Cosmic

The Birthday Plan

After spending all of lunch discussing party ideas with Jane, Selene immediately set off to convince other girls to come to the party. Unfortunately, Skye, Lyra, Callisto, Juno, Estella, Halo, Faye, Maia, Vela, Nova and Rhea all had something to do on the day of Jane's party. The school decorating committee was having a meeting to begin decoration planning for the upcoming student council elections so Skye couldn't attend. Lyra's poetry club was having a meeting to plan for the upcoming poetry week and Callisto's adventure club was having a meeting. The drama club was having rehearsals so Juno was also out and Estella's book club was also having a meet up to discuss a new book they had been reading. Halo had planned on heading starting work on Juno, Callisto, Vela, Selene and Skye's outfits for the band tryouts so she couldn't attend and Maia was still coming up with song ideas.

Vela's puzzle club had been planning on going to an escape room on the day of Jane's party and Vela couldn't pass up an opportunity to see a Wishworld escape room after hearing about them when Miss Wright had taken them out to town their first week on Earth. The soccer team was having practice day, so Rhea was also out and the home economics club would be trying out a new recipe that day and Faye had been pretty excited to learn how to make profiteroles Nova wanted to finish up her patch making project for all the planets in their home solar system. The girls had all promised to let Selene know if their plans had changed.

So, Selene was now at Sally and Mindy's locker, trying to convince them to go.

"I don't like parties." Mindy said, putting her books away in her locker. She turned and leaned against it and folded her arms as she looked at Selene.

"Also, I think I might be babysitting that day." Mindy added. Selene looked to Sally pleadingly.

"Please, Sal? No one else wants to go to her party. Birthdays are supposed to be a special day and Jane will be spending it all alone." Selene said. Mindy hmmphed as she turned back to get her books.

"Maybe she should be nicer to other people then and this wouldn't be happening to her." Mindy said as she pulled her chem book from her locker. Sally rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Minds. Remember how crushed you were when no one came to your birthday party in fourth grade?" Sally asked, arms folded as she gave her best friend a look. Mindy slammed her locker and whirled on Sally, pointing a single finger at her that Selene noticed had picked cuticles.

"We all swore to never talk about that." Mindy said. Sally simply gave Mindy a cool look.

"Well, I'm talking about it now. You know exactly what it's like to put your whole heart into a party and have no one show up to it." Sally said. Mindy growled and folded her arms.

"What can I do to make the party more comfortable for you?" Selene asked. Mindy's head snapped over to Selene and she blinked rapidly for several minutes.

"Repeat that." Mindy said.

"What can I do to make the party more comfortable?" Selene asked. Mindy leaned against the locker, nearly sliding down it.

"No one's.... ever asked me that before." Mindy said. She looked at Selene.

"Like ever." Selene furrowed her brows.

"No one's ever tried to accommodate your sensory issues?" Selene asked. Mindy shook her head.

"Never. I was twelve years old before I went to my first birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese during Sensory Sensitivity Sunday." Mindy said. Sally nodded.

"It was fun. It was quieter than usual and the lights weren't as bright." Sally said. Selene looked thoughtful.

"Would having a designated spot for you to be able to retreat to if the party gets too much for you help?" Selene asked. Mindy nodded.