The Loud House 18th Birthday Of Waterfall Sparkles
Leni got into her clothes after taking her shower in the bathroom. While looking at herself through the mirror, she smelled herself after using the shampoo for herself.
“Ohh yeah…” She sighed in relief. “Thank you Jackie and Mandee for the greatest gift for me.” After brushing her hair, she headed to the door, unlocking it and opening it with confetti being launched from the outside.
“HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY LENI!” The Loud Family cheered with Lori and Luna holding the birthday cake in front of Leni.
“Oh my gosh!” Leni cheered with her hands on her cheeks.
“We always prepared for every birthday surprise.” Rita smiled. “Even if one of the sisters takes really long showers.”
“She’s just getting great use out of her beautiful shampoo that her friends brought her.” Lori added while sniffing it. “Smells literally amazing.”
“Well…” Leni blushed. “Now I’ll be smelled as the most beautiful teenager in the mall.”
“You’re no longer a teenager, sis.” Luna commented.
“You’re officially an adult now.” Lynn Sr. added with a tear coming down on his face. “That's the second of our kids leaving this house.”
“She won’t be leaving soon.” Rita turned to her husband. “But once she earns enough money, she will.”
“Sorry, I keep forgetting that yesterday was my last day as a teenager.” Leni replied.
“It almost happened to me, some teenagers always forget.” Lori smiled. “Let’s go downstairs, open your gifts and have some cake.”
As Leni and her family cheered, they all headed downstairs where Leni’s birthday gifts were displayed in the living room. After taking her time opening everything single gift from her family members, there was one more left with Lori’s name on it.
“Here you go, Leni.” Lori handed her gift to her sister. “I know you’re gonna love it.”
Leni took the gift out of its bag, revealing it to be light pink lip balm and lipstick. “Oh yes!” She cheered. “This is from the same company who made the shampoo!”
“Wait until River feels it from his lips if you know what I mean.” Lori smirked.
“He’s really gonna love it!”
“You know, it’s no longer a secret that you love kissing the charm out of him.” Lola commented.
“Especially when it mostly creeps us out.” Lucy added.
“You know it’s always true.” Leni replied. “Wait until you all get older and know how it feels to kiss the one and only lips of a sparkle boyfriend.”
As Leni gave Lori a hug, Lori wrapped her arms around her sister in return. “It’s still sad it took you to last Christmas, but now you can finally relate on how I feel when I’m with Bobby.”
“He’s such a lucky sparkle boyfriend!”
“So does your boyfriend.”
After Lori and Leni broke their hug, the whole family had cake and ice cream in the dinner room. Meanwhile outside of their house, River parked his truck by the driveway. As he got out of the car, he took a deep breath, hoping his chance with Leni would work out, especially on her birthday. He walked up to the front door, knocked on it as it was immediately answered by Rita.
“River.” Rita smiled. “You’re here just in time.”
“I wouldn’t miss Leni’s birthday.” He smiled.
“It’s in my car but I want to talk to her first.”
As Rita invited him inside, he appeared in Leni’s view after she took a bite from her cake. Her eyes sparkled the moment she stared at River and his hair. “River…” She spoke with cake in her mouth.
“Leni.” River waved as Lori helped Leni crew her piece of cake.
“Even after half a year, she still has that reaction towards you.” Lori replied.
“I got used to it.” River took a seat by the kitchen table. “If anything, it actually makes me proud that I impressed her more and more since last Christmas.”
As Leni swallowed her cake, she giggled. “Seems she’s your good look’s charm, ha ha ha ha ha, get it?” Luan leaning next to Leni.
“Still getting used to it?” Lana replied.
“But it’s still true.” Leni confessed. “It’s like you're getting totes better by the day.”
“I’m not that good looking. I just thought you loved me because of how I kissed you.”
“That too but, it’s not the only thing I love about you.”
River felt flattered from Leni’s opinion as he attempted to come clean. “So you wanna know why I’m here on your birthday?”
“You want some cake and ice cream, and spend time with me and my family?”
“She hasn’t decided which place we can spend her birthday at but after this, she’ll search online.” Lynn Jr. added.
“Oh, so you haven’t planned on anything yet?” River replied.
“Well…this maybe asking for too much but…” He closed his eyes. “Would you drop your plans on spending your birthday with your family?”
Everyone gasped but Leni when she dropped her fork on her plate. “But…why?”
“Because I was thinking…I can take you to a special place that I’ve wanted to show you since Summer’s coming back.”
“How far away is it?” Lynn Sr. asked.
“Almost a few hours away.”
As Leni processed River's choice, her family on the other hand thinks otherwise. “I’m sorry River but that’s out of the question.” Rita responded.
“We really want to go somewhere to celebrate Leni’s birthday.” Lana added.
