𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩

'.Growing up.'

The Time Me And Dooka met a Crazy capybara: book 4, part 13.

3rd Person POV:

(Semi-Memory Chapter!!)

W/ Karis, Mya, And Julian. All around 8 or 9 years old.

Julian Was super excited for his birthday, He felt like a big kid now. Sure, he was still in 3rd grade.. But it's not everyday you get to brag that it's your birthday and be one of the first kids in the class to turn the next age. He always felt proud of that. He cheerfully walked through the school doors with a big, bright smile on his face. He always found it funny that his and mya's birthdays are one day apart. He held his head high and walked into the classroom, bright, fun, decorations scattered across the room. That's what he always liked about his Teacher, Mrs. Valdez. She was sweet, caring and nice. He had to say that she was his favorite teacher. He loved how the day was going so far, everyone sang happy birthday to him.. Still accidentally thinking mya and him shared the same birthday. It was still funny to him, though. Seeing how annoyed mya got. But he knew she was only joking, or not. Oh well! He never thought that far. Most kids his age don't. He couldn't wait to go home and celebrate with his parents, and open his presents and see his little sister Cami, who was around 2 or 3.... And the whole school day was like if someone took a sharpie and blacked it out. Because all he could think of is when he could go home and eat cake and have his parents sing that song he loved but everyone usually hated on their birthday. (can't believe i'm 9!) Julian thought, smiling as wide as he could. Everyone may have given him weird looks but he didn't care, and his day only got better when mya and karis came behind him, hugged him, and wished him a happy birthday. Julian teased mya about her mistaken birthday date a few times.. And then the bell rang for lunch. All the kids cheered and ran and formed a line by the classroom door, eagerly and basically bouncing up and down. Julian knew why they were so excited. On Thursdays, the cafeteria always served sweets like chocolate cake, rice krispies treats, or cookies. There was never a Thursday where there weren't desserts for an option. Minutes passed and now he, karis and mya were all huddled around the cafeteria lunch table. Going on about their random experiences as noisy chatter and excited screams filled the cafeteria.. What a great time it was. People singing happy birthday rang through his head. Until it flashed back to a dull, dark, the opposite of vivid and 'happy times' setting.

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Julian never thought he'd end up hating his birthday now. His 9 year old self and younger self would've been devastated. Probably even more than if he told his past self about this crisis. He sighs, resting his chin on the palm of his hand and stared into the complete, depressing darkness. Sgt. rudo had found some left-over resources, it was quite picked over and there wasn't much of what was left behind, either people had scavenged it to the core or everything might've been hit and blown up in crossfire with the whole capybara and-enzo-with-gun thing. Out of all his birthday experiences... for a lot of people, it would be and is to him, the worst. I mean, who wants to be happy about their birthday when you're in a constant life or death situation? Besides, he has other much more serious things to worry and care about than a 'birthday.' like finding kennon, or reuniting with his friends... or- family. He knows that might not ever happen, maybe. a scenario that is once in a blue moon.. He doesn't want to think that way, but ever since everything started going even more down-hill.. For example, Daisy dying, kennon's questionable disappearance and prolonged absence.. He'd been trying to keep a strong demeanor and a poker face, and now... trying to be rational with his hypothetical scenarios. Julian shrugs his shoulders a few times and stretches. Sgt. rudo's too hyper-fixated on trying to get everything that he can until they leave. Julian notices how briefly.. Well maybe not. Sgt. Rudo's personality has changed, in such a specific, odd way Julian can't explain or wrap his head around. He tries not to think about it that much and focus on other things.. But it still catches his eye and his confusing mannerisms from time to time. Sgt. Rudo throws the heavy-loaded duffle bag over his shoulder and cocks his head towards the same direction they came from. As his way of saying, "It's a lost cause. We should head back to the girls, don't want to keep 'em waiting."and walked off without letting Julian catch up. Julian sighs. As he starts to walk after sgt. Rudo quite quickly. To him, his birthday was now longer an enjoyable experience. It was just simply another  annoying, horrible, tedious day of torture and misery of his new life. For a while, it was just the sounds of footsteps that filled the air, the silence was quite deafening to Julian somehow. Awkwardness only rose more when Sgt. Rudo walked slightly faster than before, as if he was trying to lose Julian. Julian didn't bother picking up the pace, he remained walking at a normal speed. Sgt. Rudo cleared his throat, Julian didn't bother looking at him. He felt a little bit of sorrow and betrayal towards the man he almost saw as a father figure, someone to rely on.. (which they hadn't had for such a long time, Julian didn't remember the last time he and the group had someone like that ever since the separation of their parents and aftermath of the attack of the capybaras.. And enzo's hatred directed toward them..) and not just a normal adult, a professionally trained sergeant. Had now become someone who had constantly gave him and the others the cold shoulder, it seemed as if he was now a completely different person.. And Julian pretended like he didn't notice or cared.. But really, He felt ready to explode with anger more than sadness. it felt like they didn't deserve a normal lifestyle or any comfort of some sort.. and He knew that it wouldn't change anytime soon.

To Be continued.

Word count: 1074