Plan

It's been a while since Lucretia and her Dad had a father and daughter time. They both sat in the hall playing chess whiles her mother sat in one of the sofa reading a fashion magazine. Mr. Gilbert noticing how distracted Lucretia was, nudged her.

"Are you okay dear..?"

"Yes dad..." she analyzed the chess board, ready to make a move but felt distracted and made the wrong take.

Mr. Gilbert chuckled, "This is so not my daughter."

"Just giving you some time Dad...,just wait till I bounce back on you." she said and they continued with the game.

Lucretia having no knowledge of Daisy's true intentions couldn't just wait for the time to go shopping for the gifts and the party.

"What's the time Dad....?"

"1pm dear.., going somewhere?"

"Hmm..., yeah Dad.." she replied, eyes fixed on the board as she calculated her next move.

"Where to...?"

"Well.., to a friend's birthday party."

"One of your best friends..?"

"Well.., we were actually not very close due to some girls girls issues but she recently approached me wanting us to make peace so we did."

"That's great then. And she invited you to her birthday party?"

"Yeap.."

Mr. Gilbert lightly cocked his head.

"I see...and what do you plan on getting for her?"

"Don't know yet Dad.. but Philip will be stopping by so we go for shopping for the gifts. He is actually the boyfriend here so he will know what she likes for a present."

Mr. Gilbert tilted his head teasingly.

"Oh....now I see where the girls girls issues was coming from."

"My God, Dad..."

"I know my daughter too well, you know? You're too easy to read so telling your emotions is an easy pissy. You should..."

Dinggg.... Donggg....

The door bell rang.

"You should go check who that is."

"Alright Dad..." she shrugged up, shuffling to the door but stopped midway glancing back at her father.

"No cheating Dad..."

"I know dear.." he chortled, gesturing her with his hand and Lucretia chuckled rushing off to the door.

She slowly pulled the door opened and was met with two bright smiles.

"Crystal..., Mimie...." she glanced around as if searching for something. "Did you girls get lost or something?"

"Crazy Luc...., we didn't. We actually came to the right place."

"Woow...this is the biggest surprise of all times. You girls always refuse to come to my house whenever I invite you over. At a point, I even thought my house was hunted or something."

Both Mimie and Crystal glanced at each other and snorted.

"You have the craziest thought amongst us you know..." replied Crystal.

"So...., are we welcome in or not?" queried Mimie.

"Of course you are. Come on in." she stepped aside, making room for them to enter the house.

"But you girls had wanted us to meet in town when I called earlier."

"Yes we did but we later on changed our minds. Or can't we...?" commented Crystal.

"Who is there Lucretia...?" Her father asked from the hall.

"My friends..., Dad..." she exclaimed but before Mr. Gilbert could reply, Lucretia entered the hall with her friends making her mother put aside her magazine.

"I guess you girls are Mimie and Crystal." said Mr. Gilbert on seeing the blonde hair and ebony hair girls standing before him, wearing a bright smile.

"Yes Dad...this is Crystal." she first pointed to the blonde hair girl then to the ebony hair girl " and this is Mimie. They are my friends in school."

"Nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Woods..." they chorused.

"Nice to meet you girls." said Mr and Mrs Woods in unison.

"We have been hearing a lot about you girls but have never seen you before. Hope you girls are doing well"

"Yes Mr. Gilbert..." they replied.

"I guess you girls are also here for the birthday party." asked Mrs. Woods

"Yes, ma'am.." answered Mimie

"You should take them to your room then."

"Alright mum..., Let's go girls.." she nudged Crystal.

They swiftly glanced at her and back to her parents. "Thank you."

"No problem girls...make yourselves at home." said Mrs. Woods.

They smiled with a slight bow and followed after Lucretia, gliding the stairs to her room. As they got to the door, Lucretia slowly pushed it opened, revealing a baby pink coloured and well tidy room.

"Woow...Luc..., your room is so beautiful." gasped Mimie, scrutinizing the room as they shuffled in.