“We rarely do these.” Luna added.
“But did you do this for her seventh birthday last year?” River replied.
“No.” Luan said. “We did when she turned thirteen but that was five years ago.”
“You are her boyfriend but family always comes first no matter what.” Rita replied.
River took another deep breath, accepting the answer. “Okay, that’s fine.” He responded. “Just thought that Leni would love it.”
“I love it.” Leni responded, getting River and her family’s attention. “I would love to come to that place if it’s that special.”
“But Leni, what about us?” Luna asked.
“I’ll find a place we all love.”
“Leni.” Lori turned to her. “Was the mall the first thing on your mind?”
“It would’ve been a different mall outside of Royal Woods.”
“That’s not gonna work either. I think you should have River take you to that place.”
“Why can’t we just have Leni have her birthday without just this once?”
“I would love to go to what River’s hiding for a surprise."
“Yeah, why can’t we go with you?” Lynn Jr. wondered.
“Because not only is the place not that big, it’s also a private spot that I really want to keep hidden…despite going there on my own without my family and cousins.”
Leni didn’t bother to eat another slice of cake or ice cream after hearing River. “They didn’t want to join you anymore?”
“They do, it’s just they agree to me that I can have the place to myself while having no visitors to come over.” River then looked straight into Leni’s eyes. “And I really want you to be my only visitor.”
Leni then looked at her family while still thinking about her choice. Lori became the last family member he stared at with a soft smile on her face. “If you don’t come with him, most likely another visitor will take your place.” She smiled.
Leni then made up her mind, knowing that her sister was right. “Sorry everyone, but I want to come with River on my eighteenth birthday.” As his family felt disappointed, Rita came forward after her daughter’s answer.
“Maybe it’s for the best for you.” She said while turning to River. “Keep her safe if anything happens.”
“The special place is always safe from any harm.” River smiled.
“We might as well go somewhere else in favor of Leni’s birthday.”
“Thank you!” Leni wrapped her arms around Rita. “Would it be okay if I bring some of my birthday gifts along?”
“I promise you Leni, you would want to come back there after today.” River said as Leni stared at him.
After the family finished their cake and ice cream while River received his piece and scoops, Leni packed up her things for the road trip she’s taking with her boyfriend. The last things she put in her bag is the shampoo, lip balm and lipstick, waiting for the right moment to kiss River when they get there.
“I’m coming down.” Leni called as she walked down the stairs.
“River is by his truck outside.” Lincoln pointed out the window.
“May not be your first date with him but dates get better than the last.” Luna commented.
“Really, this date of us going on a road trip is a first for me.” Leni headed out the door as her family walked out.
“You can tell me everything through text messages.” Lori called.
“I’ll send you selfies!” Leni called.
“BYE LENI!” Her family called. “AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”
After putting her stuff in the backseat, she and River got inside the truck as River put his key in the ignition. As Leni waved to her family, River drove his truck on the road as Leni turned back to him. “So.” River focusing on the road. “How does it feel being eighteen?”
“A little better after thinking about it.” Leni replied. “Sad my teenage days are history.”
“It doesn’t always last forever. But I promise you, you will get more opportunities as an adult. Like a place to live.”
“But it’s still hard to find a place.”
“Let alone paying to stay inside it. My parents told me that affording a house is the hardest part in life. You sometimes help pay the bills right?”
“Yeah. Water bills, electrical bills, getting food isn’t the only important thing.” As River kept driving the truck, he had to confess something to his girlfriend. “Going to that special place gives me so much escapism, I would be livid if someone destroyed the whole place.”
The birthday girl would feel the same way if someone destroyed a place she loves so much. “Would you have nowhere to go for escapism?”
“Unfortunately, no. That’s how much I love that place and I hope you will love it.” As River kept driving, Leni stayed in her seat, thinking how important this is to him. As she watched the road in front of her, her curiosity got bigger with each passing mile. “And Leni.” He said as she turned to him with him looking at her. “Happy birthday.”
Upon looking back to the road, Leni’s flatterness went high as she’s eager to lean in and kiss his lips or at the least, his cheek. But she controlled herself, preventing a disaster before arriving at their destination. “I really want to kiss him so badly!” She thought. “Why does his lips feel so handsome and sparkling!?”
A few hours have passed as Leni and River are getting closer to their destination. They drove into the woods with the trees being huger, with a pathway that River’s taking. “We’re almost there?” Leni asked while yawning.
“We will.” River driving his truck on the pathway. “It just takes over five minutes to reach the end. But it’ll be all worth it.”
