On the ride to my aunt's, I had my cell phone clenched in my hand hoping Chris would call. Pulling up to the house I see a lot of cars. When Maddox parks, I step out and I hear people talking and music coming from the back of the house. I really wish they wouldn't have done this. I hate my birthday and worrying about Chris and Alex is not helping. I'm going to make the best out of it and have a good time or, at least, pretend to. I may not be happy that they did this but I am grateful.

"Let's go, they're waiting for you, kitten." Maddox says, leading the way with his hand on my lower back.

I open the door and hear everyone yell, "Surprise! Happy birthday!" I see Chris and Alex standing in front of everyone, I'm shocked. I smile and Chris comes running at me nearly tackling me in hug. I'm laughing and Chris is yelling in my ear, "I miss you, come home!"

"Okay, Chris, let's not kill the birthday girl." I hear, Alex tease.

Chris releases me and hugs Maddox who is stiff with shock, I laugh and I walk to Alex. I give him a hug and he kisses my cheek. "Happy birthday, Blondie." He whispers, in my ear.

"Thank you. When did you guys get here?" I ask, happily.

"Last night."

"How long can I keep you here?" I ask, smiling.

He smirks and answers. "Three days. But I'm working on it."

I pull my pouty face at him and then see grandma coming towards me and she pulls me into a hug.

"You need to spend more time with us! Maddox doesn't know how to share." She looks at Maddox and points her finger. "You can go a day without her you know." She scowls, but ruins it by smiling brightly.

"It doesn't feel like it." Maddox, replies smirking.

I see Alex and he looks sick. He notices me looking at him and forces a smile. I walk back to his side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." He smiles and looks like the old Alex again then hugs me to his side.

"Babe! Tell me that's not who I think it is!" Tyler shouts from the front door.

I look at him confused. "Who?" I ask.

"Him! Alex Pillar, is here? In this house!" He yells.

"You know each other?" I ask, surprised.

Alex laughs and Tyler comes closer. "No, Daphne. I don't really know him, he plays for the freaking Yankees." Tyler replies, shaking his head.

"Oh, yeah." I say, feeling like an idiot. Sorry, but I hate baseball it's so boring. Chris hates it too, we tease Alex all the time. "Hey! I'm not a dumb bimbo, Scrappy!" I tease, when I realize what he called me.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you'll even believe it." He jokes, taking my hand putting on my green friendship bracelet, it says BEST. I look at his wrist and he has his red one on that says FRIEND.

I laugh. "I love it, thank you, Friend."

"Jesus! Maddox, nice rock you bought her!" Tyler yells, getting everyone's attention.

"It's not an engagement ring!" I shout, after seeing my Uncle John's face. I hit Tyler. "You moron! You almost gave my uncle a heart attack." I whisper, quietly.

"Sorry." He says, looking at my ring. "He did good. It's not as nice as my present though." He teases and hands me another present.

I open the square package, it's a jewelry box that says Cartier. I open the lid and it's a heart shaped locket. All white diamonds with a tiny skeleton key with black diamonds hanging from a delicate chain. It's so beautiful. I open the locket and see a tiny picture of me on one side and Tyler on the other.

"Look on the back." Tyler orders.

On the back it says, 'For a good time, call your BFF. Love, Tyler.'

I laugh. "I love it! Thank you." I say, hugging him.

"Excuse me, but you're my best friend." Chris jokes.

"I'm just lucky and get to have two BFFs" I shrug, smiling at Chris. I hand the necklace to Tyler and he puts it on me.

I realize I'm still next to Alex so I introduce him to Tyler, who I guess, is a fan. "Alex, this is Tyler, your only fan." I say, trying to sound serious.

Alex laughs and holds out his hand to Tyler. "Finally, I've always wanted a fan." Tyler laughs and shakes his hand "Hadley hates baseball, she says it's too boring. She doesn't get how hard it is to hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium." He explains.

"I get it." I argue. "I just don't understand how it's a sport if there's no hitting. Just a bunch of men throwing around a little ball, if you ask me, it's pretty sissy stuff." I reply, smiling at Chris who says, "Exactly, we like manly men." He teases, his brother.

Alex puts me in a headlock. "Take it back, Blondie."

"Never!" I yell, laughing and hitting his arm.

"Okay, hot dogs and burgers are done, everyone outside." Uncle John shouts. Alex lets me go and I look around for Maddox. I see him leaning against the wall.

"Well, come on, love muffin. I know you're hungry!" I say, smiling at him. He doesn't smile back and I'm about to ask him what's wrong but Alex takes my hand and pulls.

"Come on, I have a surprise for you." He says, excitedly.

We walk out the backdoor and I see a box of shoes, but not just any shoes, Christian Louboutin heels. I have wanted these shoes for so long; they are nude with the signature red soles. I look at Alex."Chris told you?"

