- Anthony Michael Hall, “Sixteen Candles”

CHAPTER TWO

Ten year old Lena Copper frowned. It was her birthday and no one remembered.

Her parents had been too busy running around the house, setting up for whatever stupid dinner party they were hosting that night. Lena figured they were having some kind of business party since her father was a hot shot CEO of a marketing company. They were so busy planning and getting the house put together that they couldn't even spare a second to say happy birthday.

Lena couldn't believe that no one remembered that today was the day the world welcomed her. Not her parents, not her grandparents, not even her best friend, Forrest Masterson. What kind of best friend forgot your birthday? She remembered his. He turned ten five weeks before her. She would definitely be chewing him out for not even calling her on her special day.

She let out a long sigh and continued to swing back and forth. When Forrest asked her to meet him at the park that was halfway between their houses, she thought he would already be there waiting for her. She'd been waiting for almost twenty minutes and there was still no sign of him. That was definitely enough to send her over the edge. First he forgot her birthday and then he was late? Lena was really starting to reconsider the whole best friend thing they had going. Boy was he going to get it.

“Hey,” a voice breathed into her ear lightly, causing her to jump.

Lena turned her head to narrow her brown eyes at the boy standing behind her. Huffing, she turned away from him with a scowl on her face. “Hey yourself,” she said almost bitterly.

“What's wrong?” he asked. “I know I'm late, but I was a little busy,” Forrest settled himself in the swing next to her.

She didn't answer him, instead she continued to swing slowly and pout. She was being childish, but she didn't care. It was her birthday and she could do whatever she wanted.

Forrest sighed. He knew she was mad about something. It was most likely the thought that everyone forgot about her birthday, which was as far from the truth as one could get. He had to get her out of the house so her parents could finish setting up for her surprise party. He didn't keep too many secrets from Lena, but he made an exception because he wanted her to be extra surprised. “Lena, come on. Why are you so upset?” he asked, even though he knew the answer.

Lena hopped off the swing and poked Forrest in the chest, hard. “You are the reason I'm so upset,” she poked him again. “You, Forrest Masterson, are a sucky best friend! I can't believe that you of all people would do this to me!”

He frowned and grabbed her hand. Lena was poking him pretty hard and it was starting to hurt. “I don't even know what I did!” he defended. “Don't accuse me of being a sucky best friend when I have no idea why you're mad at me,” Forrest told her. Duh, he knew why she was mad. She thought he forgot her birthday, which he didn't, of course.

“You forgot my birthday,” she said quietly, looking at the ground. Forrest could tell that she was hurt by the tone in her voice. Forrest hated when Lena was upset, but he had to keep pretending so he wouldn't ruin the surprise.

“That was today?” he asked.

Lena nodded. “Everyone forgot it was today,” she told him. “My mom and dad. Grandma and Grandpa,” Forrest could tell that she was on the verge of tears. “I thought that my so-called best friend would have at least remembered my birthday, but you didn't,” her voice cracked.

“Hey,” Forrest pulled her into a hug, “I'm sorry, Lena. I didn't mean to forget. I know it's not much of an apology, but how about I make it up to you?” he suggested. “We can do whatever you want for the rest of the day.”

She looked up at him, brown eyes sparkling. For a ten year old, Forrest was much taller than the other boys in their grade, and he was growing more and more each day. Lena was at the point where she had to bend her neck back to look up at him. “Promise?”

Forrest nodded. “Have I ever broken a promise to you before?” Lena shook her head. “I thought so. Come on, let's go back to your house.”

“We can't,” she said. “My parents are getting ready for some stupid dinner party.”

“So we'll just hang out in your room and then we can go to my house when all the guests arrive. I can have River pick us up if it gets too dark. And if he says no, then I'll call Miss Fallon. She'll say yes,” Forrest grinned. “Did I tell you that they're moving into their own house soon?”

Lena shook her head and the duo made their way back to Lena's house. They talked about a few random things like the clouds and how they wanted to spend the rest of their summer. Forrest was doing everything he could to keep her happy since she thought that everyone forgot her birthday. What she didn't know was that everyone—her friends and family mostly—was at her house, waiting for them to arrive.

“So what do you want to do first?” Forrest asked, once they reached the front door.

