17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Then
“ S o, what exactly are we doing for your birthday?” Jordyn asks, balancing her soccer ball on her forehead.
I look up from my book and shrug. “First off, I cannot take you seriously with that ball on your head. Second, we’re doing nothing.
I have a debate tournament on Saturday, and I have to finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird, then write my report for English by Monday. So, as you can see, no time for birthday stuff.
Besides, my parents are out of town for two weeks for a conference, so it’s not like they have anything planned for me either.” I return to my book.
“Nope. Sorry, Jane, but that’s not how this is going down.” She drops the ball, pulls me from the grass, and plops my book down to where I was just sitting. “You’ve already read this book twice. You know it by heart, so that means your report could basically write itself. Also, I know for a fact that you already have your debate notes memorized and all marked up in that special little notebook you have, so the tournament will go perfectly. Also, for the record, your parents don’t need to be home for you to have a party.” She wiggles her eyebrows up and down. “Come on, we have to do something. Turning eighteen is a big deal, Jane. You’re going to be an adult; a freaking grown up. You have to go out with a bang, right?” She grabs both of my hands in hers.
“Fine, fine. What should we do then? Wanna just come to my house, and we’ll watch a movie or something? We can go over to Blockbuster and rent a few. Fridays are rent one, get one free.”
Just then, our friend, Joshua, walks up and throws his arms around Jordyn and says, “What’s all this about Friday? Are you two coming to the Fossil Ridge party that night? Matthew and Patrick both say it’s going to be so sweet. It’s at this kid named Landon’s house. It’s right up against a private lake and apparently, his house is so big that they have an entire arcade room downstairs. It’s going to be epic.”
“Ooo Josh, that sounds fun and all, but I’ve recently learned that the people at Fossil Ridge are not my cup of tea, so no, thank you.” I reach down to pick up my book.
Jordyn, again, grabs the book out of my hand and throws it back down on the ground. “Jane, I swear to God, I cannot with you. Friday is your birthday. Friday is also the day that super rich kids are throwing a huge amazing party. You were just invited to said huge amazing party. On your birthday. Yes, Josh, we will be going.”
After Jordyn finishes her rant, she bends over and picks up my twice-discarded book, dusts off the cover, and shoves it in my hands. “I’m sorry for putting this on the ground. Twice. But it was for your own good, Jane. I promise that one day you will thank me for pushing you out of your comfort zone.” We start walking back to the school building.
“Maybe you’ll meet some rich Fossil Ridge hottie and hit it off. Then, you two could double with Tyler and me.” She playfully pats herself on the back. “Perfect plan, Jordyn. Thank you, Jordyn.”
“As long as a certain someone isn’t there, I’ll be fine.”
“Well, I have good news for you then. I can assure you of that, because I know for certain that Tyler and Noah will be out of town this weekend. Their parents are divorced, and Ty told me that the two of them are going to visit their dad in Denver for a few days. So…that means party time?”
“Okay, Jordyn. Party time.”