Summer Bash

(Wrote a story a long time ago about Fred saying that he wanted to throw a party for Kayla as sort of a birthday/end of summer bash because Cinderella would be leaving on tour in the winter. So, this is said party. Sort of lame but i don't have much ideas at the moment.)

Tom turned his car down an unmarked road and the woods instantly swallowed them up. Fred had wanted to have Kayla's party at his grandfather's barn, but Kayla had quickly vetoed that. The abandoned barn had no bathroom, which meant she'd be using the woods and Kayla didn't feel like going au naturel.

Somehow, Fred had talked her into renting part of Eagle Park on the east side of Garver Lake. The slot they had was tucked back in the woods and down a long gravel drive. It was secluded enough that the party's music wouldn't bother anyone else.

Tom pulled onto the grass on the side of the road and parked in a row of five other cars. Fred was already there with Jeff, and Eric, but judging by the group beneath the pavilion, a few people had carpooled. There were at least twelve guys.

Kayla and Tom got out, loading their arms with supplies. When they reached the pavilion, Kayla pulled off her sunglasses and looked around. Gold Christmas lights hung from the rafters and wove around hot-pink streamers. Pink and gold balloons floated from weights on several of the picnic tables.

"It's so pretty!" she exclaimed and lunged at Tom for a hug. "Thank you." She pulled away quickly when she got the urge to kiss him. She didn't want anybody finding out about her and Tom. At least not yet, and certainly not on her birthday. Kayla wasn't sure how her friends would react, but she didn't want any drama at her party.

As the guys broke away to finish a few last-minute things, Kayla went over to Fred. He looked more than hot today in a pair of shorts and a black t-shirt. The sleeves of his shirt definitely showed off his muscles. (Don't laugh, Cheyenne. Fred DOES have muscles.)

It would have been so much easier if Kayla had fallen for him this summer. Part of her regretted not trying harder. If she were with him, there wouldn't be a risk of losing anything.

"Happy Birthday," Fred said, wrapping her in a hug. "You look good."

She glanced down at her white, tight-fitting dress. "Thanks to you. I've lost about ten pounds this Summer because i've been chasing after you to get my underwear back."

"Well," he paused to let out a laugh. "you did great in lessons."

"Yeah." She looked over her shoulder for Tom. He and Jeff were plugging in more Christmas lights.

"So," Fred said, "you guys together finally?"

Kayla blushed and looked down at the concrete floor. "Yeah, but please don't say anything. We haven't told anyone yet."

"When are you going to tell people?"

Kayla shrugged. "Just not today."

"Secret is safe with me," Fred said.

She gave him another hug and whispered in his ear, "You and Tom are the best things that happened to me."

♥♥♥

Cheyenne parked along a row of cars and got out, tugging down the hem of her dress and then running a hand through her hair.

Dropping her keys in her bag, Cheyenne headed down the gravel drive to the main part of the park. Kayla had told her the party was starting at seven. Cheyenne was only twenty minutes late, but already the park was crowded with clusters of people.

Music blared from a stereo system hidden in the enclosed food area. A song by Fleetwood Mac finished up as Cheyenne neared. A Tom Petty song replaced the previous one.

Eric stood by the brick fire pit near the lake's edge. Jeff and Fred were there poking the fire with sticks as if it were some feral animal.

When Eric saw her, he nodded. Cheyenne hurried over, kissing him eagerly.

"Dudes!" Fred said. "Get a room."

Cheyenne chuckled as she pulled away. "I'm so happy to finally see you."

"Me, too." Eric smiled. "Your friends here yet?"

Cheyenne scanned the crowd. "I'm sure they are. Mind if i go look for them."

"No. That's fine. I'll be here with Fred and Jeff." He kissed her quickly on the cheek before she broke away from the fire pit, heading for the pavilion. Beneath the roof, Cheyenne looked up at the twinkling gold lights and pink streamers. Balloons bobbed over the picnic tables. There was a table near the back, covered in presents. Cheyenne laughed to herself, remembering the birthday parties Kayla had as a kid. It looked much like this. But on Tom's salary, this was all he could afford to do for her. It was so lame that it was sweet.

"Cheyenne!" Robin called, waving above the crowd.

Robin looked absolutely stunning in a blue dress and silver heels. Her blond hair was perfectly curled around her face and layed on her chest.

"Where's Kayla? I wanted to wish her a happy birthday."

"I think she's in the enclosed eating area. I'll come over there with you."

They left the pavilion and walked over to the eating area. It was a long building with two large openings on each side. Picnic tables made two neat rows, their tops covered in pink tablecloths. There were beer bottles and chips.

Kayla was in the corner unwrapping napkins and chatting with Tom.

"Happy birthday, birthday girl!" Cheyenne called, raising her hand in the air as she navigated around the guys setting up more food.

"Hey, Chey!" Kayla said, dropping the napkins on a table.

Cheyenne gave Kayla a hug. She smelled like vanilla and strawberries. She looked thinner, too.

"Is there anything we can help with?" Robin asked.

"Yeah," Kayla nodded at the napkins. "Unwrap those and set them on the tables?"

Robin nodded and the girls set to work.



♥♥♥

"Come here," Tom said. "I have something for you." He grabbed Kayla's hand and tugged her out of the enclosed eating area and around the back of the building, away from the chaos of the party.

They had total privacy back here. The woods grew in close to the building. Leaves tickled the back of Kayla's neck. She batted them away, leaning a shoulder against the cool aluminum siding of the building.

"Here is fine," Tom said, keeping his voice low.

Kayla bit her lower lip, trying not to smile too wide. She had to stop being such a goof around Tom.

"Happy birthday," he said when he pulled out a small white box from his jeans pocket.

Kayla gasped. "Tom. You didn't have to get me anything."

"Of course i did. It's your birthday. Open it."

She took it with nervous fingers. A small white box almost always meant jewelry. More specifically, jewelry from Adorn Jewelry Shop, the most upscale place in town.

Kayla slowly popped open the lid. sitting on a velvet bed was a diamond ring.

"Tom!"

"What?" He smiled.

"This is... I..." She swallowed hard.

"I just wanted to get you something special. It's a promise ring. Sort of. It's a little nicer than any promise ring i've ever seen, but i thought you deserved it."

She pulled the ring from the box. "Could you put it on for me?"

She held out her hand. Tom took her hand into his and slid the ring onto her middle finger. The silver band was cool against her too hot skin.

"I so love you," she said, kissing him quickly, her heart thumping in her chest.

Something clicked behind them.

Kayla pulled away from Tom and saw Craig in the bushes.

"Craig!" Tom shouted. "Tell me you did not just take a picture."

He chuckled. "Just wanted to take a snapshot for the birthday girl so she can remember her special day." He hurried off as Kayla lunged at him.

"Kayla." Tom grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"He just took a picture of us kissing!" she said, her breath coming quicker. Craig had the biggest mouth.

"So what?" Tom said. "People are going to find out anyway. Let's just try to enjoy tonight, huh?"

"But..."

He tilted her chin up with a finger and kissed her, pressing her back against the building wall. His tongue glided over her lips, and she couldn't seem to think straight.

"I'll find Craig," Tom said softly between kisses, "and ask him to keep quiet just for tonight."

"Thanks."

Tom kissed her once more before disappearing around the building.