Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

-Mark Twain

XLI | THE L-Word

Three months passed by like a quick breeze, which meant me and Reece have been dating for exactly four months in total by now. The school year would be ending in about four months, so we would be seniors this year.

I honestly couldn't wait to be a senior, I'm a little bit afraid about college, but Gwen said it's easy if you just study and focus hard. Me and Reece really haven't discussed if we are going to the same college or not, to be honest, I don't really want to ask, the fear of us parting ways scares me.

Me and Reece walked down the halls, hand in hand. Today was just a regular day for me, nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Once we reached my locker, I saw my friends gathered around, balloons on my locker. "Happy birthday, Violetta!" Ocean squealed, walking up to me and giving me a bear crushing hug. I wished I had time to escape since she basically crushed my ribs.

"Ocean, she can't breathe," Reece said, removing her gently from me.

"Happy birthday, bestie," Ronnie smiled, walking up to me and hugging me along with the others. I told everyone thank you as I opened my locker, resulting in confetti to be blown on my face. I coughed some out of my mouth as Zoey and Laurianne helped remove some from my hair.

I grabbed my biology notes with a frown on my face and closed my locker.

"Someone isn't happy about the day she was born," Landon mumbled to Jake and Chase, in which I obviously heard because he can't whisper to save his life.

Why should I? I mean, I was just another year older. I never really saw the big deal about birthdays. Sure, it was the day we were born, but not everyone was as ecstatic about it as others.

Reece, Miles, Jake, Ronnie, and I walked into biology class. Me and Ronnie took our regular seats in the middle, while the boys went to the back of the room.

Mr Simon walked into class and rested his briefcase on his table, he licked his yellow teeth and clapped his hands and without saying anything, he started to write on the board.

"Okay, so today we are going to talk about immunology, let's start by the definition obviously," he spoke loud, writing on the board as we brought out our notes, "now, this is the study of a branch of biology that covers the study of immune systems in al--," before Mr Simon could continue, Reece interrupted him by walking to the front of the room.

"Mr West, what is the meaning of this?" Mr Simon shouted, Reece scrunched his nose due to Mr Simon's breathe. I swear I need to find out his birthday, so I can buy him a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some deodorant, hmm, maybe some Axel spray too.

Reece coughed, waving his hand in front of his face, so Mr Simon's breathe would be wafted away.

"Shut it, baldie, now today is my baby's birthday," Reece said smirking at me. I bowed my head in embarrassment, but Ronnie quickly dragged my head up. "So, yeah you all should wish her a happy birthday, but don't think this is an opportunity for any of you boys to flirt with her, or I'll kill you," Reece threatened, glaring at every boy in the class. He then smirked. "Have a nice day," he spoke, before he went back to his seat, making sure to ruffle my hair. I groaned as I tried to fix the mess he did to my hair.

Just like he said, people told me happy birthday throughout today, it was also because, during one of my classes, Reece asked Principal Wesley if he could use the loudspeaker, making him say happy birthday to me and that everyone should wish me a happy birthday, this causing me to get a  happy birthday card, and some gifts, I didn't even know some of these people, I guess that's one of the perks of dating Reece West.

With my bag and hands filled with small presents and cards, I got into Ronnie's car, Reece said he had to do something real quick but would meet me at my house.

"Wow, that boy loves you," Ronnie said as she left the school's parking lot, I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Haha, what?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I mean, I'm sure he told people yesterday that today was your birthday and he told you happy birthday on the loudspeaker, if that's not love, then I don't know what is," she said and I bit my lip, looking straight ahead.

I cleared my throat. "Actually, we haven't said the L-word yet," I stated and Ronnie raised her eyebrow as she started to drive down the narrow road.

"Wow, really? Me and Jake already used the L-word. I thought you guys had, do you love him though?" She questioned and I sighed. Do I love Reece? I haven't put much thought into it.

"To be honest with you Ronnie, I have no idea, I haven't really thought about it," I answered, shrugging, she only nodded.

She parked in front of my house and we got out of her car. We entered and saw Dad, Mom, my siblings, and all my friends in the living room, including Reece's family.

"Happy birthday, again," Miles said, his voice was high due to the helium he got from the balloons he was blowing. I saw a small cake on the coffee table and presents in the corner.

"Wow guys, this is really sweet, thank you," I said truthfully, even some of my ballet friends were here, especially one of my closest friends, Emily. Brandon was out of town for an art show, but called me and wished me a happy birthday.

I sat down next to my Dad and Mom, my Dad kissed my temple. "Happy birthday, Violetta," he said and I smiled and thanked him. The front door opened, revealing a smiling Reece as he closed the door, some girls from my ballet class eyed him up and down hungry.

