Years Of Love

Birthday

Paige's POV

I woke up to the soft glow of my phone screen lighting up the room. Blinking away the sleep, I squinted at the brightness and saw countless notifications filling my lock screen. The time? 12:00 AM. And just like that, it was officially my birthday.

I reached for my phone, my heart already full from the love that was pouring in. Kk's name was at the top of the list, naturally, and I chuckled, knowing she wouldn't miss being the first to shout me out. But before I could tap on the message, Instagram popped up with a tag notification. My curiosity piqued, I opened it, and there it was — a post from Kk's infamous spam account.

The caption read: "12 AM. Happy Birthday to the GOAT herself, @paigebueckers! You're 23 but still got the mindset of a kid who refuses to leave the arcade 💀. We all know you're old, but we love you anyway. Let the chaos begin. 🎉 #PaigeyPooTurns23 #happy78thbirthdaypaigey"

"Why did she photoshop a gremlin on my head" I said chuckling

The post was a carousel of pure chaos. The first slide was a candid shot of me from a few weeks ago, passed out on the couch after a long practice, mouth wide open, and drool barely visible on my chin. Thanks, Kk.

The next was a video of me struggling to hit a high note while singing karaoke, my voice cracking mid-song. Azzi could be heard laughing hysterically in the background. Then there was a clip from Ted's Club, our go-to hangout spot, where I tried—and failed—to down a glass of iced tea without spilling half of it down my hoodie.

I groaned, but I couldn't help laughing. This was classic Kk. She lived for moments like these, finding the most embarrassing content and making sure the whole world saw it.

Just as I was about to leave a sarcastic comment on her post, a notification from Ice came in: "Happy bday, bro. Hope you ready for tonight. I got surprises."

Great. If Ice was planning something, I knew there was no going back now. I texted her back a quick, "I'm scared," before scrolling through the other birthday messages.

Kk's POV

Midnight hit, and you know what that means — birthday shoutouts. I was sitting in the common room with Azzi, Aubrey, and Ice, just waiting for Paige to react to the masterpiece I dropped on the 'gram. I knew she'd be salty, but hey, that's how we roll. If I don't roast her on her birthday, am I even her friend?

Azzi peered over my shoulder as I tapped the post one last time for good measure. "You really used the drool pic?" she asked, laughing softly.

I grinned. "Had to. It's tradition at this point. Paige is going to kill me, though."

Ice snorted from across the room, tossing a throw pillow at me. "She loves it. Besides, she deserves the embarrassment after all the times she's roasted us in public."

Aubrey shook her head, amused as she scrolled through her phone. "Yeah, I'm sure that's exactly how Paige feels right now."

The girls and I were just getting started. Ted's Club had already confirmed our reservation for later that night. We planned to take Paige out for a night she wouldn't forget, and by "wouldn't forget," I mean we were probably going to end up making more Instagram-worthy memories. Paige was in for a ride.

Paige's POV

I spent the morning in a weird combination of excitement and dread. Knowing my friends, they were going to do something wild. I didn't have much time to dwell on it, though, because when I finally made my way into the kitchen, Azzi was already waiting with a cup of coffee and her phone ready to capture the moment.

"Happy birthday, sleepyhead," she said, flashing me that perfect smile.

"Thanks," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. I could barely function in the mornings, but Azzi didn't seem to mind. She leaned in and kissed my cheek, which caught me off guard. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What was that for?"

She shrugged casually. "It's your birthday. I'm allowed to be extra nice."

I smirked and took the coffee from her, sipping it slowly. "You're always nice."

"True," she admitted, leaning against the counter. "But today's special. We've got plans, you know."

"Oh no," I groaned, already sensing that something chaotic was in the works. "What are you and the squad up to?"

Azzi didn't say anything, but the mischievous glint in her eye told me all I needed to know. She handed me a small envelope instead. "You'll find out soon enough. But for now, this is from me."

I opened it carefully, my curiosity growing. Inside was a handwritten note, something that instantly softened the moment. It was simple but heartfelt, Azzi's words bringing a smile to my face. "For the person who keeps us all together, here's to another year of being incredible, hilarious, and always true to yourself. P.S. Ted's Club is waiting for us tonight. Be ready."

I glanced up at her, touched by the note but also suspicious about the Ted's Club mention. "So you're all conspiring against me, huh?"

Azzi laughed. "Just a little."

Later That Night – Ted's Club

By the time we made it to Ted's Club, the night was in full swing. The place was packed, neon lights flashing, music thumping through the floor. It was exactly the kind of place you'd expect Kk to drag me to on my birthday. My teammates had gone all out with decorations—a massive banner that read "Happy Birthday, Paigey Poo!" hung across the ceiling, along with balloons that were, for some reason, shaped like basketballs.

"Subtle," I muttered, staring at the banner as Kk bounced over to me with a grin.

"You love it, don't lie!" she teased, pulling me into a quick hug. "Now, let's get the party started."

Before I could protest, Ice appeared with a tray of shots. "Birthday tradition, Paige. Don't back out."

I sighed dramatically but grabbed a shot glass. The team gathered around, each holding one up. "To Paige," Ice declared, her voice loud enough to catch the attention of a few people nearby. "The GOAT. The legend. And the worst Fortnite player of all time."

Everyone burst out laughing, and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help grinning. "Cheers to that, I guess."

We knocked back the shots, and from that moment, the night kicked off. The music got louder, and so did the energy. Ted's Club was buzzing with people, and somehow, it felt like our own little world. Azzi was by my side, laughing at Kk's bad dancing, while Aubrey and Nika engaged in some intense pool game at the back. Ice was... well, Ice. She was making rounds, trying to convince random strangers to join our birthday shenanigans.

At some point, Kk snuck off and started another TikTok live, filming bits and pieces of the night. I saw the notification pop up on my phone and quickly tapped in to see her narrating the whole thing.

"Y'all, this is what birthday legends look like," she said, panning the camera over to me. I was mid-laugh, trying not to choke on my drink as Azzi teased me about something. "Look at Paige, living her best life. She doesn't know it yet, but we're about to embarrass her real quick."

I glared at Kk over my drink. "What are you up to now?"

"Oh, nothing," she said innocently, but I knew better.

The night carried on, and I lost track of how many embarrassing moments Kk managed to capture on TikTok live. By the time it was nearing 2 AM, I was exhausted but happy. The club was still buzzing, but the team had all gathered around one table, laughing and talking like there wasn't a care in the world.

I leaned back in my chair, watching them with a smile. This was what it was all about—friends, memories, and, of course, a little chaos. And as much as I hated being the center of attention, I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.

Azzi leaned over, resting her head on my shoulder. "You surviving, birthday girl?"

"Barely," I joked, but the truth was, I wouldn't have traded this night for anything.

"Good," she whispered. "There's more where this came from."