A Remedy For the Heart *Extremely Slowly Editing*

35. A Special Birthday

Chapter 35: A Special Birthday

December 7, 2014, Sunday

*~~Zack's P.O.V.~~*

It's Juliet's birthday, sadly, I won't be the one celebrating with her. Here I am, in my 'peace' room, toying with the present I bought for Juliet, listening to Ambrosia by Alesana. I'll give the present to Juliet...but not now. It's too early in the morning, 9 AM. I can't sleep, in fact, I haven't been able to sleep since we've broken up. I finally drag myself from my swing-bed and use my bathroom. I haven't slept in my bedroom either, since our breakup. Too much memories and it's too painful with that one wall. Why don't I just paint over it? I don't want to...it's too special.

*~~Matt's P.O.V.~~*

I wake up at like 11 AM with one leg hanging off my bed, I don't know I couldn't sleep last night. Poor Zack (hah knowing him, he'd kill me for pitying him, but this will be between you and me, ok?), it's Juliet's birthday. I even helped the guy go gift shopping for her, no just kidding I forced him to buy a present for her. Zack was like, "No, we broke up, Juliet doesn't want to see my face on her birthday." So yeah, being the 'bestfriend' I am, I forced him, mwhahaha, and I don't regret it. Of course Zack picked the present, he was actually happy to, once I got him in the car....better go check on him and make sure he delivers the present.

I entered Zack's house, using the duplicated he gave me, since Juliet took the other one. I find him in his gloomy, brooding room, listening to Lullaby of the Crucified by Alesana, I know he calls it 'peace' room, but really? The room can belong to a vampire or something, I don't know. Anyway Zack's sitting on his big window, his swing is a mess. He's probably been sleeping on it...

I take a seat across him, "So did you?"

Zack covered his face and groaned, "It's early in the morning? Why don't you just go eat some cereal."

I punched him on the arm, but not too hard, "Stop being a chicken and give Juliet the present."

Zack sighed, "I don't know, not now, but I promise I will, ok?"

I scoffed, "Sure you will. Have you eaten?" I receive a nod, well that's good.

Zack smiles, "I got the new video game, want to play?"

I raise my fist in the air, "HELLS YEAH! And this time, I'm going to kick that sexy model ass of yours." I winked at him, and he laughed.

*~~Juliet's P.O.V.~~*

"Yeah mom, I love you, too." I hung up and saw a cheery Maddison.

"Woman, You're finally 21! Ok so what do you want to do today?" Maddie asks, jumping up and down.

I lean against the couch, I want to spend the day with Zack, yeah that's never going to be said, instead I say, "I don't know, what do you want to do."

Maddie's puts her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow, "Annabel, it's your birthday and you ask me what I want to do?" She puts a hand on her forehead and shakes her head, "What am I going to do?"

I giggle and wrap my arms around my best friend, "You know you love me, um how about shopping? It's been a long time since we've spent time out together."

Maddie grinned and gripped my hands, "I knew you'd come around! And you're so right! Let me tell Matt, so he won't bother us, but before we go, you want to open your present?"

I whined, "Maddie, I told you not to get me anything."

Maddie rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah, totally, you got me one of the best presents ever, and I don't give you anything. Maybe in another dimension, sweetie."

I laugh, a gift card to Yogurtland and a new handbag is the best present ever. This is one of the many reasons we are bestfriends, you can give Maddie trash, and she'll say it's the best present ever. Maddie sashays into the room with a giant box, oh dear, and tells me to open it. I unwrap it to see a Giant Teddy Bear.

I squeal, I just love teddy bears, and pick the teddy bear up. I spin the giant teddy bear around, telling Maddie 'thank you, thank you, thank you~!' Then, I notice a picture under the teddy bear, I pick it up to see a picture of Zack and I sleeping. Oh the good memories, I stare at the picture, tears swelling in my eyes. I look up to see Madison's small smile and she goes to her room, "I'll be right here if you need me, darling."

~9 PM~

"Ugh Maddie! It's been so long since we've been shopping that my feet are killing me. A year ago, I would've been used to it." I complain to Maddie, changing the TV channel. Maddie slumps into the couch next to me, "You're so right, but it was fun. We should go out more often to get used to the pain."

