| Part Two |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Where are we, Manny? I don’t recognize this place.” Sarah whispered. “It’s a surprise.” “Oh.” “But you’ll like it.” “Why are we whispering?” Mandy laughed and talked at normal tone, “I don’t know! You started it!” The girls walked arm in arm into the auditorium, and Sarah’s eyes widened when a movie began playing on the screen. She watched as she saw her first birthday, her first bike, her kindergarten graduation, all the way up to Christmas, which she had spent with all the girls. She cried when Nikki, who had been doing the narration through the whole thing, stepped out and sang an acapella version of “Happy Birthday” to her. When she had finished, Sarah ran up the steps to the stage and Nikki gathered her in a tight hug. “Nikki, you are too… how did you…. Why… what about the show you were going to tonight?” Nikki giggled and kissed the girl’s cheek, “This was it, girlie! Did you actually think I would go to a show on tonight of all nights that didn’t involve you?” Mandy stepped forward, “And these were those movies we were going to watch tonight, Sarah.” “You two are unbelievable!” Mandy laughed, “Don’t you dare think this is over. We still have the whole night ahead of us, my dear. Joining us Nik?” Nikki nodded, and the three piled in Mandy’s car, and drove for another half hour. Sarah broke out in tears once more when she realized the old playground that Trace had always taken her to when she was younger. Two figures appeared from the mist the lake was giving off, and began to swing on the swings. She heard childish laughter ringing through the night air, and she took a step forward when the figures approached the three girls. “Happy birthday Babygirl. I hope you like this.” Sarah flew into Trace’s arms and hugged him tightly to her. She ran to Jenny and stood in awe at what was in her hands. Jenny placed the photo into Sarah’s arms, and smiled in satisfaction when Sarah stared in deep appreciation. “This was taken the day you were signed to RCA. Jenny, where did you get this picture?” Jenny smiled and pointed at the old photo hut in the middle of the playground, “All you need is a few major contacts.” They all stared at the picture, which included Sarah, Trace, and the girls all sitting on the jungle gym, their faces filled with glee as they reveled in their new found success. “This is so amazing. I haven’t been here in ages. I love it!” “You’re still thinking that’s all aren’t you?” “Mandy, right now… I wouldn’t dream of any more.” Sarah paused, then looked up mischeiviously. “IS there anymore?” “You bet, kiddo.” Trace said, as they all piled once more into Mandy’s car. The trip this time only lasted a few minutes, and they pulled up in front of an old clock tower. “Oh no way! This is that clock we spent the night in when Veronica broke up with that one guy. I’ll never forget Danay and V trying to change the time. They never did do it.” She glanced up at the clock. “But…. Its only 10 right now. That clock says its…” She cut herself off in another fresh wave of tears. “Its says 4:07.” “And it will never read anything else.” Veronica said. “Me and Danay made sure of that. We may not have been able to change it that night, but its going to read your birthdate until you want it changed.” “Its amazing what money can buy these days isn’t it?” Danay asked, hugging Sarah with one arm as they all stared up at the old clock. “Well? Are you guys coming in or not?” The party that raged inside that clock that night was an immense one.Until the wee hours of the morning, the friends gathered together, sharing stories about life, and stories they wished had come true. Sarah knew how lucky she was. All the stories she told that night were true, and they all circulated around the people in front of her. This is better than any dream. I love these people. All my dreams have come true because of them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “What in the…..” Sarah flew out of bed and hit her alarm clock with all her might. “Why are you going off this early-“ She stopped in mid sentence. “It was all a dream. Oh my God, it was all a dream. But what a dream that was. Man….” She glanced at her alarm clock once more, and her mouth dropped open in complete shock. 4:07 |