The Long Game, Lucas Sinclair

a questionable birthday indeed

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tw: f slur

Sam stood at the foot of Corey's loft bed (basically a bunk bed without the bottom bunk) with Stephanie and Max, the former holding a red velvet cake in her hands. Silently, Stephanie counted to them with her fingers held up: One... Two... Three—

"Happy birthday!" the three girls chorused cheerfully.

Corey woke up with a terrified gasp, shooting out of his bed in alarm at the sudden noise. He fell from the top bunk of his bed all the way to the floor with a THUMP.

"Shit!" Stephanie cursed, scrambling to help Corey stand up. "Don't tell your dad, or he'll kill me."

Corey rubbed his head with one hand and kept the other arm wrapped around his torso. He grumbled, "It's my birthday, and you tried to kill me. It would be warranted."

"No, no, we did not try to kill you," Stephanie panicked, pointing at him with her finger. "You didn't even fall that hard. You're fine."

Max nodded, adding, "And plus, that was hilarious."

"Thank you very much, Mayfield. Didn't know you suddenly lived here," Corey snapped sarcastically.

Max smiled back, matching his energy.

Sam sighed at how downhill this morning was going. She stepped up to Corey before any snarky comments could be made, displaying the cake she and Max had made at midnight for him.

"How's fifteen feel?" she asked him casually, not prepared for—

"Fifteen?" came the voice of an incredulous Max.

Corey raised an eyebrow at her. "Didn't anyone tell you? I'm a delinquent."

"Damn," Max mused, eyebrows raising up for moment. "What'd you do to get held back?"

"Murder."

"Oh."

"I'm kidding."

Max tsked, "Well, here when I thought you were actually cool..."

Corey opened his mouth to retort, but Sam was pushing Corey away from Max with a hand she freed up, nodding to Stephanie for her to get the lighter.

"We're singing to you before Uncle Dan comes in here and lights us on fire with this lighter," Sam said, leaving no room for any pushback. "Also, your mom is totally 'not' out in the living room with the whole shebang — streamers, confetti, hats, you name it."

Corey tried hiding his surprise, but ultimately failed. Or, maybe, Sam was just very good at reading people. She could tell Corey hadn't expected his mom to even remember his birthday, let alone celebrate it.

Softly, he asked, "Really?"

"Of course she did," Stephanie started in a joking manner. "You're fifteen, now. Practically a man. Her little baby's growing up—"