Chapter
18
"I'll get it!" cried Brian as the doorbell rang. Whoever
was ringing the doorbell, didn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
"Keep
your pants on! Sheesh!" said Brian as he opened the door.
"What
are you yelling about, Frick?" said Nick. "I was just ringing the
doorbell." He put on an innocent look on his face.
Brian
just gave him a look and said, "Get in here."
Nick
smiled and walked in the door. He was followed by the rest of the group. At
that moment, Mariah came bounding down the stairs.
"Hi
everyone!" she greeted. "I'm so glad that you could make it!"
"We
wouldn't miss it for the world." said Kevin, giving her a peck on the
cheek as he walked by. The others hugged and greeted her with the same warmth
as Kevin.
"So,
when do we eat?" asked Howie. "I'm starving!"
They
all proceded outside to where the barbecue was warming up. All the food was
layed out nicely on the table, as well as all of the utensils needed.
"Wow,"
said Mariah, glancing around. "Nice job, Bri. How long did it take
you?"
"Not
long," answered Brian, thinking in his mind that he only had half an hour
to get all of it together since he had spent most of his time preparing for her
birthday present.
"Can
we just start eating now?" whined Nick.
Mariah
laughed. "Sure, let's eat!"
Nick
let out a cry of joy and then walked over the barbecue to start cooking. They
chatted and told jokes to each other as they ate. Mariah felt so comfotable with
the guys, as if they had been friends for a long time. She hadn't had friends
like this in a long time, if ever.
"Nick,
stop playing with the football!" cried Mariah. "Your steak is
charcoal now!"
"Oh
no!" was all everyone heard and they saw a blonde hair boy dash across the
yard trying to save his steak from the barbecue.
Nick
opened it up and a huge cloud of smoke washed up over him. Nick coughed and
sputtered. It was already too late. His steak of charcoal.
"No!"
whined Nick. "This sucks! AJ, this is all your fault!"
"My
fault?!?" cried AJ. "How?"
Nick
looked around for help, then said, "It just is!"
Everyone
laughed and Nick looked around sheepishly.
"Well,
I have to blame someone!" he replied above all the laughter.
The
laughter continued. Once the laughter had died down, Kevin said, "Well,
Mariah, the boys and I have to be going now. Sorry to cut things so short, but
there's some last minute details that the guys and me have to take care
of."
"Oh,"
replied Mariah. "Well, okay, if you have to leave..."
"I'm
sorry, doll," said AJ. "Don't worry, why don't we spend tomorrow
together?"
Mariah's
face lighted up. "Sure! That sounds good."
The
group decided to make arrangements later. One by one they filed out of the
house until only Brian was left.
"Aren't
you going with them?" asked Mariah.
"Well,
actually, I wanted to show you a place first. It's beautiful and I know that
you'll love it."
"Well,
sure." replied Mariah with a puzzled look on her face.
"Great!"
said Brian. "But first, you have to put this on." Brian took out a
blind fold. Before Mariah could protest, Brian was already tying the blindfold
on her.
They
got into the car and it seemed to Mariah that they drove for a long time.
"Are
we there yet?" she asked for the fifth time.
Brian
sighed. "Almost," he replied.
After
a little while, Mariah heard Brian sigh again, but this time it was a sigh of
relief.
"We're
here!" said Brian.
"Why
are you so happy?" asked Mariah.
"Because
now I don't have to hear you whine!" replied Brian.
Mariah
reached out her hand to hit him, but she couldn't see anything.
"HA!
You can't hit me 'cause you can't see me!" cried Brian. He started
chanting a childish song.
Mariah
sighed and said, "Will you just tell me where we are and why we're
here?"
Brian
stopped singing. "Oh, right, well, almost. Just a little longer. Trust
me."
Mariah
heard the car door slam.
"Brian?
Brian?" cried Mariah.
She
felt her car door open, and then a voice said, "Calm down, I'm right
here." Then a warm hand was on top of her's and he led her out of the car.
Mariah
soon heard waves crashing and then soft sand on her feet. He led her deeper and
deeper, then he came to a stop. He led her to a rock and sat her down.
"I'll
be right back." he said.
"But--"
said Mariah, but he could tell he was already gone. Mariah sat on the rock
thinking of what a great day it had been, if only the guys hadn't left early.
She started to think about what they could do tomorrow, but her thoughts were
interrupted by soft singing.
She
felt warm hands take off her blind fold. Her eyes had to adjusted to the light,
but when she saw what was in front of her, tears immediately sprang to her
eyes.
Nick,
AJ, Kevin, and Howie had actually left early to set up for her birthday. They
were all dressed nicely in suits, including Brian. There was a table with a
linen cloth spread on it, and on the table was a beautiful cake with 21 candles
on it. Behind the boys, the scenery was beautiful. The sun was just above the
horizon, big, round and orange. The sky was streaked with colors. On the shore
of the beach, there was a very large sand castle with a sign that said, 'Happy
Birthday, Mariah! Love, Us.' Everything was perfect.
The
five guys began to sing Happy Birthday, but by the second line, Mariah had
tears streaming down her face. When the guys finished singing, she slowly got
up and blew out the candles. When she did that, she looked up at the guys. She
tried to think of words to say, but nothing could express the feeling she was
feeling right then. The guys just looked at her and smiled. Nick walked over
and gave her a hug. The rest of the guys walked over to her and they each
hugged her and said Happy Birthday.
Finally,
Mariah spoke.
"I--how--I--"
sputtered Mariah.
"Gee,
you think at her age she'd know how to speak English!" said Howie. The
rest of the guys laughed.
Mariah
smiled. "How did you know it was my birthday?"
"Well,
your mom called while you were in the shower to wish you a happy
birthday," replied Brian. Then he said, "Oh yeah, Mariah, your mom
called and said happy birthday."
Mariah just laughed out loud. She was feeling such happiness and
joy that she hadn't felt in a very long time.
***