Why am I friends with some of these girls again?

He pulled me up from the couch and sat down, he then pulled me into his lap and kissed my shoulder, I looked at my Dad and Mom, my Dad was recording it on his phone.

"Ugh, Dad seriously," I groaned and he smiled and put his phone away.

"Time for cake," Ocean squealed as she shared out the red velvet cake to everyone, the cake being my favorite flavor by the way. After everyone ate, it was time for presents. I first opened my ballet class friends present which consisted of clothes, shoes, and gift cards, Emily got me the Shawn Mendes album and I almost fainted in excitement.

Reece's parents got me a necklace, while Robin, Raelyn, Reid and Raven got me Marc Jacob shoes, and Romeo even though I protested at first, gave me a kiss on the cheek. He wanted to aim for my lips next, but Reece quickly pushed his brother away.

"Our turn," Zoey said and she and Miles stood up from the floor and went to get their presents for me.

"So, me and Zoey kind of brainstormed together and got this for you this," Miles said, his high voice had already long gone. I opened the huge box and gasped, it was all Harry Potter movies, including Harry, Hermione, and Ron dolls.

I stood up and hugged both of them. "OMG, OMG, OMG, I love this, thank you, guys!" I said excitedly. Wow, I've been hanging out with Ocean way too much.

I happily rested the present on the floor as Ocean came up next and handed me her present. I opened it and smiled. "It's a Gucci purse, the new one that came out last month," she informed. I touched the smooth fabric and looked up at her.

"Thank you," I smile, hugging her before she went back to her seat.

Landon was next, he smirked and handed me my present. For some reason I was afraid to open it, this boy was crazy and I wouldn't be surprised if he got me a poisonous snake.

I opened it and my lips formed into a straight line. "Oh wow, lingerie from Victoria secret...thanks," I said, checking the size. "Wait, how did you even know my bra size?" I questioned, looking up at him, he only winked at me and went back to his seat.

Jake was next and handed me my present, which was a Prada perfume. "Aww, I love it," I said, sniffing the amazing scent.

After him, it was Ronnie, who handed me my present. I opened it and immediately smiled. "It's a friendship bracelet, I found it weird how we don't have one," she explained, I smiled and touched the silver bracelet as she handed Chase his own as well.

VCV

The engravement was me, Ronnie, and Chase's first letters of our names. I put on the bracelet and Ronnie did the same, along with Chase.

"Thank you, I love you," I said hugging her.

"Love you too," she said and went back to sit next to Jake.

"Okay, little sister, I was extremely lazy, so I just got you earrings," Gwen said, I laughed as she handed them to me.

"And me and Millie got you this," Cole said, handing me my present. I opened it and smiled, it was the Divergent book series.

"Which I, of course, paid for," Mom pointing out, laughing and Cole shrugged, heading back to his seat.

" thank you Millie," I told my sister who was on mom's lap.

"welcome," she said continuing to play with her Barbie doll.

"Me and your Mother got you that watch you wanted for last Christmas," my Dad said handing me the designer watch I indeed wanted for last Christmas. I smiled and hugged both of them.

"Thank you," I said

"My turn," Laurianne said, getting her present and handing it to me, I smiled and opened it to reveal a pink book with a pen inside.

"You can write all your thoughts in there, basically like a diary," she stated and I smiled and hugged her.

"I love it," I said before she went back to her seat

Chase stood up and handed me a photo frame. I gasped and smiled, one half was a picture of a toddler me and Chase hugging each other, it was the first day we met and my Mom insisted we take a photo together, the other half was a picture of me, Chase, and Ronnie during sophomore year, when we went to the park - all three of us smiling at the camera as my dad took the picture.

I showed Ronnie the picture frame and she laughed. "Yup, that was the time I thought my bangs were cute when they definitely weren't," she laughed, handing it back to me.

"True, and I told you several times you did not look hot with those bangs," Chase laughed, walking back to his seat as Ronnie made sure to kick his leg as he walked past her.

"And now for the finale, my turn," Reece smirked, removing me from his lap and sitting me back down on the couch. I smiled. "Now, I got you exactly three presents," he said and my smile widened.

"One," he said walking over to the present area that only had three presents left, which I now know were from Reece.

He took all three and handed me the first one, I slowly opened it and it revealed a necklace. "Whoa, that looks expensive as fuck," Ocean whispered to Zoey.

Do any of these people know how to whisper?

I removed it from its box and looked at the engravement on the necklace.

Veece

I swear I was almost on the verge of tears, my Dad helped me put it on and I smiled as I touched it, it was cold on my neck but it made me feel complete.

