Match Your Weakness With A Name

Fifteen Can Shove Itself Up My Ass.

I take Awsten home from the cemetery at around six. It's a nice, quiet drive, and he looks adorably sleepy. When we arrive at his house, I find out that he actually is, in fact, asleep.

"Aws," I say, nudging him gently, "wake up."

He stays asleep, and I nudge him again.

"Awsten, we're here."

Still, he doesn't wake up. I undo my seatbelt, hop out of the car, and walk over to his side.

"Awsten, if you don't wake up, I'm gonna carry you."

Well, he's a deep sleeper. I nudge him a few more times and wonder how he's so deeply asleep after sitting down for twenty minutes. He was awake at the traffic jam we got caught in.

I sigh and unbuckle his seatbelt, hoping he might wake up when I do, but he doesn't. I smile and scoop him up. He's not heavy. I carry him bridal-style down his front path and ring his doorbell with my elbow. His mom laughs when she sees us.

"What'd you do to wear him out that much?" she asks.

"Uh, honestly, I don't know," I say. "What do I do now?"

"Just put him on the couch," she says. "I'm officially ungrounding him."

"Why?" I ask. "Uh, not that I'm complaining, but what changed your mind?"

"He like-likes you," she jokes.

"Really?" I say.

"Well, aren't you two dating?" she asks.

"I suppose so, but I haven't brought out the b-word yet," I say. "Don't wanna scare him away. Anyway, my arms are getting tired."

"Oh, of course," she says, and moves out of the way so I can set Awsten down. He's so adorable, and I have the urge to kiss him gently on the cheek, but I push it aside. He'd think I'm weird, and besides, I don't know how much kissing he's alright with.

"Bye, Aws," I whisper, and run my hand through his hair.

Surprisingly, his mother doesn't stop me when I turn to leave.

"I hope to see you again, Josh," she says.

"Geoff," I correct on my way out the door.

"Sorry," she calls. I smile and walk down the front path to my car.

*****

At home, there is a cupcake prepared for me with a candle stuck in it.

"Happy birthday," says Rebecca as I walk in. "You have to learn how to pay taxes now."

"Oh, shut up," I joke. "Where's Aunt Nicole and Uncle David?"

"Upstairs," she says. "They're putting some affairs in order."

"Uh, what kind of affairs?" I ask.

"It's not important," said Rebecca, moving over to the cupboard drawers and taking out a lighter. She lights the candle on my cupcake. "Don't blow that out yet. They'll be down in a moment."

As if on cue, my aunt and uncle rush downstairs and shout "Surprise!" in perfect unison.

I laugh. "Oh my god, I had no idea it was my birthday."

"We threw you a whole party!" says my aunt. "We have balloons and everything!"

"What?"

"There." She points to the fridge. Taped to the door are two uninflated balloons.

"Thank you so much," I say sarcastically. "Really appreciate the massive amount of effort that must've taken."

"I'm glad," says my aunt in the same tone of voice I used.