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rushing through the front door and went directly into Claire’s open arms.
    “Oh, my God!!!”  We screamed, as if we had not seen each other twenty-four hours before or hadn’t talked on the phone six times already that day.
    Dad walked through the front door carrying an armload of extra party decorations.  “Girls, taking the Lord’s name in vain…do I need to remind you?”
    “Sorry, Dad.”
    “Sorry, Pastor Paul.”  We both lowered our eyes, becoming very interested in our feet. OMG was a hard habit to break, I was usually better at switching my real vernacular and my parental vernacular on or off depending on who I was with.
    Dad smiled, dumping the bags on the faded green couch next to Melody, who was sitting perfectly still as to not wrinkle her dress.  “I know you’re excited, let’s just keep the commandment breaking to a minimum this evening.”
    “Okay, Dad.  C’mon!” I grabbed Claire by the hand and dragged her down the hall to my room.
    She pushed a pile of stuffed animals from Melody’s bed and plopped on it. Her red mini skirt rode up, only just covering her thighs.  “So, what did you decide to do with your hair?”
    “I’m going to put it up,” I said, while simultaneously pulling my t-shirt off with one hand, unbuttoning my shorts with the other and kicking my flip flops into the closet.  I had to be quick with the undress. It was gonna take some time to get me to the hotness level I desired.
    “Cool.  You are going to look so cool.”  Claire rolled to her side and propped her head up with her hand.  “I brought a bunch of hair products and eye shadow and stuff.  Avery isn’t going to know what hit him.”
    “Let’s hope not.” I shimmied the pale green slip dress over my head.
     

    After arriving at the church with my family and Claire, I started getting a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was about to have the lamest sixteen-year-old birthday party ever.  Once inside, as all of the guests and their parents began to arrive, my feelings were confirmed.
    A few girls from youth group, along with Claire and Melody, huddled around me in one corner of the church basement. Everyone else stood next to their parents, who were all busy kissing up to my dad. One of the five people I’d invited that didn’t go to church with me showed up.  I was not feeling the love.
    Avery hovered behind his dad, his hands shoved into the pockets of his gray slacks, twisting his neck from side to side trying to loosen his tie.  Mr. Adams was wearing his Sunday suit and whispering something into my mom’s ear.  She laughed loud enough for the whole room to hear and put her hand on his shoulder. 
    Mortified was the exact word that I would use to describe my exact feeling at that exact moment.  “I am seriously going to die.  What is this, a pancake breakfast or a birthday party?  Everyone’s parents made them wear church clothes!”  I looked at Claire, hoping that perhaps I was overreacting.
    She winced. “Okay, girl, we’ve just got to get through the cake and then all the parental units will leave and the real party can begin.  We’ve got a stereo, I made you an awesome compilation…and you look hot. Avery will be slow dancing with his hands on your butt in no time.  Trust me.”
    I grinned. Claire must know something she wasn’t telling me. I could feel my self confidence returning.  Looking past her, I peeked at Avery, who happened to be staring right at me and grinning too.  “Melody, tell Mom to bring the cake out now.”
     

    “Happy Birthday, honey!  We’ll be back around eleven to pick you girls up.  Have fun and behave.”  Mom leaned down and gave both me and Mel a kiss on the cheek. “Call us on the phone in your dad’s office if anything happens and you need us, okay?”
    “Everything will be fine Mom, get out of here!”  I waved goodbye to my well-intentioned parents from my seat at a long wooden table.
    With that, all of the adult