(A/N YAAAAAAAAYYY!! I’m done! I realise that the summary had nothing to do with the story but I don’t care!! Because I’m done! The chapter is down there somewhere but I want to do this thing first. Warning: I really really do suck at summaries, but I hate saying that in the actual summary, so just as a warning for (hopefully) furture stories, just ignore them, they probably dont mean anything, most likely I picked words out of the dictionary and strung them together to make a sentence. I HATE SUMMARIES, those of you who write them well, I salute you, you have a talent. Be grateful.

I wasn't going to post this yet, I'm still not entirely happy but I'm going on holidays tomorrow so I wouldn't be able to update it for like a month, so since it was the last chapter I just put it up now. I apologise if it seems a bit well...not good, but I thought it better to update now than when everyone's forgotten about it!

I'm on the phone to my friend at the moment and he’s like ‘thank the reviewers.’ I just glare at the phone and say (In a huffy tone) I always thank the reviewers, but I’m going to do it anyway so THANK YOU to anyone who’s ever reviewed and has given me advice or their thoughts on the story. I say it all the time but it does mean a lot and helps me a lot with my writing, you guys rock. I'll try go and read all your stuff now. For those who just read it thanks so much for reading and sticking with the story that I came up with when I was very bored in Maths class.

I finished and I didn’t even kill off anyone! Go me! But just because this is the last chapter doesn’t mean you don’t have to review it. Because you do. So go do it. Please tell me what you thought and if I left anything out or what I could do to make it better. Even if you’ve never reviewed. Go on, make me smile. Please? Say anything, ramble, get lost in your memories, come up with an amusing anecdote, rant, or preferably if you wish, tell me what you thought of the story.

By the way Connor is a real person based on one of my friends. He’s the one I'm talking to at the moment, but he doesn’t know I based a story around him. Hehe. Secrets are fun.

Okay, I’m going to go read everyone else’s things now. Keep an eye out for my other stuff!! Hope you like the last chapter!! Mileana xx)

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Chapter 20: Happy Birthday

I shifted uncomfortably in the back seat of the car, my legs cramped into an awkward position, I wondered how I would manage to stand once we where there. Trying not to worry about that I concentrated instead on moving the book that was sticking into my back. That accomplished I sat back with a sigh, staring out the window as the countryside side sped by me. The day before my birthday and I was spending half of it in the car.

“Nearly there now.” My father said cheerfully, from the front seat. “Are you sure you packed everything?”

Why do you ask me this now? I fought the strong urge to answer back with some sharp, sarcastic comment but too many flashed before my brain and I couldn’t pick one, so instead I settled for a simple, stiff nod towards the window.

“Good, good.” my father continued ignoring my stony expression, “What about you Matthew…Matthew?”

“WHAT?” My brother looked up as I poked him strongly in the arm.

“Matthew, take your earphones out.” My father commanded his voice still cheerful.

He took them out reluctantly, glaring at me as he did so. “What?”

“Did you pack everything?”

“Why are you asking me this now?”

“Matthew-”

“Yes, Dad, I packed everything. We’re only gone for a week you know.”

“Well it never hurts to be prepared.”

“Well there is such a thing as bringing too many packets of…”

I zoned out of the conversation at that point, I’d become rather good at ignoring the world around me these past few months. I considered it a talent. My own thoughts were much more interesting anyway. That morning after a long, long talk with Anna I had broken up with James. It was easier than I expected. At least for me it was. He was angry at first, then disappointed, but he had known something was up. I didn’t tell him my reason why, despite Anna’s urgings. He would find out soon though.

I had called Connor’s home several times that morning, hanging up each time I heard the dial ring. Only once did I let the phone be picked up, but it had been Lucy, who, when I didn’t say anything began swearing loudly about how annoying prank phone calls were. I had listened amused for a few seconds before hanging up. I wondered briefly if Anna would tell him but then I realised he wouldn’t do anything until I told him myself. Something I wouldn’t be able to do for another week, at least if I wanted to do it in person. Which I did. I wanted to see him.

“What are you smiling at?” Matthew looked at me strangely from across the short, squashed space between us.

“Nothing.” But I still smiled. “Sorry about your arm.”

His eyes widened in surprise at my uncharacteristic concern for him, “It’s fine...I’m not that weak.” he added.

“We’re here.” My father called as we turned up a hill to a small cottage.

Six hours later I lay on the freshly made bed in the guest room, my head buried in the pillow. It is amazing how tired sitting in a car all day doing nothing can make you. I stayed there for several minutes, doing nothing but breathing, letting my body completely relax. I was just about to go brush my teeth when the noise of my phone vibrating from on top of the wooden dresser alerted my attention. It was, as predicted, Anna.

“Hi.” I yawned into the phone.

“He wrote me a poem.”

“Who did?”

“Matthew.”

I couldn’t help myself, I burst out laughing.

“Becca!” Anna tried to get me to stop several times but each time I did I pictured my brother composing a love poem and the hysterics started again.

“Are you quite done?” she asked irritated as I subsided into quiet giggles.

“Why did he write you a poem?” I already knew the answer but I wanted to be sure.

“He likes me.”

“Aw, how unbearably innocent.”

“Oh shut up.” she snapped, but I could tell she was grinning.

“Was it any good?”

There was a long pause. “Actually it was awful.”

The laughing began again, this time Anna joined in as well.

“So I’m guessing the reason you’re ringing here isn’t for my wonderful conversation skills?”

“In fact I was wondering if you could put me onto him?”

