Birthday Plans

"People say that time brings forth maturity, but in all honesty, that is bullshit, because maturity comes from learning and growing from different experiences."

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I can't believe it's been two years since I've moved away from my aunt. The decision I made two years ago, I can't say that I came to regret, everything has gone well since then.

I have graduated from high school with honors along with Natasha, my other best friend who I met at school and bonded with over food and the fact that we take the same train to go home.

It's been hard to decide on what to do next, but after a lot of thinking and talking with my grandmother, I have decided to take a year off to work and decide on what I want my future career to be.

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Xeno and I are outside in my grandmother's yard chilling and taking in the sun, when she reminds me that my 18th birthday is just three days away. "What are your plans for your birthday?" she asks me eagerly.

"Well my mom's sending me birthday money to pay anything I'm planning, but I have no idea what I'm going to do, much less what to use that money for," I reply, looking up at her with a conflicted expression written all over my face. "Natasha suggested we go clubbing but I told her you're not old enough yet and I'm not leaving you out."

"Who is Natasha again?" Xeno asks as she tried to remember who Natasha is.

"She's the girl you met when we went to watch DeadPool last year for my birthday, you know, the slim brown girl with the short hair." I say.

"Oh yeah, I remember her, your best friend from school right, the same one that you invited to your slumber party last month." Xeno nods, recounting the memory in her head. I nod in agreement with a smile on my face.

Suddenly, Xeno changes her face expression to her goofy smile that she makes when she knows something I don't. I look at her strangely.

"I have a fake ID that says I'm eighteen,"  she says excitedly. I gave her a shocked and surprised look. I just can't believe she did that and did not tell me. "So, it's settled then, we are going clubbing for your birthday?" she asks, looking way more excited than I am, with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I sigh, giving into the idea of going clubbing for my birthday, which is a lot because I'm not the type to go to parties. I'm more of the introvert type, and definitely not the big crowd type. This clubbing thing will be way out of my comfort zone, but for my friends, I will try to make it work and have some fun.

"I guess we are going," I reply, a little unsure of the statement.

"It will be okay, Lesha, I promise." Xeno says reassuringly, knowing full well how I feel about parties and big crowds, much less a club.

I think to myself for a moment. Something occurred to me. "Shit, Xeno, we will need a story to tell my grandma and your mom," I say worryingly. "Do you really think we should go?" I ask her, starting to feel guilty already about the lie I was going to have to tell to my nana, for us to go. I hate lying to her.

"Lesha, don't worry, you don't have to lie, let's just tell them that we are going to a party, which is technically not a complete lie, so don't worry I got you." she says, already knowing where my mind was going. I just shake my head showing her that I'm okay now.

"I'm going to go call Natasha and tell her the plan, also you should tell Dave okay." I tell her before reaching into my pocket to get my phone to call Natasha.

When I got off the phone I tell her how excited Natasha is about going clubbing for birthday. "I'll go in and tell Dave the plans and see if he's interested," Xeno replies. When she comes back out she informs me that Dave is down for clubbing for my birthday.

Xeno and I have built up the courage to ask my nana and her mother since the plan was finalized. We both agreed on telling them that Dave is going to be with us, then tell them it's for my birthday, then add the fact that being we're planning to go to a party. My nana and Xeno's mother are hesitant to agree, but since we made it known that Dave will be with us and ensure that we are safe at all times, they agreed to let us go.

I don't know what it is about parents being more lenient with boys, I think to myself.

My nana pulls me aside after our conversation. "I know you're going to a club, I overheard your conversation with Natasha. Even though you lied to me, I'm letting you go, solely because it's your birthday and the fact that you've never done anything reckless since you've been here. Promise me, just promise me, that you'll be safe and that you'll make the right choices, please." she says as she holds my hands and looks at me lovingly.

"I promise, nana, and I'm sorry for lying," I say with a small smile on my face. "Thank you for trusting me as well." I hug her, and my nana turns around and returns to our house with a smile.

Xeno walks over to me. "What was that about?" Xeno asks, looking at me all curious.

"Oh, nothing, just Nana being as protective as she is, she also knows we are going to a club and not a party," I say, and Xeno's jaw drops in shock. "But she is cool with it and just wants us to be safe." I add, with a big smile on my face.

"Ms. Ox is so cool, I would have never guessed she'd be so cool," she says, giggling a little.

We sat down to resume our sunbathing and go quiet.

I can't believe our parents actually agreed and the plan of going clubbing for my birthday is finally settling in. In all honesty, it has got me feeling all sorts of ways, I don't know whether to be excited or scared that for my birthday, I will be traveling through uncharted waters.