Scars

Hearing her son’s alarm clock sound upstairs, Tonya smiled to her self from where she was sat at the table with a mug of coffee in front of her. She listened as she heard him curse lightly as he got out of bed followed by him making his way out of his room and down the stairs.

“Morning.” He muttered through a yawn as he slouched into the kitchen, rubbing his tired eyes with the heel of his palm.

“Morning birthday boy.” She cheered with a smile lifting up a gift bag from under the table and passing it to him.

“Thanks mom.” He replied with a smile, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

“You know, I remember when you’d be all enthusiastic about your birthday.” she said jokingly. Jake rolled his eyes with a smile as he opened his card, before taking the presents out one by one and unwrapping them.

“Thanks mom, these are awesome.” He said dryly having picked out each of the games he’d opened.

“There’s one more.” she said, getting up and walking over to the counter, opening one of the draws and removing a small gift wrapped box.

“I think it’s time you had these.” She said with a saddened smile, placing the box down in front of him.

Jake looked down at it with slight confusion, slowly picking it up to unwrap. Tonya watched him nervously as he opened the box and gently took out a set of dog tags.

“They were your fathers. I think he would have liked you to have them. He’d be so proud of you.” she said quietly, trying to smile as tears formed in her eyes.

“They’re really mine now?” he asked quietly looking up at her.

“Yeah, I think now’s the perfect time to give them to you.” she replied.

“And you really think Dad would be proud of me?” he asked as he slipped them over his head, adjusting them so they sat perfectly against his chest.

“Are you kidding me, of course he would be. He’d be so proud of you. I’m so proud of you. You’re a credit to both me and your father.” She replied, swallowing back the lump that had formed in her throat.

He looked up at her and smiled, leaning over to embrace her. “I love you mom.” He said quietly.

“I love you too Jake.” She replied, taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes, tightening her hold of him.

“I love dad too, and I miss him everyday.” He told her, a slight hitch in his voice.

“I know, I do too.” she whispered as she pulled away from him. “Right, now, enough of the mushy stuff. We’ve gotta go see your Grandmas so go get ready and I’ll make us breakfast.”

“Okay, but yanno grandma Hayward will have a stack of pancakes waiting for us when we get there.” he said as he gathered his gifts off the table.

“You have a point there. go get ready and we’ll head straight over.”

*~*

As Jake and his friends chatted excitedly in the living room about the video games he’d had for his birthday and which one they would play first, Tonya busied herself in the kitchen preparing the food she was doing for them. As she poured chips into a bowl there was a knock at the door. She grabbed the bowl and carried it through to the living room, placing it on the coffee table in front of the five teenage boys, all of whom lunged forward to grab a handful of chips as she made her way over door, opening it to find Stella stood on the other side.

“Hey, where’s the birthday boy?” she cheered as she walked into the house, Tonya closing the door behind her.

“Over there with the other gremlins.” Tonya said with a raised voice hoping that her son and his friends would hear her.

“Mom, will you stop calling us gremlins.” Jake yelled.

“But where would the fun in that be?” she replied with a smile as Stella walked over to him and handed him a card and present.

“Happy Birthday Dude.” She said with a smile. “Cole said he doesn’t think you’ve got it.”

“Thanks Stella.” He replied with a beaming smile as he urgently began to rip the wrapping paper away.

“You’re welcome kiddo.” She replied as she followed Tonya through to the kitchen.

“Thanks for coming over tonight.” Tonya said as she grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and two glasses out of the cupboard.

“Hey, you know me, any excuse to spend the night with the beautiful Johnny.” She replied with a smile, waving the Johnny Depp box-set Jake had got her for her birthday the week before.

Tonya wiggled her eyebrows with a smile, “Grab a couple bags of chips and we’ll head up stairs.” she said making her way back through, Stella following her.

“Right boys, you know the rules; all the food and drink is in the kitchen, enjoy and we’ll be back down at one.” She said to the boys, all of whom murmured their replies of understanding before Tonya and Stella turned for the stairs. They made their way into Tonya’s bedroom, Stella kicking off her shoes before climbing onto the large king sized bed.

“Okay which one first?” she asked holding up the DVDs as Tonya placed the wine and glasses on the nightstand.

“Um, let’s start with From Hell, I haven’t seen that in a while.” She replied, Stella taking the DVD out of the case and passing it to Tonya before reaching over to open the wine. They both settled onto the bed, opening the bag of chips as the movie began to play.

“Hey, did you test drive that rabbit yet?” Stella asked, playfully nudging Tonya’s arm as they sat watching their third film, Edward Scissorhands

“Oh yeah I did, me likey.” She replied with a wink and a smile.

“Hmm, yeah so do me and Cole.” Stella replied with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows. “Oh and I got this in the mail this morning. I thought it was a joke at first.”

Tonya took the promotional leaflet out of Stella’s hand, almost choking on the wine she’d just taken a sip of.

“The Darth invader?” she asked incredulously as she started at the flyer.

“Yep!” Stella said with a smile as she watched Tonya’s eyes scan over the paper.

“With realistic heavy breathing action?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Yeah, cos that’s exactly what you want to hear when you’re getting off. Can you imagine

“Luke, I am your father.” She replied giggling in a husky voice, causing Tonya to splutter wine out of her mouth.

“Seriously, I want, no, need one of these! Are you going to stock them?” Tonya asked.
Stella looked at her in slight shock for a moment, “You really want one?”

“Hell yes, why not?” she exclaimed.

Stella shook her head, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you, love you.” she replied with a cheesy grin.

“Sweetie, you need a man! You should really think about giving that Brian guy a call! He looks the kinda guy who could really fulfil your needs.” She replied with a wink.

Tonya couldn’t help the smile that crept across her lips.

“Oh my god! You did it didn’t you? You’ve called him already!” Stella yelled, sitting up straighter on the bed.

“No, I haven’t called him, but I did see him again yesterday. It turns out that he’s in the same Jujitsu club as Jake.” She explained.

“Seriously? Oh my god! It’s fate! Fate wants the two of you together! You’ve gotta call him now!” Stella yelled.

“Fate? Really?” Tonya said, staring at Stella.

“Of course it’s fate. You’re too scared to call him, so fate is presenting you with another chance to talk to him and get to know him.” she said with a beaming smile.

“You don’t think it’s just a coincidence?” she asked sceptically.

“No, it’s fate. Think about it.” she said matter of factly.

Turning her attention back to the movie and taking a sip of wine that’s what Tonya did.