Did you hear that too?

Denver's POV (Alix)

I was waiting upstairs in Joshua's room. The party was being held there because his parents were not home, and it was large enough for those invited. Apparently, I was supposed to make a grand entrance down the stairs for effect. I think Joshua had me mixed up with some Broadway diva. Still, both Mischa and Claude had agreed, so there I was.

Waiting.

Waiting for my cue to emerge at the top of the stairs like a princess in those Hallmark movies. Those 'time stops, everybody gasps, Prince Charming walks in a trance to invite for a dance' moments.

Allow me to gag.

Only thing in danger of stopping, was my heart, only gasp would be Joshua's when admiring his handy work once again, yes, I was dolled up, and only Prince Charming would be locked away in Joshua's Disney collection in the tv room.

I wished that Black had been able to come. I had asked him, and he had said that he had some family thing that he could not get out of. It was ok, the party had been short notice. He had been the first to wish me happy birthday, though. At exactly one minute past midnight he had sent me a text.

Even I had to admit that was hella sweet.

I got a text from Mischa saying people were there, so I had to come downstairs.

People.

The guest list had been shady at best with my limited friend circle, I had insisted that Silver should be there and Sandra from work. Claude had a few she knew from class that she insisted were nice. Mischa had invited some from his team and a few from his classes too. Josh had just wanted one person to come, maybe one of the main reasons I had given in when Josh had bugged me to let him invite Sirius as a third wheel to his and Xodiac's possible first date.

I hesitantly walked to the stairs and fuck me...

Time did stop. And there were gasps.

And fuck me twice... Sirius came over and offered me his hand to lead me into the living room.

Sorry, Schwarzenegger, not happening.

Mischa seemed to agree. He pushed past Sirius and grabbed my hand leading me away from Sirius who imitated a smoldering volcano with such intensity he would get a 5-star review from any theater critic alive.

Though there were not a ton of people like at Tiffany's party I did get showered with gifts and flowers. I had never gotten so many presents before. People lined up to hand me stuff.

Claude, Mischa and Josh had given me my dress, a silky-smooth midnight blue thing with sparkles, again, showing off my pale never sun touched thighs. I guess Joshua had his way there with the length and sparkles. They had also given me a par pair of insanely high stilettos. Johnny Choochoo Train or something. Whomever had made them had to be a sadistic medieval torture specialist. They were NOT comfortable at all.

"Here you go, thanks for inviting me, New York." Xodiac was smiling widely handing me a bouquet of flowers and a small envelope from a department store in town. "Happy birthday."
I awkwardly opened the envelope to find a $100 gift certificate.

$100!

He had to put up with Joshua who was already giddy and drooling and pay $100 for it. My respect for Angry bird rose a few notches.

"I don't think I have more vases down here," Joshua said when he grabbed the bouquet. "Daddy, could you be a peach and pop up to my room and get the one at the window? You know where my room it is."

Xodiac's smile faltered and he stiffened visibly, trying to control his anger and embarrassment. I had no idea how he controlled himself, but he just sighed and walked away after I had thanked him for the present. "I'll strangle that little glitter bug until his head pops like a piñata," he muttered on his way away from us.

More presents and more awe. Every guest had brought me something. Silver had given me some really nice jeans, the basketball team had pitched together and bought me a charm bracelet. I had gotten real gifts from people I barely knew. That was more than 7 years with my foster parents had yielded combined.

"I need a drink with colored alcohol," I laughed at Claude when I was done opening presents and people seemed to have settled into what youngsters did at parties.

Dance, drink and act like morons.

I was having a great time. I had not expected it, but it was fun. Besides, colored alcohol, yes, that was where the danger was. I felt lightheaded and warm inside.

There had been no sign of Sirius since the stair incident. He had probably gone into a bottle and were testing glute-elasticity on some basketball cheerleader. I went outside to clear my head a little, the drinking and dancing had taken its toll on me. I had been around the dance floor with most guys there and a few girls too.

I was feeling a bit weird, maybe I should have cut back on the alcohol.

'You're good, girl' the words rang in my head.

"Who said that?" I was looking around, but I was alone on the terrasse. "No more crazy juice for me," I mumbled.

"Happy birthday, Denver." His deep voice did break through my calmed solitude, but for some reason it did not startle me anymore. There was a familiarity to it now. But how he managed to creep up on me over and over again I did not know.

"Honestly, the FBI could use sneaky fuckers like you."

"Say what?" Sirius looked at me puzzled after I had turned to face him.

"Nothing." I met his grey eyes and had to swallow hard. Fuck, he looked gorgeous. "What? No sleazy comments about how I look or maneuvers to touch me?"

I was being unfair. I could have waited for him to be him, before I berated him for it.

"No." He shrugged. "If I said what I think and gave you a compliment, you wouldn't believe me. If I said something remotely funny, you'd perceive it as an insult and you'd hate on me even more. So, no. No comments on how you look."

'Admit it, you want to know what he thinks.'

"Did you hear that too?" I asked him.

He frowned. "Hear what? That I wasn't going to say anything? I pretty much said it, so yes."

I sighed. "What do you want? I'm not in the mood for any of your shit."

He held out a small gift wrapped like an epileptic had done it during an earthquake. Ok, it was not that bad, it just had a lot of tape for such a small present.

"It's a gift, not a bomb," he grumbled when I had not taken the present.

With difficulty I worked my way through the tape and found the small velvet box inside and opened it. I nearly dropped it.

Diamonds?

It could not be. It had to be simile or something he had found at some trinket store.

"I hope you like them?" Sirius asked with a shyness I had never witnessed before. "They were my mother's."

"They're real?"

"I sure hope so, my mother did have great taste."

I looked at the little, sparkly lotus studs. Why the hell would he do that?

"No, I can't take them." I pushed the box back into his hands though he refused to take it.

"You can, and you will." He closed my fingers around the box.

"They're for you. No strings at all. It's just a birthday present."

'They're magnificent. Keep them, dummy.'

"Dafuq's with the ventriloquism?"

"I don't understand?"

"Never mind. You're sure you want to give me something that precious?"

Though I should have backed away when I saw him lift his hand, I did not. He carefully placed his warm hand around my chin and let his thumb caress my cheek while he nodded.

"Happy birthday, Denver. Thank you for inviting me. I hope you have a great evening" With that, he let go and backed away leaving me standing there with the box in my hand and cheeks flushing.

In the window I saw Mischa turning and walking away.

Had he been watching us?

Hi dear Watlings.

Thank you for reading.

So, it's birthday time... What do you think about Sirius' gift?

If you like it then pop a vote and please leave comments. The comments are important for me to know how the story is progressing and the characters are developing. And I'd love to know what you think and interact with y'all.

Give me a follow too for updates on other work and put this book in your library. I'd appreciate that.

Love, Alix