.....

Derrick

"Maybe you should give her a strip tease in Kiss the chef apron for her birthday," Keith says as he's waiting for the girls, not knowing what Sarah was going through the hour before.

"Shut up." I say, waiting for her. I was concerned how I left her. Now, that I got a real picture, I was angry at her father.

Finally, the door opens and Sarah looks beautiful, even if her makeup is ruined by her tears. She doesn't ever dress up or wear dresses. But today. I just. My feelings couldn't contain it or express it with words. I just had to settle for a slight blush, that only Keith noticed.

She's a bit timid and withdrawn. I could notice.

"Hey, happy birthday, Sarah tyrannosaurus rex,"

She smiles. And I smile too. Damn. I can make her smile by just that. I am a bit flustered.

"I got you something. Not a big gift, but," I gave her the gift. She was hesitant in accepting it.

"Open it."

Her small hands fiddle with the wrapping paper, that was llamas and cats. She makes small rips at the paper. My eyes scan for her reaction.

She doesn't know how to express her joy. She tries to contain it, but she can't.

"Oh my god!" She looks at the gifts and smiles.

There was a T-rex keychain and a Yoshi plush. The T-rex keychain is for the inside joke, the Yoshi plush she has been wanting for months and months, followed by non-stop talking about it.

She rushes at me and awkwardly gives me a hug. "Thank you!!!"

I stutter. "I—-You're welcome."

I did not expect that from her and the affection. I wanted to hold her longer, but I remember what Keith said about our relationship/friendship. Start out as friends, go slow. She still had to get to know me.

"You are going to have fun. I promise," Rose interjects.

"Yeah, Derrick planned this all. We just helped." Keith says, "Derrick planned my birthday too."

"I wish he planned mine," Rose rolls her eyes at Keith.

"Hey you date him then!" Keith laughs.
...
The night did not go as planned. The beginning did. We all slept in a tent outside my house. It was Sarah's idea. She loved being outdoors and living in the outdoors, maybe to get away from her parents.

Everybody else is asleep. I was at the fire, thinking. About a lot of things in my life. From college to my future.

My dad was not a good human being, right now he's in jail. Half of my life, I grew up with seeing mom being sexually abused by my father. The other half, I grew up with only my mother, who paid the repercussions of it. I was lucky to have my mom. She was loving and wanted the best for me despite all the abuse she had suffered, she still had the energy to love us as we were.. I still love her to this day and she loves me the same.

My mom taught me that you should protect the people you love who are good to you and make a positive impact on your life. Here I was. I felt like I was doing that while being infront of the fire.

Suddenly, I see Sarah getting out of her tent and near the fire. My stomach jumps hurdles inside. I totally like her.

She was wasted again, but this time crying. I start to worry for her. I just want her to be safe. But I know she isn't.

"What's wrong?" I ask with a croak.

She sobs, "Next time we have a party please tell me not to drink alcohol. It just reminds me of my trauma."

"Okay. I'll take a note," I say.

"I'm sorry about what you go through. You don't deserve it."

"You want marshmallows?" I ask her.

Her eyes widen. "Marshmallows! Marshmallows!"

I smile. "You are a kid sometimes."

"And you look like a 39 year old man." She laughs.

And I laugh too.

"So how did you like your birthday party?" I ask out of curiosity!

"I loved it!" Her eyes gleaned with joy.

"Really?"

"Camping is awesome, even if it's outside your house. Whoever knew I would love this was the best."

I smiled. I was the one who knew.

"I stole my sisters blanket." I joked. "For you."

I put the blanket on her.

"Happy birthday, pri-"

She interrupts me before I can fumble it. "Thank you! I'm 20, I can't believe it!"