Chapter Sixty-Seven: Happy Birthday to You

Birthday: the day in which something was born or created.

*

Turns out, the military camp Amada was sent to allowed letters, just not phone calls. Amia religiously checked the letterbox every day after school, flicking through any letters or parcels we may get.

When we all got home that afternoon, Amia ran over to a parcel sitting by the front door and looked at the tag. It was a rather ordinary looking box, tall and rectangular. "It's for Alexis," Amia informed, somewhat disappointedly.

The letterbox creaked as Ava closed the door and smiled, "But this isn't." She separated one letter from the rest and playfully shook it, calling Amia like a dog to a treat.

I picked up the parcel and tried to guess what it was and who sent it. There wasn't any return address, just that it got back ordered with a stamp from the post office apologising for any inconvenience. Curious, I raised the box to my ear and shook it, startling myself when I heard a glass clink against each other.

What on earth did she order?

Mia plonked her backpack by the door and walked over to the swing set, glumly allowing herself to sway as she stared at a pink flower weed on the ground. "She okay?" I asked anyone who would listen.

Estelle shrugged, "Misses Bonnie, I'd imagine."

"Yeah, I heard Bonnie snap at her for trying to follow her into town," Ava added, "Bonnie's hanging with Amelia, Scarlett and Carman at the movies or something and Mia wanted to be included."

"Isn't she busy with cheerleading?" I asked opening the door for everyone.

"About as busy as you are with, what was it, basketball and cycling." Ava gleefully punched my arm on the way past, "Good job on that by the way."

I chuckled, "Thanks, but I'm annoyed I didn't get into the soccer team."

"Please, you've got three sporting commitments already. Coach needs to give you some time off," Amia called as she scaled the stairs, "That and you suck at soccer."

I almost ran after her for saying that, but I was holding what I thought to be fragile glass and she was already bolting up the remaining steps. "Look at Amia, throwing some shade," Estelle joked, "TV is mine! I'm watching soaps!"

"Oh, which one? Esmerelda's Lover's Lane or Portico and Valadez?" Ava asked.

"There's a new one with the same lead actor as Portico and Valadez. It's called The Mysterious Desire of Elizabeth Cortez." As Estelle announced the title, she added the accent and threw her arms around. "I hear it even more over the top then the other two. You want in?"

"Hell yeah!" Ava signed to Robyn, who was equally invested in the strange soap opera.

And just like that, I stood in the front room alone. I checked my watch, Alexis was still at school, having moved from the shed to one of the art classrooms, she still worked late into the afternoon. I held onto the parcel, still curious as to what was in it, but not interested enough to open it.

*

I had forgotten about the delivery until later that night, and when I did, I startled Alexis with my awareness.

We were laying on my bed, me flicking through my phone, her running her hands over the braille in her book. When I abruptly got up, her book tumbled off my bed. "Rude," she flatly commented as she sat up.

I picked up the package from my desk and held it out to her, "This came for you today. Some sort of glass thingy."

Alexis took the parcel with feeble hands, underestimating its weight as it partially fell onto the bed. "Who's it from?" she asked.

I shrugged, "Not sure. It didn't have a return address. I've had it all afternoon, so I figured it wasn't dangerous like a bomb or whatever."

She scoffed, running her nails over the sticky tape in search of a place to tear. "I'm not so important someone would send a bomb to me, Landon," she stated, finding some tape that gave way.

I shrugged again, sitting next to her. "I dunno. We've gotten some weird parcels from people for the other girls. Bonnie once got a dead rat in a box in response to her Dad's political campaign."

Alexis made a small smile as she continued to pick away, "Can't get to the big guy, go after their daughters, the cowards." She yanked one flap off and stuck her hand inside, her smile broadening when she felt what was inside. "Has everyone gone to bed?" she asked, eagerly.

I shrugged, noting the time. "Ten o'clock… maybe," I guessed. It always depended on what was on TV tonight. If Estelle got her way, she'd be in the theatre room watching more soaps, while Mia may still be awake listening to her radio.

Despite this, Alexis reached for my hand, "Come with me into the kitchen."

