Growing Up

"Happy happy birthday to you, to you!" I heard my dad sing as I slowly woke up. I threw one of my pillows at my dad and then laid back down and groaned.

"Go away!" I said as my head was in my pillow.

"Nope, it's not everyday that I get to wish my last born a happy 18th birthday," he said throwing the pillow back at me. I rolled over onto my back and smiled at the ceiling. My brother and I were born on April 1st and well my dad didn't believe my mom was in labor and they both thought the doctor was kidding when they said they were having twins.

"Don't forget that you're picking up Maggie and I after school to take us to get our dresses and to get our nails done," I said sitting up and pulling my blanket up to my neck.

"Why can't your mom take you?" He asked me pouting.

"Because she doesn't leave the bakery until eleven tonight," I said.

"Okay. Anything else I should know before I leave you to get ready?" he asked me as I picked up my phone from my bedside table.

"Harry's flight gets in at noon so if you could pick him up from the airport and bring him back here that would be great, and then like always Maggie is spending the night tonight," I said.

"Of course," He said before leaving my room. I sent a quick text to Maggie reminding her about tonight and then I began to get ready.
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"Come on Mags!" I said trying to pry my best friend and brother apart so that Maggie and I could go meet my dad at his car and leave. The three of us usually drive together, but today Ben will have a lonely journey home.

"I'll see you later babe," Ben said before giving Maggie a kiss, "I'll see you later too sis," He said before giving me a hug. Once outside we found my dad parked in front of the school texting someone.

"Where to first ladies?" He asked us.

"Nails, dress, home," I said and he nodded his head as he opened the trunk so we could put our backpacks in it.

"How was school today ladies?" He asked once we were back in the car.

"Well Uncle Scott embarrassed me at lunch today, but what else is new?" I said with a slight chuckle.

"He is your mother's brother after all," He replied.

"Oh, but that's not the best part. As he was singing happy birthday to her your brother, Mr. Hilyer, joined in as well," Maggie said and I laughed.

"Yup those are her uncles alright," my dad said as he drove along.

"Oh did you remember to get Harry?" I asked him.

"Yes, hun. In fact right now he is in your bed asleep, but that doesn't mean he is sleeping with you tonight," He said and I rolled my eyes.

"I know daddy. He'll be sleeping in Jed's old room," I said and my dad nodded his head.

"And you little miss in the backseat are sleeping in Christa's room with her," He said and Maggie nodded her head.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Maggie said winking at me through the rear view mirror and I laughed.
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"Give me your dress," I said to Maggie as we walked up the stairs to the bedrooms. As Maggie went into Ben's room I went and put our dresses in Marry's old room before going to my room where I found Harry laying in bed with his back to the door and he was talking on the phone.

"I'll talk to her when she gets in and see if she wants to go over and meet the little fella," Harry said and my first thought was that I am going to FINALLY meet little Freddie Tommo.

"Okay talk to you later," Harry said as I walked further into the room and then jumping on the bed.

"Hey babe," I said kissing his cheek before he rolled over.

"I missed you," he said pulling me into him and kissing the top of my head.

"I missed you more," I said hugging him

"Not possibly, and before you can argue about that do you want to go meet Freddie with me?" he asked me.

"I'm sure Ben and Mags will be busy for a while, so sure lover boy," I said before standing up and pulling him up with me, " but you smell so shower first," I said and he kissed me then walked into the bathroom that's connected to my room while I went across the hall to Ben's room and knocked on the door before poking my head in to find Maggie asleep with her head on Ben's shoulder.

"Still amazes me after 15 years that she can fall asleep so fast, anyways once Harry is out of the shower we're going to Louis', but we'll be back home in time for dinner and our customary movie night," I said.

"Okay, have fun and tell Louis I said hi!" he said and I nodded my head before walking downstairs to tell my dad, but he was asleep so I just wrote him a note. About five minutes later Harry came downstairs with wet hair, his phone, and his wallet.

"Let's go birthday girl," he said winking at me and I laughed. About thirty minutes later we were in Louis' driveway and my excitement took over and I literally ran to his front door and rang the doorbell. Soon Louis answered it with a large smile plastered on his face.

"Well hello there and happy 18th birthday Chrissy," He said kissing my cheek before letting me in and then Harry who was a couple of steps behind me.

"Thanks, now where is the little lad?" I asked him as he lead us down the hall.

"He's in here, but be quiet he's asleep," Louis said seriously.

"You got it dude," I said before walking into the room and smiling at the sight of the little Tommo.

"You can hold him if you want to," Louis said and I bent down and picked up the sleeping infant and smiled down at him before following Louis and Harry into the living room. I sat down next to Harry while still holding Freddie.

"How is school going?" Louis asked me.

"It's meh. Just waiting for prom and senior skip day," I said and he laughed.

"Is this lad coming with you?" he asked pointing at Harry.

