FINDING 12 | BOYS OF TOMMEN

birthdays and boys

August 5th 2001

Birthdays had always been a special thing for me and Eloise. Being born five days apart meant that every year we shared a celebration. This year, we were turning 14—me first, as I never let Eloise forget—and we decided to spend the night in, just watching movies with a few of our closest friends. No big parties, no drama. Just us, junk food, and a scary movie.

I was sitting on the couch in my white night shorts and tank top, tucking my legs underneath me as I glanced at my phone again. It was almost 11:00, and Connor still hadn't shown up. He promised he'd come after dinner with his family, but I hadn't heard from him in hours. Something had felt off with him for weeks now, but I kept brushing it aside, convincing myself I was imagining things.

The room buzzed with excitement as Eloise finally pulled up Scream. "Perfect," she declared, sinking next to me with a bowl of popcorn on her lap. "You ready to be scared?"

"Not scared, more like entertained," Aofie quipped from the other end of the couch, snuggled next to Casey. She grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed one in my direction.

I caught it mid-air and threw it back, smiling even though my stomach was knotted. Eloise's birthday was in five days, and she was buzzing with energy, practically glowing. I wanted to match that, but my mind kept wandering back to Connor.

"Blair, are you even here right now?" Eloise teased, waving her hand in front of my face. "You look spaced out."

I forced a smile, pulling my blanket tighter around me. "Yeah, just thinking about how terrified you'll be in about fifteen minutes when Ghostface shows up."

"You wish," Eloise shot back, but I could tell she was trying to hide her nerves. She'd never been great with horror movies.

Podge, the ever-reliable movie snack provider, walked in with a massive bowl of chips, setting it on the coffee table in front of us. "Okay, Scream time!" He plopped down beside me, giving the remote a pointed look. "Are we ready, or is someone still texting their boyfriend?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

I rolled my eyes, sinking further into the couch. "He'll be here," I muttered, even though I wasn't so sure anymore.

The opening credits rolled, and the room fell into a tense silence. The lights were off, and the glow from the TV bathed us all in a dim, flickering light as the movie began. The familiar sounds of a phone ringing, Drew Barrymore's nervous voice on the other end, and the ominous opening scene immediately sucked everyone in.

Except me.

I couldn't stop thinking about Connor. Why was he so distant lately? Why did I feel like I was the only one trying to make this relationship work? As I stared at the TV screen, barely registering what was happening, my phone buzzed.

Finally.

I swiped the screen, but instead of a sweet apology or a simple, "I'm on my way," Connor's message read: Sorry, babe. Got caught up. Be there soon.

I frowned at the text, the familiar sting of disappointment settling in my chest. Caught up?It was 11 p.m. He should've been here hours ago.

"Connor?" Eloise asked, glancing over with a knowing look.

"Yeah," I muttered, putting my phone face down on the couch beside me. "He says he's coming."

Eloise raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, just gave me a small smile before turning back to the movie. I tried to shake it off, to focus on the scene where Casey Becker was being stalked by Ghostface, but I felt that growing ache in my chest.

The movie moved forward in bursts of screams and tension, everyone jumping and laughing nervously as Ghostface made his first kill. I tried to act like I was into it, but my mind kept drifting back to the clock. 11:15. 11:30.

By the time the movie hit its climax, the doorbell rang, startling everyone.

"God, Connor," Alec muttered, shaking his head as Eloise paused the movie.

I stood up, heart pounding, feeling a mix of relief and irritation. I crossed the living room and opened the door to find Connor standing there, hands shoved in his pockets, looking tired but nonchalant.

"Hey," he said, stepping inside without so much as an apology.

"Hey?" I echoed, closing the door behind him, my voice sharper than I intended. "It's 11, Connor. You said you'd be here hours ago."

He shrugged, kicking off his shoes. "I told you I was coming, didn't I? You didn't need to get all worked up."

"Worked up?" I asked, incredulous. "It's our birthday night—mine and Eloise's. You said you'd come after dinner."

"I'm here now, aren't I?" His voice had that calm, dismissive tone that I'd started to recognize. The one that made me feel like I was being unreasonable, even when I wasn't.

I swallowed the frustration bubbling up inside me. Everyone was watching now, their eyes flicking between me and Connor, awkward tension filling the air.

"Yeah, you're here now," I said quietly, biting my lip, trying not to let the hurt show. "But next time, maybe just show up when you say you will."

He leaned in, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "Blair, you're making a big deal out of nothing. Can't you just relax? You're always so intense lately."

The words stung. I felt my chest tighten, that familiar sensation of doubt creeping in. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was overreacting.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Sorry."

He smirked, brushing it off like it was nothing, and plopped down on the couch next to Paul and Joey, acting as though nothing had happened. I watched him for a moment, my heart heavy, before silently walking back to my spot.

Eloise, ever the empath, gave me a look, her eyes soft and understanding. She didn't say anything—didn't need to—but I felt her support.

I settled back onto the floor, curling up under my blanket as the movie resumed. The tension between me and Connor lingered, but I tried to push it aside. It was my birthday, after all. I deserved to enjoy it, even if everything wasn't perfect.

Ghostface slashed through the screen as the characters screamed, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to be lost in the movie. But the unease Connor had left in me remained, sitting quietly in the pit of my stomach like an unresolved question.