𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

[ 005 ] Happy Birthday.

SIXTEEN. He's sixteen now. Charles thinks about this as he's sat at his birthday cake, it's plainly decorated, surprisingly his mom didn't go all out like she wanted. No theme, just a happy birthday banner, plain white frosting with red frosting to decorate it and the writing saying happy 16th birthday Charles all in uppercase letters with a bunch of candles.

Everyone's singing along and he's just staring at the candle flames. He feels so weird and uncomfortable on his birthdays, all the unwanted attention from everyone. But he sticks through it, all for his mom who's at the front, recording on her phone and taking pictures at the same time, for her, he smiles and looks at the camera. She smiles even wider, singing louder, then they finish the song before they tell him to make a wish.

I wish Will and I were the ones together. The wish is quick, in his mind and then he blows out the candle quickly before standing up. "Can we finally eat now?" He asked and his mom nods. "Of course! Will, be a dear and turn on the lights, please?" She smiles at him and he nods, walking over to the lights, leaving Gareth's side. Charles watched him before looking away as they all sit down to eat, Jennifer being told she can sit down next to Charles. "So what was your wish?" She asked, smiling at him and he just looks at her.

"I can't tell you, otherwise it might not become true." He tells her and she just giggles, staring at him before glancing away. Most of the people at the table spoke, El with her dad and her girlfriend, Max with Lucas and Mike, Joyce with Sarah and Charles' grandparents, Gareth with Jennifer and Will. Charles stayed quiet and ate most of his food before glancing around at the long table. His mom handed out pieces of cake after, giving corner pieces to both Will and Charles, smiling widely.

Every year, they both have corner pieces. They say it's the best part of the cake. After cake, Charles starts opening up the sixteen gifts that his mom got him. Sketching pencils, sketching book, coloured pencils to colour his sketches, a new lamp, and some other knickknacks and whatever else he liked. A book. The last one is a book. Red, White & Royal Blue. He smiles, he's heard of this one. It's about a boy and another boy. In a relationship.

"Thanks, mom. It's been on my to-read list for a while..." He said, glancing down and avoiding eye contact with anyone. Not even with Jennifer who's staring at the book, or with Will who's also staring at the book. "No problem, anything for my baby boy!" She ruffles his hair gently and he just chuckles, pulling his head away. "Oh, open the gift from us! Lucas and Mike chipped in as well," El said as she came to plop down by him, handing over the box. "Went all out for me?" He asks her.

"But of course. You're our boy." She grins and he smiles widely as well, glancing away. He opens up the box and it's a turntable. With speakers. "Wow, thanks, guys..." He smiles up at the other three. "Open ours! From me and Joyce." Hopper pointed excitedly and Charles chuckles, grabbing the bag. Inside, there's at least three vinyls. "Oh, my, you guys didn't have to. Those are expensive nowadays." Sarah says, sounding shocked.

"Well, he is my godson..." Hopper says, shrugging. "Our godson, you mean?" Joyce glanced up at him and Charles chuckled. "Thanks, Hop. Thanks, Joyce." He smiles wider and hugged both of them. "Oh, now open ours!" His grandma says so he sits down, opening that bag and it's just a bunch of snacks and a hat. "You never wear a hat in the winter." She scolds as his grandpa chuckles.

"She's been working on it since winter." He says and Charles chuckles. "Thanks." He smiles at them then finally looked at Will who just smiled back at him. "Oh, here's the one from me, Charlie." Jennifer spoke, standing up to sit between him and El on the couch, handing over the box. It's a small box, neatly wrapped with a bow. "Thanks, Jen, you didn't have to..." He smiles and she just smiles widely. "Of course I did, Char." She says then leaned closer, pressing a small kiss to his cheek and he chuckles.