Lost Crown

Birthday Bash

I sat in the car, watching the trees fly by with colors I couldn't name fast enough to identify. Evan, my best friend, sat in the driver's seat studying the road, a smirk resting crookedly on his face. His midnight black hair danced as the wind raced through it.

"And why are you so quiet today?" He asked, but he knew. He knew and was waiting for me to admit it to him. I turned towards him and snickered playfully.

"Am not!" I shouted childishly, not letting go of the bet so easily. His ruby red eyes flickered towards me for a second before going back to the road, his pale hands gripping the wheel.

"Ah, so the whole past half hour ride from school you were talking and yelling gibberish like you always do?" He asked, his smirk breaking out into a full on grin. I smirked.

"Of course I-" I paused a second and replayed the sentence in my head, narrowing my eyes. "Wait, gibberish?!" I scuffed at him as he started laughing that sort of amazing laugh I always want to hear.

We were on our way to the arcade that the rest of my friends were at, waiting to celebrate my sixteenth birthday. Only, they didn't know that I knew. And Evan thought that I didn't know about his little scheme. He had baited me earlier with the idea of going, and who was I to say no? The arcade was my home away from home.

We pulled up at the old building, the blue paint peeling on the outside. The big yellow sign flickered as the once whole 'Darby's Arcade of Fun' read 'Dab's Are Fun'. We always found it hilarious. It was really cleaned up on the inside, just needs a few touches. As went to go walk in, Evan put his arm around my shoulder affectionately and guided me inside.

The whole place was empty except for us and the staff, the space carpet faded but age. The beat up games were all turned on, lighting the room more than the dim lights on the ceiling. The food court had that smell that seems to invite everyone in, only to trap them in overpriced cheap food. I started to head towards the gun game before I squealed in delight as suddenly all my friends popped out, yelling 'surprise'.

"Aw KitKat! Your so old today! My precious child!" My friend Sasha squealed in a dramatic display of tears. I chuckled.

"I'm not as old as you, Sashie!" I called mockingly. Suddenly it seemed as if someone had punched her in the gut.

"Thank you for pointing that out, KitKat." She pouted.

"No!" I said, holding back tears as I started laughing. Suddenly a huge force knocked me off my feet and I was tackled to the ground.

"OhmygoshKattyyouareasoldasmeandyetsomuchmorematureIcantbelieveI'mnottheolderoneanymore!" My other best friend, Hannah, exclaimed. I could barely make out what she was saying as she started to weep onto my chest as she sat on top of me. She was a tiny thing, her gorgeous shock blonde draping over her shoulders covering her big brown eyes.

As she was lifted off me by Evan, another hand was in front of me, offering sanity. I took it gratefully and was left standing in front of a guy. He had dark, curly red hair and black eyes, almost the exact opposite of Evan. I smiled.

"Thanks June! I actually didn't think you would show up..." I trailed off at the end, but he only smiled.

"I get it, but your birthday means more than a silly design review class." He said as cheerfully as I have ever heard him, which was not that much. He was really quiet and didn't talk much, but he was still enjoyable. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Y-Yeah..." I stuttered, flustered by his sudden change of interest.

But the excitement had yet to begin. As my other friends crowded around me, I started laughing and crying at the same time. It felt so good to know people care about me and that they are not all cruel. I felt warm arms wrap around; safe, strong, arms. I winced a bit as his strong hug made the bruises on my body ache, but I fought back the pain and leaned into his chest.