She shrugged. “I don't know,” Lena turned the doorknob, “I was thinking that we could just watch--”

“SURPRISE! Happy birthday, Lena!”

Lena's brown eyes went wide and her mouth dropped. There were so many smiling people looking at her and she couldn't find or form words at the moment. She was speechless. They all remembered? Lena grinned and turned around to face her best friend, who had a bright smile on his face.

“You didn't--”

Forrest shook his head. “I could never forget anything about you, Lena.”

Lena jumped and threw her arms around Forrest's neck. “You're the best friend ever,” she whispered in his ear. Letting him go, she turned around to hug her parents and enjoy her birthday party.

After Lena spent time with her guests, ate some cake, and opened her presents, she found Forrest sitting on the front porch by himself. “I've been looking for you everywhere,” she sat down next to him. “What are you doing out here alone?” she asked.

He shrugged. “You should be inside with everyone else, not out here with me. It's your birthday.”

“But I want to spend time with you,” she frowned.

“I'm just thinking, Lena,” Forrest sighed. “It's nothing big, really,” he turned his body to face her.

“What are you thinking about?” she urged. Why was Forrest being so weird around her? He always told her what was on his mind. He'd never kept anything from her before.

“Nothing, Lena.”

“For-rest,” she whined. “Please just tell me. What have you been thinking about?”

He sighed again. “Do I really have to tell you?” he seemed nervous now.

“Yes, you have to tell me, silly,” Lena smiled. “We tell each other everything,” she reminded him.

“Fine,” he paused. “I've been thinking about doing this,” he said and the next thing Lena knew, Forrest lightly pressed his lips to hers. Lena's brown eyes widened before she even got the chance to kiss him back. It was her first kiss and it was his too. “Happy birthday, Lena,” he said, pulling away from her quickly.

Lena swore his cheeks tinted the lightest shade of pink after that. Blinking a few times, her mouth slightly hanging open, she turned away from him slowly. After a few seconds, her mouth curved into a smile that she couldn't wipe off of her face for the rest of the night.

“Wake up, Coop,” a familiar voice pulled Lena from her dream. Opening her eyes and blinking a few times, it took Lena a few seconds before she could register who was at her bedside. “Have a nice dream? You had this goofy grin on your face.”

Lena sat up and stretched, yawning at Ryder Kennedy. “How the hell did you get in here?”

Ryder grinned. “You know, you should really learn to put the hide-a-key in a different place. It's always in the plant by the front door.”

“I knew it was a mistake showing you and Forrest where that thing was. Some people would call this breaking and entering, you know,” Lena crossed her arms over her chest. She was wearing a sports bra and sweatpants, slightly uncomfortable that she was as exposed as she was. Ryder had seen her in a bathing suit countless times, but she was still a little self-conscious.

“No it's not,” Ryder moved to the other side of the queen size bed and stretched himself out. “I used a key. Totally not breaking and entering. Mostly just entering,” he closed his eyes.

Forrest, Ryder, and Lena spent so much time together that they always laid in the same bed together when there was only two of them. If all three were together, then one of the boys would lay on the air mattress, while the other shared a bed with Lena. They never did anything but sleep, of course. She and the boys were too good of friends to ever cross that line with each other.

Lena laid back down, turning on her side to face him. “What are you doing here anyway?” she yawned again. “It's like eleven. And it's still summer. You and Forrest are usually still sleeping and I'm the one waking your asses up.”

“I know,” Ryder turned to face her, green eyes meeting brown. “Just wanted to come tell you happy birthday,” he grinned.

She blinked a couple of times. Birthday? Was it really July twenty-seventh already? Lena reached behind her to grab her BlackBerry Storm off the nightstand. Glancing at it briefly, she saw that it was, in fact, July twenty-seventh. There were about thirty texts from various people that she was too lazy to reply to.

“I totally forgot,” she smacked herself in the forehead. “I can't believe I forgot my own birthday.”

Ryder laughed a little. “This is coming from the girl who thought everyone forgot her tenth birthday.”

“Hey,” she smacked him playfully, “I was ten and didn't know any better,” she smiled. “What's on the agenda for today then?”

“If I recall correctly, I'm supposed to keep you company until the party tonight.”