"Yeah, Chris told me." He answers, looking at me strangely.

"Well, thank you." I say, giving him a side hug.

I walk to Chris and hug him too and he hands me a plate but instead of getting food I walk to the table holding my shoes and smell them. Alex asks from behind me. "Did you just smell those?"

"Yes, I did. I wanted to smell what heaven must smell like." I answer, seriously. Touching the shoes then I notice another box and I turn to Alex.

"What? Chris those picked out." He explains.

I look and they are the classic black leather heel, Maddox is going to love these, I immediately think.

"I think Maddox should thank you for these ones." I comment, looking around hoping to show him. I don't see him but I see J.J.

"J.J., have you seen Maddox?" I ask.

"Nope. He must be inside." He answers.

I notice Alex is still behind me when I turn around to go find Maddox. "Alex, go eat. With these boys, you might not get anything." I tell him, grinning. Then walk past him to go look for Maddox.

I look in the kitchen and he's not there so I try the living room and still don't see him. I go to my room and I find him on my bed. He's holding pictures of Chris, Alex and me. "What are you doing? It's time to eat. Oh, and I have something to show you, you're going to love what Chris and Alex got me." I announce, coming to the bed.

"Alex loves you." Maddox says, looking at the pictures.

"Well, I've known him since I was sixteen. I love him, too."

"No, Hadley, he's in love with you." He says, turning to me.

"You don't know what you're talking about. He's twenty-five years old. What would he want with an eighteen year old? Just because he loves me doesn't mean he's in love with me." I explain. "Let's go, I'm hungry and stop moping, you're being annoying again."

"Well, I'm annoyed. Stop letting him touch you." He demands.

"Really, Maddox, grow up all ready." I say, rolling my eyes at him. I walk out the door. I won't let him ruin my mood. He catches up to me and grabs my hand.

"I'm sorry. I just can't stand him touching you. I'm jealous of anyone that you let touch you." He explains.

"Just wait until you see what I'll be wearing for you later. If you behave yourself, I'll even let you use your door." I whisper in his ear earning a groan.

We walk together out the back door and everyone is eating, talking and sitting around in lawn chairs. I pass Maddox a plate and we both get food and look for an open chair. The only open seat is next to Alex. I walk over and put my plate down. Maddox sits down and I sit on his lap.

"So, Clark Kent. Have you been taking care of my baby sis?" Chris asks.

"Shouldn't you be asking her that?" Maddox questions back smiling.

"Hey! I still want to hear about this Clark Kent thing." Luke interrupts.

Maddox and Chris laugh while I shake my head, thanks so much Chris.

"So, what's the plan while you two are here?" I ask Alex and Chris, trying to change the subject.

"Well, we are stealing you from Mr. Wonderful for a couple of days." Chris answers.

"Knowing you, you have a whole schedule. What do you want to do first?" I ask.

"No plans... I'm flying by the seat of my pants, plus Alex yelled at me for looking up all the gay bars, said he won't go to another one." Chris says, pouting.

"I have a meeting to go to tomorrow but after that I'm free." Alex adds.

"Beach?" I ask.

"Sounds good to me." Alex agrees.

"Me too! Let's go shopping for swim suits before hand, that way we don't have to drag Alex around. We'll go when he's at his meeting then meet him back at the hotel and leave from there."

"Okay, what time's your meeting?" I ask, trying to plan the day.

"Nine, it should take an hour or two." He answers.

"That works out perfectly then." I tell him.

"Pool time! Last one in buys the beer!" Adam yells. And most the guys strip and dive into the pool.

"I need to put on my suit. Chris, you coming?" I ask.

"Wait, I'm a best friend too! Can I come?" Tyler asks, excitedly starting to stand up.

"Don't even think about it. Sit back down." Maddox warns.

"Sorry, friend. My master has spoken." I say, sarcastically walking with Chris to my room.

"Okay, what the fuck!" Chris shouts as soon as I shut the door.

"What?"

"Your man is so intense. Plus, you have that Tyler guy, I'm pretty sure they both are like you."

"You don't know Tyler, trust me, we are just friends. What's up with Alex? Oh, and why did you hang up after I heard a crash? You scared me!" My questions are met with silence which only means one thing, it's not good.

"I don't know how to say this so I'm going to say it and that's that. And you have to act normal, bitch! I mean it!" He threatens.

"Wow, okay."

"Alex may have thrown his phone into the hotel TV after I told him about Maddox. Apparently, he has a thing for you and was waiting for you to turn eighteen. I'm pretty sure that the only reason we are here is so he can meet with the Oakland A's to talk about him coming here. Hadley, he's doing it for you. We have to talk to him, unless you feel the same."

"You're kidding." I reply, shocked.