First Light

23 marlo's birthday

Thursday 11th of November 2021 (the following week)

Marlo:

"You're invited to my birthday, by the way." I say to her.

"Your birthday? When's that?" Faye turns, squinting her eyes.

I think about making a sarcastic joke, then decide against it. It's definitely way too cold for me to be thinking about saying something witty. "Next week on the 17th. That's the Wednesday."

She gasps slightly, her eyes wide. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I'm telling you now."

"Shut up, you know what I mean. You could've told me way earlier."

I shrug, kicking one of the rocks on the ground as we walk. "You could've asked."

I physically feel her roll her eyes. It's gotten to the point where I don't even have to be looking at her to know. "It'll be a party, by the way. Jonah's planning it. I'll have to tell you the time at a later stage, though. We haven't got that part organised yet."

"Okay." She replies. It's also gotten to a point where she doesn't seem phased about parties, anymore. She doesn't appear to get dizzy or feel sick from alcohol anymore, either. I guess it was just a one-off.

"When I say party I mean actual party, by the way. Not just the people that you know. People are probably going to invite other people."

"I know. Where are you even having it, anyway?"

"Probably the flat. That way I can make sure that the numbers aren't too much seeing as the kitchen isn't massive."

This makes her laugh, and I turn to look at her. She shakes her head. "You need to be prepared to piss people off, you know. Not everyone will just leave if you tell them to."

"Oh, cmon. Everyone listens to me." I stop for a second to pose like a bodybuilder.

She laughs again. "My apologies. Completely forgot that you're a big, scary man. Of course everyone's gonna listen to you, I'm so sorry."

I nod, biting the inside of my mouth in an attempt to keep an angry expression. "Yeah, exactly. It'll be easy."

She then pushes me before going back to walking, and I launch into an exaggerated stagger, clutching at my chest like she's hurt me.

"What did you want as a present?"

I have to jog a bit to catch up with her. "You don't have to get me a present, Faye."

"I want to, though." She says.

This makes me smile.

"Well, okay then. As long as it isn't expensive."

She looks at me for a second, then nods. "Okay, fine."

A couple days later, Faye asks me for my skateboard, telling me that she'll be able to give it back in time for my birthday.

Not that I would mind if she took longer, anyway. It is starting to get a bit too cold to skateboard.