Lena quirked an eyebrow. “Says who?”

“Who do you think?” Ryder rolled his eyes. “Forrest,” he shrugged. “Everyone's going to his house tonight, since he managed to convince Mr. and Mrs. M to let him have the house tonight. And he's getting everything ready right now. Oh, and he's getting your birthday present too.”

“You mean he doesn't have it yet?” Lena asked. “He always knows what he's going to get me the week after his birthday.”

“You seem to get harder and harder to shop for every year. I know I had trouble finding you something.”

Lena laughed. “You guys know you never have to get me anything for my birthday. I'm fine with just spending the day with my two best friends.”

“Aw, how touching,” Ryder said dryly. “But we both know you love getting gifts. You don't have to deny it, Coop.”

“Shh,” she pressed a finger to her lips, “you're supposed to pretend that you don't know.”

“Sorry,” Ryder laughed, pulling her to his chest. “Now I know it's your birthday, but Forrest called me at an ungodly hour and I'm fucking tired, so how about we sleep for a couple more hours before you get ready for the party?”

“Fine by me,” Lena yawned and closed her eyes. She was grateful that Ryder suggested they go back to sleep. She was having such a good dream before he interrupted.

“Did you really have to wear that dress?”

Lena looked down at the material covering her body. It was a short, black, v-neck mini dress. It ruched at the bottom and the sides, ending in the middle of her thigh. It had a sequined racer back strap, exposing her shoulder blades. “What's wrong with my dress? You said I looked good.”

“Yeah, which was code for: take that thing off,” Ryder parked his white Ford Ranger in front of the Masterson house. “Forrest is going to kill me for letting you leave the house like that.”

“Oh, whatever,” Lena rolled her eyes, unbuckling, and getting out of the truck. “You and Forrest really need to cool it with the whole overprotective bit. You guys are my best friends, not my brothers.”

“Close enough,” Ryder mumbled, getting out of the truck and smoothing down his pinstriped collared shirt. “Coop, you know we're just looking out for you.”

“Which I love you both for, but you both scare all the boys away,” Lena turned to face him before opening the front door. “I never get in between you both and your skanks, so for just one night, I want you both to back off.”

Ryder sighed. “Fine. I'll talk to him. We'll keep our distance, but if any of the fuckers Forrest invited try anything with you, then--”

“I know, I know,” Lena shook her head. “You'll both be there to be my knights in shining armor. I'm a big girl now, Ry Ry. You and Forrest will probably be too busy with your fan club anyway, so I won't even have to worry about you guys keeping an eye out.”

“Keep thinking that, Lena,” Ryder said opening the front door.

They were both greeted with 'hellos' and Lena was bombarded with 'happy birthdays' as she walked through the house to the living room. She smiled politely at her friends, thanking them for complimenting her dress or how pretty they thought she looked. She was surprised that Mr. and Mrs. Masterson were allowing Forrest to throw her a birthday party at their house, since she wasn't really one of their children.

Ryder wandered off to the kitchen to grab her something to drink and Lena stayed in the living room to look for Forrest. She hadn't seen him all day, but he was the first person to text her and wish her a happy birthday. Just like the good best friend he was. Most of the people in the room were dancing, drinking, and talking animatedly with each other. Once Ryder handed her a mixed drink, he left her alone with a group of girls in their class.

“Have you seen Forrest?” she asked a girl from the softball team, Jessica Jones.

“Mm, the last time I saw him, he was dancing with Lauren Blow-champ. I mean, Beauchamp,” Jessica nodded to the middle of the living room.

Lena looked over and sure enough, there he was. Forrest was dancing—okay, grinding—with Lauren, a dirty, emphasis on 'dirty,' blonde haired girl who Lena had English with sophomore year. She was, well, a whore, that Forrest hooked-up with a couple of times, but he assured her that he wanted to find out if she really was a 'blow-champ.' Lena shook her head. Sometimes it was hard being best friends with two boys who were complete sluts.

