"Happy birthday, Holly!" Casey cried, throwing her arms around me.

"How many times are you going to say that to me today?" I responded with a laugh, pulling her arms around me. This was the fifth time today.

"Every time I see you!" Casey notified me. "You're officially a legal adult!"

"Well actually, she won't be an adult-adult until she's twenty-one," Sam corrected, grinning at me. "But it's close enough."

"Hey! I can be thrown in jail for crimes now!" I said enthusiastically. "No more Juvie!"

"And you can't date anyone older than eighteen without any legal problems," Casey told me with a wink.

My faces grew hot and I looked away from her. "I guess so..."

"So we're all going to the fair tomorrow?" Sam asked, pulling my lunch towards him. "Are you going to eat your brownie?"

"Taking the roll of Lance, I see," Sadie commented, rolling her eyes. "It's Holly's birthday. Let her have her brownie."

Sam frowned at Sadie. "You spoil all my fun."

"I'm your girlfriend, I'm supposed to."

I laughed as Sam grinned. "Sam, you can have my brownie. I don't like them. And I have cookies from Danielle, anyway." I shook the bag of chocolate chip cookies Danielle had baked me for my birthday. "I'm set."

"Awesome," Sam responded, taking my brownie of my tray. "You can have the tray."

"Whoa! Highlight of my day!" I responded with mock excitement.

"What are you doing tonight for your birthday?" Sadie asked. "Going somewhere with your mom?"

"Yeah. My mom is taking me, Jeremy and Mr... Mr. Ross, Jeremy's dad, out to eat," I corrected myself, blushing. That was too close.

Sadie wagged her eyebrows. "Who's Jeremy?"

"Holly's handsome elder companion," Casey responded for me. "Holly likes older guys."

"Casey!"

Sadie laughed. "Don't be embarrassed about that!"

"I'm not!" I responded, my face still burning. "I don't have a relationship with Jeremy, he's just a friend."

"Or is he?"

"Just a friend," I assured Sadie.

She shrugged. "That's too bad. You could use a boyfriend, Holly."

Before I could respond someone tapped on my shoulder, making me jump. I twisted around in my seat to see an underclassman I didn't recognize holding out a small, yellow piece of paper.

"Holly Evers?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah...?"

"This is for you, from Mr. Heywood. He wants to see you for a moment."

The younger student thrust the piece of paper closer to my face and I quickly grabbed it from him before he could stab my eye out. As soon as the paper left his hand, he turned and made his way away from my table. My eyes went from the boy to the note and I almost smiled at the sight of Mr. Heywood's sloppy handwriting.

"Mr. Heywood is here today?" Sadie asked excitedly. "Yay! He's been out sick for like, forever."

"What's it say?" Casey prodded, looking at it over my shoulder at the note.

"Nothing much, he just wants to see me before lunch ends," I told her, scanning over the note again. "I guess I can leave early..."

Casey smirked at me, coming closer, and lowering her voice. "You two alone, huh? And it's your birthday..."

"Casey! Shh!"

"What? I'm just saying. You're a legal adult now, Holly."

Casey's words sent a shock through my body. I was a legal adult now. I was eighteen. Mr. Heywood wanted me to go to his classroom, where we would be together alone... The perfect chance to confess?

"You're blushing," Casey chirped, a grin spreading across her face. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing," I snapped, turning my face down.

"Sure, Holly, sure. What are you thinking?"

"Nothing!"

"You can't lie to me."

I blanked at Casey, who returned my look with an eyebrow raised. "Why does everyone say that?"

"Say what?"

"That I can't lie to them!"

Casey laughed. "It's because you're so easy to see through, and you're just not a good liar."

I scowled, crossing my arms. "Gee, thanks."

"No problem!"

"I'm going to go to Mr. Heywood's room now," I said, pushing myself off my seat. "I might be back, I might not..."