Leni tried to stay awake but after a long drive, she lowered her head. This took River’s attention but it gave him the advantage, making the surprise better for his girlfriend. After over five minutes, River parked his truck as he got out, moving to the other side by opening Leni’s door. “We’re here Leni.” He unbuckled her seatbelt as he gently pulled Leni out of his truck. Upon landing on the ground, her sunglasses landed on her face, covering her eyes.
“I’m trying to see but someone turned off the sun.” She slowly moved her head.
“The sun’s never turned off.” River giggled as he pulled Leni to the spot he wanted her to be in. “Let me help you with that.” He put her glasses back above her face. The moment Leni opened her eyes, the reveal made her fully awake.
“Oh…my…totes!” She stared at the tallest waterfall with the water falling down. Upon looking at the lake where the water’s streaming down, she loved how clean it was. “This lake’s perfect, can we swim in there?”
“You bet.” River smiled while he crossed his arms. “There’s also a cliff up there that’s being led through that hill from that trail.” He pointed. “I’ve jumped off there many times.”
“Even better than the waterfall from the forest outside of camp?”
“Woah, calm down, we’re going swimming later.”
“It’s a good thing I’ve brought my brand new swimsuit after opening it today.”
“I brought mine too. But sometimes,” He then takes her hand, taking her to the spot to the right. “I keep my personal belongings in that tent.” He shows her his pain blue colored tent as it’s only big enough for four people inside. He opened it, revealing one cozy blanket and a big pillow, along with some of his belongings.
“You’ve slept here from time to time?”
“Yes. The waterfall’s not that loud.”
As Leni turned back to the waterfall, she still couldn’t keep her eyes off it. “I would love it if I lived here.”
“So do I.” River then got on his knees on his picnic blanket, in front of his tent. “There is space over there to make a cabin for one family. But it’ll still take time to build it from scratch, especially how expensive it’ll be.”
Leni then got on the blanket, next to River. “You’ve been thinking about living here?”
“I don’t need to ask if you have other places you can live in.”
“They don’t compare dream homes like this. But I’m sure you have.”
Leni then looked around again, still adoring the place. “Well, if we never met at camp, I wouldn’t give nature a chance. I’ve only thought about cities full of glamour and fashion.”
River then remembered all the times Leni showed him her work in fashion. “Do you think life would be complicated with all that? I mean, your outfits are amazing but the fashion shop in town from here is just as perfect and passionate as where you work.”
“Is the town both of glamour and fashion?”
River bites his lip. “Umm…just fashion, no one wears glamour sadly.”
“Ohh…” Leni lowered her head. “...even the states I’ve been to had fashion shops with glamour.”
“They’re well known. But the towns that are smaller don‘t get that attention…” River then looked at the waterfall itself. “But I love it. It makes me feel more important to the people I like there.”
As Leni looked at the waterfall again, Royal Woods had less to offer even with the mall and park. “Maybe if I never came to camp, I wouldn’t give nature a chance. I forgot how it felt enjoying the forest when we came back home.”
“Hey, you’re not the only one who goes back to their own ways of life.” River turned back to Leni as Leni took notice. “If I was spent in the big city for three long months, thus coming back to where I belong, I wouldn’t remember the experience, or even remember to learn from it.”
“Well, I thought you would get used to it.”
“True, but if it’s the same way as running camp…it’s not really when it’s bigger than that.”
“You…can’t handle big crowds?”
River then laid his head and back on the blanket. “For band concerts and important town meetings, yes but I feel more uncomfortable by city folk who…aren't like country folk.”
Leni watches River down, as he stares at the sky from above. “Country folk are more peaceful and happy, are they?”
“That’s where escapism gives me the most.”
As Leni laid her head and back on the blanket, next to her boyfriend, she also stared at the sky. “Well, I made a friend who lives in Great Lakes City, and it’s one of the things it gave me…escapism. I just wished I could reach higher than that.”
“Would it give you a place you would love for escapism?”
Leni thought about it more while still looking up at the sky. She closed her eyes, remembering her fashion design career with the dresses and fashion shows she made. But soon, she couldn’t let go of not only the waterfall, but also River himself. River then looked at Leni with how she’s flinching.
“Leni.” He placed his hand on her hand, causing her to open her eyes. “It’s fine if you can’t admit it.”
“But I still love being a fashion designer.”
“But…you do love being around me.”
“Yes.” Leni lifted her head and body up. “I’m glad you took me here, and how much you want escapism here but, if you ever build a cabin here, just so you can live here, I still don’t know if I want to live with you if I ever move out.”
Leni then smelled the fresh air, including from the waterfall. She sighed sadly, no matter how much she’s growing into it, her other options won’t go away. River looked down, still hoping he’ll get his chance with his girlfriend. “Be right back.” He made his way back to his truck, taking out his birthday gift for Leni. When Leni turned back to River, she witnessed the gift in River’s hands, as he sat back down on the blanket.
