Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

ISABELLA

The spring months went by quickly leading us into summer much faster than what we had expected. The month of July was always my favourite time of the year. It had claimed this spot for many reasons: warm weather, beautiful flowers and my birthday.

I wasn't one for personal celebration when it came to birthdays. However, I was turning twenty-three. To many people, that wasn't exciting. It was not an age that was celebrated with over the top excitement. It was just another age. It was not on the same page as sixteen, twenty-one and thirty. It was boring old twenty-three.

But, since I was a kid, I always was excited to turn twenty-three. It sounds silly, I know. I don't even remember my reasoning behind it, it's been so long. I just remember always asking my mother about her time being twenty-three and being completely fascinated with the age. (Perhaps it was because that was the age my mother married my dad. That might be it...) Regardless, this was the month (and year) that I can finally say 'I'm twenty-three'. Only one week away.

The London sun wasn't as hot as New York. It was merely sixteen degrees celsius today. Not super hot, but I wasn't going to complain. It was a big change from the rainy days of winter and spring.

"I love this drink," Jaz squealed from her seat. She takes another long sip from the pink fizzy drink in her hand.

I laughed along with her, taking a sip from my own glass. We were sitting outside on the patio of a cute cafe she had discovered in central London. We were sipping away on glasses of pastel coloured drinks while eating from rather large bowls of salad.

"Have you decided yet what you wanted to do for your birthday? It's next week you know." Jaz says to me after taking a bite from her salad.

"I haven't thought too much about it yet." I answered her truthfully. I had been so caught up with business meetings with stuffy old men, working at the bookstore and Harry that I hadn't put too much thought on the actually birthday party.

"This is your twenty-third birthday! You've been excited for this day since you were what... seven? It's finally here and you haven't even planned anything yet?" She gives me a look of astonishment.

Was it really that unusual that I hadn't planned anything yet?

"I've been pretty busy," I half-heartedly defended myself. It was true though, I had been busy.

"You're lucky that I'm your best friend. I have it all planned out for you." Jaz gives me a knowing smirk. I shake my head in disbelief. I should have known that she would plan something. Jaz lived for parties. It's what she did best. I still didn't understand how she was a hairdresser. She was born to be an event planner, that was for certain.

I sigh, "What do you have planned so far?" I hesitantly ask her.

Jaz's eyes perk up. A wide grin plastered over her lips. "Oh! I have so much already," she reaches for her bag, pulling out a notebook. She flips it open to an ink-filled page. "I was thinking we could keep it simple. Nothing too crazy. Keep it at the flat. It'll most likely be warm out so we can have it up at the roof like usual." She flips over to another page that seems to be full of magazine cut outs.

"This looks like Pinterest puked all over your notebook," I joke.

Jaz rolls her eyes playfully. She pushes the opened book towards me so that I can have a better look at what she has planned out. There were pictures of mason jars full of candles lining an outside ledge. Another picture was of a canopy of stringed fairy lights. My eyes travelled around the pages, loving everything that she had picked out.

"Pie in jars? Is that an actual thing?" I ask her completely amazed.

"Yes! It's great for portion control." She laughs. Jaz flips over to another page.

The more I looked at the notebook, the more excited I became. This was going to be a wonderful twenty-third birthday. Add in Harry and I knew that it was going to be the best night of my life. The only downside was that I knew Natalia wouldn't be here to celebrate with me. That broke my heart the most.

I missed my sister almost too much. She was my best friend. My main girl. When I decided to move to London, leaving her behind was the last thing I wanted to do. She made life much easier. Her wisdom was always welcomed. For an eighteen year old girl, she was wise beyond her years.

"Oh no, what's wrong? Do you not like the ideas?" I look up to see a worried look on Jaz's face. I quickly shake my head, easing her of her worries.

"No, no. It's not that. I'm just thinking about how Nat is going to miss this. I miss her."

Jaz gives me an understanding smile. Her hand wraps around my own that sits on top of the table. She gives it a gentle squeeze before retracting her hand. "I'm sure you can Skype her or something..."

"Yeah." I mutter glumly.

"Please cheer up!"

"I"m fine."

"No, you're not."

"I am," I give her a half-hearted smile.

"You're a shit liar," Jaz shakes her head laughing.

I sigh deeply. It was in these moments that I couldn't help but wonder if moving to London was a good idea.

"I miss my family, is all," I tell her. She gives me a sympathetic smile. I grab the notebook, shutting it close. "These look great, Jaz. I'm excited to see it all come together."

Jaz grabs the book from the table and put's it back into her bag. She slips it over her chair before leaning back. Her eyes watch me closely. I shift in my seat. Her stare growing slightly uncomfortable. I take another sip from the almost finished glass of fizzing pink juice. "You'll see them soon." She says to me, a reassuring smile on her lips.

"Not soon enough," I say with a sigh. "I mostly miss Nat."

Jaz nods, "I get that. I miss my sister too."

"I forgot you had a sister."

"I do. She's older. Moved to Spain with her husband. We talk everyday but I still miss her."

We finish up our meals silently. When we're finished, I grab my purse from under the table and swing it over my shoulder. We walk off of the patio and towards the road.

"How are things with Harry?" Jaz asks me suddenly. I give her a quick glance.

