Another City Of Lights.

Chapter 14.

Aaron's POV:-

I was aware of the circumstances and I didn't care. I followed Dash around the town in my car, pretending to be completely oblivious about everything.

It was my 18th birthday, and I knew Dash and Hailey had been sneaking behind my back, planning something. I wanted to be blunt, and tell them I didn't give a damn about birthdays anymore; but this was probably the last year we had together before we all went to different universities, so I encouraged myself to suck it up for one night.

It had been over a year, and we hadn't heard from Sam. And to be honest, I hadn't bothered to try, but I'm sure Dash and Hailey had.
Over a year, and we were all so much different now.
Dash had promised his dad to get a job after school ended, and was currently taking different classes across town to try and get into that engineering university in our city. The fee was cheap, but it was still considered a good enough university, so it was a win-win situation.
Hailey was doing better than us in school, and had decided that she would like to study in some field of art after this. That's all her grades were good for, she said.
And as for me, well, I had decided to atleast try and apply in some universities and see how it goes. My grades were surprisingly average, and I don't know if I had a good chance or not, but it was worth a shot.

We still managed to meet up once a week, or once a month, depending how busy every one of us was.
I guess it wasn't about moving on with life, it was about adjusting.

+

Dash and Hailey had found the most outrageous spot for the party. It was actually shocking in a way, because originally I had imagined Dash's backyard.

Both of them were really proud of themselves, it was evident on their faces. They dragged me out of my car as soon as I had parked it, and pulled me towards the back, where they probably had everything set up.

Dash's dad rented this worn out, piece of shit place once every summer for a family vacation. It was a small farmhouse, just outside of the city. I don't know why they called it a farmhouse, there weren't any farms around and neither were any animals. I had been here a couple of times before, when Dash's family had invited me. Back then, we had been ten and had spent the long days of summer in the pool.
And now I was eighteen and being dragged here for own party.

The place was decorated with balloons of every colour, and the side wall of the tiny building held a 'Happy birthday' banner. There were also a lot of chairs randomly placed around, and people I've never seen before standing there as well.
"Who the hell are they?", I turned towards Hailey to ask.
"Who cares?", She grinned, and trotted towards the centre of the crowd, and began lighting the candles.
"Come on, and stop making that face", Dash said.
I tried to put on a neutral expression as I followed him towards Hailey. I felt like a child, surrounded by random strangers at my own birthday party.

Hailey had made the cake, I was certain of it as soon as I saw it.
It was the one I liked, the one she had made once before and I had complimented.
And on top of it were eighteen multi-coloured candles glowing dimly.
I hadn't realised that I was just staring at it dumbly, until Dash nudged me and asked me to blow the candles out.
The crowd of random strangers broke out in a loud and off-tune version of the happy birthday song.
Dash and Hailey didn't wait for me to even cut the cake, before they slathered my face with it; laughing hysterically while doing that.

After a couple of hours, Dash graciously asked our random guests to leave. It was a long ride back home, and I asked Hailey to find a ride too, since Dash and I planned to stay the night.
"I guess I have to, I'm not supposed to be out this late anyway", She said, sighing loudly.
"Thanks for making that cake, and everything else", I sucked at these situations, and she knew that because she laughed.
"I know it wasn't your scene but nobody cares about you", She grinned at me, "oh and don't forget to take your birthday gift, Dash has it", She added.
"Call us if you need to, we'll drive you home", Dash added.

It turned out to be a good day. I hadn't hated all of it, and after Hailey left, I had helped Dash clean everything up.
Since it wasn't that warm out, we decided to camp outside for the night like we used to years ago. Dash was devouring the cake that was left, and giving me weird glares.
"Give me one too", He held his hand out, and I handed him one of the many cigarettes that I had in my pocket.
It was a new one for him. He didn't do this infront of Hailey, just with me when he wanted to.
I had thought about stopping him, but I really wasn't in any position to.

"So what did you think?", He asked, flipping over to lie on his back.
"It was okay, thanks really, it must've cost you shit", I mumbled while checking my phone.
"Hailey paid for that shirt anyway. I didn't know what to get you", He laughed, referring towards their gift for me.
"I'll wear it once or twice", I replied.
I knew he was worried that Hailey will never see me wear it.
"What about that girlfriend of yours? No birthday surprises?", He asked.
I knew they hated her, both of them.
"I don't talk to her anymore", I replied. This was such a drag. Lame talks about how I was screwing stupid girls.
"Great", He dragged the word out, "hated that one anyway", He added and laughed.
I joined him, because it was true, I had despised that one as well.