"Now, the second one is a tab bit personal, so can I just borrow Violetta for a quick sec," Reece asked and everyone nodded.

He softly took my hand and lead me upstairs to my room.

He closed the door and smiled at me, I frowned.

"Reece, I swear if the second present is birthday sex, I'm out," I said and he chuckled.

"Violet, it's not," he said gently and getting down on one knee, I gasped.

"Reece, I want this one day, but I'm only seventeen and you're sixteen, so you're still basically a baby," I teased him and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not proposin', Violetta," he sighed, before chuckling. He unwrapped the gift paper to reveal a small black box, he opened it, my eyes went huge when I saw a diamond ring inside. "I know it's still a bit early in our relationship, but I wouldn't want to give this to anyone else, I told you, Violetta, that one day I was goin' to put three rings on your finger, a promise ring, an engagement ring, and a weddin' ring," he smiled. "Well, I'm ready to give you this promise ring, to promise to love you unconditionally," he said.

"You love me?" I asked wide-eyed.

"How could I not, I love everythin' about you...well, besides your awful singin' of course. I just...I've been thinkin' about this for a while now, and I guess my feelin's for you grew more and more until they developed into somethin' stronger, it's okay if you don't fee--"

Before he could continue I pecked his lips gently, mostly to just shut him up. I looked into his blue eyes. "I love you too," I said and he replaced his nervous smile with a huge, happy one.

There was no doubt that I didn't love Reece, I mean, what was there not to love? I loved everything about him, I can go on and on and list reason why I want to spend the rest of my life with him, but I think I'll just save that for our wedding day.

Reece removed the ring from the box and slowly placed it on my left finger, the diamonds sparkled.

I smiled at it. "How much was this, babe?" I questioned, chuckling and he smirked.

"It's best if you don't know," he said standing up.

"And now for the last," he continued to say.

"Reece, this is all too much, you didn't have to do this all for me," I said and he rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand and led me downstairs.

"Guys, follow me," He told them.

Everyone followed behind us and he handed me my final present. I opened it and saw a car key, my face grew in confusion.

"Why are you giving me this?" I asked and all he did was smirk and open the front door.

Everyone gasped in shock, even my Dad that was drinking his coffee almost choked on it as my Mom rubbed his back.

"Well, fuck," Miles said.

"You bought my sister a pink Ferrari?" Gwen asked in disbelief. My jaw was still open wide as I stared at the said car which was, indeed, a pink Ferrari on my driveway, the sun captivated it and it sparkled.

"Well yeah, I noticed she loved all my cars and loved to drive them, so I thought, hey, why not just buy her one," Reece shrugged.

"Wow, I'm glad that's not from my bank account," Mr West said in complete shock.

"Cool, can I get one?" Cole asked excitedly.

"Nope," my Mom said who was holding Millie.

" pink," Millie clapped happily while still looking at the car.

"Reece, this is way too much," I said looking at him.

"If you don't want it, I'll gladly take it," Gwen said, aiming to collect the key from my hand and I pushed her hand away.

"No, go away," I told her, holding the beautiful black car key to my heart.

"Take her for a spin," Reece smiled and I squealed, grabbing Reece's hand as we went towards it.

I touched the beautiful pink car and unlocked it and went inside, I sniffed the air, it had that beautiful new car smell.

My smile went huge as Reece got inside the passenger's seat. "I love you so much," I said happily, side hugging him.

He kissed the top of my head. "I love you too, Wifey," he chuckled as I removed myself from him and started the car, it roared to life and I swear I almost cried.

"How were you able to afford this? I thought you don't rely on your parents?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Racin' money," he said and I frowned.

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," he said and I smiled.

I turned on the radio and Reece groaned.

🎶I don't think you're ready for this jelly

I sang horribly as I drove down the street, causing Reece to once again turn off the radio.

"I love you, but please shut up."

☪︎

After an hour, we drove back to my house, by then, all my ballet friends and Reece's family were already gone.  It was already starting to get dark and I exhaustedly sat on the living room couch as my friends were watching SpongeBob.

"I have to admit, this was a pretty awesome birthday, thanks guys," I smiled and they all said 'You're welcome'. My Dad was in the kitchen talking to Mom. Millie, Cole, and Gwen were upstairs in their rooms, while Coco was on my lap, sleeping away.

I looked at all my friends, I was grateful for every single one of them. I don't know what I'll do without them in my life. Then I looked at Reece, he had his arm around my shoulder as he was talking to Chase, and Landon, laughing while doing so. I smiled more at that, I didn't know what I'll do without Reece in my life as well. Same goes to my family who I loved so much.

I looked down at Coco and softly kissed her head, it was truly the best birthday ever.