Broken (Edited edition)

Birthday

I wake up the next morning to Mark coughing badly, and hear him throwing up in the bathroom.  I rush over, and find the door locked."  Hey!  Mark open the door!"  I shout, pounding on the door, and he made more gross noises."  I'll be out in a moment."  He groaned out, but it sounded off.  Like he was forcing himself to sound like that."  Mark!"  I shout, pounding on the door some more.  The door finally unlocks, Mark is standing there with a blanket around his shoulders."  Sorry Lyca, I just had some morning sickness."  He says, and I grin."  What, you a woman?"  I ask, and he shoves me a bit."  No, I've been getting over my flu."  He says, and grins."  Hey, want to go to the doctor's with me?  Some friends are coming over, and I don't want you to be here alone with them."  He says, and I nod."  Okay, sure thing."  I'll just go get dressed then."  I say, patting his shoulder.  He nods, and goes into his bedroom.

I brush my hair, and put on some clothes.  Skinny jeans, red T-shirt, and red sneakers.  I make my bed, making sure no wrinkles are in the sheets.  I hear more suspicious coughing, and walk out into the hall."  Hey, are you really sick?  Or are you faking it?"  I ask him, and he just blushes."  What?  Why would I make this up!  That's just cruel."  He says.  He's now wearing pajama bottoms and a gray hoodie.  His skin is a bit paler than usual."  God, you don't look good.  Let's get going, I don't want you getting sick on the carpet."  I say, wrapping my arm around one of his.  He sniffs loudly, and wipes his nose on his other sleeve."  So, who's coming over to the house?"  I ask him, and Mark grins."  Just some buddies of mine, none of your concern.  Let's just get going okay?"  He says, and I nod."  Okay, let's go."  I say, and he smiles.

We get into his car, and he drives us to the doctor's office.  Once we get in there, Mark is led back into the examination room.   I sit there with my head on my knees, gazing up to the clock.  An hour goes by, two.  Mark doesn't come out.  People come in, and come out, but Mark does not.  I'm not impatient, if you ask anyone, I'm the most patient person you'll ever meet.  But right now, I'm getting aggravated.  I glare at the clock as the third hour goes by.  Finally, he comes out from the doctor's office.  His skin is colored now, and he's smiling."  Hey sweetie, sorry if I took so long."  He says, and picks me up."  I'll see you in two months."  The doctor says, and leaves us alone."  Can we go home now?"  I ask, and he grins."  Sure, I just need to stop and get some soda."

"Why?"

"I have the Grumps coming over tonight."   He says, and I look up at him."  What for?"  I ask, and he just shrugs."  Because I wanted them over."  He says, and carries me out to the car.  I sit down in the passenger seat, and we drive back to the house.  We stop at the grocery store, and buy two types of soda.  Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew."  Ew...."  I say, and he looks down at me."  What?"  He asks, and I just look at the Mountain Dew."  I don't like Mountain Dew, it's too sugary."  I say, he smiles."  Don't worry, you don't have to drink it."  He says.  I nod, and carry the two liter bottles out to the car."  Okay, now I'm not sure if those people are there still, so if they are I'll introduce you okay?"  He asks, and I nod."  Sure, no problem."  I say, and we drive all the way home.  Mark takes the Mountain Dew in his hands, and I take the Dr. Pepper in mine.  As we climb the steps, Mark stops every few minutes and looks up for a moment."  God I'm out of shape."  He says, and I start laughing."  Yes, you're one fat asshole."  I say, and he smiles at me."  What did I say about using that language?"  He asks, and I look down."  Sorry."  I say.

We get to the door, and I get my keys out."  Wait, let me go first.  I got to go to the bathroom."  He says, and walks in front of me.  He opens the door, and holds it wide open."  SURPRISE!"  The Game Grumps, Bob, Wade, and Jack are there in the apartment.  Streamers and balloons are thrown all over the place.  All of them are wearing party hats, and smiling."  What's going on?"  I ask, confused.  I look up at Mark, and he gives me a confused look."  Lyca, don't you know what day it is?"  He asks, and I think about it."  April 8, why?"  I ask, and everyone keeps smiling."  It's your birthday silly?  Remember?"  He asks, and I stare at him."  Oh yeah, so what?"  I ask, incredibly confused."  What, Lyca, you celebrate birthdays.  You might be foreign to it, but you have parties and get gifts."  He says, and I look at everyone."  So, we're having a party?  Are you really sick?"

