Milo smiled and unwrapped the first present. “From Mr. Chase. Thank you!” He took the present out. “Wow...a half bottle of cologne?”
Mr. Chase cleared his throat. “Well, the darn stuff is so expensive that they only sell it by the half bottle.” he said, trying to explain it.
Milo opened the bottle and put a little bit of it on. Amanda smiled and smelled it.
“Mmm, that smells nice. You should wear that at the next school dance,” she grinned.
“Thank you, Mr. Chase,” Milo said. He picked up the next present. “From Mort.” He unwrapped it. “New windchimes. Thanks.”
“You're welcome,” Melissa raised her eyebrows as she recognized them as one of his collection of windchimes outside his house.
Milo picked up the next present. “From Zack! Thanks, buddy!” Eagerly he opened the present and stared a bit questioningly. He lifted up what was in the box...colorful ties. “Ties. Thanks, Zack. I'll wear them at Church and one of them at the next school dance.”
Amanda held up the red one. “I like this one best. You should wear this at the dance!”
Milo stood up and hugged Zack hard. Meanwhile his father looked at the ties, some of them looking awfully familiar. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Zack, who gave him an innocent smile. “Thanks, Zack. Nothing like a practical gift!”
“You're welcome,” Zack said.
Milo picked up the next present. “Oh, from Mr. Underwood,” he unwrapped it. “A DVD. 'Wrestling's Greatest Fights'. Thanks!”
“You're welcome, hope ya enjoy it as much as I did...do!” he corrected himself.
Milo then picked up the next present. “From Eugene. Thank you!” he smiled at Zack;s younger brother, who smiled back. He eagerly unwrapped it. “Um...hankerchiefs? Well, thank you. Can never have too many of them, I say!”
Zack gave his brother a look that just said, 'Really?'
While Milo opened some more gifts, Amanda caught the eye of Lydia, being unable to hide her pure happiness. She was so filled with joy she was full to bursting! If she didn;t tell someone her news she was gonna explode! She gestured to Lydia to follow her into the kitchen. Lydia curiously followed her. “What's up?” she asked.
Amanda paused a bit. She knew Milo wanted to announce the fact that they were a couple to the party, but he still had a number of presents to open, and she was having such a hard tome holding it in. She HAD to tell someone, and that someone should be her best friend in the whole world, right? “Lydia,” she began, “If I tell you something important, will you promise to keep it a secret until later?”
“Of course!” Lydia said. “What is it?”
“First, promise me! Not a word to anyone!”
“Not a word, honest!” Amanda then happily told her everything. Lydia's eyes grew wide. “Shut up!! SHUT UP!! No way!”
“It's true!” Amanda cried out. “I know Milo wanted to announce this a little later, but I just had to tell someone right now!”
“Whoa! I mean, this is big...this is huge! I mean, oh my God! He actually kissed you...you're actually a couple...whoa!”
“I know!”
“So...how did it feel?”
“Amazing! You would never know it...but his kisses are....are so soft and so sweet and wonderful! I've never in my whole life felt like this! I wonder....is this what it feels like to be in love?”
“Maybe it is!” she said, hushed. “I'm so happy for you both!” She said, hugging her friend.
“ Oh, Lydia, I'm so happy! But remember, not a word until we're ready to announce it later on tonight!”
“Not a word, promise!” She said, tracing a cross over her heart. They both went back to the party just in time, he had picked up Lydia's present.
“From Lydia. Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” Lydia exchanged a smile with Amanda as Milo unwrapped it. “Oh, cool. A new sweater. Thanks!”
“You're welcome, glad you like it.”
Melissa then stood up and went over to a nearby shelf where she got her own gift. “Here, Milo!”
“Oh cool, thanks Melissa!” He took the gift, set it on his lap and opened it. “No way.....COOL!!” He lifted out a Dr. Zone figurine. “DR ZONE! NO WAY! Thank you, Melissa!!” He stood up and gave her a HUGE hug.
“Hey, I saw that at the comic shop!” Sara said. “That costs a fortune.”
“It did,” Melissa answered.
Zack went over to her, “Now did...” he whispered.
“It cost me 5 whole months of allowance and last-minute stroke of luck!” Melissa whispered back.
Milo ran to Melissa and gave her a huge hug. “Melissa, thank you! It;s great, I love it!”
“And that's not all,” Melissa took off a big piece of wrapping paper to show him the bouquet of flowers Zack had given her, which she now presented to Milo. “Happy Birthday, Buddy!”
“Melissa, they're beautiful! And there;s a note too!” He took it out.
“There...there is...” Melissa said, as Zack despirately tried to whisper 'Tried to tell ya' to her.
Quite a nail-biter, right? What does the note say and how will Zack and Melissa talk their way out of it in front of Amanda? Wait and find out!