Secrets // Ethan Dolan

23. I Fucking Hate My Birthday

Chapter 23, I Fucking Hate My Birthday

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Katie. Happy birt-“
My hand automatically went up, trying to hit the thing that was making that awful sound. “Where is
the fucking snooze button on you?”

“Katie, language please.” My mum snapped unwillingly. “Now get up, we have a surprise for you.”

“We? Who is we?”

“Maybe if you opened your eyes, you could see.” A familiar voice sounded through my ears.

“Marcus?” As fast as the Flash, I jumped out of bed, pulling him in a tight hug. “What are you doing here?” I was in total surprise. Did he come all the way from LA for me?

“It’s your birthday, Katie. I wouldn’t want to miss that for all the money in the world. But please stop screaming in my ear.” Marcus laughed as I hugged him again. It shocked me how much I had missed him. I didn’t notice it much because I had made my own friends, but now that he was here, it dawned on me that I really couldn’t be apart from him that long. I had so much to say, so many things had happened since I moved to New Jersey and Marcus was the only one whom I could really
talk to about it.

“We have so much to talk about.” I started walking towards my dresser. “How have you been?  Whathaveyoubeenupto? And oh! Do you still have a boyfriend?” My words were rushed, I was too excited.
“Woah, Katie, talk a bit slower please, I didn’t understand a single thing that you just said. But first get dressed, we’ll talk about everything later, I’m staying for a couple more days. We’ll have plenty of time.”

“Honey, wear something comfortable, but not too comfortable. No PJ’s or sweatpants.” My mum walked out the door. “I’m making breakfast so come downstairs in about 15 minutes, please.”

“We will, Anika.” Marcus put a smile on his face and closed the door behind her.

-

“Where are we going?” After we finished breakfast, Marcus put a blindfold on me and started walking me towards my mums car, she allowed us to borrow it. Us. My mum didn’t come with us, but she said she would make it up to me later. The blindfolding part was about 20 minutes ago, which means that I had been dying of curiosity for 20 minutes. Marcus knew how much I hated surprises. Everyone says that. It’s true, but secretly, everyone loves surprises. I love surprises too, it’s just the waiting part that spoils all the fun.

“Just wait a little longer, God you’re so annoying sometimes. You know, a surprise needs to surprise you. Otherwise it isn’t a surprise.”

“But I want to know.” The ooooow was pronounced extra long. Marcus turned the music up as a sign that the conversation was over.

I huffed: “Fine.”

After about what seemed like an eternity but was only ten minutes in real time, the car stopped and
Marcus pulled me out the car. “Where are we?” Sounds of water cackling filled my ears. “We’re not at a water park, aren’t we?” Marcus untied the blindfold and gave me back my eye sight. “Marcus, you’re kidding me right? You know that I hate waterparks! I can’t fucking swim. Oh my God, this has to be a joke. It’s a joke, right?” My hands were itching ‘cause I wanted to smack him across the face, a friendly smack that is, he’s still my best friend.

He threw is head back in laughter, “Of course it’s a joke. Did you really think that I could forget that the badass Katie Campbell is scared of some water?”

“You can die in water!” My attempt at defending my fear failed horribly.

“You can die eating ice cream. You can die doing anything, but that doesn’t stop you either.”