Happier (Jared Padalecki Short Story)

4

"Happy Birthday." I grinned, sitting down on Jensen's lap. He stared at me with his bitch face, shoving me off of him.

"I'm not a throne, and certainly not yours. Besides, it's my birthday so you should be my throne." He told me.

I giggled. "You'd crush me!"

"Try me." Jen said as he got up from his seat. He sat down on my lap, putting his full weight on me. I squealed and struggled against him.

"Get off your sister!" Mom scolded.

Jensen laughed and went back to his own seat. I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest and pouting.

"So, Jared's coming over..." He told me. He didn't know I knew he told Jared not to come over except for today.

I shrugged. "Okay. I'll go see Osric or Caitlin or someone."

Jensen sighed. "I want you here though.."

I nodded. "I'll invite Caitlin over."

"Sounds good." Jensen smiled. I smiled back and texted my best friend.

To: Caitlin
From: Lapis
Jensen wants you to come over for his birthday.

To: Lapis
From: Caitlin
Be there in an hour or so.

I grinned and turned to my big brother. "She'll be here soon."

~~~

Different friends of Jensen's showed up. There was this guy three years older then Jensen that worked with him, Misha. Jared was over, too. I didn't know most of these people, seeing as how he worked or went to school with them. I only knew Misha and Jared.

I sat in the kitchen while they sat in the living room playing video games. I was offered to join, but it felt too awkward, and not even because of Jared.

Moments later, the door opened and Caitlin entered. Osric trailed behind her, making me smile.

"Osric!" I smiled, hugging him. He hugged back, making me feel warm. He gave really nice hugs.

"What kind of name is Osric?" Someone asked.

"Looks who is speaking, Misha." Jensen replied. I giggled and grabbed bit Osric's and Caitlin's hands, dragging them to my room.

"Hey! He can't go in there!" Jensen yelled.

"Okay daddy!" I joked, rolling my eyes.

"You are one gross little girl!" He yelled back.

I pushed open the door to my room and let them in. "Ignore him, Osric, he's anal."

"He needs it, too." Caitlin murmured jokingly. We all busted out laughing.

"So, everything okay with you? I noticed your ex out there.." Osric said.

"Oh yeah, no, it's all good. He's easier to handle when Lexi isn't around. And he's my brothers best friend, I'm not gonna cause a scene if I wanted to." I shrugged it off. Truth was, it'd be a long road to get over Jared, but with Osric and Caitlin, I'd get there a lot faster than on my own.

"So, what are we gonna do?" Caitlin asked.

~~~

I sat at the kitchen table, eating potato chips as I watched everyone outside. Jensen and his posse played football outside. Caitlin pretended to be a cheer leader. Osric sat with her, glancing back at me every so often. I was inside because mom asked me to help bake Jensen's cake. Baking was something I enjoyed doing from time to time.

"Okay, it's cool enough. You can frost it." Mom said. I smiled and popped the last chip in my mouth, throwing the plate away and washing my hands. I picked up the spatula and frosted the cake to perfection, even putting in the trick candles.

"All done." I told her.

"I've gotta run, make sure they don't make a mess." She said. I nodded and watched her go before getting out the ice cream from the freezer.

The door to the backyard opened and Jared came in. "You make the cake?" He asked.

"Yeah. Have been for a few years now." I stated, getting out paper plates and plastic silverware.

"How have you been?" He asked, hands in the pocket of his leather jacket.

"Oh, fine." I replied, looking around for mom's camera. "You?"

"Great. I got a job at the library, the one at the college mom works at. I'm going there in the fall, so I thought it'd be good." He said.

I smiled. "That's cool. I'll have to check it out. I'm going to community for a while, English majoring."

"Come to the school I'm going to. Take mom's class, it'll be better." He said.

"I'll think about it." I replied. "Where is that damn camera?" I huffed.

Jared reached above me on the top of the fridge and pulled out the red camera. "This it?"

"Fuck you and your tallness." I grumbled, taking the camera. "Thanks."

"So you and Osric..." He trailed off.

"He's good. We're kinda at a standstill after the movies, but I'm gonna ask him to go to Prom with me." I shrugged. I hadn't even admitted that to Caitlin yet.

"Really? Isn't he supposed to ask you?" He asked.

"Well, he's in college so I just thought, it's my prom, why not?" I shrugged my shoulders again.

"Right, yeah.." He muttered.

"Hey, can you go get my brother and the others? Cake time." I said, wanting him to leave. He was making me feel awkward.

"Sure." He gave me a smile small and headed back outside, calling for Jensen and the other hooligans.

I put on a smile as I took pictures of Jensen, the cake, and him with the cake. The compliments I got on the cake made my smile become a little more real.

What really made everything good was Osric. He pulled me away from the party and smiled nervously at me.

"So, Lapis... I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me this weekend? Maybe just us two?" He asked, fiddling with his fingers.

I smiled. "Of course, Osric. I'd love to." I placed a kiss to his cheek, feeling kind of nervous about doing so.

"Did you just-?" Osric gently shook his head before placing his lips against mine.

I blinked in surprise before closing my eyes and kissing back. Maybe things were looking up after all.

Side note: Jared's mom is actually a high school teacher (or was idk) but for the story she's gonna be a college professor in the same subject she teaches (or taught again idk) irl.