Did You Get What You Deserve?

As we walked into the theatre and filed down the narrow aisle to our seats, I glanced up at the people sitting in our row. James, Mikey, Dani, Alicia-

“Bob!”

He looked up.

“Surprise! Happy Birthday.”

I beamed at him.

“I thought you weren’t coming until the holidays!”

“Well, we decided we had to be here on your birthday.”

I beamed again and looked around.

“Where’s Anna?”

“Right here.”

I jumped and turned around. Annabelle was standing right behind me, grinning from ear to ear.

“Hey Alec.”

“Hi Anna.”

Just then something hit my waist and I looked down, staggering and trying to catch my balance.

“Ah, what the- Charlotte!”

Seven-year-old Charlotte Toro smiled up at me.

“Happy birthday, Alec.”

“Thanks.”

She let go of me and straightened up, running her hand through her curly ginger hair.

“Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks. Is your dad here?”

She shook her head.

“I’m here with Anna. Dad’s at home with Harrison.”

I nodded. At that point one of the theatre staff came down the aisle, telling everybody to take their seats. Anna and Charlotte slid past everybody to sit on the other side of Bob. I sat down next to James. He looked at me and grinned.

“Hey Alec.”

“Hi James.”

The lights dimmed and the audience went quiet instantly. Five seconds later, the curtains opened.

As the curtains closed on the final scene and the applause began, I looked down at Linda, who was sitting beside me. I bent down so I could speak into her ear.

“Did you enjoy that?”

She nodded, grinning.

After the bows and speeches, we all filed out of the theatre. I looked at Dad.

“Where do we go now?”

“Backstage.”

He led us around to the back entrance. After Dad provided suitable ID, the doorman let us in to wait. About ten minutes later, Katie came running down the stone stairs. When she reached us, she hugged Dad and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks for coming, guys.”

She then hugged me.

“Happy Birthday, Alec.”

I smiled.

“The performance was great, Katie.”

“Really? Thanks.”

Linda jumped up and down.

“The end was so cute!”

Katie laughed.

“Really? I prefer the ending where they die. More dramatic.”

“But the sad ending is a let-down!”

“The happy ending is cliché.”

Dad laughed.

“Okay, okay, continue this in the car if you must.”

Not ten minutes later, we were at the restaurant. Waiting out the front were Mikey and James. James grinned as I got out of the car.

“Hey Alec.”

I smiled at him.

“Hi James.”

Mikey hugged Katie.

“The performance was brilliant.”

“Thanks.”

As we walked into the restaurant, something leaped out at me from behind a potted plant.
“Aaaalec!”

I detached the little arms from my waist and grinned.

“Hiya Harrison.”

He beamed at me as Ray ran over.

“There you are, Harry. Oh, hi Alec.”

“Hi Ray.”

I hugged him.

“Oi, guys, there’s a table ready for us.”

“Gerard!”

“Happy birthday, Alecsandra.”

I pointed my finger threateningly at him and he laughed.

“Alec.”

“That’s better.”

As we took our places at the table, I found myself sitting just around the corner from James. He grinned at me and kicked my foot. I giggled and kicked him back.

It was going to be a fun night.

**Author's Note: I'm sorry it took so long. The last week of school was very busy, and I had writer's block. I would just sit there staring at the screen for about ten minutes at a time, doing nothing and getting no ideas. But I eventually, through many filler-ish ideas, managed to churn out a chapter for you.
I am also horribly aware that the story is moving very slowly. These five chapters have covered not even a day. So I shall be moving faster from now on. And hopefully my writer's block has disappeared!**