Casey raised her eyebrows suggestively, but I just rolled my eyes. I bid my adieus to my friends again and made my way out of the cafeteria. The halls were dead and quiet as I walked down them and I could hear my own footsteps reverberating against the walls. Anxiety suddenly filled me as I entered the Science wing, and continued to grow as I headed for Mr. Heywood's room. I stopped in front of it and took a deep breath before pushing it open.

Mr. Heywood didn't enter my vision. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I stared at his empty desk. I glanced around the room only to find it equally as empty. The supply room door called me and I made my way towards it, opening the door, and poking my head in. Still no Mr. Heywood.

"Where...?" I muttered, taking a step further into the supply room.

"Boo."

My heart leapt into my throat as someone grabbed my shoulders and whispered into my ear. I twirled around, coming face-to-face with Mr. Heywood. He grinned at me, his shoulders shaking in silent laughter. I scowled at him.

"What do you want?" I asked moodily.

"You jumped so hard," he commented, grinning wider.

I blushed and quickly turned my head away from Mr. Heywood. "Haha, so funny."

"Oh, don't be a killjoy."

"What do you want?" I repeated, my face still hot.

I heard Mr. Heywood sigh. "I need you to tell your mom that I'll meet you guys at the restaurant because I have something to do first. I won't be late, but it'll just be easier to meet there."

"Okay," I responded, turning to face Mr. Heywood again. He stared at me intently for a moment and I raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "What?"

"You have a little something..." He raised a hand up to my face and brushed his finger along my lower lip gently.

Immediately I turned red, slapping his hand away in surprise. He raised an eyebrow in amusement, a smirk appearing on his lips. Doing my best to ignore his expression, I quickly ran the back of my hand over my mouth to rid whatever he had seen on it.

"What are we celebrating tonight?" Mr. Heywood asked in a confused tone.

I stared at him blankly. By now I could tell when he was kidding, so he didn't fool me this time. Mr. Heywood smirked as I did my best to ignore his teaseing. He obviously knew...

"Oh, that's right," Mr. Heywood continued, nodding. "This is a thank-you for watching you last weekend. How nice of your mother to invite me. Osaka is my favorite restaurant."

"What a coincidence, mine too," I responded, smiling. "Though I wonder why my mom would invite you since it is my birthday and you're just my teacher..."

Mr. Heywood frowned, obviously not expecting my response. I did my best to keep a straight face and hide the smirk that wanted to slip onto my face. He teased me all the time, so wasn't if fair that I could tease him back sometimes?

"It's not that weird," Mr. Heywood told me with a shrug.

"Yes it is."

Mr. Heywood frowned at me. "You don't want me to go?"

"That's not it!" I said quickly. Mr. Heywood smirked in triumph and I realized my mistake. Another blush appeared on my face and I looked at the ground in defeat. Mr. Heywood played dirty.

"I have a confession to make," Mr. Heywood started. "It's not a big confession, but a confession nonetheless."

Immediately I understood what he was trying to do. He was trying to hint that I should re-confess to him! My eyes widened in shock and I stared at him for a minute, trying to form a coherent word. Mr. Heywood returned my look with an innocent one, trying to act like he was oblivious to what he was trying to do.

"What is it?" I finally managed to ask, keeping my voice steady.

"I have to confess that I feel bad about forgetting that today was your birthday."

I narrowed my eyes. Sure he did. "Oh, don't worry about it."

"Do you have anything you want to say to me?"

"Nope."

Mr. Heywood's expression became confused for a split-second until he quickly rearranged it into his normal smug one. "Is that so?"

I nodded. "Yep."

If Mr. Heywood thought I was going to confess twice, he was dead wrong. I was going to take Jeremy's idea. It was only fair that he should be the one to confess after the disaster last time. My face heated up slightly from the memory, but not enough so that someone could tell I was blushing.

Suddenly the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. Mr. Heywood raised an eyebrow at me and I returned his look with a shrug.

"Time for class," I told him, moving around him so I could go back to the classroom. "We can talk again tonight..."

"Right," I heard Mr. Heywood respond, and if I wasn't mistaken, he sounded a little annoyed.

This brought a small smirk to my face. Oh, this was going to be an interesting night...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Holly, are you almost ready?"

