Running late this morning, Connor sprints out the door. Somewhere in the distance is an unidentifiable metallic noise that seems new. Dew wets the sparse patch of worn grass by the damp, gray sidewalk. Looking both ways, he takes off down the street, ignoring the clanking of metal or the crisp air on his exposed face.
Calculating in his mind, he figured that he could make it to the destination right on time as long as he pushed his body to the limit. Stride after stride, his hoodie flapping in the wind, the time was quickly made up.
Only if the power hadn’t gone out the night before, resetting his alarm clock, he would have been on time for the taxi that was supposed to take him across the city to the private airstrip. He had been waiting anxiously for the day of his trip, the day he was able to finally join his parents in London. Thankfully, he had sent his bags off the week before and didn’t have to drag them with him. With all the excitement, Connor hadn’t had time to wish himself a happy birthday, July 9th, every year. Shaking these thoughts out of his mind, he focused on making his flight, and pushed his speed once again.
Turning the corner of Capaldi Street, Connor had almost lost his footing on the drain grate. He slowed down and checked his watch, the same one he had never taken off since his Uncle had given it to him on his deathbed. The hands read 8:45A.M., which to his relief meant he had made up a large amount of time, almost to the point where he could relax. His flight wasn’t until 10:00A.M., meaning he had another hour and fifteen minutes to simply get down three more streets.
Suddenly, a familiar face turned the same corner and crashed into him, spilling all the contents of a cardboard box that had been being held in the girl’s arms. Connor quickly bent down and helped her pick up all the fliers that had scattered upon the sidewalk.
Smiling his flawless smile to her, “Come on Rachel, you’ve got a to be more careful about who you’re walking into.” Laughed Connor.
“Oh shut up. You were the one standing there gawking at that busty blonde in the short shorts across the street!” Retorted Rachel.
As she stood up, her brunette hair fell to a little past her shoulders, framing her slim figure and crystal green eyes. The kind of eyes that someone could get lost in, staring for hours on end, and cause them to forget the concept of time. Rachel was a year younger than Connor, having a summer birthday always made her seem younger for her grade. She stood at an average height for a eighteen-year-old girl, but seemed to have the essence of a young woman who was mature for her age. Her attire was pleasing to the eye, yet not over revealing. It consisted of simple jean shorts and a t-shirt with her favorite fandom on the front, Sherlock. Rachel could be categorized as a modern timed nerd, and she probably could not survive had it not have been for the creation of british television. The unmistakable birthmark on her shoulder finished off her image. She claimed it looked like a dog, but Connor was convinced it was actually George Washington.
“Was not!” responded Connor, “Besides, she’s not even that cute.” He said while trying not to smirk. For some reason, Connor had honestly not found the other girl to be attractive, but Rachel on the other hand. He brushed his hand through his hair, a habit that he could never seem to beat.
“So why are you all the way downtown this early in the morning? You usually don’t acknowledge the sun until at least noon.” joked Rachel, “Oh my god! I almost forgot it’s your birthday!” She hugged him before proceeding to sit down at the table right outside the café they had stopped in front of and pushed up her glasses on her nose. Connor sat down right across from her and waved over the waitress.
“Thanks. Well if you can remember it’s my birthday, then you know it’s the beginning of July, so it means time to go visit the folks across the pond again.” Connor explained in his best attempt at a British accent.
“Tell me again why you’re here but your parents aren’t?”
“We go over this every time they’re brought up Rach. Remember when I moved here in eighth grade? Well it was going good until I graduated high school. My dad got another job offer but back in England where we used to live. So I was given the option of going with them back to London, or staying here in Florida, and well I had built up my entire friend group around you guys and there was nothing for me in London. So when I had been accepted into the University of Miami, my decision was kind of made for me. So I still go back and spend half the summer with them after the spring semester is up.” Connor turned to the waitress who had finally come over, “I’ll take a mango smoothie. Anything for you Rach? I’m paying.” he said with a smile.
Rachel looked up at the waitress who had been waiting and obnoxiously chew and blowing bubbles with her gum that carried the sweet scent of apple.
