Lily's p.o.v

Mia's birthday is tomorrow! I can't wait for her party. At the moment, Amber, Ethan, Hayden, Ryder, I, Alex, and Michelle are gathered around Drake as he goes over the plans for Mia's surprise birthday party. I hope she likes what we have planned out. We're going to the beach first, where we'll hang a banner from two palm trees. The usual cake and presents, all at the beach. Then we're all going to have a massive water balloon fight by the cabins. Finally, Drake is taking her to her favorite café to sum up the evening. Tomorrow is going to be so fun. It'll be the biggest celebration of my life. After all, Mia is turning eighteen.

I've already bought Mia's present, but Ethan and Amber still have to get her one, so they're going to the mall together today to shop. Hope they find the right ones.

Drake won't say what he is getting Mia, but it must be something really special because he looks like he's just about to burst.

I really hope that Mia enjoys her impromptu party. She's been acting strange lately. Quiet, distant. Which is a big change from her normal bubbly, outgoing, loud self. Every morning she gets up and runs out to the woods, no matter where she is or what she's doing. Every morning, and she stays for some time. Amber and I think we know what's wrong with her, but we're afraid to ask. We don't want to embarrass her if our conclusions are false.

Amber's p.o.v

Remember how I have the uncanny ability to know if something is wrong? Well, I know something is wrong with Mia. She looks kind of guilty all the time. She rushes off to the woods every morning to do God-knows-what. She reacts strongly to smells and she's tired all the time. Tell me that's not enough evidence to prove what I'm thinking. Anyway, back to the present.

Ethan and I still need to go shopping for Mia's gift. I gather my purse and add a dash of lipstick. I run out the door and Ethan is waiting for me beside his car. He holds the door open for me as I get in, no doubt to contradict what I said last night about him not being a gentleman. I stick my tongue out at him. Real mature, I know, but whoever said just because I'm in high school I'm mature?

He drives quickly to the mall and I immediately start dragging him into Forever 21. He rolls his eyes but lets me pull him along. I browse the shelves and find a pretty charm bracelet with horses galloping in different positions. Mia loves horses, so I decide to let Ethan get that for her. He pays up front and I, on impulse, see a dress and buy it, too. It's white and has a seed pearl necklace. I think it was meant to be a wedding gown, but I don't care. It's beautiful and I know she'll love it. It's exactly Mia's style.

After we get our things and head out of Forever 21, Ethan takes me to Starbucks. I'm not very hungry, so I order a vanilla bean frappuchino and a cookie. He eyes my lunch but says nothing. We eat quickly and drive back to the cabins. Once we get there, Ethan says, "I have something to show you."

His tone is mysterious. But I don't question him as he drags me through the woods. A small tiny voice in the back of my head thinks, What if he's going to murder you?

But I push the thoughts aside and follow him through wild tangles of brush, pushing away sticks that catch my shirt and spiderwebs that catch my hair. After we've gone deep into the forest, walked for about five minutes, we come to a cliff.

It's easy to sit on, not too steep. He leads me up the cliff until we're sitting almost on the edge. He pulls me into his lap and whispers into my hair, "We're going to watch the sun set."

The blazing ball of orange appears before us, clear as day. The bronze reflects on the water,  making it shimmer and sparkle. It's so beautiful it takes my breath away. As it slowly slips beneath the horizon, I can feel Ethan breathing into my hair and I snuggle against his chest for warmth. Stars begin to pepper the night sky, illuminating Ethan's face, full of passion and contentment. I close my eyes and lean against him. With his hands winding around my waist, this feels good. This feels right.

***

Lily's p.o.v

Mia needs to talk to us, and I have to say, it's about fudging time! I've been dying of curiosity ever since she started acting this way. She meets us on the beach, while the boys are talking bro talk in the cabins. We lay down, facing the black abyss of an ocean, illuminated by small stars overhead. Mia gives a huge sigh, as if preparing for a death march. She looks at us, her face full of excitement, dread, and fear. She says, "I'm telling you guys this because you're my best friends. I haven't told Drake about this yet. I will tomorrow, and hopefully he'll be okay with it. But in the meantime, I could sure use support."

We nod and promise not to judge. She takes a deep breath, and says, "Me and Drake, we, uh..we did the deed about a week ago." Instantly Amber and I let out a squeal. "Did you like it? Were you ready for it?" Amber asks. "Surprisingly, yes. I loved it, and I think Drake did too. The only thing is..." "What?" We ask simultaneously. Mia replies, "I think I'm pregnant."

***

We bought Mia a pregnancy test, and it's no secret now. She is indeed pregnant. Mia has decided that she'll tell Drake tomorrow, sometime when they're alone. We approve. She's scared now. She's afraid that Drake won't support her, but I personally believe that he will. He loves her to pieces, and I don't think he'd stoop that low. In fact, I think that as soon as Drake hears the news, he's going to propose. I know for a fact he's been searching diamond rings on the Internet. I can't wait for him to finally ask.

