Chapter 242: Paige's Birthday

Pepper and I talked a little more, exchanging some other ideas.

Then she went to hug Paige and wish her a happy birthday (along with giving her a present), since she wouldn’t be able to attend the party the next day.

---

The next day, I was already on The Harper in the middle of the ocean with Scarlett, Paige, Carly, Sam, Cara, and Freddie.

Cher, Regina, and Mom were checking if everything was in order for the birthday.

“You’re lucky, Paige,” I commented, looking at the beautiful blue sea and the clear, lightly sunny weather. We were all wearing casual clothes.

“You really go all out if we don’t set limits,” Carly remarked, admiring everything—from the decoration to the other six smaller yachts docked nearby (with bridges connecting them to The Harper).

“That I do.” Then I explained, “Yacht 1 is for the adults, the cabins even have sound reduction. Yacht 2 – Water Sports: jet skis, banana boat and wakeboard.

Yachts 3 and 4 – Chill-out: beanbags, cushions, smoothies, tropical juices, a relaxed space for anyone tired of the music. Yacht 5 – Extra Party: mini dance floor with an alternative DJ. And Yacht 6 is for security and medical support.”

“You just want to throw a big party, don’t you?” Sam joked.

“Yeah! But Paige still gets a party like this,” I gestured to all of this with my hand. “I could do a Willy Wonka party for you, Sam,” I proposed.

“I think Jake only has good intentions!” Sam suddenly changed her mind about me.

“Huh, Sam, yours will literally be a ‘Sweet Sixteen.’” We both laughed at my silly joke.

“These two… what am I supposed to do with them?” Carly put her hand on her face in exasperation

“Come on, Carly, yours will be epic too,” I placed my hand on her shoulder. And I started telling her some silly ideas for her party

She joined in and laughed with us.

After a while, the guests began arriving by speedboats (I had rented them for transportation): A few of Paige’s university classmates, like Leslie. Missy and her entire family, all of them were stunned by the party, the same thing for the Dunphy family.

My friends from high school (football team, some other dudes, some popular girls who were friends of Cher and Regina). Miley Stewart and company.

And a bunch more famous people, like Mikayla, Lindsay Lohan, and Hilary Duff.

(We had already warned everyone that they would come, and that they should be treated as normal girls. We even threatened to ban anyone from all future parties if they crossed the line—fangirling or anything else.)

Britney had a show scheduled and couldn’t come. She had already given Paige her present.

"Jake, where do I sign to make sure I’m invited to all of your parties?" Mikayla joked to me. "Even in Hollywood, there aren’t parties like this—or maybe I’m just not invited…" she murmured.

Yeah, some hollywood parties are better for your own good not to be invited to, I thought

---

After some time, my friends from the football team, along with some of my dumber bodyguards, started chanting: “Whoever (boy) gets close to the lil’ sister of our boss, we gonna kill eh ohhh! We gonna kill eh ohhh! Oooohhhh!!”

They kept going with their war chant. Paige looked unfazed (she already knew my homies were kinda dumb). Scarlett narrowed her eyes at me.

“What?” I asked, pretending to be dumb too.

“That is very hypocritical of you,” she remarked a bit sarcastically.

“Hey, I didn’t say anything, I didn’t even tell them to sing” I defended myself.

Paige scoffed but then hugged me tightly. “Thank you for everything!” she said muffled against my chest.

“Oh, come on, Paige! I already feel a bit bad about mocking you on your birthday. Now, if you become all mellow, it will only make things worse,” I complained.

She made a small jump, bumping her head lightly against my chin. 

“Ouch, you little gremlin, now I’m gonna toss you into the sea!” I declared.

She laughed and stuck her tongue out at me. “Aunt Judith, Jake is being mean to me!” she screamed and ran away.

“I promise I’ll catapult her into the ocean,” I murmured.

Scarlett, while holding my hand, commented, “You two really have a good relationship.” Then she teased, “Don’t go falling in love with your ‘little sister.’”

I snorted, “No way! And she’s 14 years old, I like older.” I smirked, then jabbed back, “You’re the one who likes younger ones—like 14-year-olds.”

I hugged and kissed her before she could react. 

“You know I’ll still be mad at you,” she said, snorting.

“For saying the truth??” I laughed, hugging her again. I got pinched 

“Come on, Scarlett, I’ll give you my share of the cake.” I offered, making her laugh.

“Don’t be a jerk, she’ll probably give you the first slice,” she lightly scolded me.

“Are you talking to Gloria?” I asked. “Because I’m pretty sure here, in the United States, the first slice doesn’t have any important meaning.”

In some Latin countries, the tradition is that the birthday person cuts the cake and gives the first piece to someone important.

“We talked about it while using your beauty salon,” she reminded me, glancing at me.

I nodded. "Gloria has been coming over a lot. She is just like Cam—I know when they’re home from miles away because of their loud voices."

The birthday continued with various kinds of games. And of course, there was the karaoke part with me singing too (it basically became a tradition. Even if I didn’t start it, they would nag me to do it).

Missy was scolded by her mom for pushing Sheldon into the sea. The event had several lifeguards and even some divers in strategic areas, so things like that were relatively safe. But she still got grounded in the following days.

A few days after the birthday, the day of the Oscars finally arrived