Chapter Text
Jolene Milford's POV
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"Happy birthday, Milford!"
"Hey, happy birthday, Jolene!"
"Are you really thirty today? Wow."
I've been berated with all sorts of birthday wishes today, many of which have come from people I barely talk to. It's been nice, really.
I'm currently smoking outside with Kev and Scott by my side as we wait for Kid to get out of the shower. The cold November air is making me shiver slightly as I huddle between my two best friends for warmth, cigarette in hand.
"You look like you need a jacket or something." Kev comments with a grin towards Scott. I look between the two of them, baffled by the fact that they're unfazed by the temperature.
"How are you guys not freezing your asses off out here? You're in short-sleeved shirts, just like I am." I chuckle before taking a puff of my cigarette.
"We can't get cold when we have to keep you warm." Scott jokes, gently bumping me with his elbow. "Besides, we won't be out here too much longer. Kid should be done soon."
"God, I hope so." I chuckle, pulling at the hems of both of their shirts to pull them closer to me. "Why can't we just go to the car?"
"Because he's the one with the keys." Kev laughs, placing a hand on my shoulder. I appreciate any and every little bit of warmth.
When Kid finally comes out, I snatch the keys from his hand and run off towards the car. The guys laugh at me as I run to our vehicle, but that's okay. It's just way too cold! I start the car and get it heating up before I jump into the backseat, looking forward to the warmth.
"Damn, you didn't waste any time, did you?" Scott jokes as he gets behind the wheel, looking at me over his shoulder. "Poor little Joli, you're becoming an ice cube on your birthday."
"Not anymore! I'm warming up quite nicely now, thank you." I grin. I instantly cling to Kid as he gets in the backseat with me, making him laugh.
It doesn't take long for us to get back to the hotel, and when we make it back to our room, the guys step back to let me go in first. I had figured that they had planned something for my birthday, based on the way they had been acting all day, but this confirms it.
I open the door to our hotel room and as soon as I go to step inside, a little party popper goes off in my face. Throughout the confetti, I see Dally and Kim smiling brightly at me. This is what everyone's been up to, huh?
I love it. I really do.
"Happy birthday, sis! Thirty is nothing to be ashamed of!" Dally cheers as he leads me inside by my wrist. "Get ready to fuckin' party!"
Kim sits me down in the office chair before she hands me a drink, something I eagerly accept. This is a nice start.
"We know you're probably looking forward to gifts most of all, but let's have a little bit of fun first, okay?" Scott grins as he grabs some drinks and passes them to Kev and Kid. Dally and Kim both grab drinks of their own. "To Joli, on her big three-oh." Scott raises his bottle, signalling for all of us to do the same.
"To Joli!" I can't help but giggle as we all raise our drinks in a toast to me. I love my friends.
Kim turns on the radio (that I'm assuming she and Dallas brought) as we all settle in and start downing our drinks. Soon, we're all bopping along to the music as we drink and chat, just having a really good time.
We're around an hour in and I'm about to light a cigarette when Kev turns the music down and quiets everyone. He's got a slightly-groggy grin on his lips as he picks the presents up from the floor and sits them on the desk I'm sitting at. I sit my cigarette and lighter back down as I listen to Kev.
"Okay, okay. Before we all get too plastered, I think Joli should open her presents. That sound good to everyone?" Everyone nods. "All right, start off, then!" Kev sends me a wink before he sits back down beside of Scott on one of the beds.
"You guys do realize that you didn't have to-"
"Oh, don't start that!" Dallas cuts me off, laughing. "Jolene, you know that not a single one of us would've gotten you a damn thing if we didn't want to. Now hush up and open your gifts!"
I smile shyly at Dally before picking up the present closest to me. It's in a bag and it's from Kid! I remove the poorly placed paper at the top of the bag before giggling as I see the contents at the bottom of it.
Not only did Kid get me four packs of cigarettes, he got me me a couple of new lighters and an ash tray. "Aw, Kid! Thank you! I love it." I get everything out of the bag and sit it back on the table after I send a smile to Kid.
"You're welcome, Joli. You can never have too much of that stuff." Kid grins.
"Absolutely." I agree before picking up the next gift. It's a wrapped box and it's from Dallas and Kimberly.
Inside of the box I find several different things; a beautiful black scarf, a bottle of my favorite peach perfume, a couple of pairs of jeans, and...
"Really, Dallas?" I hold up three condoms that had been hidden in my new jeans as I (jokingly) scoff at Dally. He laughs and throws his hands up.
"How do you know I put those in there, and not Kim?"
"Because I know you." Dally laughs even more, sending me a grin.
"Well, I know you, too. And, because I know you and a certain couple of other people in this room," Dallas quickly glances between Scott and Kev, making everyone laugh, "I know you'll have use for those."
I shake my head with a smile on my face as I hug my gifts from Dallas and Kimberly to my chest. "Seriously though, thank you." I look at Dallas and then Kimberly. "I love all of it."
"We thought you would." Kimberly grins. "You're welcome, Jolene."
