13

SPEECHLESS

AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, PEOPLE WERE starting to leave, and I began to look around for Heather to make sure she didn’t go back to her room yet. Troy was in on our surprise, and he was supposed to give us a fifteen minute head start so Brit, Julia, Alison, and I could get the suite ready before Heather got back.

Almost as if he sensed I was thinking about Heather’s surprise party, Troy walked up to Jacob and me. We were seated in a quiet corner, talking and eating nongross food like brie and crackers.

“Heather’s ready to go soon,” he said. “I’ll keep her here long enough for you guys to decorate.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling at him.

Troy went back to Heather, and I turned to Jacob. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I have to go. If I don’t get the decorations up in the Trio’s suite, the surprise will be ruined.”

Jacob rubbed his thumb over the top of my hand. “That’s why you’re my girlfriend. You’re doing something nice for someone else.” He helped me stand, and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

“I had a wonderful time,” I said. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Me too,” Jacob said. He brushed his hand over my cheek. “I’m a lucky guy.”

I smiled. “Yeah, you definitely are,” I teased.

We kissed, longer this time, and I wished I could freeze this moment and stay here forever.

“Have fun with Heather’s real party,” he said. “I know you’re going to make it a great night for her.”

“Hope so.” I smiled at him again, then let go of his hand as I walked away. I rounded up Brit and Alison, who were waiting near the door already alerted by Troy.

“Did you guys find Julia?” I asked.

Alison shook her head, her gold chandelier earrings bouncing off her neck. “Troy said he saw her with Ben, but we haven’t seen her. I hope she didn’t get sick or something or—”

“You guys ready?”

Julia, in a beautiful blue bandage dress, appeared in front of us, her arms folded across her chest.

“Ready, but where were you?” Alison asked. “I haven’t seen you at all.”

Julia glared at her. “I was with Ben. Alone, so we could talk. Okay? Geez. Any more questions?”

Alison looked as if she wanted to fire off another question, but she kept her mouth shut. “No. Let’s go. Troy can only keep Heather busy for so long.”

We sneaked out of the ballroom, hoping we wouldn’t hear our phones start to go off if Heather realized we were all missing.

Racing across campus—well, as fast as we could in heels—we went back to Orchard. I went to my room to get the decorations and the present Brit and I had gone in on together for Heather. Once I got to the suite, Julia, Alison, Brit, and I raced to get everything the way we wanted it.

Brit put up streamers and the sign, I arranged the DVDs and snacks on the table, Alison poured giant cups of Coke, and Julia put the movie candy in bowls before sitting on the chair. Guess she was done.

“How’s this look?” Brit asked.

“Perfect,” I said. “I love how you spaced all the spirals—they look perfect.”

Brit had grabbed a step ladder and taped the fun swirls to the living room ceiling. She’d also put the pink HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! sign across Heather’s bedroom door.

“Presents!” Alison said. “Julia, grab yours and we’ll put them on the table.”

The girls went to their room and brought back two wrapped boxes. “I guess we got lucky that Heather’s mom invited so many people,” I said. “Heather had so many presents that she didn’t even get to open—she didn’t notice ours were missing.”

My phone vibrated on the table. I opened a text from Troy.

H is on the way!

I wrote back.

We r ready. Thanks!

“She’ll be here any second,” I said. “Everyone ready?”

The other girls nodded. We got together around the couch, watching the door and waiting for Heather. She was probably furious—thinking we’d left her party without her.

Alison’s phone buzzed. She looked at it, then back at us. “Heather’s maaad,” she said. “She thinks we all left her there and she wants to know where we are.”

“Write her back that there was boy drama and we didn’t have time to explain, especially in front of Troy,” Julia said. “So we came back to the suite.”

“Good idea,” Alison said. She typed and the phone buzzed seconds later. “She’s on her way.”

We stood, shifting from nervous excitement, as we waited for Heather. Keys turned in the lock and she walked in, fumbling with her purse.

“Whatever happened, there was no excuse for you guys to ditch me and—” Heather stopped midrant as she realized what was around her.

“Surprise!” we all yelled.

And, for the first time, Heather Fox was speechless.

“You—you guys,” she finally said. “What is this?”

I reached behind the couch and handed her the admission ticket. “It’s your birthday party. Your real party. The one you wanted.”

Heather’s cheeks flushed and she blinked, unsuccessfully trying to hold back a few tears.

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Heather said. She looked around at the snacks, drinks, and decorations. “I had fun with Troy, I really did, but this is exactly what I wanted.”

“Yay!” Alison said, hurrying over to hug her best friend. “We’ve got a ton of DVDs and Stephanie gave Sasha and Brit permission to sleep over tonight, and we’re allowed to stay up late.”

“That’s awesome,” Heather said. “Really, really awesome. You guys have no idea how much this means to me. We’re going to have the best night.”

“We so are,” I said. “The only thing that isn’t here yet is the cake, but Stephanie’s bringing that in a little while.”

Brit handed Heather a stack of DVDs. “Are you ready for your thirteenth birthday party?”

Heather grinned. “So ready.”

“Let’s get into PJs, make some popcorn, and party,” Julia said. She smiled at her friend and, for the first time in a while, her happiness looked genuine.

“Let’s party!” Heather cheered.

I smiled as Heather took her movie ticket into her bedroom with her.

When Heather’s door closed, Alison, Brit, Julia, and I high-fived. It looked like our party was going to trump Mrs. Fox’s fancy, Manhattan-inspired soirée.