Holden. What a sexy name.

I go to up to the counter to pay for the bread that my brother had asked me to buy and keep replaying that incredible kiss in my mind. It was short but passionate. It was perfect. I also replayed Will's face when he stormed off.

I see Ashleigh waiting outside for me and fill her in on what just happened.

"Oh. My. God." She starts to freak out.

"Tell me about it."

"I can't believe he actually kissed you." She looks at me with surprise. 

"I can't believe I asked him to kiss me. The lack of sleep is really starting to get to me." I cover my face with shame. 

"Do you want a ride home?" She asks.

"Nah, it's cool. It's a short walk."

"Alright, I'll see you later." She waves and takes off.

Little does she know that my sudden desire to walk home has a reason. 

"Holden, like Holden Caulfield?" I question, running up to the sexy cop, who I spotted down the street.

"I don't know, maybe." He shrugs.

"I like it."

"Look," He suddenly stops and looks me in the eye for only a split second before looking to his left and then his right. "What happened was a mistake."

"Ouch."

"We were irresponsible. I just ran through the database on my phone to see that you're not even 18."

"Dude, you didn't sleep with me," I roll my eyes. "It's no big deal."

"Yes, it is. I'm a police officer, Kathryn." He looks disgusted.

"Oh, come on. I'm turning-"

"Sorry, Kathryn. I can't be around you. You're jailbait." He says and walks away before I can complete my sentence. 

He didn't even let me tell him. I continue to walk home, disappointed.

I go straight to my room and crash early, trying to make up for all the sleep I lost. Oh, my bed feels heavenly. I flutter my eyes shut.

***

My sleep is interrupted in what I presume is the middle of the night by the loud sound of a balloon bursting.

"Oops!" The familiar voice of my best friend squeaks.

"Jules?!" I suddenly rise, surprised.

"Happy birthday!" She yells and envelopes me in a hug.

"Is it midnight already? I can't believe you're here!" I hug her back.

"I wouldn't miss your birthday!" 

Ashleigh enters the room and yells when she sees me up. "Happy birthday, Kat!" 

Starla and Darla throw a bunch of black and pink balloons on me and wish me as well. I look around to see my entire room filled with balloons and my heart swells with joy.

"Oh my god, you guys! Thank you so much!" 

We head downstairs and Wyatt, Colt, and Alex stand by the dining table with a big cake with eighteen candles on it.

"Alex!" I say, surprised to see him here.

"Happy birthday, KD."

He pulls me aside and we talk in private.

"Look," he starts. "I don't know what happened between you and Will. He refuses to talk about it. I just hope we're cool."

"Of course we are. I'm not gonna let that jerk get between our friendship."

"Good."

We join everyone else in the living room. I blow the candles out and cut a piece.

"Does this mean you forgive me for getting arrested?" I ask Wyatt.

"Hell no." He shoves the piece of cake on my face.

"Hey, no wasting the cake!" I protest and we all dig into it, finishing it off in seconds.

"Yum, buttercream." I lick my lips.

"Time to open your gifts!" Jules says excitedly and I gather the gifts and sit down. "Mine first."

I take the bag she hands me and remove the most gorgeous beige faux leather jacket I've ever seen. "Oh my god, I love it. Thank you!"

"I knew you would."

I open Ashleigh's perfectly wrapped gift and gasp when I see a beautiful Tiffany charm bracelet. "Wow! Thanks, Ash!" I put it on and I love the way it looks against my skin.

Starla and Darla hand me a giant bowl filled with the most aromatic coffee beans ever along with a giftcard to the cafe. "So that your house will always smell like coffee!" They say in unison.

"They're Dark Roast Arabica beans." Darla adds. "Do you like it?"

"This is incredible! I love it!" I laugh and take a whiff. "Mmmm."

"This is from me and Colt." Wyatt hands me a large box with a bow on top. 

I gasp when I open the box to see a brand new record player with some of my favorite albums.

"Oh my gosh! Thank you!" I hug the both of them.

"The albums are from me," Alex grins and I thank him.

I turn on the record player and put in a Cage The Elephant vinyl. 'Trouble' starts to play and I quickly skip past it. I love that song more than anything but right now, it just reminds me of the one person I don't want to think about: Will. 

We hang out, play incredible music and sip on the alcohol that Ashleigh brought without my brothers knowing. They'd probably be cool with it but I don't want to risk it considering the fact that I was in jail less than 24 hours ago.

Suddenly, the front door swings open and an angry Aunt Augusta barges in.

"Turn that noise off! Some of us are trying to sleep!" She squints and pulls the turntable needle up, causing the music to stop abruptly. "What is wrong with you hooligans? Don't you have school tomorrow?"

"Aunt Augusta, it's Kathryn's birthday." Wyatt says.

"Oh! Right, I knew that," she lies. "Happy birthday, Fedora."

"Thanks, Aunt Augusta," I say awkwardly. 

"Oh, hello Alex!" She says when she notices him hiding in a corner and I suddenly remember that they hooked up a long time ago. Gross. "It's good to see you."

"Uh, hi."

"You all still need to leave though." She commands.

"No, they don't." Wyatt says.

"You're disturbing us," She narrows her eyes at him.

"We'll turn the music down," I assure her.

"I'm not asking, Fedora. You people shouldn't be here this late anyway." She sounds disgusted when she says 'people'.

"I don't see what difference us being here makes to you," Colt interjects.

"A British boy! We escaped from the British and then you invite them into your home. What is wrong with you?" 

"She's kidding, right?" Wyatt, Jules, and I burst out laughing. Ashleigh and the twins try to politely contain their laughter. Alex just looks plain uncomfortable.

"To be fair, I'm also part French, tatie." Colt calls her 'Aunt' in French with an amused smile. What is wrong with him?! I start to panic. Mom was supposed to tell her, not us. 

"Tatie? Es-tu fou?" Augusta barks, calling him crazy.

"Uh, what's going on?" Ashleigh questions and the twins look clueless too.

"You're about to witness all hell breaking loose." I say, trying not to freak out.

"We should probably go," Darla says awkwardly.

"Yes. Let's go!" Alex runs out, looking relieved.

"But I wanna see all hell break loose!" Starla protests.

"Let's go, Star. We'll see you tomorrow, Kat." Darla insists and the two of them leave along with Ashleigh.

Julianna just stands in a corner, waiting for it all to unravel. Poor girl can't even escape like the others.

Aunt Augusta has a bewildered yet fuming expression.

Oh boy.

...

A/N

Thank you for reading! Who's excited to see all hell break loose? How do you think Augusta will react? I'll be updating the next chapter soon!

So I've been watching Bachelor in Paradise and I LOVE THE DRAMA. Do any of you watch it? It's kind of a guilty pleasure. It's so stupid but I love it! Can we just talk about Daniel? Like dayum. 

I've also been doing a lot of karaoke on Starmaker, it's so much fun! Follow me @KaterinaInWonderland if you wanna hear my Taylor Swift covers😂

Don't forget to vote and comment, it truly does motivate me to write more!