Abandoned

Happy Early Birthday

"Where'd you get those cupcakes?" Emma asks, concerned.

"We bought them for your birthday tomorrow." I respond.

"Oh yeah, my birthday's tomorrow." She giggles. "I forgot."

"We were gonna surprise you," Ava says, "But I feel like the cupcakes would really lighten the mood right now."

"Well, you thought right." Emma laughs, "Thanks for the cupcakes." She says to me.

"It's no problem." I reply.

"No, really," She says, "You didn't have to do that."

"It is your birthday." I assure, "Tomorrow."

"But you took money out of your pocket to make me happy!" She exclaims, "Thank you."

"Well," I say, "Since there's no convincing you not to thank me, you're welcome."

We all laugh. Ava hands me the cupcakes. There are 6 chocolate cupcakes, 3 have green frosting and 3 have yellow frosting.

I give Emma the first cupcake. I give her green, because that's her favorite color. I turn to Ava and I give her a yellow one. Liam and Noah get the other 2 yellow ones. I take one of the green ones.

I turn to Skylar. I hand her the box with one green cupcake in it.

"No, I can't." She says.

"Why not?" I ask, "I've seen you eat cupcakes before."

"Because I barely know Emma," She starts, "I don't wanna crash her party."

"Come on, take one." I say, "Emma doesn't care, she enjoys the company." We look at Emma and she nods.

"I can't," She sighs, "I don't deserve it."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask.

"I was horrible to you, I tortured you every day," She rambles, "And I only stopped when I realized what had happened to you."

"The past is in the past." I sigh, "It doesn't matter, just take the damn cupcake."

"Lauren!" Emma says in a scolding way, because I cursed in front of the twins.

"Sorry!" I say quickly.

"Well, okay," Skylar gives in and takes a bite. "Thank you," She says with her mouth full. We all laugh.