“Just a water with lemon and ice please.” The waitress turned and walked away without a single note on her order pad. “Well I guess that makes sense and I’ve always wanted to visit London. I’ve heard it’s not always that sunny there but who wouldn’t want to want to see Baker Street?! Oh sorry, nerd moment.” Rachel apologized, she had always gotten nervous and awkward whenever she was around Connor. He had that simplicity and physique that just drove her mind wild. She pretended to look away so he wouldn’t see the smile creeping up on her lips.
“Come with me then.”
Instantly she looked back at him. She laughed when she thought he was joking.
“Rachel I’m being serious. It gets boring with only my parents to entertain me. You’re my best friend and you just said that you’ve always wanted to see London. My parents loved you when they were here and they’ve got plenty of room at their place just out of the city. Come with me Rachel.” Connor looked Rachel in her eyes and at that moment she knew he was being serious. She felt his hand gently slide overtop of hers, pausing just a second as if to acknowledge the sincerity of his offer.
“Connor, you know I really would love to come with you, but its not a decision that can just be made like this. It takes planning and time, and well I just don’t think I’m spontaneous enough for something like that.” She looked away from him trying to hide something, and unable to see the disappointment in his dark brown eyes. She checked her phone for the time.
“I’m sorry Connor, I’ve got to go.” Rachel stood up just as the drinks had come, grabbed her box of fliers, and ran off into the crowded the street full of people. Connor stood up quickly enough to spill the water right out of the waitress’ hand, watching her blend into the midday scene. This had put a damper on his day, and left him with a feeling of failure. He knew he shouldn’t have asked her something like that.
Connor sipped his smoothie. Not even that had gone right, when he had asked for mango the waitress ordered him an orange flavored one.
“Looks as if someones not getting a gracious tip.” he mumbled to himself. After paying for the drinks, Connor stood up and noticed something under the seat in which Rachel had been sitting in. One of the fliers had been left behind, which he picked up and examined. It was a poster for a lost dog, and that was the moment he realized how caring Rachel really was. She didn’t even own a dog. The small terrier belonged to the elderly woman who lived in the apartment right next to Rachel, the one whom he had helped bring in the groceries the week before.
Connor decided it was time to get to the airstrip, because although it was not going to be crowded, he still had to make it there. The next fifteen minutes passed by without a single different thought. He couldn’t get the image of Rachel saying no and running away out of his mind. At last he had finally made it to the entrance of the private airstrip.
This was one benefit of having the parents he had. His father was an executive of a bank in London which had set Connor’s mother and himself up for a quite enjoyable life. As if that wasn’t enough, his mother had hit a phase of incurable boredom several years back and had felt the need to start a clothing line of her own to make up for it, one that lately had been quite successful, and doubled their family’s assets.
Connor had the ability to be a trust fund child, but growing up with children who weren’t so had led him to be grateful for what was earned through hard work. He avoided using his parents money unless there was no other option, or if it was forced upon him, such as the private jet.
The preflight process was nothing Connor wasn’t used to. Since it was a private flight, he simply had to keep his papers with him to be checked by the airstrip manager once they had arrived in London. Connor accepted his share of refreshments served by the single flight attendant on the plane. Fresh fruit and ginger ale settled his nervous stomach, just like it did each year before the confrontation with his parents. Since he only saw them once a year, it was kind of a big deal to him. Connor saw the familiar wrinkled face of Reggie, the family pilot, emerge from the captain’s cockpit only long enough to check if his sole passenger was on board and ready before sliding behind the door much like a rabbit receding back to his hole.
“Well Connor, nice to see you again, Happy Birthday. You haven’t changed much other than getting taller, tanner, and judging by Wendy’s reaction, cuter” joked Reggie’s voice as it rang over the PA system, while Connor blushed when he saw Wendy, the stewardess, giggling to herself.
The engines started, just as they had many times before, and Connor could feel himself accelerating towards the end of the runway. Such a simple yet complex process left the jet smoothly coursing through the clouds, soon over the ocean. The familiar lull of the engines and rhythm of the flight gave Connor a drowzee feeling, and soon left him fast asleep in the single chair.