"Glad you like it, sis." Dallas chuckles.
After I've sat my gifts from Dallas and Kim back on the desk, I pick up the next closest gift. It's from Scott, and it's a small bag with a smaller box inside of it. I curiously open up the box, only to gasp when I see what's inside.
"Scott, holy shit! You didn't." I squeal as I remove the two beautiful bracelets from the box. I hear Scott chuckle as I look over my lovely new jewelry.
"I did." I quickly slip on the bracelets, so that I can see how they look on my wrists. Wow. "I take it you like them?"
"They're perfect! I've been wanting a set like this for ages." I look up at Scott, only to see him smiling brightly back at me. "Thank you so much, Scott."
"You're absolutely welcome, babe." Scott glances quickly towards Kim and gives a nonchalant shrug. "I might've had a little bit of help, though." Kim laughs and so do I.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." I examine the bracelets one more time before I carefully set them back in their box and onto the desk.
Those bracelets are so nice, and they're exactly what I had been looking for. Unless Scott used his charm to haggle the price down, I know he must've paid a pretty penny for them, too. I absolutely love them so much and I'm so glad he got them for me. I hope he realizes how much I adore them.
My final gift is from Kev, and it's in pretty big box. After I pick the box up and set it in my lap, I shoot a quick smile to Kev, who is grinning like a maniac. I hope he didn't spend too much on me.
Once I open the box and my eyes land on the nice black, leather jacket inside, my jaw drops. Kev lets out a cheer as I excitedly remove the jacket from the box in order to look at it more. The back side of the jacket has the nWo logo on it, along with my last name in white. One of the front pockets has 'new world order' written across it.
This may very well be one of the coolest damn things to have the nWo brand on it.
"It's pretty sweet, isn't it? You'd be surprised how quickly something like that can be made, if you pay the right price." Kev's comment snaps my attention away from the beautiful leather in my hands.
"It's breathtaking." I giggle as I place the jacket on my lap. "Thank you so much, Kev. I just... I love it." I really don't know how to explain how ecstatic I am. The jacket is wonderful and I can't wait to wear it.
"Don't mention it." Kev chuckles. "It is pretty damn nice. I thought it turned out well."
"Without a doubt." I can't believe my friends did so much for me. They all got me such wonderful gifts, it's mind-boggling. "Thank you, all of you. I appreciate everything so much."
"Oh, don't get all sappy, Joli. We love you!" Dallas cheers as he picks up his drink and raises it into the air. "Now, where were we?"
As everyone resumes drinking, I grab my cigarettes and light one up. I pick up the ash tray that Kid got me and move it closer to me on the desk so that I can use it.
This is the life, you know? Being able to drink and smoke with your best friends is absolutely fuckin' grand. I couldn't ask for a better night.
We've gone through god-knows-how-much booze when Dallas and Kimberly finally stand up, their arms around each other to help them not fall. They walk over to the chair I'm sitting in and wrap their free arms around me, giving me a hug.
"Goodnight, Jolene!" Dallas cackles in my ear, startling me to where I nearly fall out of my chair. "Oh, shit! Don't do that!"
"Don't scream in my ear, then!" I laugh, wrapping an arm around both Dallas and Kim. "Thank you both so much for tonight."
"Oh, you're welcome, Joli. Goodnight." Kim giggles as they step back. "We'll see you all tomorrow! Or something."
Kev, Scott, and I all wave at Dally and Kim as they stumble out of our room. I glance over at Kid, who is passed out on the floor, once they're gone.
"Damn, how long has he been out?" I ask as I try to stand up, only to slide completely out of my chair. "Oh."
"Let me help you, gosh." Kev laughs as he stands up and moves over to me, nearly tripping over Kid in the process. Before he picks me up, Kev kicks Kid.
"What?" Kid grumbles as he pops his head up for just a moment.
"Get your ass in bed." Kev rolls his eyes as he moves me to our bed. As Kev gets back in bed, Kid heaves himself off the ground and onto his and Scott's bed.
"Well, babe, did you have a good birthday?" Scott rolls onto his side, sending me a lopsided grin. "I think it was pretty fun."
"Without a doubt. It was great. You guys are the best friends a gal could ever ask for." I giggle as I make myself comfortable. "Thank you, thank you so much."
"It's been a nice little day. I'm just glad you've enjoyed it." Kev stretches out. "But shit, I'm tired."
"Me too. Kid's already out again." Scott laughs as he glances over at the snoring Kid beside of him. "I think it's time for us all to get some rest."
"Agreed." Kev yawns, reaching up to turn the light between the beds off. "Night, everyone."
"Goodnight." Scott mutters.
"Yeah." I flip my pillow to the cooler side, smiling to myself. This day really has been wonderful, hasn't it?
I'm nearly asleep when Kev turns on his side and wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer to him. We're facing each other, though we can't see one another.
"Happy birthday, Joli." Kev's voice is little more than a murmur, but the sincerity in his voice makes my heart leap. He's too good to be my friend. "Hope you're sleeping well. Night."