“Happy Birthday.” He smiled as he handed her a gift.
“You gave me a gift.” Leni looked at it.
“I’m your boyfriend and I wouldn’t skip the first birthday after you told me about it.” He crossed his legs as he watched her. “Even though you want me to make you a gift, whatever it’s anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Birthdays, I still put in a lot of time to give you this.”
As Leni looked straight at her gift, she unwrapped it as River kept his attention on her. The moment Leni ripped the wrapping in the middle, she saw two lips’ connecting each other perfectly while surprised on the lower heads themselves. She immediately ripped off the wrapping as she held her gift right in front of her.
“River…” She said with sparkles in her eyes. “It’s us…passionately kissing each other! With sparkles and hearts around us.”
“And both of our names are on the bottom.” River sat next to her, pointing to both of their names. “My Dad made me this after working with him throughout our time together since Christmas. I’m not a great wood carver, but he’s a professional. It wasn’t easy…but he catched on to how much I loved you. Which is why I showed him a selfie of us kissing on Valentine's Day.”
Leni kept staring at the wooden carve, still can’t believe River’s Dad actually made this. “It’s…perfect.”
“He also catched on that you love…my kisses.” River blushed, so did Leni. “But he admitted he felt the same way when he kissed Mom on day one, loving her kisses for the next several years.”
“It’s actually sweet he felt the same way. Guess kissing does run in the family huh?” Leni lid her eyes.
“Yeah, Mom even showed me her teenage pics of her kissing Dad.” River scratched on the back of his head.
“You were born with passionate kissing lips.” Leni squeezes River’s lips with her thumb and finger, causing River to laugh.
“Well, I never meant to have a career off of that but I can’t blame anyone and you thinking that way.”
Leni kissed River’s cheek, giggling afterwards. “You’re my kissing model while I’m your kissing cutie.”
“Thanks.” River placed his hand on his cheek. “I still love our moment after the Christmas show.”
Leni wrapped her arm around him. “When it comes to your heart, it spreads everywhere inside your body. It’s the sparkle that cheers you up.”
“And love.” River then kissed Leni’s cheek, wrapping his arm around her as she blushed more. “Do you want that to spread to this place?”
“We’re gonna go swimming?” Leni smiled.
“I have my swimsuit in my tent. Do you have yours?”
“Totes yes I do!” She stood up from the blanket. “I got it as one of my birthday gifts.” She placed her hands behind her back with the wooden carve. “I’m sure you’re gonna love it.”
River also got up. “Well it’s our first time swimming together, and I know how much you’re gonna love my hair without a ponytail.”
“You just want to show off for me, don’t ya?”
“Does it get old?” He placed his hands on his hips.
“Go change behind my truck, I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you look at me. Not just my hair.” As River entered inside his tent, Leni backed away, blushing more while staring at the wooden carve of her and River. When he turned to the tree next to the lake, she placed it on the ground onto it, facing at the lake itself.
She immediately rushed behind River’s truck as she took out her swimsuit from one of her birthday bags. The only thing she brought along was her own swim cap from her old swimsuit. “I just really want my hair to be perfect for him, twenty four seven!” She then sniffed herself. “He didn’t even smell the shampoo I had on. I thought it would work.” She then took out her lip balm and lipstick from its bag. “It’ll happen later.” She put it back in its bag, as she changed out of her clothes, getting into her swimsuit afterwards.
In less than five minutes, River came out with his swimsuit on. He notices Leni finished putting on her swimsuit as he stood feet away from the front of his truck. Leni closed the truck door with the towel, bag of lip balm and lipstick in her hands, as she made her way back up, she stopped upon laying eyes on River himself, but at the same time, River had the same reaction.
“Leni…” River blinked as he saw Leni’s key west zigzag green swimsuit. “...that’s an amazing swimsuit!”
“And your swimsuit!” Leni placed her hands on her cheeks, smiling. “Brown and green swim trunks match so perfectly on you!”
As River slowly walked up to her, he couldn’t look away from her swimsuit. “I didn’t expect much but…wow, I love that color on you.”
“It has been my favorite color and I really hoped you would love it.” Leni held onto both of her hands together.
“Did the swim cap come with that?”
“Uhhh…no. This is from my old swimsuit I used awhile back.” She closed her eyes while being honest. “I just don’t want my hair messed up!”
“You’ve always brushed your hair?”
“Nearly every day until it’s perfect.”
River wished Leni hadn’t had her swim cap on but he grew a smile as it gave him the advantage, yet again. “Perfect is hard to let go.” He then noticed the bag in her hand. “So does your birthday and, I’ll do anything to make it more perfect for you.”
“Thanks.” Leni smiled. “So do you wanna get in the lake right now or?”
