McKenna's POV
"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to me..." I sang to myself in my dorm.
Yeah, a happy birthday it is. I was looking forward to turning 16, but now all I can think about is my bipolar boyfriend having a manic episode on my birthday. And now, he isn't skateboarding onto a building, no. He's just jumping out of a classroom's window into a tiny inflatable pool. Because the skateboarding wasn't crazy enough. Of course not.
And since Lee is the center of everyone's attention, they all forgot my birthday. And it hurts. A lot. It's not self-pity, I'm well over that. However, since she died, my birthday is the only day where I feel as if it's okay to be happy. But what's happiness? I find mine when everyone I care about is around me. And now, I'm alone in my goddamned dorm for my sweet 16.
Of course, my parents called. They wished me a happy birthday, we talked for a bit and we hung up after they told me they loved me.
But their lips weren't the ones I wanted to hear 'I love you' from today.
Wait, did I really think that?
Of course, Lee is one of the most important people in my life. But am I ready to call what we have love? Because Lee and I are...complicated. Lee can't open up to me, and I don't want him suffering all by himself. I want him to put his sarcastic facade down when he's around me, but neither of us can figure out how to take down that wall.
I guess that, sometimes, even love can't mend broken souls.
***
Lee is now out of his manic episode. When he woke up, he texted me to meet him at the cafe so we could talk about what he'd missed during the week. After his text, I couldn't quite conceal my excitement. I was singing and dancing as I dressed up and put my makeup on. I put on that new white dress I bought myself for my birthday. I'm sure Lee is going to do a little something for my belated birthday, so I wanted to feel pretty during that special moment. God, I sound so girly right now.
Oh, the things Lee makes me do.
***
I spotted Lee in a booth in the far corner of the cafe, scrolling through his phone. I walked towards the table and sat down in front of him.
"Wow, you look gorgeous, McKenna," said Lee as he took my hand in his. "So tell me, beautiful, what did I miss?"
"Apparently, you missed the pool when you jumped out of that window," I replied as I saw the cast around his arm and the bruises all over his body.
"Very funny, babe," laughed Lee. "I see my sarcasm is contagious."
"Babe?" I asked, a smile tugging on the corners of my lips.
"If you don't like it, I'll blame it on the fact that I hit my head pretty hard when I jumped out of that classroom. Turns out there wasn't a lot of water in that pool... But if you like it, that it's just me being my awesome self," he answered.
"You're an idiot," I laughed.
"But I'm your-" he began.
"If you dare, finish that sentence, you'll regret it. That's way too cheesy for any girl to find it cute," I said.
"That's harsh..." he replied, pausing a second before continuing, "...babe. So what did I really miss?"
"The usual. Classes were as boring as ever, some guy picked a fight with another guy, people gossiped about some celebrity licking donuts... That type of stuff," I answered.
"Wait? Licking donuts? Is licking stuff some new trend? First there was the hammer licking, and now it's donuts... People are weird these days."
"Hey! I happen to like these singers!"
