( ESTHER'S BIRTHDAY )

The plan was, Avi was supposed to get his sister out of the house for about an hour. Everyone was coming over after they left. He had given Kirstie his door key so they could get in and get everything ready. Everyone was to park their cars in the back yard. Well hidden.

~~

"Come on, Sis. I'll take you for a ride on my bike." Avi says coming down the ladder of his loft.

"Naw, I think I'm gonna be lazy today." She replies, laying on the couch with the remote in her hand.

"No, come on." He says, dropping to his knees by the couch, putting his hands together as if he was praying. "Come on. Please, please, PLEASSSEEEE!" He begs, pretending to cry.

"Oh alright." She says laughing, rolling her eyes. She goes to the bathroom to tie her hair back.

"Yes!" Avi says fist pumping the air.

~~

Everyone had gathered at Kirstie's house. She was watching out the window, whenever she saw Avi and Esther go by, that was their cue to go. She hears the loud rumble of Avi's bike coming up the road. She smiles as she watches them pass by.

"IT'S SHOWTIME!!!" She yells. Everyone rushed to their cars. Once they got to the Kaplan's house. Tim and Ben made sure all the vehicles were well hidden. Kirstie and the others were decorating and setting out finger foods.

They had been riding for a while, Esther was having a great time. It had been a while since her and her little brother had gotten out like that.

"What time is it?" Avi yells back at her.

"4:00." She yells back. It had been a little over an hour.

"You ready to head home?" He asks.

"Why? You got a date?" She yells close to his ear.

He looks at her over his shoulder and smiles. "No. I don't have a date. But she did say she might call." He had to think of something to get them back home.

"Alright, let's go home." She smiles kissing him on the cheek. She was so happy that he finally found someone that he was interested in.

They pull up in the front yard, Avi revs the bike a couple of times before shutting it off. Another signal.

"Shhhh, they're back." Kirstie whispers/shouts.

"That was really fun." Esther says as they walk up on the porch. "We need to do that again real soon before it gets too cold." She says as she opens the door.

"SURPRISE!!!!" Everyone shouts.

"AAHHHHH!!" Esther screams, falling back into Avi's arms.

"Happy Birthday, Sis." He whispers in her ear then kissing her on the cheek.

"OH MY GOD!!" Esther says with tears in her eyes. "Did you do this?" She asks turning to Avi.

"Not my myself. I had a partner in crime." He smiles.

"Kirstie?" Esther asks smiling and Avi nods.

Kirstie came dancing through the crowd wearing a party hat. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ESTHER!!" She sings putting a party hat on the birthday girl. She turns toward Avi holding another party hat.

"You're not gonna make me wear that, are you?" He asks her.

"Mhmmm, everyone is wearing one." She giggles. Avi glances around the room and sure enough everyone, including Ben and Mr. Foust had on hats.

She smiles as she set the hat on his head and brought the band around his chin. "There, cute as a button."

"Even with it on top of my beanie?" He smiles.

"Yep." She leans up kissing him on the cheek. "Let's join the party." She said taking him by the hand.

The party was going great. People were dancing, eating or just talking and having a good time.

A slow song came on and Kirstie turns to Avi. "You wanna dance?"

"I...I don't know how." He whispers to her.

"Come on, I'll show you." She says taking his hand and finding them some room. She put her arms around his neck.

"Put your arms around my waist." She tells him. He did as she said. "Tighter." She smiles moving closer to him. She giggles as he glances around nervously, his cheeks blushing. "Now you just sway to the music." She says as she begins to move against him. He joins her and pretty soon had the hang of it.

"Esther look." Tim whispers as he and Esther danced. She looks around to see Avi and Kirstie dancing very close together.

"Awww, looks like little brother may be getting his first girlfriend." She says smiling.

"What about big sister?" Tim whispers softly. "Would she like a boyfriend?"

"Why, Mr. Foust. Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" She asks, her heart beating out of her chest.

"Absolutely." Tim smiles. "I mean. I know we haven't even been on a first date yet. But I've had this massive crush on you for a while now."

"Really? Wanna know a secret? I've kinda had a crush on you too. And I'd love to be your girlfriend." Esther smiles as the song ended.

"TIME TO OPEN GIFTS, ESTHER!!" Kirstie shouts

"Oooo, I love this part." Esther says sitting down in a chair.

Kirstie starts handing her gifts. Esther would read the name then open the gift.

Avi just backs out of the way, cramming his hands in his pockets. Watching his sister having the time of her life.

Tim walks up putting his arm around his shoulder. "Thanks for inviting me, Avi."

"You having a good time?" Avi asks.

"Yep, got me a girlfriend too." Tim says with a chuckle.

"Really?" Avi asks smiling with excitement. "Hopefully my big sister."

"Mhmm, now what about you and that pretty little sister of mine?" Tim asks smiling down at him.

"I really like her a lot, Tim. But I'm scared. She's more experienced at dating than I am. I've never...I've never been with a girl before." Avi whispers nervously.

"Kirstie is a good girl, Avi. She's not going to rush you into anything." Tim says with a smile. "But if you ever need to talk, you know I'm always here for you."

"Avi? Where's your gift?" Esther calls to him.

"Uh... I'll give it to you later." He says shaking his head.

"Listen, Kid." She says getting up from her chair and walking up to him. "I've waited months to see what you have been working on. Time is NOW." She says tugging at his hair.

"It's...It's not wrapped very pretty." He whispers glancing at all the pretty wrappings and fancy gift bags.

"Honey, the wrapping is just gonna get torn up anyway. What matters is what's inside." Kirstie says rubbing him on the back.

"O.K., but if anyone laughs, I'm leaving and not coming back until everyone leaves." He whispers.

"Sweetie, no one is gonna laugh." Esther replies rubbing his bearded jaw. "They all know you and they love you."

He looks down at Kirstie, she smiles and winks at him.

"Alright." He sighs. "I'll go get it." Picking up the keys to the workshop and going out the back door.

"Alright, guys?" Esther says turning to her friends. "Everyone knows my little brother Avi is a gifted artist. And for the past several months, he's been working in secret on my birthday present. He's gone to get it and I'm sooo excited."

Avi walks in the back door carrying the gift wrapped in newspaper. He hands Esther the gift and shrugs. "I didn't have any wrapping paper." He says, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

Esther takes the gift and kisses his cheek. "It's beautiful." She starts unwrapping the gift.

Kirstie takes Avi's hand and rests her head on his shoulder as he nervously watches his sister.

"Oh my God! Avi!" She looks at him with tears in her eyes.

"Do you...Do you like it?" He asks, pulling at his beard. Something he always done when nervous.

She holds up the beautiful angel. "It looks just like momma."

She hands the angel to Tim, then grabs her brother into a tight hug. "I love it. And I love you."

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