The Wallflower and the Prankster

Chapter Sixteen: The Birthday Girl's Fool | Part 1

April

Alazne

 

I crossed an ‘X’ over the final day of March with a sharpie and flipped the calendar page to April.

       It’s the first of April.  I had been here for over a month—a month.  

      A month of being away from my family and home. I wonder how my parents were doing.  Beatrice kept me up to date on any important news but it would still be a lot better to hear their voice more often.

       I wonder if they’ll try to get in contact with me today. It is my birthday.

      The news hit me: it’s my birthday! Great! Just how I want to spend my birthday.

      “Josh, I want you to stay home today.” I heard Beatrice say from outside my bedroom door. I shuffled to get my binder and paper into my bag and strung it on my right shoulder.

       “But it’s Aprils Fools,” Josh protested, before coughing. The great prankster has come down with a cold on the day made for fools. I snorted at the idea.  The day that was made for him, must suck badly.  

       I headed for the kitchen, to get my morning drink.

       My coffee was on the counter as always, thanks to Beatrice. I lifted it up and took a long sip. This might be as close as I get to a birthday cake in a long shot.

       “It’s a cold, Joshua,” Beatrice reasoned, she strummed her finger on one of her arms that crossed over her chest.

          I moved closer to get a better view of what was happening.

        Joshua’s hair was in awkward ankles, flying all over the place. His face was also oh-so red. He was leaning on the sofa for balance as he raked his fingers through his hair. However he still had the charm that made him Joshua Grey.

I looked away when I realized he was in his boxers and batman t-shirt. The last thing I wanted was my heart to jump for him. After that day in March, Joshua was so confusing.

        Sometimes he was so flirty then other times it seems all he wanted to do was keep his distance.

“Joshua,” Beatrice said softly, she placed a hand on his shoulder. “it’s time for you to get to bed. I’ll get you some soup.”

        “Won’t Alana lonely?” His eyes flashed in my direction, a loop-sided smile on his face. “Morning,” he told me, giving me a two-finger salute.

        “How can she be lonely? It’s her birthday. She’ll be having a wonderful day, isn’t that right, Alana?”

        Josh’s eyes widened. “It’s your birthday?” He said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

        I forced a smile. “It’s not like it would make a difference,” I lied. “You are sick today anyway.” It would make all the difference. Just by hearing Beatrice acknowledge my birthday made me feel happy.

        “It would make all the difference,” Josh exclaimed. That surprised me. I couldn’t tell if he was serious or delirious.

        He fell onto the couch, his head resting on one of its cushions. His feet were sticking out of the edge of the couch.

Yeah. It’s final: He is delirious.

        “Josh,” a surprised Beatrice said in a mellow tone.