Connor was awoken by the sudden jolt when the tires of the aircraft made first contact with the solid runway below. He felt groggy, the same feeling he had each time he was interrupted while in the middle of a quality dream. Rubbing his eyes, Connor opened the the window closest to him and peered outside. The familiar surrounding consisted of several small hangers, each containing some rich person’s plane and a watch tower that towered overtop the smaller structures.
The plane eventually reached a stop after turning at the end of the runway, into it’s designated garage. Connor knew he wasn’t allowed to leave the plane until his papers had been checked and stamped, a process that he found long and tedious. Finally he was allowed to leave the plane. He hugged Reggie goodbye, telling him he would see him at the end of his trip like usual. Connor even stopped to hug Wendy goodbye, thanking her for the service, and undoubtedly just to see her giggle once again.
As Connor walked from the plane, a jet black Rolls Royce was noticed, parked in the usual spot, with the usual husky man leaning on the grill, reading his usual paper.
“Henry!” called out Connor, “You haven’t changed a bit! I see you’ve even got the same dull fashion choice, just like last year.” he joked.
“Yeah, well this time it’s a little more expensive, a present from your mother, right off her new line. I see you’ve still got your smartass aditude, just like last year.” mocked Henry with a straight face. That expression didn’t last long, Each of the men broke out laughing and embraced each other.
“And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your birthday punches. What is it now? Twenty and one for good luck? Unless my math is wavering thats twenty one punches,” joked Henry
When Connor’s father traveled due to business when Connor was little, Henry was always there. In all ways but blood, Henry was Connor’s father figure. He was the man who taught Connor to ride his first bike, hit his first baseball, and even how to ask a girl on his first date. The separation of the last several years had been hard on their relationship, but each time they remet, it was as if no time had passed.
Henry was a well built figure. He had originally been hired as the family bodyguard after his mother had been mugged many years ago, but over time he had grown to be an irreplaceable aspect of the family, which included driving them around. He was trained in three types of martial arts, as well as trained to shoot with various firearms. Connor could easily feel the concealed pistol in Henry’s holster as the hug ended.
“Well come on then, you’re parents have been waiting all year for you to show up. No right in retaining them the privilege of seeing you” Henry attempted to shuffle Connor into the back seat, but instantly remembered that was a mistake. Connor hated being driven around while sitting in the back. He much preferred sitting in the front with Henry, besides, it had a better view.
“I’m quite capable of opening my own door, thank you.” Connor said while he proceeded to open the passenger door. Once inside, Henry joined him, seating himself in the driver’s seat and starting the engine. It roared to life with a spirit equal to that of a lion. The power of this luxury car was uncomparable due to the numerous custom upgrades his father had requested. With a smooth acceleration they had pulled out of the airstrip’s gate and into open traffic.
Although Connor was quite happy in Miami, there were obvious aspects of England that he missed. Florida seemed to be lacking the famous attractions that London retained. Since the airstrip and his parent’s home were on opposite outskirts of the city, it was easier to go through than around it. This ensured that Connor was able to pass key structures such as Big Ben, or the London Eye.
Each turn brought back different memories to Connor. He could remember spending time in specific shops, or eating lunch in different restaurants along the street. In fact, they had just passed the apartment building where he had kissed his first girl, with her father watching from overhead much like a vulture circling it’s prey. Connor thought it was an appropriate time to strike up a conversation with Henry.
“So hows everything at the house? Anything I should know about?” questioned Connor, without turning his head or attention from the streets quickly passing outside the window.
“Well your mom ended her fashion show in Milan early just to come back in time for your arrival today. Your dad has recently decided to quit smoking, and is a little on edge even with the nicotine patches. He made a big scene of throwing out all his cigarettes and cigars last week. Theo is doing just fine, but I keep telling your mom we should consider getting his vocal chords clipped because even at eight years old that dog will not quit yapping. And no, you don’t get used to it.” said Henry just as they started leaving the city scenery behind and sped down the road leading out of the city.
Connor kept the small talk going for the rest of the short car ride. It was great news to find out that David his best friend from before his move would be joining them for part of the stay. Connor hadn’t seen David since they were thirteen, almost six years ago. He wondered what it would be like after all that time.