**NEXT DAY**

Lily's p.o.v

I woke up groggy and disoriented, but excited for Mia's birthday party! I climbed out of bed and got dressed in a deep red bikini. We were going to be doused in water balloons anyway. I woke up Max and we proceeded to wake up everyone else.

We lead Mia down to the beach, blindfolded. She's laughing and squinting, trying to see where we're taking her. As we near the sand, Drake picks her up and carrys her bridal style down to the water, where she takes off her blindfold and sees the huge banner we've strung between the trees. It says, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIA in huge gold block letters. She shrieks and gives Drake a huge hug. He leads her up to the table where her cake and presents are stacked. She opens them first.

First, Mia opens a charm bracelet from Ethan. She recieves a new bikini from Michelle, and Alex got her a necklace of diamonds, her birthstone. Ryder and Hayden give her a complete hair paraphernalia table. It contains nail polish, brushes, combs, lotion, perfume, and candles. The last two gifts she opens are Drake's and Amber's. Drake whispers something to Amber, and she whispers something back excitedly, then clears her throat. "My gift and Drake's go together."

Mia raises her eyebrow, but nonetheless unwraps Amber's present. Inside is an absolutely gorgeous dress. It's white and flowy, a necklace of seed pearls is in place on the collar, and the sleeves have tiny lace on the ends. Mia's eyes fill with tears as she stares at the beautiful gown. Suddenly it dawns on her that the dress is a wedding gown. She turns wordlessly to Drake, who's gone down on one knee.

He says, "Mia Marie Faust, I love you more than anything in the world. Yours is the face I want to see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I want to be classified as your husband. Please, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Tears fill her eyes at the heartfelt request. Suddenly she cries, "Yes!" and flings herself into Drake's arms. He twirls her around and she buries her face in his shoulder. Suddenly she remembers and says, "I need to talk to you alone."

We leave and give Mia and Drake the space they need. After a while, they come back and make the announcement we already know about. We all congratulate them, then it's time for our water balloon fight.

***

"Got the ammo?" I whisper to Amber beside me. We're having a girls vs. boys tournament, and we need one more good shot to win. "Yeah," she whispers back. We take two balloons each and creep up behind the unsuspecting guys. Always being the daring one, Amber takes the first hit. 

SPLAT. Straight on Ethan's face.

SPLAT. Hayden's thigh.

Amber makes a run for it, and Michelle quickly hits Alex and Hayden with her balloons. Mia throws next, hitting Drake and Ryder. I'm the last person left. I toss one of the balloons at Max, and it hits him in the head. Next I aim carefully and land a throw right in the center of Ryder's face. He turns around, cursing, and I laugh crazily and dash for it.

We all somehow make it to the cabins, panting and dripping wet from retaliating balloons. But we won! We won against guys! They're never going to live this down. We'll make sure of that.

***

Later on in the evening, we all sit down for Truth or Dare. Hayden spins the bottle and it lands on Mia. I'm sure she's going to pick truth like she always does, but she surprises us all and picks dare, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER! YEAH I'M SINGING DON'T JUDGE.

Hayden thinks, obviously trying to come up with something Mia would be comfortable doing. At the end of his pondering, Mia is sent inside the cabin to lick the dirty cabin wall.

Mia spins the bottle, and it lands on Michelle. Michelle chooses truth, and Mia asks, "Do you like Alex?" Thank goodness Alex got tired and isn't here to hear her answer, which is obviously yes. Michelle spins the bottle, and it lands on Drake. He chooses dare. After some careful consideration, Michelle says, "I dare you to close your eyes, walk straight, and kiss the first person or thing you bump into." Drake grins and obediently closes his eyes and walks in a straight line. He ends up kissing a metal trash can.

Drake spins the bottle, and it lands on me. I choose dare. He gives me the most devious smirk in the world and says, "I dare you to take Ryder's shirt off with your teeth." I blush furiously at Ryder's suggestive look. I slowly make my way to him, clench his shirt in my teeth, and try to pull it over his head.

It takes 10 long minutes for me to get his shirt off of him, and by then everyone is laughing uproariously. I ignore them and go back to my seat.

***

Ethan's p.o.v

Tonight's the night. I feel closer to Amber than ever. We're friends, and I feel like the time is right. So I'm taking her to watch the sunset again, by the beach. I lead her there after we're finished playing Truth or Dare. Thankfully, the sun's still up. I lead her across the sand until we get to the water. She immediately sticks her feet in and a content, lazy, dare I say sexy, smile crosses her lips. I put my arm around her and she snuggles into me. As we watch the sun set, I have no doubt as to what I need to do.

Amber's p.o.v

He looks at me with such trepidation, yet so much stardom. He leans in, and I unconsciously lean in as well. He closes his eyes, as do I, and I feel his soft lips touching mine, ever so gently, yet beautifully.

Authors note: Hope you liked it!

All my love,

Em