Under the Bridge

chapter fifty one- "erotic LEGOs"

*a lil scandalous near the end*

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN LOST under a stampede of wild buffalo? A pointed question, I know. It's a familiar feeling for every student in an overcrowded school. And if you're in the US and attend any public institution, it's very likely that it is filled to the brim.

This morning, I received a mysterious text from my boyfriend. My phone stills feels hot in my pocket from the message, like a flaming brick weighing my jacket down. can't drive you to school today. love you <3

Thankfully, Hope also has ample transportation, and getting here was a lot easier than anticipated after the fact. Still, with Liam at my side, freshman seem to steer clear. Today, however, there's a rush of people in the general area that is my locker, and I just want to get my AP Environmental Science book in peace.

"Jesus Christ, why do I have to elbow people to get a damn pencil?" Hope exclaims, grabbing my wrist and taking me through crowd. We find an empty patch at the lockers, and I'm thankfully able to get to mine.

I yawn. "I'm not even awake yet and I'm expected to know what's going on," I add, reaching up to the lock and imputing my combination. Hope leans against the adjacent locker and smiles at me in anticipation, as though something is going to happen.

She looks especially dressed up today, wearing an over-sized and yellow sweater dress with sheer black tights and ankle boots. Her hair is braided in a crown around her head and her eyes are covered in a light dusting of rose gold shadow.

I'm still wearing leggings for pants.

I open the locker, and to my surprise, I see a bouquet of red roses and a lemon-colored envelope. The smile on my lips spans from cheek to cheek. I turn back to Hope, and she just shrugs. As my fingers move to tear the card open, a hand finds its place on my waist and a familiar voice brushes up against my neck.

"Happy birthday, Olivia," Liam whispers, pressing a lingering kiss on my cheek.

I turn around and look between him and my best friend. "To be honest, I forgot," I admit, realizing that I was born approximately 18 years ago. I just managed to misremember my birthday, with school, and Liam, and my mom, it's just slipped my mind.

I pull on a smile. "Thanks, though. You guys are great."

"This is not all we have planned," Hope adds. "We're having a party tonight. Nothing too big, since that's not your scene. I called your mom and asked to set it up at your place, tonight at eight. Feel free to invite anyone who we've forgotten. It will be wild."

I find the grin stretching up to my eyes. "I love the two of you so much," I tell them both, honestly.

* * *

It's my birthday...

and no text from my mom.

If I forgot, she probably did too.

I mean, it's 7:30 PM, I'm all dressed up and watching reruns of That 70's Show while I wait for my friends to get here. Hope left an hour ago to get supplies and snacks, and I haven't heard her car pull in yet.

So here I am, wearing a sparkling red party dress and bunny slippers. My hair is pulled back, my makeup is intricate, and my MacBook is on my lap. My phone buzzes beside me.

My eyes drift to the screen.

hey beautiful, i'm almost there. i may or may not have a dog in my car, can i bring him?

Liam's message makes me laugh, and I imagine Milo sitting in the passenger seat with his head out the window.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I type back. Should I hide the cats??