Forever and Always

Chapter fifty-one

***Nikki's POV***

If there was one trait that I could say was the most annoying of all that my parents collectively possessed, it would be their persistence. They've always been good at it.

Like a lyric from some catchy pop song you hear hundreds of times on the radio. My parents have a way of imprinting themselves in a rather intrusive way onto your brain.

Over the past week, they've made multiple attempts at coming in contact with me. But every time I either ignore them or push them away and yet they keep coming back. Only harder and stronger than the time before. But this time, I want to be the one to kick them out of my life, not them kicking me out.

Today was a day unlike all the others of the year; today was my 18th birthday. And though my parents were tenacious on their quest for reconciliation, I was determined to have a drama-free birthday.

"Nik, if you could have your birthday party anywhere in the city, where would that be?" Luke asked me. The morning sun was pouring through my window and onto where Luke and I were cuddling on my couch watching cartoons. He was sat up, as I lay down with my head on his lap, totally relaxed.

"I don't need a birthday party; I just thought that you and the gang could come over and watch a movie; maybe we could even order some pizza?" I looked up at him, meaning he had to take a pause from playing with my hair.

"That sounds perfect," He smiled down at me, leaning down to connect his lips with mine, "But you're sure that you don't want to go to the Nice Guy or something?"

I laughed, "Luke is that your way of saying that you want to go to the Nice Guy?"

Luke's hands went up in mock defense, "You caught me."

"Yeah, I just want to stay home."

"But why? It's your eighteenth birthday; we could go anywhere, do anything that your heart desires!" Luke pitched as if he were a salesman.

"I'm a homebody I guess, and plus, I'm a whale. No girl wants to go out looking like a whale."

"You do not look like a whale; you look like a beautiful and sexy pregnant women." He cheered, putting one of his hands on my belly, rubbing it lightly.

There were a series of strong kicks, directed to his hands as he continued to drawing circles on my bump. Stupid grins spread across both of our faces. "Plus I don't think anyone of your fans wants to see you out with a pregnant girl. They hate seeing any of you with girls, and my situation would just make everything one-hundred times worse."

The way Luke's facial expression changed, I knew that he knew that I was right.

"You know what? You don't need to leave the house to have a good time cause I'll bring a good time to you, we can still have a little soirée. If you're going to be a home body, I guess we'll just have to have a little house party." I laughed at his enthusiasm.

"Just no alcohol, and that means for everyone. I can't drink, for obvious reasons, so it would be nice if no one else does as well."

"Deal."

~*~

By four o'clock all the gang was spread out on several seats in my living room watching Mean Girls for the hundredth time, but I didn't mind. The feeling in the room was like nothing else, it was all smiles and laughter with the occasional, "Shut up Luke," from one of the girls.

The only thing missing being Zoe's witty comebacks and crude humor. She was really distant.

Half-way through the movie, she stood up with one of the popcorn bowls, mumbling a small, "I'll go refill this," Before walking into the kitchen.