haze / afi

part 44. a birthday to remember

january 25th. a day calum and violet will be sharing. calum is turning twenty seven. violet is turning twenty six. one wants to celebrate, the other doesn't.

calum is busy setting things up for tonight, with the idea for his friends to come over to his place after they eat out for dinner.

violet is currently eating breakfast by herself, sitting at her counter, bowl of cereal in front of her. alone. and for the first time, it feels wrong.

she wishes she'd asked ashton to stay over last night, he was at her apartment, but he didn't stay over. he hasn't stayed over before. perhaps that's why neither of them mentioned it.

she thought she'd want to spend most of her birthday alone. now the day is truly here, she wants company, ashton's company, more than anything.

her phone vibrating on the counter knocks her from her thoughts, seeing her aunt's name on the screen.

"hey." she quickly answers.

"hi, sweetie, happy birthday!" lisa enthusiastically says. "sorry i'm calling to ask for a favour on today of all days, i have a delivery coming in soon and could use an extra pair of hands."

"thank you, and that's fine!" violet replies. "i'll just finish my breakfast then i'll come down there."

"okay, thank you, i'll see you soon." lisa hangs up the call.

placing her phone on the counter, she looks up at ashton. who is at the store right now. not that violet knows that.

"she said she'll be here after she finishes breakfast." lisa tells him. "i'd give it twenty minutes, then you'll be good to decorate."

"perfect," ashton smiles. "you've got the spare key?"

"just as you asked for." she grabs the key from under the counter, handing it to him.

"i really appreciate this," he places the key in his pocket. "i'll come back once everything's in place."

she nods, watching as he leaves the store, heading to where he'd parked his car. his plan is to wait across the street, until he can see violet at the store. then he'll pull around to the apartments, take all the supplies up there, and get to decorating.

fifteen minutes later, violet is on her way over to the store. wearing her green hoodie and a pair of grey shorts, seeing as she'll only be at the store to help with a delivery.

walking through the back door, lisa turns instantly with a smile, waiting for violet to reach the counter.

"happy birthday!" lisa excitably greets. "how has your morning been so far?"

violet laughs at her aunt's excitement, something she isn't feeling, "it's been fine, i stayed in bed until ten, answered some birthday texts from people," she pulls her phone out as it dings in her pocket. "there we go, i was waiting for ash to text me."

"i assume you're seeing him today?" lisa asks, not giving away anything that he's about to be doing.

"yea, he's coming over for us to have a movie day," she explains. "then i think we're going out later to see calum."

"that'll be fun." lisa smiles.

glancing outside, she sees a truck pulling up, knowing it's the delivery she was waiting for.

"perfect timing." she glances to violet, both heading to the door.

meanwhile, ashton is in violet's apartment. perhaps when he first went inside it felt strange, he's in her apartment without her knowing. maybe he shouldn't be doing this.