"Good," I answer her briefly. "Really good."

She nudges me gently with her shoulder. A smile on her lips. "I can tell. You look really happy."

"I am."

"Good." Jaz sighs, "If he was giving you a hard time, I'd kick his ass."

A boisterous laugh erupts from inside of me. Shaking my head, I turn towards her. "You couldn't hurt a fly."

"I would go all kung-fu panda on his ass if he hurt you." She tells me with a straight face.

This only makes me laugh more. The mental image of Jaz in a karate outfit, attempting to put Harry in a headlock bringing tears to my eyes. "You're ridiculous."

Jaz scoffs, playfully punching my arm. "I'd totally kick his ass!"

"Oh please. You'd get Ben to kick his ass."

She bites her lip, holding back her smile. "Yeah, you're right." She says finally. "But I'd still kick him in the balls."

This causes me to laugh even more. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, bringing her into to my side. I squeeze her arm and hug her. "I'm glad you're my best friend."

"I'm glad too, Iz."

We smile at each other once more before carrying on down the busy street and towards our next destination.

-

A few days had passed and preparations for my birthday were in full force. Jaz had taken on full responsibility with everything. From the food to the decorations, she was on top of things. I was actually quite impressed but also my previous belief that Jaz was meant to be an event planner was in fact confirmed. This was her calling. It really, really was.

"What do you think about this dress?" I was wearing a red silk dress that clung to my body. It had a long slit on the side, showcasing a bit too much leg. It was a dress that Jaz had bought for my birthday, surprising me with it.

Harry's jaw slacks, his eyes trailing up and down my body. "Wow," he says under his breath. His eyes remained trained to my frame.

"Bad wow or good wow?" I ask hesitantly.

Harry let's out a deep breath. His hand runs through his curls, pulling at the ends. His dimple begins to peek through, his lips forming into a wide grin. "Definitely a good wow. You look beautiful, babe."

"Really?"

"Really."

I look at my reflection once more. I felt so hesitant about the dress. Self-conscious almost. Dresses that clung to every inch of me made me feel almost too exposed. It was like a walking billboard for my insecurities and flaws.

But Harry liked it. I wasn't one to find my self-worth in men, but it was always nice when your boyfriend was in awe with your clothing choices.

I slip my dress over my head, careful to not snag it on my earrings. Grabbing my wooden hanger, I slip the dress onto it. I place it back into my closet, shutting the door behind me. I grab one of Harry's old band shirts that I had stolen from his closet one day and pull it over my head. I then slip into some old pajama shorts. Harry continues to watch me from his place on my bed. His eyes trailing over me once again. I can feel heat rush to my cheeks. His stare not one wavering off of me.

I lay beside him. My body relaxing once it hits the soft mattress. "Tired?" He asks me. His husky voice calming my heart.

"Mm, yeah." I hum in response. "Ten minute nap?"

"Of course, babe." He says to me softly before he kisses my forehead.

Harry slips his arm around my body and pulls me to his side. My head shifts from the pillow and onto his chest. My senses are engulfed by his minty musk. My body slowly drifting off to sleep; the soft rumbles of his breathing becoming my nighttime lullaby.

However, the moment my eyes begin to droop, the catchy melody of my ringtone sounds throughout my bedroom. "Ugh," I groan. My hand reaching out blindly for the loud device. "Where is it," I grumble.

Harry laughs from underneath me. He reaches over me and grabs my phone from the nightstand. "Here," he hands me my phone.

I look at the caller I.D. and a massive grin reaches my lips. "Natalia!" I yell into the phone. My once sleepiness dispersing and a wave happiness growing quick.

"Izzy!" She laughs on the other end. "What are you doing? How are you?"

A smile is etched on my lips. A permanent smile that I don't plan on losing anytime soon. You don't truly realize how much you miss somebody until you hear their voice. "I'm in my bedroom hanging out with Harry."

"Ew, gross."

"Not like that!"

"Sure," she laughs on the other line. "You're not fooling anyone."

I roll my eyes even though she can't see me. "What about you?"

"I'm actually just out and about. Oh-" she pauses for a moment. Shuffling can be heard on the other end. "You should get that."

"What?" I ask her, confused.

"There's someone at your door."

"What are you talking about? There's nobody at the door-" Suddenly, the a loud knock comes from my front door. I look at Harry who gives me questioning glance. I get up from my spot on the bed, walking towards my door. "How did you know someone was here?"

Before she can answer, I open the door. My phone drops the ground and a loud screech comes from my mouth. My eyes widen and my lips quirk into a grin. I clasp my hands together and jump up and down yelling: "Oh my gosh!"

Outside my door stood my tall and absolutely insane younger sister.

She was here. In London. At my apartment. This was insane. Absolutely, 100% mad.

"Nat!" My voice is loud and my moves are quick. I pull my sister into a massive bear hug. Her laugh sounds throughout the small space. A sound that I had missed too much. Seven months away from family is not something I'd recommend. You really begin to appreciate the people in your life when you don't see them for months on end.

"Sis," she squeezes me in her arms. We continue to hug and jump up and down. Some how, we soon find ourselves on the floor in a laughing and crying mess.

"I missed you so much," I cry into her shoulder. Her body begins to shake in my arms.

"I missed you too, Iz."