Just Friends

16

"Happy Birthday!" Edwin yelled from the door, Luke was startled and fell off the bed, which also scared Victoria. She opened her eyes to see Luke on the floor. She giggled and looked at her dad. He gave her a small golden box with a red ribbon on it, under it was a white envelope reading 'Victoria'. She smiled at her father and gave him a hug, he helped Luke up from the floor and laughed at him. She tore open the card and read it to herself.

"Dear Victoria,

I know this year has been hard for both you and me, your mother loved you and she wanted you to have this. I love you and I hope you spend your big one-six well."

    She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you dad, I love you too." She looked at the golden box, eager to open it. She tore it open to see another box, she carefully took it out and opened the blue velvet box. It snapped open, seeing a golden key necklace inside, she gasped. "This was moms necklace." He nodded and gave her an inviting smile.

    "Sorry she wasn't here to see you get it." Edwin looked at Luke as if waiting for him to give her the present.

    "She said she didn't want anything so I didn't get her anything." Victoria looked up at him and smiled, her dad chuckled and clapped his hands together.

    "Alright let's get this day started!" Her father said, he ran out of the room and Victoria stood up out of bed.

    "You okay? You seem pretty shaken up after how my father looked at you."

    "Yeah, your dad doesn't scare me one bit." He looked at her with a smiled, then she walked over to the stereo and started dancing to her funky alternative music. Victoria held up her index finger and whirled it around indicating to Luke to turn around, she took off her white sleeping shirt replacing it with a black band top, then took off her long pants swapping it with a pair of white shorts, and she put on a pair of black converse sneakers. She coughed and he turned around just as she was taking out her messy braid. She brushed it and walked over to Luke and ran her fingers through his messy hair, he smiled at her and hugged her hips. "Happy birthday Vicky."

    "Luke your parents are here!" Edwin yelled from downstairs making Luke jump. He made his way downstairs Victoria following closely behind and smiled at his mother and step-father.

    "Hey mom, Larry." His mom seemed excited, and waved her hands in the air.

    "Are you ready for the most amazing trip of your life?!" Susan yelled. She handed Victoria a small bag. "Happy birthday hun."  She opened the bag and took out a small purple card to a lingerie store, she half smiled and looked up at Susan.

    "Thank you Susan."

    "Even Victoria has got to have a secret." Luke groaned at his mother's unfunny pun.

    "Alright let's go." He urged pushing his parents out the door.

    "Luke you want to ride with us?" Victoria asked. He looked at his mother with pleading eyes, she nodded and he ran to the blue truck hugging her before getting into the back seat with her.

    "Thank you for saving me an agonizing trip with my mother planning her wedding with Larry."

    "My pleasure."