Living in a Jumble of Wishes

Chapter 10

“Guess what?!” My mom squealed as she ran into the kitchen where I was sitting, reading my newest Sarah Dessen book.

I memorized the page number before closing the book and placing it on the table. I then lifted my gaze to look at my mom.

I smiled amusedly at her. She looked like a little girl.

“What?” I asked her as I ran my hand over the cover of the book, tracing the letters of the title.

“Your dad is taking me to Paris for five days!” She squealed excitedly, lifting her hands up.

“That’s awesome mom!” I said, grinning happily. She always wanted to go to Paris and now was her chance to finally go.

“It is! I’ll finally get to see the Eiffel Tower and Chateau de Versailles,” she said, sighing dreamily.

I smiled at how happy she was. “When are you guys leaving?”

“The day after tomorrow!” She said and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

“What?! So soon?” I asked, shocked.

“Yeah, your dad just surprised me with the news,” She said. “I don’t have to worry about you, right sweetie? You’re a big girl now.”

“Yeah, mom don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine on my own,” I said reassuringly.

“You can invite your friends over whenever you want and you can throw a party or whatever!” She said. 

As soon as she said ‘throw a party’ I got an awesome idea. The populars always throw parties that people at school keep on talking about for weeks so maybe I should throw a party as well?

“Throw a party?” I echoed just to make sure she was okay with it. I didn’t like doing things behind my parents’ backs. It’s not fair to them because they were the best parents a teenager could ask for.

“Yeah,” mom replied, shrugging. “You’re a teenager. You’re supposed to throw parties. Just don’t break anything valuable and lock the rooms upstairs. We don’t want some dirty hormonal teenagers in there now do we?”

I laughed at that and she joined me. “Of course,” I replied. I love my mom!

I then helped her prepare my dad’s favorite food as a small thank you for buying  these tickets to visit Paris.

As I chopped the vegetables for the salad, I started mentally planning the party I wanted to throw when my parents travel.

They will be leaving on Thursday so I could throw the party on Friday night. It will be a nice start for the weekend and everyone would love a party on Friday, right?

I only ever attended one high school party which was Kyle’s party last year. Carla, Kate, and I weren’t really into parties like that so we usually had our own movie nights when everyone from our school was at a really awesome party.

Until one time last year, we decided to go to one of those parties just to see what the fuss is all about. It was Kyle’s party so we put on our best party dresses and went a bit later, when the party was in full swing.

It wasn’t really anything special. It was actually disgusting. People were drunk and throwing up everywhere in the house. Others were making out on the couches or against the walls.

We stayed for around an hour only. We tried to dance and mind our own business but when one guy started forcing himself on Carla we just had to get out of there.

We never went to another party again.

But now that I was with the populars, I had to throw a party just like they did.

I was just worried that it won’t really be a hit like their parties are. I mean I’m still a new member of the popular group so what if people didn’t bother coming to my party?

That would be so horrible! And what if the populars thought it was a bad party and I shouldn’t be a part of their group anymore?

I started reconsidering throwing a party but then I got another brilliant idea.

I will just say that I want to throw the best party tonight before I sleep and my wish will come true!

I smiled to myself as I finished chopping the vegetables. This is going to be awesome!

How did I even get so lucky with the wishing thing? I thought this stuff didn’t really happen so why is it happening to me?

What would people think if I told them that I could make my wishes come true?

They probably wouldn’t believe me or they would think I’m insane. That’s why I haven’t told anyone about the wishing thing.

That and I thought that maybe, just maybe, if people knew that I could make wishes come true then it will stop happening.

So in the end, I knew that I had to keep it to myself.

I didn’t know where it came from and I didn’t care. I was just glad that it worked!

“I’m home!” My dad called and I heard the front door close.

“We’re in the kitchen!” I called back.

He walked in with a rose in his hand. He gave it to my mother who smiled softly at him and gave him a kiss.

I smiled. I loved how my parents were still in love and happy together. They’ve been married for twenty years now and they still have the same spark. I knew that their love is the kind of love that would last forever and at that moment I thought about my future and hoped to find a guy I could share a love like that with.

Dad gave me a hug and kissed my forehead. Then he took something out of his pocket and gave it to me.

I chuckled and thanked him as I took the chocolate bar he had bought me. It was my favorite.

I remembered when I was a little kid and my dad would come home with a small white plastic bag tied to the belt holes of his pants. He would start making noises with it as soon as he enters the house and I would immediately know that he bought me some candies or chocolate. I would run up to him and try to take the bag from him but he would tease me and tickle me, making me giggle.