"No, I had to get you out of the house."  He says, and I just grin."  Thank you guys."  I say, and they all smile."  Let's get to the party."  Arin says, and goes over to the kitchen.  On the counter there are pizza boxes, box's full of chicken wings, and a cake.  Jack sets a birthday hat on top of my head.  My stomach growls as I walk up to the food, and Mark picks me up see the food.  I get a plate, putting pizza and a chicken wing on my plate.  I grab a cup of Dr. Pepper, and sit down on the couch.  I get all comfy underneath a blanket as the others get food.  Jack sits on one side of me, and Mark on the other side of me.  We all snuggle under blankets with drinks and food, Danny puts on a movie before sitting down."  Now let's have the best damn birthday party for our little Angel."  He says, and kisses my cheek.  He sits down next to Barry on the floor, and we watch a movie.  As we eat, we start talking about what we are going to do for dinner."  I think we should go to a sushi place, sushi is amazing."  Arin says, and I smile."  That would be fun."  I say.

"Why don't you open your presents now before we go to the restaurant."  Mark says, and gets up.  He brings a laundry basket full of presents over to me."  Open this one first."  He says, handing me a small present.  I pull the wrapping off, and stare down at the box.  It's an IPhone 5, one of the newest IPhones out there."  You got me a phone?"  I ask him, and he grins."  Yes, you need it in case we get separated on our next vacation."  He says, and I leap into his arms."  Thank you so much, I love it!"  I say, and he hugs me back."  No problem."  He says, and everyone glares at him."  You dick, you said under a hundred."  Arin says, and Mark grins."  Yeah, for you guys."  He says, and Danny kicks him."  Here, open my gift Lyca."  Jack says, and hands me another present.   I open it up, and it's a video camera."  Woah!  Thanks Uncle Jack."  I say, and he grins."  The back screen flips too, so you can see yourself while you record."  He says, and I thank him.  Arin hands me his two gifts, and I unwrap them.

One is a really video game for the computer, and a Chapter book.  The Whistler."  Thank you Arin."  I say, and he kisses my cheek."  No problem sweetie."  He says, and Danny gives me his gift."  It's a signed copy of Percy Jackson."  I love this book and author!"  I say, and Danny grins."  I know, that's why I got it."  He says, and I smile."  Thank you, very much."  I tell him, and he smiles."  No problem."  He says, and kisses my cheek.  Suzy got me a black dress that went down to my knees, Barry gives me a red scarf.  Ross gives me a book on mental health, Bob gets me a T-shirt from his band, and Wade gives me a plastic crown."  Because you're the queen."  he says, and I shove him."  That was stupid."  I say, and he grins."  But you smiled."  He says, and I continue smile."  Yeah, you got me there.  I'm hungry."  I say, patting my tiny stomach."  Wow, never thought I'd hear that from you Lyca."  Jack says, pulling me up onto his shoulders.

We walk out of the apartment complex, and walk to the sushi restaurant.  I hold onto Jack's ears as he carries me to the restaurant."  Don't yank my hair out okay?"  He asks, and I nod."  I wont, I promise."  He says, and I grin."  Good."  He says, and the group starts laughing."  Hey, be nice to Lyca, she knows what she's doing."  Mark says, I smile.  We get a big table, sitting down while looking at the menu."  God, everything looks good."  Mark says, and I grin."  I want Fire-cracker sushi because it looks really good.  The others get random other sushi types, smiling at each other as we start talking."  Oh my God, Mark was such a nerd."  Wade says, and Mark grins."  What do you mean was?"  He asks, grinning from ear to ear."  Shut it you weirdo."  Wade says, and I sip my soda.  We get our food, and I take the chopsticks in my hand.  Mark helps me use them, and I pick up a piece of sushi.  I take a bite, and grin."  That's amazing."  I say, and he grins."  This is suppose to be the best sushi place around."

"Well, they deserved to be called that then."  I say, and he smiles."  Yep, it's really good."  He says.  He takes another bite, grinning again.  One of the waiters puts a small plate in front of me.  On top of it is a cupcake with whipped frosting."  Happy Birthday!"  He says, and I smile.  He lights the candle on top of the cupcake, and they sing 'Happy Birthday' to me.  I blow out the candle, and the group starts clapping and cheering.  We sit there, and eat some delicious chocolate cake.  I put a twenty dollar bill to help pay, and Mark takes it back for me."  It's your birthday, so you don't pay."  He says, and puts it back in my hoodie pocket."  Okay, fine."  I tell him, and stand up.  We get up, and leave the restaurant.

"This was awesome."  I say, and Hold onto Mark's hand.  He grins."  I'm glad.  I'm really glad.  Happy birthday Lyca."