For Almost

Six days before

Six days before
October

***

  "OWW!" I shrieked as I tripped over something. "When can I take this stupid blindfold off?"

  "Almost," Julie giggled.

   "Where are we even going?"

   "I can't tell you that silly," she giggled again. Jeez she was giggling a lot that day. "Step up," she instructed. I did. Carefully and cautiously.

   "Can I take the blindfold off yet?" I whined.

   "Not yet."

   Once again, I tripped. This time though, Julie didn't catch me. I fell on my face. I heard laughter and then I heard Liam say, "Julie just let her take it off already."

   "No," Julie protested, but it was a weak protest because I had already taken it off.

   You know where I was? In my backyard. Where we started. I'd been wandering around in my own backyard, tripping over the same thing for half an hour.

   "Are you guys serious right now?" I demanded, standing and brushing the dirt off my jeans.

   "On the bright side," Travis spoke up, "We got you cupcakes."

   "Cupcakes?" I asked, genuinely surprised. "Why?"

   My friends had looked at each other like I was stupid and they knew something I didn't but should.

   Liam shook his head and went inside, presumably to retrieve the cupcakes.

   He came back a few minutes later with a box. "Here."

    I took the box and opened it. Inside, I found two dozen cupcakes. All different flavors.

    "Thanks," I smiled. "But could one of you tell me what they're for?"

   Once again, they looked at me like they couldn't believe I was serious. Finally, Red said, "It's your birthday dumbass."

   "It is?" I though for a little bit. "It is!"

   "Happy birthday!" Julie squealed. "Sweet sixteen!"

   My eyes went wide. "Oh god. Oh no. Please no."

   Julie frowned. "What's the matter?"

   "I'm pretty sure my aunt has been waiting for this since I was born," I told her.

   "That's a bad thing?" she asked.

   Liam and Red looked genuinely sorry for me. "You haven't met her aunt. She tends to go a bit....extreme."

   "Again, that's a bad thing?" Julie repeated herself. I nodded. "Whatever I'll be right back.

  "I am forever grateful I met her after she turned sixteen," Travis said. "She tends to set very high goals."

   I pulled a sparkly purple cupcake out of the box and licked it. "Want one?" I asked the guys.

   Red took one before I'd even finished the question and popped the entire thing in his mouth. "Thanks," he said while still chewing.

   Travis took one as well, but Liam kindly refused. "Not hungry," he said. "But thanks."

   When Julie got back, she announced that we were going bowling. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been bowling, but it was fun.

 

***

  "Good thing it's Friday," Julie said randomly at my house while we ate supper.

   "Why?" I wondered aloud.

   "Because it means you can sleep over at my house silly," she replied. Truth be told, I wasn't too thrilled about this idea. She would definitely insist on doing my makeup. And she must have known this because she continued, "I already talked to your mom and she said it would interfere with your aunts plans, but if it was what you wanted then it would be fine." So that was why she went inside earlier.

   "Okay," I agreed.

    "Eeee! This is going to be so fun!" she squealed. I nodded absentmindedly.

   "I think I'm done, thanks for supper Mrs Jink," Liam said, getting up from the table. "I think I'm going to go home now. Good night. Happy birthday again AJ."

   He left and my mom cleared his plate. I couldn't help but notice that he hadn't eaten a single bite.

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A/N

So, not as sad as usual. Welcome :)

Xoxo ~T