"You should stop exaggerating Mimie."

"I'm not Lucretia, this is just beautiful. Do you know I once asked my mother to make something just like this for me but she refused. You know how mothers behave at times."

Both Crystal and Lucretia tilted their heads supportively.

"You girls should sit on the bed whiles I make myself ready."

"Okay Luc but you should make it fast. It's almost 2pm already." remarked Crystal as they settled on the bed.

"Okay, Okay..." she hurried off to the wardrobe.

"Have you called Philip?" questioned Mimie.

"I did earlier on but I will have to call again to let him know that you girls are around."

"Okay, what about Jayden?"

"He said he is quiet busy but will meet us up in town so we should call again when we are ready to leave."

"Guess it's all sorted then." commented Crystal.

"Yeah..." replied Lucretia as she scanned the wardrobe for a change of cloth. After some few minutes, she was all done.

"Let's go girls..." she picked up her mini bag from the bed, strolling off to the door followed by Mimie and Crystal as they left the room.

"We are leaving now mum and Dad..." announced Lucretia as they glided down the last stairs.

"Alright dear, you girls should take care."

"Okay Dad..." she replied and they walked out of the house, slowly closing the door behind them. When they had strolled out of the main gate to the house, Lucretia rummaged through her bag for her phone. She dialed Philip's phone and after a short ring, he answered.

"It's 2pm already Philip, why are you still in your room?"

"Hey...chill Luc, It just hit 2. Why throwing a fuss. You're sounding more like the birthday girl than Daisy. Did she pay you to bug me or something?" said Philip from the other side of the phone.

"Cut the crab and get down here already before I break your neck."

"Okay, Okay, I will be right down soon." He replied and hanged up.

Crystal and Mimie glanced at Lucretia and shook their heads.

"You're totally unbelievable Luc..."

"Whatever.." she shrugged.

Within 5minutes, Philip joined them.

"Oh, you girls are here."

"Yeah.." said Mimie and Crystal in unison.

"Thought Lucretia said you girls will meet us in town."

"Yeah we did but we changed our minds."

"Okay, let's go then." he replied and they all sauntered off to the bus stop. After about 20minutes walk, they got to the stop to meet the bus already there with people gliding in. They also joined in, settling in their seats and the bus sped off. When the bus had stopped at their destination, they got off and continued their walk to the gift shop.

"We are here Jayden, where are you?"

"I have seen you guys. I'm coming over." he answered from the other side of the phone.

"Okay.." she replied and hanged up, turning to Mimie and Crystal.

"What did he say?" asked Crystal.

"He is coming."

Not long as Lucretia ended her words that Jayden joined them.

"Did I keep you guys waiting?"

"No Jay, we just got here." answered Mimie.

"Hi Philip."

"Hi Jay..., joining the party?

"Yeah.., Daisy invited me. Hope you're okay with it."

"Of course I am."

"I think we should get moving now guys else we will be late." said Lucretia, walking into the shop.

They chuckled and followed off after her.

"What do you think I should get for her Phil...?"

"I don't know.." he shrugged.

"Oh, but she is your girlfriend. You should know what she likes best."

"Just get her anything from your heart. She is not someone who lacks anything by the way..."

"Such an horrible boyfriend you are Phil...Move aside and let me pass." she slightly pushed him aside and went her way to get her presents for Daisy. After a while of shopping, they all sent their things to the counter for check.

The receptionist scanned the gifts and packed them, handling it to the respective owners.

They paid off and shuffled out of the shop.

"See you girls later at the party."

"Alright Jayden." they chorused, waving him as he

hurried off.

Mimie and Crystal also bid their farewell and left to get ready for the evening.

"Let get going." she nudged Philip and rushed off, giggling. He also chuckled and rushed after her.

They joined the next bus to their home and it sped off after some seconds.

************

The house was all busied up with the arrangements of the party as the workers moved up and down setting up the place and getting the meals done.

Daisy was in her room with her friends, dressing up since the time for the event was already getting near.