“What are you going to say to him?” I was serious now, no matter how annoying he was, I did not want to see my brother hurt.

“Well I was just going to thank him and then see, maybe, if he wanted to do something sometime somewhere.”

I giggled again before taking in a deep breath to calm myself. “Hold on, I’ll just call him.”

“Becca?”

“Yeah?”

“I talked to Connor today.”

I froze. “And?”

“He says he hopes he likes your birthday present.”

“What birthday present?”

“I don’t know but that’s what he said.”

“MATTHEW!! Is that all he said?”

“Well we talked about the weather.”

“WHAT?”

“PHONE!”

“WELL COME DOWN THEN!”

“NO YOU COME UP HERE.”

“I’M EATING!”

“IT’S ANNA.”

There was silence for a few seconds and then the noise of a chair squeaking quickly across the floor rang through the small house.

“He’s coming” I told Anna.

“Yeah I got that.”

“And that’s all you guys talked about?”

“I told you, birthday present and cloud cover, that’s it.”

Matthew sprinted up the last few steps and held his hand out expectantly.

“Bye Anna.” I said, grinning into the phone before handing it to my brother who immediately took off to his room. “And don’t waste my battery!” I called after him.

A door slam was my response.

Those two were going to be unbearable, I could feel it.

xxx

I was awakened the next morning to the loud sound of a part popper in my ear.

“It’s your birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaay!” Matthew’s voice called annoyingly from somewhere over my head.

My eyes still closed, I hit out blindly with my arm hoping to come in contact with something, but there was nothing there.

“Hey.” Something shook my shoulder roughly. “Get up.

“Matthew leave your sister be.” My Gran’s voice scolded from further away.

I slowly opened my eyes to see my family standing in my room. My brother sat at the end of the bed beside a small stack of presents. A pointed red hat sat on top of his head and he was in the middle of blowing up a balloon.

Well someone was in a good mood.

Slowly the gunky sleep feeling fell away and I opened my presents eagerly as my Gran fussed over me. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when I realised Connor’s wasn’t there. Some of my friends from school had sent their presents with Matthew and Anna had given a card where she reminded me subtly that she had already given me my gift.

After a quick birthday lunch my father decided, in honour of the sun that had decided to show today, to go for a walk down to the beach, where I could chose an ice-cream of my choice. I didn’t bother to tell him that since it was so cold the ice-cream place would probably be closed and the fact I had been picking my own ice-creams for years didn’t make this a particularly exciting idea. I went along enthusiastically anyway, on the one condition that Matthew would take off the hat.

We were five minutes from the house when I realised I had forgotten my camera that my father had given me and (with the promise that I would catch up with them) I rushed back to the house to retrieve it. I didn’t look where I was going and so didn’t see the small, brown package that lay sitting on the porch steps. Tripping over it I landed with an ‘oomph’ on the ground. Well that was not there when we left.

Cursing quietly under my breath I got back up and brought the package into the house, dumping it onto the kitchen table. Only then did I see it was addressed to me. My name and my grandmother’s address were written in small, neat handwriting. Connor’s handwriting. Suddenly nervous, I backed away from it. I stared at it for a few seconds before turning away. I didn’t want to know what was in it. This is what I told myself as I left the room and ran upstairs to get the camera. But I came back down and it was there. You ever wonder what things would say if they could speak? This one would be saying ‘Open Me’, probably in a really creepy voice.

I occupied myself with washing the dishes, then staring out the window, then staring at the package before returning to the window again.

Sitting down on one of the kitchen chairs, I looked at it again, absently tracing the duck tape with my finger.

“You are such a baby.” I whispered to myself as I ripped the tape off and opened the flaps. A lot of purple tissue paper stared back at me. Almost afraid of delving my hand into its unknown depths I searched through it before my hands touched something hard. Grasping it, I pulled the object out.

I held a small, thick black notebook. My name was written in swirling gold letters on the front. The doorbell rang then. But I ignored it, knowing it was Matthew probably wondering where I was. I would let him figure out where he had put his keys.

Carefully I opened the cover to see a small written note by Connor. The date read today.

Dear Becca, (it read) Happy Birthday. You’re going to have to let me read this one. I love you. Connor.

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning like an idiot as I read this and I ignored the doorbell as it rang loudly again.

P.S Answer the damn door.

My smile froze in place as I looked up towards the hallway. I sat there staring as it rang a third time then I got up quickly and leaving the book on the table, ran towards the door.

Swinging it open, I stepped back to see Connor grinning as I was a minute ago.

“Hi.” I breathed, drinking in the sight of him.

“I was starting to think I’d gotten the wrong house.”

I shook my head.

He stood there, his eyes twinkling. "Lucy says hi."

I laughed then, not really knowing what at and, wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him. I felt him smile against my lips as he quickly wound a hand in my hair, holding my face securely to his. I don’t how long we stood there before we were interrupted by my brother.

“Oh, OH ew, oh I did not need to see that.”

We pulled apart and I turned to glare at Matthew but I found it impossible and could only smile at him widely. He wasn’t looking at us anyway, one hand over his eyes, he turned his back and began walking away. “I’ll just you two alone then.” he called, “Just…sorry for…well…okay then…see you guys later.”

I turned back to Connor who was looking at me, unblinking, his eyes soft. Doing the one thing I had wanted to do for a long time, I pushed back the lock of hair from his face and stared up at him.

“I love you too.” I whispered.

He grinned again, “Well that was obvious,” and he pressed his lips to mine once more.

I loved Birthdays.

The End