"In a moment!" I called down to my mom, quickly coating my eyelashes with a thin layer of mascara. When I was finished I tossed my mascara back into my make-up box and made sure my eyeliner hadn't smudged. Everything looked okay.

My mom had ordered me to wear something dressy to the restaurant, since it was a fancy place. Eventually I had chosen the crimson dress I had worn to my junior year prom. It wasn't too elegant, but it wasn't too plain either. It was strapless and seemed to fit to my curve perfectly. There was a small dip in the neckline, showing off just enough skin to look attractive and appropriate. The hem of the dress came to about an inch longer than mid-thigh, and I ran my hands over it, trying to make it go a little further. Short dresses usually weren't my style, but tonight was a little different.

Since I was trying to get Mr. Heywood to confess to me. Admittedly I knew it was going to be a long shot since my mom and Jeremy would be there, but it was still worth a shot. I would have to find a way to get Mr. Heywood and myself alone... maybe Jeremy could help me with that.

A stray piece of hair fell into my face and I quickly brushed it back, frowning at myself in the mirror. My hair didn't look horrible, but the only thing I had done with it was straighten it, so it looked the same as it did everyday. Luckily my chestnut hair color matched well with my dress.

"Holly!"

"I'm coming!"

With one last glance in the mirror I finally tore myself away from it, grabbing my small red purse off my bed. I hurried down the stairs to where my mom was waiting by the door. She appraised me with her eyes, a smile spreading onto her face.

"You look hot."

"Mom," I muttered, feeling my face heat up in embarrassment. "Don't say that..."

"But it's the truth."

"You look great too," I told her, looking at her modest black dress. It was a lot like mine, except not as tight.

"Well thank you," she responded. "Now let's go."

On the way to the Osaka I stayed quiet, my nerves getting the best of me. I drummed my fingers on the window mindlessly, chewing on my bottom lip. Why had I dressed up so much? I should have gone for a more casual look. Were Jeremy and Mr. Heywood dressing up? Knowing my mom, she had probably told them to. Maybe they would show up in tuxedos...

We arrived at the restaurant far too quickly. My mom smiled at me as she shut of the car. I tried to smile back, but it probably looked more like a grimace. My heart was pounding so hard I thought my chest was going to burst. I didn't have anything to be so nervous about! My mom was taking Mr. Heywood to dinner, not me. This wasn't a date. This was a birthday and thank-you dinner. Sure I was dressed up; but I didn't have to be so nervous about that!

"C'mon honey," my mom urged, opening her door. "Chris and Jared are probably here already."

"Jeremy," I told my mom, letting out a rush of air I didn't realize I was holding. "Try to remember it."

"Jeremy," my mom repeated under her breath. "Jeremy, Jeremy."

Together we made our way towards the entrance of the Osaka. It felt like the butterflies in my stomach were having a raging college party. I swallowed nervously, clenching my fists. Why was I so nervous? It was so annoying! I was only going to dinner with my teacher...

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you invite Mr. Heywood?" I asked bluntly, getting the question that had been on my mind for the past few days finally off it.

My mom looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "I thought I told you. As a thank you..."

"But don't you think it's a little weird... since he's my teacher?"

My mom smiled at me. "You know, your father and I were seven years apart."

I stared at my mom dumbfounded. "W-what?"

"I was seventeen when I started dating him. He was twenty-four," my mom continued. "When I was in high school he was my American Literature teacher."

"What?" I reiterated. That was the only thing I could say. My mind racing with this new information: My dad was my mom teacher at one point?

My mom laughed, turning to face me fully. "Isn't it scary how much mother and daughter are alike?"

"Wait, wait," I said, shaking my head. "Mom, Mr. Heywood and I aren't-"

"But you like him right?"

I blushed, giving myself away. My mom laughed again, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Holly, you don't have to lie to me. I'd be a hypocrite if I said you couldn't be together. Besides, I'd have to be blind to not realize how you feel about each other."

"Wait. How do you know?"