"Do you think she will come?"

"I don't think Nikita, I know she will."

"And what if she doesn't? You should think of that as a possibility too, you know." said Nelly.

"I know how to play my cards well Nelly. Failing a mission is not a part of me. You should get that into your head too." she smirked evilly.

"Whatever..."

The rest of the day passed by and soon, it was time for the birthday party. Daisy stood at the ceremonial grounds scrutinizing the decorations and cakes when a voice called from behind her.

"The guest have started arriving. You should get ready to receive them."

"Alright Niki, how do I look?"

"Just perfect."

"What about our plan? Did you give the stuff to the waiter I showed you?"

"Yeah."

"Did you tell him what to do? I don't want any mistakes."

"Relax girl..., I've got everything covered."

"Alright, thanks." she replied and Nikita went away to welcome the guest at the entrance. After a few minutes, the whole house was packed with high schoolers. Daisy scanned through the crowd but didn't see Lucretia. She walked up to Nikita and Nelly. "Is she in?"

They both stared at her, slightly shaking their heads. Just then, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and it was Philip.

"Phil..." she hugged him for a short while and drew back. She was about to ask of Lucretia when she saw her over Philip's shoulders walking in with her friends.

"Oh, there she is."

"Who...?" Philip asked, turning to the direction of Daisy's gaze.

"She wasn't going to miss it anyway..The Lucretia I know never go back on her words."

Within a twinkle of an eye, Lucretia and the rest got to where they were standing.

"Hi Daisy."

"Hi Luc, I thought you were not coming."

"I sure will. You invited me so I should honour that invite. Don't you think?" she queried, handing the gift to her. "Happy birthday, Daisy."

"Thanks Luc.." she hugged her with her left hand whiles she held the parcel in her right. After a short while, she drew back.

"Thank you guys for honouring my invitation." She glanced at Crystal, Mimie and Jayden who were standing next to Lucretia.

"Sure Daisy, happy birthday." replied Jayden as they handed out their parcels. Nelly and Nikita helped her with them. They were still chatting and didn't notice when Daisy's parents walked in. They took a glass of wine from one of the waiters and Daisy father slightly hit his with a spoon, calling for the attention of the guest.

Everybody slowly turned to the direction of the sound.

"I welcome you all to the 18th birthday of my beautiful daughter. Come here dear." he gestured Daisy over.

She smiled and joined them. "Without wasting much time, we request you all to join us sing the birthday song to my little princess. Come over here too Philip."

Philip slightly nodded with a smile and joined them. "Now, we sing. " Happy birthday to you...." He started and soon, everybody joined in.

After singing, Daisy was made to cut the cake with the help of her parents and Philip. They cheered her on, applauding and wishing her well.

"Now, let's enjoy the party." he announced and the waiters trooped in with trays of wine, among others.

Daisy also went over to join her friends. They signaled one of the waiters to send his tray to Lucretia and her friends. He obliged as planned, turning the drugged wine to Lucretia's side.

Lucretia who didn't know what was going just picked up the glass of wine in front of her and started sipping and so did her friends.

"Excuse me girls..., I need to use the washroom." Jayden excused himself.

Mimie and Crystal were with Lucretia when two guys requested them for a dance.

"Sure.." they chorused with a smile and continued on to the dance floor.

Lucretia just looked on with a smile. Just then, she spotted Philip standing with Mike and Eugene. She was about to walk over to them when she suddenly felt drowsy. Daisy instantly spotted her and rushed over to her.

"Are you okay Luc...?"

"I'm not sure Daisy, just feeling kind of dizzy."

"Come with me." she muttered, faking to be concerned.

"Okay..." she obliged. Daisy held her hand and slowly helped her to her(Daisy's) room. She slowly opened the door and glided in, walking to the bed. Just as they neared it, Lucretia collapsed into the bed.

Daisy stood staring at her with a wicked smirk dancing on her lips.

"Just where I wanted you Luc..."