~ CHAPTER 21 Part 2~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After we finish the movie, we all retreat off our separate ways to do other things before dinner. Mum usually throws big parties for our 18th birthday but since I am a mum I wanted to keep it small. 

The party scene isn't exactly something I want. Scarlett, Violet and I lounge around the room watching tv. I then decide to make us some lunch, and we eat and decide to bathe Violet. After she is bathed, I realise that if we don't start getting ready we are going to be late.

I get in the shower and leave Violet with Scarlett. Once I get out of the shower, I dry my hair and I put on some makeup. I then sift through my closet to find an outfit for dinner, I am looking for classy, and grown-up. 

I pull out a pair of light washed skinny blue ripped jeans, and a pair of black open toe stiletto's. This leaves me with a top. Scarlett who has just had a shower walks past me and pulls out a black halterneck bodysuit and thrusts it into my hands.

"Wear this," she says and I nod- she always had a perfect style. I watch her get ready and I dress Violet and pack her baby bag. We then walk downstairs and the rest of my family is ready.

Violet is wearing a little black dress, black bow, and some white socks with ruffles, and I managed to fit some baby ballet flats on here, she looks so cute! Her green eyes are especially shiny tonight

We all head to the restaurant and are seated at our reserved table 10 minutes early. My brothers all sit down and begin to comb through the menu, my parents look through the wine, and Scarlett has sat down and gotten Violet out of her pram. I swear all Scarlett wants to do is smother the baby

I see Jane and Julian pull into the car pack and walk through the door so I get out of my seat to greet them

"Happy birthday darling," Jane says waltzing towards me, grabbing me in a tight hug

"Thank you, Jane" I reply and she hands me a small box. Julian, Chloe, Chloes boyfriend Max Olivia and her girlfriend Maya are next and they hug me, and I lift up the box to examine it

"It is a pair of earrings" Chloe whispers to me and she takes a seat. I am just about to sit down when I see Jax and Ellie walk in. I look at Chloe and my mum who shrugs. I didn't think they were coming after the fight

Mum forced me to invite them when I booked dinner last month

I stand up and Jax awkwardly hugs me and sits down, leaving Ellie standing next to me. I look to Scarlett scared that she is going to hit me and resume our fight.

"Sheppie insisted that we get you a gift" Ellie mutters underneath her breathe

"Oh thank you," I say to her surprised, and she shoves a box in hand

"Well, are you going to open it?" she then snarks and I jump slightly, she is back

"Ah, yes," I say and I rip open the small, but beautifully wrapped box

I open the wrapping paper and discard it on the table beside me before I open the small box and I gasp. It is a bracelet, with a pendant on it. From what I can see it is my birthstone, and it has my initials. I smile sadly, I always told Jax I wanted a bracelet with my birthstone and initials on it. Scarlett has one, and I've wanted one since then.

"Sheppie picked it out, said you would like it" she replies boredly, interrupting my thoughts

"Thank you so much," I say and I gotta hug her. I wrap my arms around her and I feel her go stiff and as rigid as a board. I put on a fake smile and she stalks off to the other side of the table through the watchful eye of Jax. I smile, wave and mouth a thank you, which he sees. He nods back.

We all sit and smile. Our server comes and begins to take our orders and Scarlett nudges me

"He's cute," she says and I laugh at her

We all order and our food arrive swiftly. The first part of dinner had gone by relatively smoothly and I am thankful for this. Everyone is having their own conversations and I feel Jax glance at me every so often.

"Everyone, raise your glasses, to my little girl Victoria Bell- a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, friend," my dad says and everyone raises their drink and I hear a round of "Cheers" I smile and we all clink glasses. 

I take a sip of my drink and I smile, whilst everyone resumes their conversations and continues to eat their meals. I head over to the bar to order some more drinks for our table when I hear someone call out to me

"Hey birthday girl" the cute waiter we have serving us tonight says

"Hello," I say and he walks over to us

"I have a question to ask," he says and I nod my head to go on

"Is the baby hers? He asks and I turn around to where he is pointing and it is at Scarlett, who is bouncing Violet.

"No no, she's mine," I say rushed and excited, he's using me to get to Scarlett! She hasn't been with anybody since she broke up with her last boyfriend, which was before I was pregnant with Violet.

"Oh... " he says and he blushes and I almost burst out laughing

"She's single" I then say and his energy picks up

"Do you mind if I get her number off of you?" he asks

"Of course" I reply and I give him her number, and I rush back to the table

"Scarlett, you will not believe what just happened" I say to her

"What?" she says

"The waiter you called cute, just asked for your number," I say

"Oh my god, what," she says and I have to shush her

"I gave him your number Scar," I say and she starts blushing and shaking

"Calm down," I say and she starts laughing

"Thank you," she says "You forgot the drinks" she ads and shoos me away

I then giggle and walk back to the bar and grab the drinks. Once we order and the dessert comes, they all embarrassingly sing happy birthday to me before we have the usual coffee and tea to end the night. 

After that is done my parents pay for the bill, and when I protest they remind me that this was the deal since we didn't have a party and we all get up to leave. I walk to the front of the restaurant and wait for Scarlett since she is talking to the waiter and has the car keys, and I watch everyone get in the car.

 I'm waiting beside the pram in my head, when I feel a presence beside me and when I look up it is Jax.

"Hey Vic," he says to me 

"Hey Jax," I say back to him

"Oh thank God" he replies 

"What?" I say 

"You said you were never going to talk to me again" he replies and I shrug

"I was angry" I say and he nods 

"I'm sorry" he says "I'm sorry for her too"

"Thank you for apologising" I reply

"Happy Birthday, by the way"

"Thank you," I say

"Why are you waiting here?" he then asks and I point to Scarlett

"She is talking to him, why are you waiting," I say and he smiles

"Ellie is in the toilet" he replies and nods "how are you doing?"

"Yeah good, tonight has been wonderful" I reply

"I'm glad," he says and goes to say something but Ellie walks up to us, and grabs ahold of Jax

"Thank you for dinner Vicky," Ellie says and I cringe and so does Jax

"No worries" I reply and she grabs Jax's hand and pulls him away, I watch him look back at me and I half-wave. I watch them get into the car and leave. 

Usually, I would feel sad, but tonight I don't. I guess I am starting to heal. I look down at a sleeping Violet. She is my reason for living and happiness.

"Are you ready to go?" Scarlett asks me scaring me so I jump a little and she laughs

"Ah yes," I say to her and she nods and opens the door for me "What's his name?" I ask her and her lips turn into the biggest grin

"Yay, I was hoping you would ask," she says to me and I chuckle.

For the rest of the journey home, she chews my ear off about the waiter. His name is Noah, and he is 18 like us graduating high school. 

She doesn't stop talking about him, and how dreamy he is until we are laying in bed and I smile. She's happy, I'm happy and Violet is happy, this is all I have ever asked for. 

My birthday is complete.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~