My mom suddenly looked embarrassed. "Don't get angry, but remember that time I quote, unquote ran into Chris at the supermarket?"

"Yes..."

"I listened in on your conversation after that for a little bit," my mom admitted, looking sheepish. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... but I was curious."

My eyes flew wide open and I stared at her in shock. She had listened to our conversation? But we had talked about the gangsters! "Mom, did you hear everything?"

My mom shook her head. "No, I actually was making some phone calls... But I sort of also sneaked a peek into the room, and that was all I needed to know. Then when I said I was going home, I also listened in again..."

"So wait... is this dinner... Are you trying to set us up?"

Once again, my mom blushed and nodded. "In a way, yes."

"So that's why you're so calm about the 'he's my teacher' situation," I commented, still a bit surprised.

"Holly, it shouldn't matter whether or not he's your teacher," my mom told me. "Trust me, when I was in high school I did and it only put a riff between your father and myself for a time."

"How come you've never told me dad used to be your teacher?"

My mom laughed, scratching the back of my head. "I didn't want you to be creeped out..."

"Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I was," I told my mom, smiling slightly. "But I have another question. Why are you so willing to get Mr. Heywood and I together?"

My mom smiled. "Because I got the feeling that you two were meant for each other, as cheesy as that sounds. You two reminded me of your father and myself when we were younger. And I know what situation you're in now, and I just wanted to help you two out."

"What would you say if I told you that you were wrong and I didn't like him?"

"Well, I'd be pretty embarrassed." We both laughed at that and my mom put an arm over my shoulder. "Come on, let's go in now."

The warmth of the Osaka was a welcoming feeling compared to the chilly air outside. Delicious scents of Japanese food and other cooking filled my nose, making my stomach rumble. We made our way up to the waiting area and my mom went to get our reservation.

I wondered around the waiting area, looking at the paintings on the wall. Half of them looked like a small child had drawn them. A small grin made its' way onto my face as I distracted myself by finding funny images in each canvas. Art was really entertaining sometimes.

Suddenly something hard hit my side, sending me staggering in the high heels that I was very unused to wearing. Luckily I managed to stop myself from falling by grasping the edge of a very convenient bench.

I heard a familiar laugh. "Dude, Chris. Be careful. You almost just knocked this fine, young lady over."

"I'm so sorry," an even more familiar voice apologized and I felt a strong grasp on my upper arm, pulling me into an erect position.

I didn't turn around right away, suddenly too embarrassed to face Mr. Heywood. However, his hand didn't leave my arm and I felt him tugging me around to face him. My eyes were on the ground at first, but I slowly raised them to his face.

Mr. Heywood was staring at me in complete shock. I wouldn't have been surprised to see his jaw on the ground. I quickly glanced at Jeremy. He was looking back at me just as surprised, except his jaw was practically on the floor. I almost laughed at his reaction.

"Holly," Mr. Heywood finally breathed, letting my arm go.

"Mr... Chris," I corrected myself boldly.

Now Mr. Heywood's jaw did drop, but he quickly closed it again and turned his face away from me. Which was good, because a blush appeared at my face from my bold use of his name. While his head was turned I used the opportunity to check him out.

To my pleasant surprise, he was wearing a tuxedo. It was black and he was wearing a white shirt underneath the jacket and a red tie that was the same shade as my dress. I smiled at the coincidence. When Mr. Heywood turned back to me I realized just how handsome he looked in the tux. I almost forgot how to breathe.

"You look... You look..."

"Gorgeous!" Jeremy cried, gathering me up in a bear hug. "Damn Holly, I could have mistaken you for Miss America."

I blushed as Jeremy crushed me to death. "Don't over exaggerate," I managed to choke out.

"Ow!" Jeremy cried, suddenly pulling away from me. "What was that for, Chris?"

"Couldn't you tell you were killing her?" Mr. Heywood responded, frowning at him.

Jeremy smirked smugly. "You're just jealous that I thought of the best compliment."

I blushed, looking away from the pair of men. "Just forget it..."

"Let's go find your mom now," Jeremy suggested. "I want to meet my future mother-in-law."

