Statues

Chapter 3

Coen

Today's Azalea's birthday. Oh, man, I'm gonna be late, I just know it. I'm normally what you call "fashionably late." I told my mom that I was on my way to Fernando's, the best pizza place on the block. I was supposed to meet Grayson there to set up Azalea's surprise party. And, since I'm always fashionably late, Grayson doesn't seem surprised when I stumble in ten minutes after we said we were going to meet. Grayson was hard at work; there were already balloons everywhere. I could hear Fernando singing his heart out in the back cooking Azalea's favourite pizza; beef sprinkled over tons of mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, peppers, and no tomato sauce. Fernando makes it especially for her.
"Hey, Fernando. What's up?" I yelled over his American Idol audition.
"Coen! Late as always, are we?" he called back.
"Old habits die hard," I mumbled. "So, Gray, what can I do?"
"Well, you can take over blowing up the rest of the balloons while I set up the tables," he suggested. Fernando's wasn't a big restaurant; there were only three round tables in the front, each with four chairs surrounding them, followed by a counter and the kitchen in the very back. I grabbed a balloon and held it to the CO2 canister Grayson brought. Once everything was set up, I texted Azalea.

Pizza @ F's. Come soon b4 we eat it all.

Five minutes later, she walked in to see balloons everywhere and her pizza sitting on the centre table.
"SURPRISE!!!" Grayson and I yelled. I think I even heard Fernando chuckle from the back. Azalea's smile was as bright and big as the sun.
"Guys! You shouldn't have," she exclaimed. I went up to hug her, and, as I did, I said, "Happy birthday, Az." She kind of just stood there in shock for a minute, taking it all in.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's dig in!" she said excitedly. We sat down and started talking about anything and everything, just like we always do.
"Thank goodness you texted me when you did," Azalea said. "You got me out of becoming 'best friends' with Mary and Gerald's niece. Gerald's sister and her family are visiting for the whole weekend, and I'm not sure I can put up with that annoying, spoiled brat for that long. I'm so glad I don't have to share a room with her. I'm pretty sure I would explode if I did. Like, I'm not even kidding..."
Azalea never really stops talking, but that's okay. I like it when she rambles on. In some weird way, it reminds me that I'm not the only one with a not-so-satisfying life. So, for fifteen minutes, we let her talk about her annoying half-cousin while she stuffs her mouth full of pizza.
After her fifth piece, she stops mid-sentence.
"What? What's wrong?" I ask.
"I saw something outside. It looked like a shadow with no owner," Azalea explained.
"Az, there's nothing-" I started to say.
The shadow walked in.
"Hi," she said cheerfully. "I'm Robin."