I need you, I need you, I need you

chapter 89- heaven, maryland

January 31st, 2020
Rachel's p/v
"Is everyone ready?"
We all nod. I quietly enter Declan's room with everyone following me from behind. He doesn't suspect a thing! Tyler puts whip cream on Declan's hand. I tickle his nose with a feather. Declan scratches his nose and we all burst out laughing.
"What the fuck?"
"SURPRISE!"
Declan sits up and scans the room.
"How does it feel to be 16?" Aiden pats his back.
"I'd like to wake up first." Declan rubs his eyes.
Cole puts the cupcake on the table. "Kyle, will you do the honors?"
Kyle lights up the candle. "Make a wish."
Declan smiles at me. "I've got everything I need. But I guess there is something I want, and maybe this birthday will accomplish it."
"It's your day, buddy," Bowie sits next to him on the bed, "what you wish for can come true."
"We'll make sure of it." I say.
"In that case, hand over the cupcake."
Kyle hands him the cupcake. Declan closes his eyes and blows out the candle.
"Are you ready to party? I now I am!" Aiden exclaims.
"Party starts at 3 pm because I am very much unprepared." Declan laughs.
"We have all the party supplies ready. You just enjoy your cupcake, we still have a few errands to run."
"You guys are seriously the best. You know, after losing my friends, gaining new ones, having my old friends back, and then losing almost all of them again, it made me realize something. You guys are my true friends."
"You're gonna make me tear up!" Bowie hugs Declan.
"We'll always have your back, buddy."
"Tyler and Rachel, you guys are on pizza duty. Kyle and Cole are on the cake, and me and Aiden are gonna set up."
I nod. "Alright, go team go!"

Mary's p/v
Today's outfit is a nod to an outfit I wore in 8th grade. It was before Jonathan and I developed feelings for each other. Him and I were best friends, much like now. And although I don't have the exact pieces, I think I did a pretty good job at replicating my timeless fit.

In 8th, Jonathan and I went on a picnic. I wore a lavender purple sleeveless top with embroidered flowers on the neckline hem and dainty flowers all over, baggy blue mom jeans, a black grommet belt, and white chunky shoes. Today I am wearing a lavender lace top, blue denim skater skirt, long white socks, and white rollerblades. Jonathan and I are going rollerblading right after we eat so why not just wear them now. Well, I do have back up shoes in my bag. I would wear mom jeans but the weather is too nice to not expose my knees.

Jonathan also promised to try to copy his outfit from the picnic. He wore a vintage black t-shirt with the looney characters on them, baggy blue jeans, and black vans. He's also bringing his iconic black rollerblades. Classic skater attire.

I skate towards him. "I see that you went through with our plans."
Jonathan smiles. "How could I not?"
"There's something I want to talk to you about. It's nothing important, but I need your thoughts."
"Go ahead, I'm all ears."
"As you know, Lauren went on the New York trip. I overheard her conversation with Darry. She swears I was the reason Rachel wanted to end her life. Do you think that's true?"
"Not at all, Mary. Is that all?"
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't know, I just assumed there's more."
"There is. Darry told me that Lauren hates him again, but I genuinely think she still has feelings for him. Do you think that could be true?"
"Never say never, right? But you don't have to worry, Darry likes you, not her. Bruh there's no competition, you're way better than her."
"They have history-"
"Bad history. You and Darry have history too, and it's not bad. See the difference?"
"You're right, I don't even know why I'm stressing."
"You're dumb for that honestly. I'm like your #1 fan dude, you're incredible."
I smile. "Aww, you are?"
"Of course! You're one of a kind. When I first met you in 8th I thought you were so fucking cool. I mean, you're super smart, you have an amazing voice, you skate, you're so aesthetic, your outfits are amazing like bruh, is there something you can't do?"
"I appreciate the compliments but you have to admit that I'm kind of problematic. Lately I've not been myself, fights are happening because of me."
"Uh no, fights are happening because other people start them. You just fuel them."
"Doesn't make it any better. Take what happened with Rachel as an example. I was aware of the consequences of my post but I still went ahead and kept my story up. Rachel tried ending her life because of that."
"Dude I already told you that you had nothing to do with it. Keep in mind that Darry practically hates her, obviously she's going to feel all alone. She literally only has him to rely on."
"That's not true, she has a lot of people in her life. It's something I admire. She makes friends easily."
"So do you."
"Everyone agrees that I'm socially awkward. It's like they still see me as a photography geek with wonky teeth and turtlenecks."
"No one ever saw you like that. Stop putting yourself down or else."
"I'm sorry, just years of being bullied getting the best of me."
"8th grade was a crappy time, but you made everything so much better."
"I did? How so?"
"Um, you and I were literally dating. We were also best friends for the longest time. Plus, you saved me."
"You saved yourself, Jonathan."
"Telling you this to avoid bringing it up later. I visited my dad yesterday."
"Wait, you visited him? Dude I am so proud of you. It must've been hard seeing him after what he did."
"He should've stayed as a deadbeat dad. Coming back only made matters worse for him. Sicko found pleasure in manipulating my stupid mother into obeying him."
"Jonathan, your mother was depressed. She felt alone."
"No, she had me and Anthony. She was never alone. Of course I don't hold a grudge against her, I just wish things could've been different. Now my dad is in prison and my mom is emotionally distant."
"Your father can't hurt you anymore. What he did is inhuman. Jonathan, I don't want you thinking about this anymore. Let's change the topic."
"Can I get a hug first?"
I smile and nod. He steps closer to me and wraps his arms around me. I'm almost the same height as him with these bad boys on. Almost.