"I don't know, will you be my prom date?" I asked him.

"It's a little immature for me," Harry replied.

"Oh," I said before sitting back and playing with Freddie's hands while he and Louis talked. We stayed for about an hour before I decided I wanted to go home. The whole way home I was quiet and stared out the window.

"Welcome back!" Ben said pulling me into a hug as I walked through the door.

"Where is Maggie?" I asked him with a sigh.

"She's actually in your room right now starting her homework, what's wrong?" He asked me.

"It's nothing. could you two stay out of my room for a while because I need some girl time with Maggie," I said.

"Sure babe," Harry said before sitting down on the living room couch. I hurried up stairs and once in my room I closed the door and locked it before sitting down on my bed next to Maggie and laying my head on her lap.

"What's going on babes?" she asked me.

"Harry called prom immature, so is that him calling me immature for wanting to go to prom?" I asked her worriedly. I don't really care about our age difference until someone brings up something about it and then my anxiety builds and I become worried.

"Possibly, but prom isn't immature though," She replied with a shrug.

"Maybe I just shouldn't go this year. I mean I went last year," I said and at the moment Maggie stood up.

"Ben!" She shouted out the door after unlocking and opening it. A few minutes later my brother was ushered into my bed room where the door was once again closed and locked.

"Your twin here is thinking about not going to our senior prom. Talk some sense to her," She said crossing her arms.

"You have to go, because I'm going and we do everything together!" He said before he began to tickle me until I said I was going.

"Problem solved? Can we now have our usual birthday antics?" Ben asked.

"Well everyone else isn't even here yet though," I said. Whenever it's one of our birthdays all of the siblings and our parents get together minus the in-laws and children and have one of our old fashion birthday parties like when we were kids.

"Actually Marry and Jed just got here and dad is setting up Skype so we can call Cooper," He said and at the mention of my big brother I perked up. Cooper and I are super close and I used to follow him EVERYWHERE he went and that's not an exaggeration! I hurried down stairs and as I walked into the kitchen I was attacked into a hug by Jed.

"Hey there kid," He said before kissing my forehead.

"Hey Jedi," I said before moving on to give Marry a hug.

"You loved your dress right? I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you got it," She said.

"It's perfect and that's fine. Now is it set up yet because I miss Coop," I said as I walked over to the island and sat on one of the bar stools.

"Don't you feel loved dear brothers?" Marry asked with a slight chuckle.

"Yup, we're already to go," my dad said before calling Cooper who instantly answered it.

"Bubbers!" I shouted when his face appeared on the screen.

"Happy birthday princess," He said smiling at me.

"Thank you!" I said giving him my cheesiest smile.

"Where is the birthday boy?" He asked and Ben came and sat on the stool next to me.

"Here I am. How are you doing?" Ben asked.

"The usual. Missing you guys," Cooper said.

"We miss you too butt face!" Jed shouted form the background and Cooper laughed.

"Tell lardo I said to shut up," He said loud enough that Jed could easily hear. Ben and I talked to Cooper for another ten minutes before Ben said he wanted to go join Maggie, but I wanted to continue to talk to my big brother.

"So are you ready to graduate?" He asked me.

"Yes, but will you be able to come to graduation?" I asked him.

"I'm afraid I can't kiddio, but I'll be there in spirit," and as soon as the words I can't came out of his mouth I began to cry, "Hey no crying on your birthday!" He said in his funny clown voice to try to cheer me up, but it didn't work.

"I need backup!" Cooper shouted and instantly Mary was by my side pulling me into her chest and rubbing her back.

"You can't cry on your birthday," She said in a soothing voice.

"That's what I told her already, but the tears keep coming," Cooper said.

"I'm sorry I was just really hoping that you would be at my graduation," I said as I tried to calm down, but it wasn't working.

"Dad!" Marry shouted with worry, because the last time this happened I passed out and had to go to the hospital.

"I'm...........I'm......I'm sorry Coop!" I struggled to get out while trying to get air in and out at the same time.

"Honey I need you to calm down for me," my dad said as he got into the medicine cabinet and got out my pill and my emergency inhaler. He then got water and gave me the pill and water first then handed me my inhaler. Five minutes later I was calmer, but super tired. So Cooper and I said our teary eyed goodbyes and then I went upstairs and changed. When I came back down stairs I found that my mom had now joined everyone else.

"How are you doing BellaRose?" My dad asked me as I went and sat down next to Harry who instinctively put his arms around me and pulled me into him.

"Better," I said smiling at me.

"Now that the youngster is better time to eat!" Jed said as he opened on of the pizza boxes and put three slices of pizza on his plate causing my mom to groan and me to roll my eyes as Harry leaned and put three on his plate, but one of the three pieces were mine.

"Best of Me!" Maggie said since I've never seen it and it's her favorite movie.

Notes