In another fifteen minutes, they had reached the property line. Connor always knew this because even the air gave off an expensive feel. The plants, flowers, and trees were all perfectly placed and decorated the front gate in an extravagant way. Henry punched the key code into the pad beside the gate, 07-09-95, Connor’s birthday. The immensely long driveway seemed to go on forever due to Connor anxiously anticipating the reunion between everybody. When at last Henry pulled up to the front of the mansion, he let Connor out of the car, and went to park it in the back with the others.
Connor took a second to evaluate his situation. He looked around, and acknowledged that nothing was out of place. His parents were not the type of people to have anything out of place. He started up the set up steps leading to the front door. Before his hand even reached the knocker, the door swung open, revealing guests of all natures. In the middle of the crowd were two familiar faces.
On the left, stood a woman with an unnatural amount of obvious plastic surgery, and a body that cost her several hundred a week to pay for her private training sessions with Ricardo. She wore a dress that was unmistakably one of her own designs, tight and black, just like every other expensive designers. Her spray tan and dyed brunette hair made her stick out compared to the semi-pale complexion of the Londoners in the room. On her neck, she wore a single necklace, with a lone, enormous gemstone in the middle, topaz for her November birthstone. She was the type of woman to believe in good luck, horoscopes and karma. Her records would say her name was Deborah. To her friends she was Deb or Debbie. Connor simply knew her as the one he would call Mom.
Next to her stood a man who was unmistakably in charge of the actions that would take place in his household. He let off a powerful type of aura, one that let other men know he was not to be trifled with, or they would suffer the consequences. He stood a bit stockier than the average man, but that was quickly made up with his immense wealth. He had close combed hair that one could tell was beginning to grey, yet all knew not to comment about it. The man was known to be selfconscious of his increasing age, and therefore was believed to attempt to make up for it by purchasing expensive material objects. The man was clothed in a full suit and purple tie, which by the looks of it probably cost as much as several months rent for Connor. He did not have any false features about him compared to his wife, although he was a handsome man. To Connor, this was not Dad, but Father, and to others Steven Gallagher.
From the looks of things, people had not waited for his arrival before beginning to drink. When walking in, he was greeted with the heavy stench of booze and over-perfumed females. All the people in the room were dressed similar to his parents, a memo that had seemed to pass over Connor, while he was standing there in nothing more than jeans and a t-shirt.
“Well Connor, Happy Birthday, and I’m glad to see you’re dressed appropriately.” His father said sternly as he shook his hand.
“Oh Steve lighten up, he’s just gotten off the plane. Happy birthday Baby! Don’t worry about your father, just go on upstairs and change real quick. Your closets been filled with your luggage and a couple extra choices. But hurry up dear, we have something for you when you come back down.” said his mother while smiling and hugging him, he could smell the wine on her breath.
Up the stairs and to the left, third door on the right. These directions passed through Connor’s head once again, just like they had all the years before. He opened the door to see his room just as he had left it the year before. Connor couldn’t stand the organization of the room, the maids had always seemed to do too good of a job. The room was one of Connor’s favorite places to be. When he was smaller, he had convinced his parents to let him paint it with chalkboard paint. This covered the walls in messages to him from friends, reminders to himself, or doodles of boredom. the four-post best was centered on the back wall, coming into the center of the room. On the right side, was a wall with windows, as well as a study desk with scattered pictures of memories. The desk was stationed directly in front of the window, allowing Connor to view the entirety of the backyard behind the house. From here he could spot the lake which was the last thing owned by the Gallaghers on the property line. Connor looked up and saw all the posters he had plastered on the ceilings over the years. His childhood years covered more-so by his teenage ones, hidden posters of childhood idols covered by television shows and revealing females.
He walked into the the bathroom and turned on the lights as well as the shower. Connor removed the simple traveler’s clothes that he had been wearing all day. Jumping in only to rinse off, the shower was one thing that was positive so far today.
After the quick shower, Connor stepped out, grabbing a towel off the rack closest to the sink, and began to get ready. It was no time at all before he had started getting dressed in the suit laid out for him on the chair in the corner. Although he didn’t like admitting it, he quite enjoyed dressing up. It was the only time he admitted to himself that he looked good. The tie was the last part needed to complete his attire. Connor turned towards the mirror and repeated the only piece of worthy advice his father had ever given him:
The rabbit jumps over the fallen log.