I smiled at her, "Yeah we should...you know we should get jobs, too. I mean our parents can't always keep sending us money right? We should call Oliver and he'll help us get jobs."

Maddie groaned, "Shush, I will get a job, but not now. Maybe next week, anywho I made dinner for you."

I smiled, "That's cool, let's eat."

Maddie stared at the floor with a sheepish look. I stared at her and laughed, "You have a date with Matt don't you? Well go, I'll be alright, I have your cooking with me. Shoo, go on your date."

Maddie hugged me, jumping up and down, "Thank you, thank you, thank you~! I'm so sorry, that's why I cooked dinner for you. Though I would've done it anyway, since it's your birthday."

Within a few minutes, Maddie was out the door. I let out a sigh, I've been hogging Maddie too much. Matt probably hates me, Maddie should stop worrying about me. I mean it's not like the pain will go away. I turned off the TV then went into the kitchen to see what Maddie cooked for me.

Oooh, it's an actual meal: grilled tomatoes, scrambled eggs, braised mushrooms, croissant and some fresh fruits. I laughed, it was such a random meal. On my last bite, I heard rain starting to pour outside. I feel bad for people who are out, it's raining cats and dogs. I washed my meal down with some cranberry cocktail, I don't know, it was just there in the fridge.

I walked back to the living room and scanned through the TV channels again. Frustrated at how nothing is on, I threw the remote at the recliner, and slumped down into the couch. The house was completely quiet, just the sound of the rain could be heard. I felt my eyes droopy and heavy so I decided to sleep.

*~~Zack's P.O.V.~~*

I watched the rain slide down my giant window, in my 'peace' room. I sat on the window ledge, like I usually do, my back to the left side of the window. My feet on the right side of the window. I just sat there, listening to Hero of War by Rise Against, and toying with Juliet's gift. I need to give it to Juliet, I promised to Matt and I keep promises. Matt has been texting me, over and over again. 'GO GIVE JULES' HER PRESENT! I HAVE MADDIE W/ME!' All the messages were something like that. The song ended and I decided to stop being a wussy and give Juliet her gift.

*~~Juliet's P.O.V.~~*

Even though my eyes are droopy and heavy, I can't sleep. I hear car engines and run out in my plaid shorts, tank top, and sweater. But what I see isn't Maddie, it's Zack. It was still raining and Zack was just staring at me with those piercing gray eyes. I look down embarrassed, I played with my fingers, when I heard singing in a soft voice. I looked up to see Zack walking closer to me and singing me 'Happy Birthday'. Zack halted, just a few feet away from me. Rain dripping down his face, even though he has his hood on, I was on my porch so I wasn't wet. Zack reached into his sweater and pulled out a big, beautiful, long-stemmed, red rose, and he stretched his hand to give it to me. I slowly took the rose from his hand and smelt it, it was a scent so beautiful and heavenly. I whispered the words 'thank you' but Zack didn't even smile. He reached inside his sweater again, and gave me a small box. Zack's expression was a poker face as he gave the presents to me, but when he was walking backwards to his car, his expression turned sad. Zack said 'happy birthday' one last time before he drove away.

For awhile, I was standing on my porch, frozen in the cold, Zack came only to give me presents. I held them to my chest and ran to my house, looking for a vase for the beautiful rose.

I set the vase on my nightstand and opened the small box. It was a key chain, but it was unique, it was a 'you're the key to my heart' keychain. I closed my eyes, filling tears prick my eyes, why it was the best keychain ever. I wiped the corner of my eyes, and saw there was a pair of ear rings in the box, too. I held them up and they shone and glittered as my bedroom light hit them. It's like the ear rings were sparkling, dancing kind of, Zack knew I'd love these, they were simple but elegant. I wiped more tears running down my face, why would Zack do this? Why would he just come to my house and give me presents. He's so kind to give presents to an idiot like me. After the way I treated him on the day we broke up. I stared at the small box and saw a written note.

'Roses are red,
blueberries are blue,
you're still beautiful
and I miss you.
P.S. I still love you.
-Zachary Graves'

I held the note to my chest and cried, that's it, tomorrow I'm going to ask Zack to come back. I won't be able to survive without him.