Among the Stars (Shidge AU) [Book 2]

Chapter Twenty-Six

After Shiro's birthday, Matt returned to his quiet depressed state. It saddened Shiro. He was so glad to see the old Matt back, but it was only for a day before it was gone again. He hated to see this. Matt had a lack of interest in everything. He would rarely talk. Shiro hoped it would get better, but it never did. Nothing helped. Then, Apirl 3rd came...

Shiro hoped that because it was Matt's birthday, it would pull him out of the slump at least for another day. But he forgot one small detail. It was Katie's birthday too.

It was a Saturday and Shiro woke up early as Matt was still sleep. He helped make breakfast as he wanted today to be special and happy. Then when it was time to wake Matt up, he ran up to the room and opened the door.

Matt was awake as he held Katie's bracelet in his hand. Tears were rolling down his face as he looked at Shiro. Matt hadn't cried at all after the first week, but Shiro guessed that this was too emotional for Matt to hold it back. It hurt Shiro to see him like this...

Matt pulled the blanket over his head as he said, "I don't want to talk today..."

"Matt, why don't you come and eat breakfast?" Shiro responded softly.

"I'm not hungry..." He denied Shiro's offer.

"That's... okay..." Shiro walked out of the room as he closed the door. Much luck for making this a happy day. Shiro let out a sigh as he walked down the stairs and back to the kitchen.

Colleen saw Shiro as she asked, "Is he waking up?"

"He was already awake." Shiro answered. "I didn't mess with him because he was crying..."

Colleen bit her lip. "Maybe it will get better later in the day."

It didn't. Well, it kind of did. He stopped crying and got out of bed, though it was in the after noon when he did.

He walked down the stairs as Colleen had a simple cake on the table with thirteen candles on top. Matt walked into the kitchen with a grey emotionless face on. He stared at the plain white and green cake. He looked up at his mother as she gave him a weak smile. Shiro, Colleen, and Sam were all at the table waiting for him.

"Happy Birthday to you!" They sang when he entered. Honestly, Matt wanted to hide from the world today, but his mother convinced him earlier to come down.

"Happy Birthday to you!" If anything this was not happy for Matt. He didn't smile or anything. It was too hard for him.

"Happy Birthday dear Matt!" It sounded weird. All his life he was so used to Matt and Katie, but today, it was just... Matt.

"Happy Birthday to you!" They finished as he sat down at the table. No matter how much they all smiled, Matt couldn't find it in himself to smile.

Matt stared at the cake as he watched the candles burn. They waved around freely as they burned the wick they were on. He watched as the wax slowly melted. He didn't blow out the candles. Not yet at least. The wax hardened as it dripped down the candle. It wouldn't reach the cake, before it couldn't move again. The fire seemed mesmerizing as it produced the a faint light over the cake. It's funny how something, a symbol for destruction and danger would be placed over a birthday cake.

It reminded him of Katie... and how she was gone. His mother never told her how she died. She just said she did. She could've fallen off a cliff, or poisoned by a snake, or maybe even was burned to death... He wouldn't know. He just knew that Brandon knocked her unconscious and something happened that lead to her death.

Why was it tradition to have fire on a cake?

"Matt..." His mother's voice brought him out of his trance. "Are you going to blow out the candles?"

He nodded. He looked back at them as the candles started to melt onto the cake now. What should he wish for? All that he really wanted was Katie. It was a stupid wish, but he thought it anyways. All I want is my sister... He blew out the candles as any heated wax started to harden again. He stared at the extinguished candles as his mother plucked them out one by one. She cut the cake as she placed a slice of cake in front of Matt. He pushed it back to her. "I'm not hungry..."  He honestly wasn't in the mood for cake.

"That's okay." Colleen stood up. "We have a gift for then." Matt looked at her as he didn't reply. "Wait there." She then left the kitchen.

Shiro then grabbed the plate with the cake was for Matt and started to eat it. Sam shoved his shoulder as he said, "Shiro!"

"What? Matt didn't want it and I did!" Shiro defended himself.

"It's fine, dad." Matt replied emotionless as he sat in the chair. They all sat there quiet until Colleen walked into the kitchen with a large dog with short brownish grey hair. She walked with the dog to Matt as she smiled.

Though, she didn't expect his answer.

He looked at the dog and back up to his mother. His face went from emotionless to anger. "Are you trying to replace Katie!?"

"What?" Colleen was a little shocked with his response.

"Nothing will ever replace Katie!" Tears were forming in his eyes.

"No! We're not replacing Katie!" Colleen corrected.

"Both Katie and I wanted a dog! But you guys said not yet, but when she dies you give me a dog!? What kind of sick joke is this!?" Tears started to fall down his face as he ran out of the room and to his bedroom.

Colleen was about to cry herself. She only wanted to help...

***

~KanGian