“Jump off the cliff?” He pointed from above. “I would do it, and I know you can do it.”
Leni looked at the height of the cliff. “I can give it one try.”
“You will love it, don’t be afraid.” As he took her hand, they made their way to the pathway leading to the cliff, all the while Leni placed her bag on the picnic blanket. On their way, River held onto Leni’s hand while Leni kept looking at his hair.
“How do you do your hair?” She wondered.
“Not that hard really, but I wash it every day while being stress free, especially emotionally.”
“Does your Dad keep his hair long?”
“Yes.” He turned his head to her. “He didn’t have his wonderful hair for nothing. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
“My sister Lori taught me how to do my hair during our childhood. Except I grew my hair longer while she kept her hair the way she wanted it.”
Upon reaching the level where the cliff’s at, River then stopped, so did Leni. “So your hair is how you do it on your own without your mother helping you?”
“Other than help from my sister Lori, pretty much.”
River then sniffed her shampoo on her, as it’s mostly coming from her hair. It caught Leni’s attention as she held onto her arm. “It really stays on you with how you look.”
“That as well.” As they continued to reach the cliff, they came across a small waterfall that pours down in a stream to the lake itself. “Trust me, if we had a party here, there’s a slight chance some hair would be in the lake, I really don’t want to risk that.”
As Leni looked at the small waterfall, she caught on to what he meant. “Well even if I don’t want my hair to get wet, I’m sure my hair won’t fall out.”
“I know. But I’m still gonna do it.” River placed his head through the waterfall, splashing his hair in every spot. Leni’s eyes sparkled with River’s hair being washed down, but blushing more than before. After backing away, River shook his head to flick his hair, causing drops to land on Leni.
“Your sparkle is on me!” She reacted.
“There are more where that came from.” As he took Leni to the cliff, River and Leni both looked down from above. Leni then stared at the waterfall that’s closer to her.
“It beats going to a water park lodge, minus the water slides.”
Leni then walked up to the cliff, staring down at the lake itself. “I think I can handle jumping off first.”
“Then maybe instead of running from here and jumping off, how about you count to five on the edge and after counting to one, you jump off.” He placed both of his hands on her arms, slowly putting her on the edge of the cliff. “I’ll stay behind you, keeping you in the escapism of peace and happiness."
“That you love.” Leni turned to him. “Just worried about my hair, but I’ll do it for you.” As Leni turned back to the lake, she stared straight forward with a smile on her face. “Five…Four…Three…” River let go of Leni but still stood behind her. “...Two…One!” As she jumped off the cliff, River took her swim cap off, without her noticing. “Cannonball!” Leni cheered as she held onto her breath, forming a cannonball while making a splash in the lake.
River smiled from above, enjoyed the view while still having Leni’s swim cap in his hand. As he placed it on the cliff, Leni popped her head out of the water. “How was it!?” He called from above.
“It was perfect!” Leni cheered. “The water feels so wonderful and full…”
“...of escapism?” River kneels down with a grin on his face.
Leni closed her eyes while feeling the water. “Yes…I love it way more than I thought.”
“Let me join ya. Cannonball!” River jumped off the cliff, forming a cannonball while holding his breath. Leni swam back a little giving River space as River made a splash, splashing on Leni, not long until he popped his head out. “Yeah, I'll be more than free like this…” He sighed happily.
Leni giggled uncontrollably a bit, loving River and his hair more. “This is actually my first time seeing a boy right in front of me…swimming with me.”
River swam closer to her with his eyes lid. “And this is my first time seeing my girlfriend, without her swim cap.”
“Without my…” Leni felt her hair. “What happened to my swim cap!?”
“Relax, it’s up on the cliff, I took it off.”
“Why, now my hair’s all-”
“Shhh…” River placed his finger on Leni's lips. “You don’t look horrible to me.” She grabbed her while swimming towards the waterfall. “Just let go of your fashion passion just for today. I promise you, you will become more beautiful, you'll admit it yourself.” River then placed his body underneath the waterfall as it splashes on his hair. He moaned, feeling the fresh water all over his hair and body.
Leni hesitated a bit, unable to look at herself without a mirror but she gave into River’s opinion. While still holding onto his hand, she swims underneath the waterfall, closing her eyes as the water’s in her hair. Just when her stress nearly got the better of her, the water itself calmed her down. In over five seconds, her frown turned upside down, humming in peace as River heard her, opening one of his eyes by watching Leni’s hair. He then pulled her to the other side of the waterfall, catching her attention as she opened one of her eyes.
“The way your hair is, it makes you cuter to me.” He touched her hair, catching her attention as Leni blushed more.
“Am I like an adorable mermaid?” She giggled.