The rabbit runs around the tree.
The rabbit jumps over the log one more time,
and dives in the rabbit hole safe and sound.
“Safe and sound.” he whispered to himself. Connor looked into the mirror. Satisfied with his appearance, he put on his watch, fixed his hair, and started downstairs to rejoin the party.
Even as Connor descended the stairs he could hear his parents hushing all the guests, but nothing could prepare him what he witnessed next. Just as Connor had reached the end of the stairs, a single figure was standing in the doorway, looking as beautiful as ever, but a little out of her comfort zone. Standing there with her brunette hair and crystal green eyes was Rachel, in a dress as blue as the Tardis itself. Connor had never seen something as stunning or beautiful as this girl in this moment, and laughed to himself when he noticed she hadn’t removed her Harry Potter necklace, which she always looked good in. She had decided to crash his homecoming party without the glasses, which only enhanced the beauty of her eyes.
Connor was lost for words, but Rachel seemed to make up for it. She awkwardly walked over to him in a pair of heels that seemed to be foreign to her, and threw her arms around him. She brought her lips to his ear as if to say something that no one else would be allowed to hear.
“Happy Birthday Connor. You look good in a suit.” she whispered playfully.
‘Happy Birthday to me indeed,’ Connor thought to himself.
Connor couldn’t help but blush and hug her back. After the embrace had finished, Connor felt like he was owed an explanation. He looked Rachel in the eyes and the puzzled expression was enough of a hint to make her understand what he meant.
“Well remember when I ran away from you at the cafe earlier?”
“Hard to forget, I thought I had ruined everything by asking you to come.” he admitted truthfully. She slapped him playfully on the arm.
“Shut it, my story. Well I actually did have to go; I was on the verge of missing my flight. I didn’t expect to run into you this morning which kind of messed up my plans. You weren’t supposed to know I was coming and I couldn’t very well agree to take off with you either. But anyways, about a month ago, your parents called asking about you and our friendship. I told them the truth and they seemed excited. Out of the blue they asked me if I wanted to surprise you for your birthday here, and I think we both know my answer to that.” finished explaining Rachel.
Conor smiled and turned to his parents. Without thinking he had blurted out.
“Thanks Mom. This is the best present I could have wished for.” Connor hugged his mother to the point where her implants almost popped. After releasing, she said nothing, but solely pointed at his father.
“Father?”
“Look Connor, I know we’ve had our differences in the past, and I wasn’t always there when you needed me as you were growing up. You’re almost a man now and I don’t want to have the same relationship with you that I had with my father, a nonexistent one. I thought of the one thing any young man would want on his birthday, and well since you don’t want to take my money,” the silence in the room was evident, “I’m kidding, I do have a sense of humor you know. Anyway I thought of spending it with the girl you love, and well thats how Rachel ended up here.”
Connor started to open his mouth to argue about the love comment, but before he had the chance,
“Don’t give me any of that ‘I don’t love her’--‘she’s just a friend’ spiel, I just saw the way you looked at her. It’s the same way you looked at her the first day of eighth grade when we moved to Florida, and it’s the way I looked at your mother on our wedding day. I still remember the way she waited for me at the end of the isle. Covered in white, a single flower in her hair, and that very same necklace around her neck. I mean the things that happened that night, --”
Before Steven could finish his sentence, Connor had hugged him. An action that hadn’t happened in a long time. For the first time in a long while he felt the actual love from his Dad.
“Dad, it’s perfect.”
Connor let go, he could see true happiness in his dad’s eyes, and this time it was here to stay. Connor smiled, because he could hear the undeniable voice of Henry coming from the back of the room, piercing the emotional silence-
“She came all the way from Miami to surprise you and if you don’t kiss her in the next thirty seconds I swear on everything holy, I will personally drag you back to America by your earlobes.”
And with that, Connor crossed the small gap between himself and the girl of the dreams, pulled her close, brushed her hair behind her ear, and kissed her as if it was his first kiss all over again. (This time without the vulture of a father.)