Page 1 of Guarded By Death

One

Birthday

Scarlett

The whipping sound of my heavy comforter flying off my body wakes me from a deep sleep. With narrowed eyes I look around my bedroom, it's too bright in here.

Colorful confetti floats around me, landing on top of my plush white comforter. I can tell by the golden anklet next to my face who is jumping on the bed, my best friend Liv. "Get up! It's your birthday. Time to celebrate!" she yells too loudly in the quiet room, but I can't contain my smile.

I peek over to my nightstand and check the time. "Who let you in at nine a.m.?" I sit up, stretching my arms out wide.

Liv places her hand over her heart as if I've physically hurt her, which makes me laugh. "Your mom, she was happy to see me. Unlike you!" She pushes out her bottom lip, pouting.

"Just go back to sleep with me. Two more hours and I'll be happy to see you, I promise." I lay my head back down on the pillow, struggling to pull her down with me.

With a laugh, she peels herself from my grip. "Are you excited about tonight?" Of course, she's ignoring my offer for more sleep and jumping to our plans for later. "I can't wait to use these fake ID’s! I think mine looks somewhat like me. Your new name is Katie." She slides the North Carolina ID into my hand with a huge grin on her face.

I groan. "Do we have to go? Can't we just go to the beach and then come home and binge watch horror movies? I'm sure my mom wouldn't be opposed to ordering pizza." I give her a hopeful look, but she isn't budging.

"You only turn eighteen once, Scar. You need to experience life more, do something reckless for once." She winks, and I know protesting further is a pointless endeavor.

I playfully roll my eyes at her. "I'm only eighteen. I can buy a lottery ticket if you want?" I snicker. "Going to a club and pretending to be of drinking age when I don't even like alcohol is your kind of fun, Liv."

Her response is a simple shrug of her shoulders.

I love Liv but we are polar opposites, yin and yang.

Even so, I wouldn't change a thing about her. Except for maybe the fact that she is here, over-celebrating my birthday so bright and early. It could have something to do with my birthday falling on the first official day of summer break. Our last real summer break, to be exact. The first time being actual adults before we ship off to UNC. I snicker to myself.

"What's so funny?” She jumps up and frowns, planting her hands on her hips.

"Nothing at all. Thank you for the confetti, Liv. You're helping me clean it up later." I laugh at the sudden panic in her eyes.

Her hair blankets her face when she shakes her head. "Not a chance. Come downstairs. Your mom is making pancakes!" she squeals. I reach for her, but she bolts out of the room, making her way downstairs in a rushed sprint.

I hop out of bed and stumble to the bathroom. Not taking much time on my appearance since I know we're about to head to the beach. Any make up I put on would melt off and my hair will be a puffy mess if I don't throw it into a bun. After placing a white bikini under my oversized T-Shirt, I bounce down to the kitchen.

The sweet scent of blueberries and homemade pancake batter hits my nose, making my stomach growl. Mom is carefully ladling a thick mixture onto a hot griddle. When she sees me, her face instantly lights up.

"Happy Birthday Scarlett! Blueberry or just a regular pancake, sweetheart?" she asks, a wide grin taking over her face.

I rub my eyes, trying to hide from the morning light pouring into the kitchen. "Blueberry, for sure." I tell her. Shuffling towards the delicious smell, I sit down on the wooden bar stool at the island.

I give her my best sleepy grin, but the gesture does nothing to calm the guilt that’s seeping into me. She is trustworthy so the fact that I know I'm about to lie about what we're doing tonight makes my stomach turn. That's going to be Liv's job.

I'm eighteen now, but I still know my mom wouldn't approve of me going to a club, and I live under her roof for a few more months.

Mom dances around the kitchen, an unfamiliar pep in her step that makes me tilt my head. "Feel any older? I can't believe my baby girl is all grown up now." Her tone is laced with sadness, so I give her a bright smile.

I shrug, wondering if I do feel more mature. "I guess? I just feel tired." I glare over at Liv's smiling face, suddenly wishing I was a morning person so I could be bright-eyed like her so early in the morning.

Mom wipes her floured hands on her apron. "So, what do you want for your birthday?" She asks. I look down at the damaged phone in my hands, wincing at the large crack down the center.

I wiggle it in the air. "Maybe a new screen?" I ask.

"You and phones." She laughs but I feel guilty. I hate making my mom pay for things like this, once I get my check from Pop’s she won't have to help me so much. I know she doesn't mind, and Dad left a huge insurance policy behind which helps us tremendously, but still. If I would have been more careful and not dropped it when that guy ran into me on the street, this wouldn't even be a conversation and I could be asking for a new radio in my car.

She pulls a neatly wrapped rectangular box out of a nearby drawer. "What is this?" I ask, reaching my hands out. She nods for me to open it and I pull apart the pink bow on top that's been done perfectly, my mom is a stickler for wrapping gifts with finesse.

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