“No, an adorable girlfriend with hair that’s made for sparkling waters.”
“I promise you when I give you the mirror, you'll see sparkles on you.”
Leni then placed her hands in River’s hair, feeling it again except without it dry. All that River did was stay silent, allowing Leni to feel him while he still feels her. “Your…hair isn’t like a merman. It’s…a rare hair that’s born with sparkle.”
River wrapped his arms around Leni, pulling her close to him as he pressed his lips on hers. Leni closed her eyes, giving in as she wrapped her arms around him. She also wrapped her legs around River, passionately keeping her kiss with him while holding onto him. Soon, they broke the kiss while Leni kept her legs intact. She giggled joyfully while River held onto her.
“Even with water, your lips are better.”
“Seems everything you feel from me is perfect.” River pitched her cheek. “Your taste gets better and better.”
“That must be something you see in me more and more.”
“The more of that, the more we have in common.”
For the next twenty minutes, Leni and River swam in the lake together. After they splash each other, River placed his arms on Leni’s shoulders while behind her. He kissed her on her cheek, as Leni giggled more and more while feeling more comfortable being in front of River. Soon, they both saw the wooden carve as they swam towards it. They both got out of the water as Leni was about to pick it up but River stopped her.
“Don’t pick it up!” She grabbed her hand gently. “Water can ruin it, so leave it there.”
“Thought you told me that water saves trees from causing wildfires.”
“True but not after they get carved. Just keep standing by my blanket, I’ll give you the mirror.” As River got inside his tent, Leni stood by the blanket.
“I just thought you would notice it.” Leni replied.
“I knew what you were trying to do, just thankful it didn’t get splashed.”
“So am I. I just wanted to make our moment really great. But…we were behind the waterfall.”
River got out with the mirror and his towel in hands. “It still fits the mood regardless.” As he handed her the mirror, he wiped his hands with his towel. “I’ll take it from here.” Upon drying his hands, placing his towel on his picnic blanket, he made his way to get the wooden carve.
As Leni witnessed her reflection from the mirror, she stood still in her position, witnessing her wet hair after almost a half hour of patience. After River picked up the wooden carve, he headed back to Leni while seeing her hand on her mouth. “Leni?” He walked up to her. “What do you think?”
Leni wasn’t shaking with her blush far from being away. The reflection of her hair from the mirror couldn’t impress her anymore. River stood next to Leni with his wet hair as Leni squealed in excitement. “I look really cute!”
“Really, REALLY BEAUTIFUL!” She jumped repeatedly. “I’m like those fashion models who have one of their eyes hidden with their gorgeous hair!”
“Like I said, you’ll admit it yourself. I always hoped you would love it when it happened. Especially today being your birthday.”
Leni then looked at River. “My look ended up becoming the best Birthday gift I got all day.” She smiled. “All because of you. I don’t think I’ll ever dry my hair because of how beautiful I am.”
River then placed his hand on Leni’s shoulder. “I had the same thought when I jumped in that lake for the first time. My dad even told me I’ll find the one who’ll have beautiful hair after taking her here…” He places his other hand on Leni’s cheek. “And you’re that one.”
“Picking you last Christmas is getting better and better.”
River then kissed Leni’s cheek while holding onto her hand with both of his hands. “And you’re impressing me by having you as my girlfriend more and more.”
Both Leni and River hugged each other as they both took a selfie on Leni’s phone, ready to post it once she gets back home on the internet. Afterwards, River headed straight to his truck, heading out to get some supper but Leni decided to stay just to see herself more from the mirror. During her spare time, she took more selfies, in every angle, including selfies in the lake after hopping back in slowly. Especially many with her hair splashing thanks to the waterfall.
Eventually, she took enough selfies while getting out of the lake again, drying herself off with her towel while still keeping her hair wet. Then River came back with pizza for him and Leni to have on the picnic blanket together. After finishing up their pizza, River put the pizza box in the back of his truck as the sunsets with the sun shining on the waterfall.
“Such gorgeous orange water…” Leni staring at the waterfall itself.
“It’ll never ever get old.” River replied. “I’m thankful the sunsetting isn’t on the other side."
“Would it make sunrises boring?”
“Yes, it’s the only downside but it never ruins this place.”
“I think it would be gorgeous if we put a projector behind the waterfall by having it run a sunrise, making the sun no longer being blocked.”
“Not a bad idea.” River laid on his back on the picnic blanket. “So how was your birthday?”
“Gorgeous.” Leni also laid back, still looking through the mirror in her hand. “I don’t know how anything can top this.”
River laid his side to Leni, relaxing while laying his head on his arm. “Bet you wanna come back here for next year’s birthday huh?”
“Pretty much, though I really need my family involved in my birthday for my twentieth.”
