you."

Nicole looked at me and I nodded. Though I thought it was a bad idea, I just wanted her to be happy. And I knew that she wanted to have her shot with him. Personally, I thought the best way to get to know someone was by communicating with them. Not dating them. But when it came down to it, Chase seemed nice enough, and I wasn't about to let my negativity let her--them--down. They could end up getting married someday.

"Sure. Yeah, that sounds like fun," she said.

"Great. Where should we go?" he asked.

"Lexi's birthday party is tonight. Join us," she said.

"Where is it?" he asked.

"Walk with me," Nicole said, leaving me behind.

Did they plan a surprise party for me?

"Happy birthday," a voice said behind me.

I turned around and Ben was standing there. Ben was my first crush--I was twelve and we were in the same math and english class.

"Thanks," I said.

"So what are you doing for your birthday?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I think they planned some surprise party for me."

"They?" he asked.

"Mom, Dad, and Nicole," I clarified.

"Right, right," he nodded, adjusting his shoulder-bag.

"Wanna come?" I asked.

"Sure. Can I bring some of the guys?" he asked.

"Um, I don't see why not," I shrugged.

"Cool. Still live at that same house?" he asked.

I nodded.

He smiled and nodded. "See ya after school."

"See ya, Ben," I said as he walked off.

The bell rang and I went to first period. I walked passed Nicole and Chase as they chatted. I didn't want to intrude on their conversation. I was used to being alone. I didn't need someone by me every second of every day. I wasn't desperate. It would just be nice if someone wanted to be by me every secoond. But I didn't need that. I sat in my seat and opened my sketchbook.

Nicole and Chase came in just seconds after me and Nicole sat next to me. I looked at her and laughed. "You two hit it off."

"Shut up," she elbowed me.

As the day went on, I thought about what would happen tonight. A girl came up to me--blonde haired, blue eyed.

"Avez-vous vu Ben?"

she asked me.

"Ben? I don't know. He's probably in class," I shrugged. I didn't understand what she was saying. "Who are you?"

"Je suis sa petite amie,"

she said.

"You're a small friend?" I raised an eyebrow. (I took French for, like, a year.)

She shook her head. "Il est mon ami."

"Okay, so you understand Enligsh, but you can't speak it?" I asked.

"Je pourrais parler anglais, mais mon accent serait trop épais pour que vous compreniez,"

she said.

"Uh... You could speak English, but... I wouldn't understand your accent?" I guessed.

She nodded. "Oui!"

"Then how do you and Ben talk?" I asked.

"Il parle couramment le français,"

she giggled.

"He speaks French," I stated.

She nodded.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Anais,"

she said.

"I'm Alexis," I smiled. "So how did you and Ben meet?"

"Nous avons rencontré il ya un mois. Je venais de m'installer ici et il m'a aidé à comprendre les façons américains. Il m'a demandé il ya deux semaines. Il est un vrai gentleman,"

she said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Okay... Something about understanding America... And something about him being a gentleman," I said.

She sighed. "Vous devriez vraiment prendre des cours en français ou en obtenir un dictionnaire anglais / français. Vous ne durerait pas une heure à Paris avec votre manque de connaissance de la langue française. Je suis ici depuis un mois et de savoir 90 pour cent de la langue anglaise."

"Okay, well, see ya," I said walking off.

I really needed to learn French.

The final bell rang and Nicole ran up to me. "Hey."

"Hey," I said.

"How was your day?" she chimed.

"Fine. This French girl, Anais, came up to me asking for Ben. Apparently she's his girlfriend--I think that's what she said--and couldn't find him. She understands English, but doesn't speak it, because her accent is too thick," I told her.

"That's funny," Nicole laughed.

"Yupp."

Mr. Smith called me and said I didn't have to come into work today. Nicole and I got home and Mom and Dad ambushed me in a hug. I laughed and hugged them back. "Guys, you okay?"

"Yeah. Let's go," Mom urged.

"Where?" I asked.

"Somewhere, now go," she pushed me and Nicole.

Nicole whipped out her phone and started texting like crazy. Dad tied a blindfold on me, so I wouldn't know where I was going. I didn't fight it. I was actually really tired. But whatever they had planned, I was sure I was going to love it. The truck stopped and when I went to take off my blindfold, a hand kept it on. Assuming it was Nicole, she helped me out of the truck and we kept walking until a door was opened. Then the blindfold was off my eyes and I was surrounded by bowling pins.

"This is so cool!" I smiled.

"Come on!" Nicole urged.

We walked to the back of the bowling alley and almost half the school--including Chase, Ben, his friends, and Anais--were standing there. I was greeted with a huge "happy birthday" and we began our bowling game. A few minutes later, people began singing "happy birthday" to me. I was confused at first, but then I saw Dad carrying a huge cake with a bunch of candles on it.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Y'all went overboard this year."

"We wanted to. Now make a wish," Dad smiled as a tear went down his cheek.

"Dad, it's my birthday. You can't cry until my wedding," I smiled at him, wanting to cry tears of happiness.

I closed my eyes and thought of a wish. I wish for my parents to stop micromanaging my life so much--they should trust me. I blew out the candles and everyone clapped. The rest of the night, everyone bowled and had fun and ate, until closing time and everyone went home--well, Nicole went home with me, but same thing.

Best birthday ever.