Alexis knew the house back to front, side to side. She navigated through the darkness without running into any of the display tables, vases or houseplants, and made it down the stairs with her parcel in one hand and my hand in the other. When we made it to the kitchen, no one was here.

"Okay, so what's in the box?" I asked turning on a light as she placed it on the kitchen counter.

"The other girls aren't coming?" Alexis enquired, running her fingers over the corners of the box.

I took a glance down the hallway, noting the darkness and lack of silhouettes suggesting someone followed us. "We are alone," I answered, "Why so secretive?"

"I like our roommates, but I don't know how they'd go keeping a secret like this," she replied, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of white wine.

I widened my eyes at the sight of them. "You can send alcohol through the mail?"

Alexis smirked, running her hand over the label of the whiskey, "Indeed. A belated birthday present from my Grandpa I believe. Heavy drinker if you can't tell," she cooed placing the bottle on the countertop.

I widened my eyes, "What? It was your birthday!"

Her arm shot up, and she pinched my lip shut. "Shh, that's old news."

I detached her from my face. "When? I thought you were already eighteen."

She nodded, "I turned eighteen at the start of August. I couldn't afford to go home for it, so I just got some birthday cards and, among other things, these bottles of booze." She continued running her fingers over the labels, focusing this time on the wine. "Oh, this is a good one," she commented. I watched her traced the red border around the wine.

"And let me guess; no alcohol on the premise." I crossed my arms when she stopped tracing and smirked.

"None on any form of school property is tolerated. Consequences include suspension," Alexis informed, "Surprised the Delinquents didn't get suspended at the dance, to be honest."

"Are you even allowed to drink?" I asked, reading the back of the whiskey.

"I am in Australia. And that's all my Grandpa cares about," she smugly stated, "I got roots everywhere, Landon. I'm an outback Irish, Scottish, vampire."

"Didn't Ireland and Scotland hate each other?" I countered.

She nodded replacing the bottle, "My family got around once upon a time." She turned in her seat to face me, "I know it's not my birthday anymore, and you're not much of a drinker, but how about you indulge me in just one. Alcoholism enjoys the company." Her head made a sharp turn when the bottle I was holding clicked on the table. "And maybe later we can have a bit of fun."

I exaggerated a whistle, "Alcohol and sex, aren't we just teenaged rebels."

She bit her tongue when she laughed as she went to get some glasses. "If you want, I can just put some ice in a glass and give you apple juice, same colour after all," she teased as the glasses clinked.

I chuckled, "I have drunk before, Alexis, hard as it is to believe."

She scoffed, sitting down after plumping some large cubes of ice in scotch glasses. "Let's hope your dear heart can take it," she jeered. When she unscrewed the lid on the whiskey, she gave it a quick sniff, wincing at its strong smell as she poured some in the glasses. I wouldn't be surprised if she had already done this before, from the way she poured was almost professional.

"Listen 'ere newbie," she declared, sliding my glass towards me while she held the other, "This is strong stuff, designed for sipping. Can you handle that?"

I picked up my drink, tapping it against hers in a cheers motion. "To your birthday, Alexis," I toasted.

"To your health, Landon," she countered.

The moment the honey coloured whiskey contacted my lips, the bitter flavour assaulted my tastebuds, and that burning sensation enveloped my mouth, running down my throat and rest in my stomach from the smallest sip. I gagged, having not prepared myself for the taste, while Alexis laughed at my reaction, seemingly unaffected by the drink.

"Oh, my poor boo," she teased as I continued coughing, "Do you want a lime wedge or something? That'll make your taste buds tingle."

I sighed, sitting upright again and taking another sip, tolerating the taste better this time. "This is good stuff," I said looking at the brand of the whiskey.

"Grandpa always knew best," she said leaning forwards, "Just too bad my company is a lightweight."

The rim of the cup was resting against my lips, a scoff escaping me as I put the glass down, "Shut up."

She tilted her head, a mischievous gleam in her eyes as she picked up the whiskey bottle and slid off her chair, "Make me."

A wave of heat washed over me as she walked past, lingering at the doorway of the room before disappearing down the hallway. As I sighed a chuckle escaped me as I took a final, long drink, my head immediately regretting the decision, but, with a warm buzz sitting in my stomach, followed.