“Never leave your family out of it, I’ll give you that. If today was my birthday, I wouldn’t leave my family out of it for how supportive they are. They love birthdays.”
“Would you give my sisters a chance by hanging out with them?” Leni turned her head to him.
“Probably. I’ve known Lori the most but how about your brother?”
“Oh.” Leni catched on. “Lincoln.” She became depressed. “He really doesn’t want us around him. Especially with his girlfriend.”
“He…only sees the worse in you?”
“Well…I’m the least worse compared to the others in his view. But he still doesn’t want his girlfriend around me…”
Leni lowered her head, still thinking about the ideas she would do with her brother and his girlfriend. “You'll never know.” River scooted over to her. “Maybe he might give you a chance, he might see something in you, he would do anything to give you that chance.”
“Kind of like you.” Leni smiled. “Even more so by taking me here.” As Leni watched the waterfall again, along with the everywhere in this spot after spending hours here, she thought of something that River told her. “And…I really want you to build your cabin here.”
“So you can move in with me?” River guessed.
“Pretty much.” Leni then lifted her body up, crossing her legs while River did the same. “This maybe farther away from Royal Woods and it will lead to more sacrificing…but this really made me change as a fashion person. Being into nature and loving my new hair style.”
River grew a smile, loving how he gave Leni the naturist birthday gift to change more of her view. He picked up the wooden carve, placing it next to Leni, catching her attention. “Seems to me our love is what makes us and this place perfect for each other. Maybe if you earn enough money with your fashion outfits, me and my family might get to work on building the cabin. It won’t be big but it’ll be enough for the both of us.”
Leni wanted to agree with him, however the cost of it all will be the biggest roadblock. “My family would have to know where we’re living in order to make the cabin happen.”
“It will take time for them to understand, yeah, but I’ll make sure all of this is still private property.”
“Living farther away is gonna be scary to convince them.”
“True. But I promise you, they won’t judge you at all if you move here after everything you’ve done for them.”
Leni then remembers how her life would be in the town that’s nearby. In fact, a question came to her. “What do your parents do in town?”
“My dad used to work there in a carving wood shop so he can make chairs, tables, anything you'd have in a cabin. My mom loved the town so much, she would do every job there for the rest of her life just to know more and more about it…” River stopped himself, remembering the faithful day he and his family had to do. “...But then, we had to move to Royal Woods.”
“My dad had a phone call from Royal Woods that they would love to give him a big job opportunity to do wood carving there.” This caused River to lower his head. “We’ve gained more money since moving, but it was the cost of this place.”
Leni placed her hands on her mouth, being touched from River’s life changing effect. “So that explains why you have a job near where I work.”
“Technically it wasn’t how we met, but we wouldn’t be closer if I never had a job there.” River then turned to the tent, thankful it’s still intact after setting it up. “When it doesn’t rain outside, I would sleep outside of my tent, out here just to look at the stars from above. You can’t get these stars from Royal Woods at night.”
Another question came to Leni. “Do stars give you the ability to sleep?”
“Yes. It’ll be the last thing I see of the day once I close my eyes, sleeping.”
“Then I would do anything to give you that back.” Leni then smiled with honesty in her voice. “I actually want to see this town you miss so much. You can show me tomorrow before we get back to Royal Woods. I may love it.”
River would only think that Leni would just think about this spot alone. But the idea of giving her a tour of the town he really misses, warms his heart more than his girlfriend thinks. “I would feel more at home with you being curious enough to feel it.”
“Speaking of feeling.” Leni grabbed her lip balm from her bag, taking the cap off. “Wanna create more kissing feelings?”
“Always knew you wanted more.” River moved right in front of Leni. “Is that your birthday gift?”
“Yes. If you think my lips were better before, you’re gonna feel my sparkle more.” She put lip balm on her lips, slowly and perfectly to not mess up. The moment she finished up, River got close to her.
“You know, you were on top of me when we kissed passionately after you kissed me, picking me as your boyfriend.” River then placed his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe I should be on top of you.”
“Really?” Leni giggled as River slowly pushed her on her back. With the sun beaming on him thanks to the trees, Leni stares at him from above while his hair touches her hair.
“You were the star from the Christmas show, now I’m one of the stars from the sky, giving you nature’s sparkle.” He lowered his head, pressing his lips on hers while closing his eyes. He moved his lips while feeling Leni’s with the same sounds they made last Christmas. Leni moaned happily while keeping contact with his lips, keeping her body still just for her lips to do the talking.
“So passionate, his lips are still better than my lip balm. Me being in his position, I’m totally his waterfall girl. If our wedding ever takes place here, it’ll be our sanctuary of sparkling love. Forever in love, forever boyfriend and girlfriend, and forever husband and wife. Our kids together would be the best!”
