13 years
Her father always threw the most lavish parties. Tara didn't expect less for her thirteenth birthday. Finally, her Barbie themed birthday party dream had come true.
She waltzed through the backyard in her pink Barbie princess dress welcoming all the stares her way. She smiled at all the compliments from her classmates as she made her way through the aisle.
The faces of people in her backyard were familiar. A large number were her classmates. Some were her cousins. Others were enstranged friends. Her face continued to search through the crowd. Where was she?
"Tara."
Warmth finally enveloped her when she heard her voice. Tara quickly pulled her through the crowd to the side.
"Where have you been?" she quesioned.
"Around." Norah replied. Tara glared.
She knew she was lying.
"I was helping Molly with Ethan."
It was another lie.
"I was with James." she confessed exasperated.
"Again?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Norah lifted a brow.
"It means you have been spending more time with James recently more than me."
"Are you jealous?"
"Maybe." Tara confessed.
"James is just James. You, Tara are my best friend."
"Great to know."
"Do I really have to wear this?" Norah pointed at her purple princess dress. Tara thought it looked nice on her.
"Yes. We are matching remember." Tara smiled. Norah rolled her eyes.
"Okay. What do we do now?"
"Photo booth." Tara answered excited
"Right." she sighed.
They had had so much fun at the photo both despite Norah's earlier mood. Tara's father gathered them around. Everyone knew what time it was when her father gathered them.
The treasure hunt was a little tradition her father had started doing on her birthdays. How she loved the mystery of looking and finding the hidden treasure. Tara and Norah had won each one of them every time. She looked forward to winning this one too.
"I want you all to listen carefully." He shushed the murmurs.
"Tonight a valuable treasure has been secured in this yard. Only teams that show teamwork, creativity, and courage will collect the full code.
No pair can win alone. Respect, strategy and a bit of style will unlock the prize." he announced dramatically.
They were divided in groups of two. Tara's heart broke when she was separated from Norah. She had always been her partner for the past hunts. Together they had conquered and won. Today, she was paired with Dylan instead.
She didn't know much about Dylan Cornelius except that he was the son of the Alpha of the North Bed pack. She didn't have so much confidence in her new partner.
"You've got this." Norah mouthed. Her mouth twitched a little. Norah was paired with James. Tara felt jealousy. Norah was paired with someone she liked at least.
Each group was handed an envelope with clue one.
"Are you ready?" Dylan asked.
"I was born ready." she replied.
When the whistle blew, she moved with Dylan to station one. There was a string tied in-between chairs like a spy maze.
"Cross without touching the lasers.
One touch = restart.
Two minds, one rhythm." the card read.
"Easy. You go first." Dylan muttered. Tara quickly got to the ground and under the strings waddling through the maze precisely to the end. She watched Dylan cross through the strings just as first. They retrieved their first code digit and were off to the next station.
All the boys were blindfolded, the girls had to guide the boys to retrieve five items from the other end. It was a disaster for the most part. Dylan was a natural at the challenge. Maybe she was the good instructor. Either way, they emerged first at the challenge. The second digit code was in their hands.
Next station was answering a riddle.
"I speak without a mouth and hear without ears…"
"Easy. It is an echo." Dylan answered. She was mesmerized by him. If she was with Norah, it would take them some time. Dylan looked like he was good at the treasure hunt game. They retrieved their third digit code and the map to hidden treasure.
Tara was excited. She could see some groups scrambling in a distance. She was going to win the treasure hunt again. The thought thrilled her adding onto the already pumping adrenaline.
The map showed different hidden pieces. The hidden pieces when joined together formed the last code digit. The digit they needed to open the chest that had the treasure.
Dylan and Tara are over all the places that are marked. Norah and James were right behind them. When they found the final piece, they arranged the pieces to decipher the code number they need. It was a two.
The smirk on their faces was enough. Dylan and Tara both hurried to the fountain where the chest was hidden. To their own dismay, someone was already over the fountain. He turned his head behind at their footsteps.
"Found it." He turned with the Lego set in his hands.
Tara stared in disbelief. Dylan glared for the most part.
"I can't believe we wasted all this time for a Lego set." Dylan hissed before he walked away.
The boy with the Lego set in his hands was a stranger. His long dark brown curls framed most of his face. She had never seen him at school. She was sure he was none of his cousins. Who was he?
"Tara, you okay?" She turned to see Norah and James. They were breathing hard.
"Yes." she murmured. She wasn't okay. She had lost the treasure hunt. She had missed on the Lego set.
"Looks like we have a winner." Her father announced.
"What is your name boy?" he asked.
"Lyon."
"Our winner for this year's treasure hunt is Lyon."
Everyone was disappointed at the loss. Few people congratulated him. The cake cutting had cheered them on together with the open pool party. The loss was long forgotten as Tara and Norah stuffed themselves with candies.
They toasted glasses of apple juice by the pool benches as they pretended they were sipping mimosas.
"Do you mind if we join you ladies?" Dylan asked. He was with his friend Danny. They had giggled stupidly before they finally nodded their heads.
It was a beautiful birthday. Tara loved her gifts. She had so much fun at the party any thirteen year old could dream of.
When the day finally came to an end, she retrieved back to her room. Something on her bed caught her eye. It was the Lego set from the treasure hunt. How had it gotten into her room? There was only one answer.
She quickly rushed to her window to catch a glimpse of the car driving away from their house. Lyon had left her the Lego set. Along with the Lego set was a hand written note with the most beautiful calligraphy.
Happy birthday.