log: Nathan and Jennie

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Feeling like the world forgot her birthday, Jennie broods in her hotel room, unaware that Nathan has a surprise in store for her.



Jennie thought that things couldn't get any worse than spending 6 hours on a plane on her birthday. On Halloween even. Now she amended that thought as she peered forlornly out of her hotel window. Mr. Dayspring had recommended that all students stay put in their rooms. Jennie had never been to Seattle, and had wanted to at least hit the Pike Street market, and see some flying fish. That would have made her birthday un-suck. But no, stuck in a hotel. With sheets that smelled very much like feet.

A knock came at her door, interrupting her gloomy reverie. "Room service," called a voice that sounded very much like Nathan's.

Jennie rolled her eyes. "I'm coming, hang on a minute." She walked over and yanked the door open. At the sight of Nate, she stared. “Um….”

Nathan grinned down at her crookedly. He had something in his hand, shielding it with another. "Let me in - I come bearing goodies," he said, and as she stepped aside, he let his one hand fall, revealing that he was carrying a cupcake. Not just any cupcake. An extra-large cupcake, rather attractively iced, with a candle sticking out of it.

Jennie tried to remain cool, as her now 17-year-old dignity was hinging on it. But she still couldn't stop grinning stupidly. "You really didn't have to." She said as he deposited the cupcake on the dresser next to the tv.

"I most certainly did." Nathan stared hard at the unlit candle. The air around the wick shimmered briefly, and a flame appeared all at once. "There," he said with satisfaction. "Bet you've never had a birthday candle lit by a telekinetic manipulating the air molecules, have you? I figured that would make up for me not singing."

"It's...cool." Was all Jennie could manage. And she was secretly very glad for the not singing. Her dignity would have run away screaming.

"Blow it out?" Nathan suggested, his hand sliding into his pocket. He was glad that Moira had reminded him of this little detail. With everything going on, he wouldn't have recalled himself, and that would have been a shame.

Jennie shut her eyes, thinking of something to wish for. In the end, it came back to the same thing she wished for every year. Why not? Maybe it would actually come true this time. Jennie opened her eyes and blew out the candle.

"Here," Nathan said, taking the small box out of his pocket. "Moira decided you needed a gift on your birthday, and figured that people might forget, given all the excitement of the trip and everything that's been going on."

Jennie's dignity got up, said "cheers," and ran in the opposite direction. Jennie's smile, if it was possible, got bigger. She carefully popped the scotch tape up from the edges and slid the box out of the wrapping. Inside was a sparkly blue brooch in the shape of a flower. Jennie also wryly noticed it was the same shade of blue as her nail polish. "Oh. Gosh." She said, and then flung her arms around Nathan. "Thank you both so much!"

Nathan hesitated, and then hugged her back carefully, a little smile playing on his lips. "I'll pass that along to her. The brooch was her idea, mind you. I think she thought the color suited you."

Jennie realized that she was Hugging A Teacher and quickly drew back. She blushed slightly. "Yeah. I have some things that would go with it."

Nathan's expression was almost wistful as he looked down at her for a moment. "Her taste is usually spot-on. And I have to say," he said, rallying a little - comparisons were invidious things, and he was not going to brood about Amanda right now - "I suspect that is actually a very good cupcake. The hotel kitchen made it when I told them the situation."

Jennie obligingly picked up the cupcake, with both hands, for it was a behemoth of a cupcake, and took a tentative bite. "'S very good." She mumbled, suddenly very shy. She wasn't used to adults being nice to her, and her 17-year-old pride was in shreds. "Would you like some?"

"I would love some," Nathan said with a perfectly straight face. "Unfortunately, it's chocolate, and if I eat chocolate I start seeing the future. Literally." He made an aimless gesture at his own head. "Makes my precognition flare up."

"Oh. Sorry." That was weird. "S'good though." She carefully set the cupcake on her dresser. Her last shreds of dignity were demanding that the teacher not see her with chocolate icing all over her face.

Nathan, with a perfectly straight face, levitated the kleenex box over to her. "If you want to go to dinner," he said, "there's a number of us heading down at five to the restaurant in the lobby. If not, you can order something from room service. I've been telling everyone to keep it within reason, but if you want to splurge a little... well, it is your birthday."

Jennie accepted the tissue and felt the last of her dignity die a horrible screaming death. "I'd love to go. But only if you promise you won't make the waiters sing to me."

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Nathan said, very carefully not smiling. He had expected her to say that. Hence why he planned to go from room to room and tell people about the dinner, and incidentally remind them that Jennie's birthday was today.

There were after all some very nice stores on the hotel's concourse level.
"Well, I should shower then. I'm kind of ooky from the plane ride." She hoped he would take the hint. Anymore attention from him and she would literally melt into the carpet.

"I'll see you down in the lobby at five then," Nathan said as he turned. "Happy birthday, kiddo."

"Thank you, Mr. Dayspring." He nodded at her and slipped out of the room. Jennie picked up the box and flung herself onto her bed. The brooch sparkled at her prettily and Jennie felt a queer sensation in her stomach. Such good luck! Maybe not such a sucky day after all.