River broke the kiss, lifting his head back up while breathing. “Better than before, huh?”
“Yes.” Leni giggled with sparkles in her eyes. “You’re more than perfect!”
“I can hold my breath longer than you think. Like my Dad himself.” River then noticed the sun lowering in the horizon. “I’m not tired yet. Are you?”
“Not even close.” Leni got up. “Can we jump off together into the lake and swim some more?” She lifted out her hand.
River took her hand, putting her up from the ground with them on their feet. “Yeah. We may not come back here any time soon once we leave tomorrow.” As River and Leni returned back up on the cliff, Leni stopped by the small waterfall, splashing her hair as River smiled at her. As Leni got out, she didn’t flick her hair, she moved her hair from her eye sight, giggling and so did River.
Upon the two reaching to the cliff, they stood together, taking both of their hands while staring at each other yet again. River pressed his lips on Leni’s again as Leni lifted her leg up, happily. Afterwards, they both jumped off together while still holding onto each other. They made a big splash in the lake, popping both of their heads out of the water. River laughed joyfully while Leni kissed him on the lips, moaning in delight as she ended the kiss, laying her head on his chest. River wrapped his arms around her, laying his head on hers.
After swimming in the lake with the sky turning to black, Leni finally dried herself off with her towel, but not much on her hair as she asked River a favor on the night of her birthday. The two sat with each other on the picnic blanket with River brushing Leni’s hair as the birthday girl closed her eyes, smiling while crossing her legs.
“You’re doing good, River.” Leni said.
“It’s actually easier the more you do it.” River added.
“When it gets harder, it gets easier and easier.” Leni then still feels the drops from her hair. “But I’m really gonna miss this nature’s hair style.”
“Your hair is better for everything if you try different hair styles. I would love to see that.”
“I’ll try to find one. Maybe it’ll attract you so much, you would want that hair style.”
“You may be right.” River then yawned after brushing Leni’s hair one more time. “Well…I think I've spent more than enough.” He slowly got up while entering inside his tent, taking out his blanket and pillow. As he placed the pillow on the top end of the picnic blanket, she covered him and Leni up with the blanket as they laid together.
“Wow…” Leni stared at the shooting stars from above.
“It’s always wonderful after a long day with no bad weather, you see dozens of stars.” River yawned again.
“This totally beats hotel vacations.”
“Yeah. Really thankful they appear, especially on your birthday.”
Leni turned to him, slowly moving her head while laying on River’s shoulder. “This is one of the best birthdays I had. I love living in nature with you.”
River wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. “I’m sure we'll do everything to build our cabin here. Maybe enough to add two bedrooms for me and you.”
“How about we share a bedroom together? It’ll save us more room.”
“Or do you just want me to cuddle with you every night?”
“I’m loving you cuddling me too.” River feeling Leni’s hair with his finger “It feels comfortable being with you with how soft you are. During Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and now on your birthday, you always get softer, especially in your heart…”
Leni then feels River’s hair with her fingers. “Your heart is one in a million, like a shooting star with a heart of golden nature that came to me.”
“Well the star found his comfort place.” River smiled. “You make comfort more better, you make nature better with that.”
“I just wanted to make you happy like you do for me. I’ll do anything for the both of us to move forward, especially how we meet since day one.”
As River’s eyes slowly closed, he still kept himself awake while staring at the stars. “If we keep this up, we might move forward more quickly if we learn from each other more. If anything…when we get to our mid twenties in more than five years…” His eyelids slowly closed while smiling. “...I want a new born child…maybe two…three…four……five……..years after the last…………” River fell asleep, laying happily on his pillow while losing control of his finger.
Leni blushed, hearing every word, squealing so hard, she giggled joyfully. She lifted her body up, looking at River sleeping while placing her hand on her cheek. “New born children…that’s a wonderful birthday gift.”
When she turned to her birthday gift, she took out her lip stick, knowing the surprise she’ll give River when he wakes up tomorrow morning. She put on her pink lip stick as she got on top of River, while he’s still sleeping. She pressed her lips on his face, kissing all over it, on his cheeks, forehead and one on his nose all the while making her passionate kissing noises. Afterwards, Leni did one more kiss, pressing her lips on his while getting off of him. She giggled with the ten kisses she made on his face.
“The kiss on your lips will be our first child for our future. Then the second, third and hopefully more.” As she turned to the waterfall, sparkles from it thanks to the moon and stars. “I’m sure they’re gonna sparkle themselves, making this place a better place. Sparkles always follow us.” She tucked herself in and slept next to River again. As she got into slumber, she wrapped her arms around her, nuzzling on him while loving his comfort in the nature that’s around her. “You are my nature…I love you…River…”
