I'm back! Just finished college in second year! And I passed all of my classes, yay!

RANDOM FACT: I've finished my novel! Which had 90 thousand words and I've completed the second draft. Well, maybe…but I need some beta readers if they are willing to read what my story is about! (Be aware, it's awful! But I loved it so much that I want to publish it!)

Now my reward is to write the chapter that everyone will love…I think.

EDIT: Sorry, this was one month ago! I nearly forgotten about this chapter but decided since I've got nothing to do, I'll finish it! So sorry for the delay!

UPDATE (Aug 6, 2015): Hello again! Sorry, been editing my book like crazy! Hope you all enjoy this!

Chapter Nine: Birthday

"Stacey!" a voice shouted, I groaned as I woke up and blinked to the sunlight that is shining on me. "Go away." I moaned as I pulled the blanket to cover me so that I can sleep in the darkness. I love to sleep in the dark. "Wake up!" again, the voice shouted then the pillow hits me straight on my head. I groaned when I sat up, but I fell on the floor with a thud, I opened my eyes a bit then I closed it.

I heard laughter, I blushed in fury. I grumbled when I moved my hand, the men stopped laughing and one of them asked, "What did you say?" I slapped my hand on the floor and I pushed myself up to sit down and looked at the men that are around me. Slim, George, Lennie, Whit, and Carlson surrounded me; Candy sat on the bed, smiling at me.

"I said….why did you wake me up?" I said perfectly clear to the men so that they don't have to repeat twice. "Why, didn't you know?" Slim asked while he bent down to look at me in the eye level, I shake my head, pretending to play along. I knew what day it was.

It's my birthday.

Slim furrowed his black eyebrows as he moved his head back, confused that I forgotten about my birthday. I laughed a bit, "Silly you! I know it's today. I know it's my birthday! Why did you think I'd forget?" I asked while shaking my head and arched up my eyebrow. I smiled lightly at Slim. Slim and the rest of the men smiled back to me.

"Well then, let's get the day started, shall we?" Slim asked after he extends his hand towards me, I put my small hand on his large hand; he pulls me up as if I weigh nothing, like a doll. "There better be no surprises! You know I hate them, Slim." I said to remind him. This surprise that happened last year was when one of the guys, Whit threw me a surprise party at the barn, I got scared to death that I fell on…horse poop.

Now, don't let me relive it again.

Slim barked laughter at the memory of last year, "Yes, I do remember that day quite well!" Slim nodded after his laughter subdued. "What of it?" George asked, he's clearly confused of what's going on. My face reddened as I spoke, "Whit threw a surprise party last year and scared me enough for me to fall…on a horse poop," I ended with the glare at Whit and my face were red like beets.

George's eyebrows rose up and looked at Slim while Whit is trying so hard not to laugh behind Slim. "That's not kind of you, Whit." George said as he turned around to look at Whit with the disapproving stare and shakes his head for a bit. Whit stopped snickering and looked at George, "W-well, it wasn't my idea to get her scared to death. And plus the poop wasn't there! It was the horse, not me!" Whit said, quickly defending himself over what happened last year.

"All's well, I forgive you—but you better not do this again for today, Whit." I said, pointing at him. Whit nodded, he understands that once he does it again, he knows I'm going to kill him. "So, what are we going to do on your birthday, ma'am?" Slim asked after clapping his hands to change the subject. I gotta love Slim sometimes.

He just makes everything better, I suppose.

"I don't know but I plan to work today and today is the paycheck day. So I don't know what I want to do with the money that will come in today." I said, shrugging my shoulders because I had no idea what to do on my birthday since I never really gotten anything. Slim is thinking, I can tell since he always thins his lips and looked upward to his right.

"Why don't we go into town? You got to have something for your birthday." Slim asked, "I know, but I couldn't think of anything that I would want," I said, shaking my head. "We'll think of something," Slim said, he nodded his head and turned to the guys that were in the room, "Alright! Let's go to work." Slim shouted, everyone walked out of the cabin and to the wagon. George stopped walking when he stared at me.

"What?" I asked, pondered of why he's looking at me like that. "Nothing just had an idea." George said, smiling at me. I arched up my eyebrow, looking at him suspiciously. What idea? I wondered and I was about to open my mouth until Slim called us to the wagon. We walked over to the wagon and jumped to sit on the edge of the wagon. I'll figure out what was his idea later…

At the field, I was working on the field and helping George by throwing the grains on the wagon. "Slim!" George called out; I stopped and looked at him. George walked to Slim, I arched up my eyebrow…wondering what's going on. I noticed that Slim and George looked at me with the soft smile on their faces, I walked over to them. I wanted to know what's going on.

"What's going on, guys?" I asked as I stopped and put my hand on my hip, gave them a hard look on my face. "Nothing, you will find out soon," Slim said as he chuckled and he walked away, leaving me with George. I looked at Slim as he is walking away. I looked back to George, he chuckled as he shook his head.

"Sorry Stacey," George said while lifted his hands up as if surrendering himself and he walked away. My eyes followed George's movements and I squints my eyes, still suspicious to them. I shook my head and walked back to where we were when George and I were working. I began working, forgetting about what just happened.

After work was done, everyone goes back to the cabins and relaxed for the day. I walked to the chair and sat down on it, letting out a tired sigh. I've been working so hard and no rest at all. I took out a white cloth to clean out my sweats that were on my face. The sweats bullets down my face all day long.

"Stacey!" Slim shouted, I looked up to See Slim waved me over to the barn, I furrowed my eyebrows. I stood up and walked over to Slim. He held out his hand to the small of my back, "What is it?" I asked confusedly. "Come inside," Slim said, he smiled at me. I looked back to the cabin, wanting to rest there and sleep. But curiosity hits like a train and I looked back to Slim. I nodded and he whispered, "Close your eyes," I arched up my eyebrow and sighed as I closed my eyes. Slim took my hands and guide me inside.

"Alright, you can open them," Slim said, I opened my eyes and I saw people jumping out of the hay and the posts. I gasped when they shouted, "SURPRISE!" and they sang happy birthday to me. My teeth gleamed when I looked up to Slim then I looked back to the guys that smiled at me. I saw Lennie, he's smiling like a child. George is right beside him, smiling gently at me.

I smiled at them and the party started.

I was getting a drink for myself, "You liking the party?" George asked while I turned around to look at him and I smiled. "I loved it! Whose idea is this?" I asked with my eyebrow raised up. "It was mine," George said as he looked down, as if he's embarrassed. I was surprised that he had planned this surprise party. I smiled sweetly at him and I put my hand on his shoulder, he looked up to me. He didn't say anything. I stood on my toes and kissed him on the cheek then I pulled away, "Thank you….that was so sweet of you," I said sincerely.

I walked away since I'm tired and leaving a blushed George behind with him touching his cheek where I kissed him.

I swear everytime I'm near George my heart skips a beat.

There! I hope you all enjoy this!