She didn't know what it was, but watching Forrest dance with Lauren made her a little... jealous? She couldn't have been jealous of Lauren, since she was dancing with her best friend. She had to be jealous of the fact that Lena let Forrest hook-up with whoever he wanted with minimal complaint, but when Lena wanted to hook-up with a guy, Forrest freaked the fuck out. When he lost his virginity, she brushed it off. When she lost it, he wanted to beat the guy to pulp. Hypocrite. There was no way she was jealous of Lauren. Forrest was her best friend, and best friends weren't supposed like each other. Not that Lena liked him or anything.

“I need another drink,” the blonde said to no one in particular. Telling her friends that she would be back in a bit, Lena made her way to the kitchen. “Wow, I really am a fucking idiot,” she said to herself. “Why the fuck would I be jealous of Lauren Beauchamp of all people?” Lena poured some soda in her red cup. “Obviously I'm having a minor lapse of judgment here. Maybe I should lay off the alcohol tonight...”

“Talking to yourself again?” Forrest's voice was in her ear.

“Jesus Christ!” Lena jumped and turned around to glare at him. “How many times have I told you to not sneak up on me like that?” she hit him in the chest.

Lena quickly looked him up and down. He was dressed in a baby blue button down, which was actually unbuttoned, and black hair slightly spiked. Like River's, Lena noted. He looked good, but Lena was a little angry with him, so she refused to tell him that. With one last glare, Lena turned around and grabbed the bottle of Skyy Vodka and began to pour some in her cup.

“Whoa, calm down, tiger,” Forrest grabbed the bottle out of her hand. “I know it's your birthday, but I don't need you getting shitfaced,” he grinned.

“Oh, just go back and dance with Lauren,” Lena snapped. “I don't need you looking out for me tonight. And if you want to get laid, I'm pretty sure she'll gladly warm your bed tonight.”

Forrest frowned. “What the fuck, Lena? Don't be a bitch when I didn't even do anything wrong.”

“Forrest, I've been here for half an hour and you're just now talking to me,” she half-yelled.

The people in the kitchen gave them odd looks, and Forrest narrowed his blue eyes at all of them, a silent command to get the fuck out. People raised their eyebrows and hurried out quickly. Forrest and Lena rarely ever fought, and when they did, it was best that they didn't have an audience.

“I didn't even know you were here,” he told her defensively. “It's not like you came looking for me either.”

“Yeah, because you were too busy dry humping Lauren Blow-champ,” she scoffed.

Forrest leaned back and blinked at her a couple of times. “Is that what this is about?” he asked slowly. “Are you... are you jealous that I was dancing with Lauren?”

“Wha—no!” she replied a little too quickly. “There is no way in hell I would ever be jealous of her. What is there to be jealous of? Syphilis?”

“Lena, it's okay if you're jealous,” Forrest smiled. “But there's no reason you should be. You know these girls aren't as important to me as you are,” he tried to pull her close to him, but she backed away. “Lena, come on. It's your birthday and I don't want to fight with you. I haven't even given you your present yet.”

“What if I don't want it?” she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You're a bad liar, you know that?” Forrest grinned. “Come on, Lena,” Forrest grabbed her hand. “Your present is in my room and if you don't like it, you can stay mad at me. But if you do like it, which I know you will,” he smirked, “you get to stay by my side the rest of the night.”

Damn him. It really pissed her off how persuasive his family could be sometimes. Lena didn't want to go upstairs with him, but he used the present weakness on her. Ryder got her the diamond earrings she was currently wearing, and she'd been curious about what Forrest had gotten for her.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Let's go.”

Forrest grinned and dragged her out of the kitchen, holding onto her hand so he wouldn't lose her in the sea of people in his house. A few guys smirked at him, some girls glared at her, and other people sent winks their way. Lena shook her head. She knew how the sight of them must have been to their peers. She was in a mini dress, and they were hand in hand, walking up the stairs. To all the intoxicated people in the room, it must have looked like she and Forrest were going upstairs to have sex or something. Just the thought of it made Lena want to laugh. She was no virgin, but there was no way Lena would ever have sex with Forrest Masterson. He was a manwhore. Not to mention her best friend.

“It's about damn time, Masterson!” someone from downstairs yelled.

“Give it to her good, Forrest!” another voice hollered.

“Be gentle, Forrest. She's my best friend too!” Lena knew that voice. That was Ryder's voice. Lena turned to glare at him, but Ryder just smirked and raised his red cup to her.

