Even If. {A Jacksgap Fanfiction}

The Greatest Cake Ever Made

I sat cross legged in front of the clock while the heat of the fire warmed me from behind, as I was facing the other way. The time read 11:59.

Zeus walked over to me and sat in my lap. I managed a small smile.

My hands fumbled with a box of thin, small candles and I pulled one out and set it out in front of me. I grabbed the small box of matches that lay beside me and struck one of them against the side of it, causing the end to light and flicker, the flames dancing in the darkness. 

I transferred the flame from the match onto the candle and threw the match in the fire behind me. 

The clock struck twelve.

It was now December 24th. 

I stared at the small birthday candle, with tears forming in my eyes remembering when my parents used to make me stay up until my birthday every year, that is, they used to before my father left and my mother forgot I was even there.

I closed my eyes and the tears tricked down my cheeks. I blew out the candle.

"Happy Birthday, Beth," I whispered, imagining my father saying those words.

Zeus rustled on my lap and I looked down at him and cracked a smile.

"You're my only family now, Zeus," I cracked a smile as the tears continued to silently stream down my face.

*_*

"Why is she in this room?"

"I don't know!"

"Be quiet! You're going to wake her up!"

"Look, she's wearing penguin pajamas!"

"Wait, I think she's waking up! Her eyes are fluttering! Everyone get in place!"

As soon as my eyelids found the strength to open, I stared back at 11 smiling faces.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They all screamed. Balloons were floating around me and settling at my side, camera flashes blurred my vision, and confetti that was being thrown at me made a home in my hair.

I couldn't suppress a laugh. I began to look around at all the familiar faces.

Jack, Finn, Zoe, Tanya, Jim, Alfie, Dan, Caspar, Joe, Marcus, and...

"Sam!" I exclaimed, my voice raspy and cracking. I clambered off of the floor and gave him a hug.

"Home for Christmas?" I guessed.

"Yeah, also to see my super celebrity bestie!" he joked "2 number one singles in a month? I'm so proud!"

I giggled at the praise. Sam and I had messaged each other on Twitter while he was in LA and we were quite close now.

'Happy Birthday' 's filled the air and I went around and hugged everyone.

"You guys are the sweetest, but I don't want to take away time from your families. It's Christmas Eve!" I said, embarrassed that I'd be taking up their time on such a family-oriented day.

They looked at each other, as if trying to see which of them would dare talk first.

Zoe started.

"Well, we all started thinking..."

Oh boy.

"We get to spend every year with our families, but you... you don't," Zoe hesitated. I could tell she was trying to find a nice way to put that my father abandoned me and my mom went wacko so now I'm spending each Christmas and my birthday alone.