You don't even want me

40.

[Camille]

I flipped a page eagerly, wanting to know what happened next in the book I was reading curled up on the couch in the living room. The fire was crackling in front of me, calming me down and the warmth coming from it made my cheeks glow.

I sighed satisfied, being kind of happy that Jasmine and Grace had left. It was fun and the atmosphere had changed for the better again when we'd started playing Overcooked.

I was constantly reminded of Jasmine's behaviour in the back of my mind though, I couldn't act like nothing had happened and she hadn't insulted my relationship with James.

No matter how much it annoyed me, I decided not to think about it anymore and just try to enjoy the rest of my birthday like I'd wanted to spend it in the first place: alone in the couch, with my book and Dire Straits playing in the background.

I smiled at something in the book and tucked a curl behind my ear, my eyes quickly reading the words.

Suddenly, the bell rang and I looked up surprised; I didn't expect anyone at 5:30 PM on a Saturday evening. I frowned to myself and put the little picture of me and my family in the book to be able to know where I was, and slowly got up from the couch, walking to the hallway confused.

I turned on the lights in the little entrance hall and unlocked the front door, opening it just enough so that I could peek outside, as it'd already become completely dark outside.

Before I could realise what was going on, I heard someone clear his throat and I immediately knew who it was; I gasped excitedly and a huge smile appeared on my face.

"I heard it's somebody's birthday?" James asked nonchalantly, making me chuckle and rush out the door to give him a warm hug.

He chuckled and I closed my eyes, burying my head in his chest while he wrapped his arms around my body. His nice sent filled my nose and the feeling of his body so close to mine made me warm inside.

"Hi James" I mumbled against his body and he rested his head on top of mine. "You didn't really think I'd forget, did you?" he asked me softly, the sound of his whispering voice sending shivers run down my spine. He slowly let me go and I looked at him in the bad lighting; the only light coming from inside my house and the street lanterns. "I wouldn't have blamed you, honestly" I admitted and shrugged, still not feeling like he had to know about my birthday when I didn't talk about it myself.

He rolled his eyes and ran his hand through my hair, making me chuckle. He stopped and stood there in front of me, staring down at me with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

I suddenly realised that we were standing outside in the cold and stepped inside, signaling for him to follow me.

Chloe came rushing down the stairs. "Camille, who's there?" she asked me curiously but when she saw James she smiled. "Oh, hi James" she greeted him happily and he smiled back at her. "Hey, Chloe."

My sister had stopped in the middle of the staircase and was staring down at me and James with a cheeky smirk. "Alright, behave, you two" she mumbled, squeezing her eyes before going back upstairs.

I rolled my eyes with a smile and opened the door to the living room, stepping aside so James could enter first.

Only then, I noticed he was holding something flat and rectangular, covered in gift wrapping paper. I felt my upper lip seperating from the lower one at the thought that he, not only remembered my birthday, but he also spent time in thinking of a present and actually buying, or making, it.

He took off his shoes in the kitchen and I accepted his jacket, hanging it on the hanger against the wall next to the door.

He was wearing a navy blue hoodie that looked very comfortable and his beige pants that made his long, skinny legs stand out. His long, blonde hair looked soft and it seemed messy, but at the same time like every single curl had been put perfectly in place.