This Year is My Year

Bad Ideas, Shopping, & Patience

"Munson, it's a bad idea," I said, crossing to the shelves of movies with a return stack in my hands. Eddie was practically underfoot, trying to get in front of me.

"How is it a bad idea, chatterbox?" he asked, exasperated.

"Because she hates her birthday – I threw her a surprise party one time, and she didn't talk to me for two weeks. Y/N Henderson, the most understanding human in the world, was angry enough to hold a grudge," I retorted. I started stacking the movies back, annoyed to be back at work and explaining how much my best friend hated her birthday to her boyfriend.

"But that's why I want to take her for the rest of this week and make it an un-birthday! I can change the date and still celebrate her!" he insisted. I looked up at him – he was wide-eyed and giddy, loving the idea he brought to me.

"I don't know, Munson. I know she loves your cheesy bullshit, but this is one thing she's pretty shut down about," I warned, going back to my task.

Y/N was good at tricking people into thinking she was an open book but hid behind deflecting questions back onto people and sharing things with others that seemed personal. We had been best friends for years, but she rarely talked about her father. I had made a comment one time, years into our friendship, and she clammed up, finally telling me what happened with him. Steve and my idea of throwing her a surprise party was one of the lowest points in our friendship, because I had thought that by springing something on her, it would change what it meant to her.

We were sorely mistaken.

She had come back after two weeks, apologetic, but insistent that she hated her birthday. And while she loved us, she did not want to celebrate again. But the more I thought about Eddie's idea, the more I liked it.

It wouldn't be on her actual birthday. It would just be her and Eddie, who was her favorite person in the world (despite how much she insisted that no, of course not, I was her best friend and favorite – I'm not an idiot), and I know that he would prioritize how she felt.

"Come on, Rob. She's told me she's wanted to do this with me, I think this might work," he said. I looked at him. He was nothing if not persistent. I stood and nodded my head.

"Okay – what do you need me to do?" I finally conceded. He cheered and pulled me into a large hug, making me laugh.

"God – you have moved up to the top five best things about dating Y/N!" he exclaimed, squeezing me tight. I laughed and swatted him away, embarrassed by the display of friendship. I nodded for him to follow me, and we went back to the counter. "Okay – the biggest thing is sneaking a bag with her clothes for a couple of days and making sure one of the outfits is fancy."

"Fancy? You're taking care of our birthday girl, aren't you, Munson?" I teased. He flushed but nodded his head.

"Our un-birthday girl," he corrected. I smiled and nodded.

"Okay – I'll make her go shopping with me tonight. I'll force her to get something," I answered. "When do you want to take her?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. Can you get over to their house before then to pack for her? Dustin's in on it, too."

"Have her spend the night at the trailer tonight – I can sneak in tonight to pack," I replied. He grinned and shook his head.

"Chatterbox – you're a godsend," he replied. I smirked and shrugged.

"Tell me something I don't know," I quipped, making him laugh. He waltzed out of the store, singing my praises as he did so. I smiled and shook my head. The more I got to know Eddie, the more I understood why Y/N loved him as much as she did. I looked at the large, green phone that was by the cash register and picked it up, dialing the Henderson household.