Chapter 10-BIRTHDAY GIFTS
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Today was the day! I am officially 16! Yep today was belly and I's sweet 16.

Belly and I have spent every birthday here at cousins at this beach house with these people.

Our birthday is the best day! Every year mom makes us Mickey Mouse pancakes that are delicious! The boys have to be nice to us on our day and include us. It was the perfect day it has been for 16 years.

I tried to wake belly up but she told me to get lost so I did. I was starving and craving those special Mickey Mouse pancakes.

I go downstairs and see everyone in the kitchen. All eyes go to me. "There's one of the birthday girls!" Susannah announced.

"Oh happy birthday honey your growing up to fast" my mom says giving me a tight hug.

"Happy birthday beautiful your 16 your becoming a young lady" Susannah says giving me a hug.

"Happy sweet 16" Jeremiah smiled and gave me a hug witch gave me butterfly's.

"Happy birthday" Conrad mumbled. I gave him a hug weather he wanted one or not.

"Ahhh little Emmy is 16" Steven teased as he put me in a head lock i elbowed his stomach. "You might be older then me but I can still beat your ass" I say.

"Damn getting your ass beat by your little sis!" Jeremiah teased Steven. I swear I heard Conrad chuckle.

Mom severed me my pancakes. "Thank you mom" I say and give her a hug.

After awhile the other birthday girl decided to show up. Everyone also wished her a happy birthday.

She came over where I saw standing. "Happy birthday em" she smiled "happy birthday bells" I say and we share a sweet hug.

My mom goes to give belly her pancakes but belly says "I'm not really hungry."

"Ok then how about we open gifts?" Susannah suggested. "Oh you both are gonna love mine!" Jeremiah says proudly. We both giggled at him.

Soon belly and I where sitting on the couch ready to open gifts. We started with moms gift we each unwrap it at the same time.

We got the same book. "It's a first edition I got it from a rare book dealer" our mom tells us. I thought it was sweet she put in so much work.

Belly however didn't seem to impressed. "Thanks mom" belly says trying to act like she likes the gift.

"Turn to the bookmarked page" our mom tells us. We flip to the page. "It's your favorite poem" she says to Susannah.

"Oh ya I remember Susannah taught us to reside this" I say smiling. "For whatever we lose" belly and I say. "Like a you or a me" the boys joined in. "It's always ourselves we find in the sea" everyone says.

"Thank you I love it" belly says. "Ya mom this is such a sweet gift" I say "your welcome girls" she says smiling.

"Ok now open mine now" Susannah says handing us both a gift. We unwrap our gifts and open the box to see pearls beautiful pearls.

Belly got a pearl necklace. I got pearl earrings. "Oh that's gorges" I gushed. "Thank you Susannah!" Belly says.

"My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet 16" Susannah says while clipping belly's necklace then moving on to put my earrings in.

"Radiant aren't they" Susannah says to my mom. "They look great on you girls" my mom says with a big smile.

"Oh I'm next!" Jeremiah says excitedly. He hands us both a box. Belly got a key bracelet. "It is a good luck charm to help you pass your drivers test" Jeremiah says. Belly put it on. "Perfect... thank you" she smiles.

I open mine there is a teddy bear necklace I look up at Jeremiah. "Aww it's so cute!" I say showing it off.

"Do you know why I got you that?" Jeremiah asks. "Cuz it is adorable just like me" I joke.

"No because you used to call me Jere bear and I was your personal teddy bear" Jeremiah says.

He was revering to the summer I forgot Mr. bear I couldn't sleep without him. So I started sleeping in Jeremiahs room.

Who needed Mr. bear when I had Jere bear. I laugh remembering. I mean Jeremiah was and still is a giant teddy bear.

"Oh well thank you jere bear I love it!" I smile at him. I was so gonna bring that nickname back now!

Flashback
Emma was 5 years old and Jeremiah was 6.

The first day was like any other until night came. When it was time for bed Emma couldn't find Mr. Bear.

She started to panic She couldn't sleep without him. Emma has had him since she was born. She started to cry Jeremiah walked into her room to say goodnight and saw her crying.

"Are you ok e?" Jeremiah asked. "I forgot Mr Bear and now I won't be able to sleep" Emma cried.

"Oh I'm sorry e do you want me to sleep in here tonight?" Jeremiah asked. "Yes please J" Emma said. One night turned into the whole summer.
End of flashback
                     
"My turn!" Steven yells. "Think fast!" He shouts throwing our presents at us.
The present hits me in the face. "I'm gonna kill you Steven!" I scream at him.

"Steven be nice to your sisters it's there birthday!" Mom lectures. "Ok ok I'm sorry go ahead and open the gift" my brother apologizes this is the first time ever!

We both opened our gifts and see that he got us both a Princeton sweat shirt.

"Wow Steven I can't believe you actually spent money on us" belly sasses. "Ya I was expecting another coupon book" I tease him.

"Relax I just didn't want you guys stealing mine when I get in next year" Steven says.

"I didn't know you where still considering Princeton" my mom speaks up. "I'm applying for scholarships and dad thinks I can get some financial aid" Steven explains.

"Ok well Conrad you wanna give the twins your gift?" Susannah asks him. "Ugh I don't have a gift I'm sorry guys I forgot" Conrad says

"that alright" I say. "We where not really expecting anything anyways" belly lies. Now it was awkward everyone goes silent.

"I've gotta get going" Conrad said breaking the awkward silence not like he helped.

As soon as he left everyone was quite once again.