He still buys me chocolate every once in a while even though I’m sixteen years old now and I can go out and buy my own chocolate or candies whenever I want.

I actually love it when he buys me chocolate and candies. It reminds me of my childhood when everything was much better because it was much simpler.

I set the table as my dad went upstairs to change out of his work clothes. When he came back, mom had already filled our plates with steak and fries.

Dad was grateful for his favorite dinner. Over dinner he started telling us about their trip to Paris and all the places they were going to visit.

I was so happy for them. I wanted to go to Paris as well but I knew that this trip was for them alone. I would go with a guy I love someday.

My dad has been saving up for that trip for a while now.

My mom squealed excitedly when dad told her that they were going to Disneyland as well.

He laughed at her, telling her that she was acting like a little kid but I knew that he was just as excited as she was.

After dinner, my parents went to their room to write down all the items they need for their trip and I went to my room to start planning the party while listening to some music.

I decided that the party will be on Friday. I will lock my room, my parents’ room, and the guest room upstairs and I will put all valuable and glass items in there.

I would push away the furniture so that we could have space for dancing and hanging out.

I could already imagine how the whole thing is going to be. I’ll tell the populars about it tomorrow and we’ll spread the news.

Suddenly, the song I was listening to stopped and my ringtone started playing. I held my earphones and pulled them upwards to get my phone from under the pillows and stuffed animals on my bed. I read Landon’s name on my screen and smiled and I answered it.

“Hey,” I said, lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Hi,” he said. “What’s up?”

I played with the white plastic piece on my earphones and put it between my lips when he spoke. When I wanted to answer, I released it to speak into it.

“My parents are going to Paris after tomorrow for five days,” I replied.

“You’re not going with them?” He asked.

“Nah,” I replied, twisting on my bed so that I was lying on my stomach. “I’ll go with my future husband someday,” I joked and he chuckled.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Paris,” he said.

“It seems beautiful, right?” I said, thinking of all the pictures of the Eiffel tower I have seen.

“It does,” he agreed.

We were silent for a few seconds then I told him, “So I’m throwing a party while they’re away. It’s going to be on Friday. You’re invited.”

 “Do they know about it?” He asked.

“Yup,” I said, popping the p. “It was actually mom’s suggestion.”

He laughed. “I love your mom!”

“I love her too,” I replied, smiling. “So you’re coming, right?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. “How many people will you be inviting?”

“Anyone can come,” I replied. “There will be a lot of people from my school, for sure.”

“I’ll see,” he replied and I frowned.

“You’ll see? Come on, Landon, it’s a party, it will be fun! Plus there will be a lot of cute girls,” I teased.

“Who said I wanted to meet girls?” He asked with a smile in his voice.

“You don’t have a girlfriend so you might meet someone you like,” I coaxed.

“Nice try,” he said. “But it’s not working.”

I pouted. “You won’t come? Not even for me?”

“You probably won’t even spend time with me,” he said and I frowned.

“Why would you say that?” I asked. Of course I would spend time with him! He’s my best friend.

“All your friends from school will be there plus your boyfriend will be there so you won’t really have time for me,” he replied and I could imagine him shrugging.

“I will!” I argued. “I will pick you over any of my friends at school.”

He was silent for a bit then he spoke. “Really?”

“Yes,” I said softly. Landon was really my friend just like Carla and Kate were. My new friends seem fake sometimes. “You’re my best friend, Landon.”

I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “Thank you.”

I grinned, satisfied that he knew that now and then we changed the topic. We talked about his sister and he asked about my grades and school.

We talked for another twenty minutes over the phone before we said our goodbyes and I said that I’ll call him tomorrow again.

I went out of my room and knocked softly on my parents’ door. I didn’t hear a reply so I slowly twisted the handle. I found them asleep in each other’s arms so I just smiled and closed the door again.

I went back to my room, put on my pajamas, and texted Zack for a bit.

I didn’t tell him about the party yet. I thought that I’ll tell them all at the same time tomorrow at school.

As I was texting Zack I thought that I rarely texted Landon because we usually talk over the phone while it’s the opposite with Zack because I have never talked to him on the phone.

I preferred talking over the phone because texting gets annoying sometimes.

It doesn’t matter, I then told myself. What matters is that we’re talking.

Around an hour later, I texted Zack a good night and made sure to murmur ‘I want to throw the best party on Friday’ before I fell asleep.

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Thank you for reading! <3