"Don't get your hopes too high," I heard Mr. Heywood mutter to Jeremy.

I started walking back towards the reservation area and I could hear Jeremy and Mr. Heywood follow me. My face was still hot from Jeremy's comment and my palms were sweaty. As much as Jeremy's opinion mattered to me, Mr. Heywood's was more important.

"So Holly, do you think I look good?"

I glanced at Jeremy. He too was dressed in a tuxedo like Mr. Heywood's. Except Jeremy had a deep blue tie. I smiled at him, nodding my head. "I'm not going to lie, Jeremy. You look pretty sexy."

"Thank you," Jeremy responded with a grin. "I bet if we pretended we were a couple, we'd be the sexiest thing in the world."

I heard Mr. Heywood snort behind us. I glanced at Jeremy, who winked at me. My eyes widened slightly as I understood what Jeremy was doing. Making Mr. Heywood jealous. He inconspicuously nodded his head as he noticed I had figured out what he was attempting to do. I responded with his nod just as secretly.

"What about Chris?"

I glanced back at Mr. Heywood, who was glaring at Jeremy. "He looks nice."

Mr. Heywood's head turned towards me but I quickly faced the front again, not wanting to see his expression. I was torn between amusement and guilt. Part of me told me Mr. Heywood should be the one being teased tonight, but I also felt bad for him. However, Jeremy's plans never failed to work...

My mom was waiting with a waiter by the front of the restaurant. When she noticed us a bright smile spread across her lips. Jeremy stepped forwards, holing out a hand.

"You must be Holly's mom," Jeremy greeted her as she placed her hand into his. "Nice to meet you, I'm Jeremy."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Jeremy," my mom responded, sending me an impressed look. "You can call me Lynn."

"Sure thing!"

"Shall I take you to your table then?" the waiter asked my mom, his eyes glancing over our group. His eyes lingered on me and I felt self-conscious, quickly adverting my gaze.

"Sure!" my mom chirped, smiling at him.

We started following the waiter through the restaurant to the back. My mom struck up a conversation with Jeremy and I played with my fingers to distract myself. Mr. Heywood was now walking besides me and it took all of my will power to not look at him. Suddenly my shoe caught on something and I fell forwards. Before I could hit the ground, I felt an arm around my waist.

"Careful," Mr. Heywood breathed in my ear as he set me up straight. "That's twice tonight you've almost fallen."

"Thank you," I muttered, red-faced.

"You look beautiful tonight, Holly," Mr. Heywood suddenly commented in a quiet voice, his mouth still by my ear.

Immediately I blushed, swallowing nervously. Tonight was going to be a lot harder than expected.

_____________________________________

Okay~ So if you can't guess, this chapter is going to be in two parts. I reached my ten page on word document on this, so I stopped here. I'm going to try to update earlier, but we'll see how tomorrow treats me. I'm with my friends right now, so I really don't feel like writing, haha. But yep! Anyway, two parts! I hope you enjoyed the first part.

STORY TIME! I went to the Osaka tonight with my friends Anna, Casey, and Avarie and it was amazing. If you are my friend on Facebook, I'm posting a video later. They cook on the hibachi right in front of you and they are SO loud and funny and it's great. They have all these awesome antics to crack open eggs and they play with fire. And haha, he cut up a zucchini, and began throwing pieces at the people across from us, and they were all like flinching away. Then he turned to us, and we figure out we were supposed to catch them in our mouth. Avarie caught hers, Casey caught hers, but I was filming and I didn't know what to do so when he threw it I just sat there and it hit me in the face haha. It was really funny. One more thing, (I could say so much, but I'll spare you) he was asking this milksop that sat across from us if he wanted Saki, and Casey was like "I WANT SOME!" because she didn't know it was alcohol and the japanese guy was like "NO! You can't have Saki! You scare me!" and it was hilarious. There was an actually really attractive guy... I'm just going to stop. Hope you enjoyed story time xD

If you have questions for me, instead of sending me messages which sometimes get lost, feel free to formspring me! The link is in the external link to the right.