“Just ignore them, Lena,” Forrest laughed and shook his head, amused. “You know Ry's only kidding.”

Once they reached his room, Forrest shut the door behind them, the music downstairs muffled by the door. He sat her on the bed, walking to the dresser to grab her present. “Did you really have to wear that dress?” he asked, walking back to her with a small, neatly wrapped box in his hand. “Not gonna lie, but you look really fucking hot,” he sat next to her, handing her the box.

“Thanks,” she looked down and began unwrapping the present, hoping to hide the fact that her cheeks were burning from his compliment. Opening the box, she just stared at the present. It was a white gold chain with nothing on it. What was she supposed to do with that? She looked up at him, confused. “Uh, thanks? It's such a nice... chain...”

Forrest grinned, reached in his pocket, and held out his palm to her. There was a plain, white gold band twinkling up at her. “This goes on that,” he smiled. “You didn't think I'd just leave you with a chain, did you?”

Lena picked it up in awe. On the inside, she noticed that there was something inscribed on it. To Lena, my best friend. Love, Forrest. She looked up at him, eyes wide. “Oh my God. Forrest, you didn't have to—you shouldn't have gotten this for me. I didn't even... thank you so much,” she threw her arms around him. “I'm so sorry for arguing with you in the kitchen.”

“It wouldn't be your birthday if you weren't yelling at me at some point during the day,” he told her, smirking.

“How did I end up with a best friend as great as you?”

“You just got lucky,” Forrest laughed, hugging her back tightly. “Didn't I tell you that you would love it?”

“Yeah, whatever,” she pulled away with a bright smile on her face. She put the ring on the chain, handing it to Forrest so he could clasp it around her neck. “This is a wedding band, isn't it?”

“Yup, but I couldn't find any other rings I liked, so Fallon just told me to get a band and get it engraved,” he explained. “All done.”

Lena turned to face him. “Forrest Masterson, is this is your way of asking me to marry you?” she joked.

“I thought we were already getting married,” he said. “Remember? I asked you when we were eight and you said yes.”

“I remember,” she smiled. “But you said that I only got to marry you if you didn't find that challenge you were looking for.”

“And I haven't found her yet, so looks like you and I are still tying the knot.”

A pregnant pause and then, “Are you still looking?” Lena asked quietly.

“Kind of, I guess,” he shrugged. “It'll just hit me like...” he thought for a metaphor. “Well, I don't know what it'll be like, but my brothers say that you just know. But that stays between you and me,” Forrest stood up. “Let's get back downstairs,” he pulled Lena up with him. “Since you love your gift so much, you get to hang out with me for the rest of the night, birthday girl,” he smirked.

Lena toyed with the ring as they walked out of his room and down the stairs. “All the girls will just be so jealous,” she said sarcastically.

“Guys will be jealous too, Lena,” he pulled her closer and snaked an arm around her waist. “I get the birthday girl, not to mention the most gorgeous girl in the room, as my little piece of arm candy. Now I have a rep to live up to, so if anyone asks, you and I,” he motioned between the two of them, “went at it.”

“Forrest!”

“I'm kidding, Lena,” he laughed. “But seriously, if anyone asks, just play coy about it. Like don't say yes, but don't exactly say no either,” he winked.

“You really are something, you know that?” she shook her head with a smile.

“Of course I know,” he grinned cheekily and then softly kissed the top of her head. “But you still love me anyway.”

A/N: Don't we ALL love him anyway? Just in case any of you got confused from the title, Lena's turning seventeen, not sixteen. They're going to be seniors when school starts, remember? Credit again to my devil's advocate/mini publicist, Priscilla Shay, for the quote in the beginning. She's a genius, that girl. Oh, and by the way Lauren's last name is pronounced 'bo-shahmp.' Anyway, let me know what you guys think of this chapter! Personally, I think things are starting to get interesting, but that's only because I know what's going to happen next ;]

chain: http:// www. divadiamonds. net/ images/ inventory/ CH10W. jpg

ring: http:// ec1. images-amazon. com/ images/ I/ 319az1VJ9WL. _AA280_. jpg

dress: http:// www. amiclubwear. com/ clothing- dress- o9- tb1037black. html