Don't Call Me Baby (Billy Hargrove)

-Chapter thirty seven-

Emilia

We had been driving in Steve's car for about twenty minutes, listening to his songs while we just talked over things, it was just a normal car ride. I had no clue what Steve had in mind, but clearly it meant spending a whole day doing something with him, which I didn't mind at all. I'd just have to explain to my mum on why I was absent at school today, but other than that, I didn't care about the consequences. It's my birthday, I deserve to let loose and have some fun.

'We're here' Steve announces as he pulls up into his driveway, and I let out a laugh as we get out of the car.

'So, we're celebrating my birthday at your house?' I question as I follow behind Steve who walks up to the front porch, he unlocks the door and pushes it open before letting me go in first, such a gentleman.

'Exactly, but one condition. In order to go into the magical land I've created, you must wear this blindfold' Steve says as he reaches into his pocket and grabs out a peice of cloth.

'You better not be planning on murdering me' I warn as he reaches around and ties it around my head so it's over my eyes, I hear him laugh as he tightens it.

'Trust me, I would've done that when we were kids' He says before I feel him grasp onto my hand and lead me behind him. Due to his lack of direction, I had hit my legs on some of the furniture, and argued with him over it, but apart from that he seemed to be doing a good job.

The air around me changed as I realized we were outside, probably in his backyard or by his pool, Steve continued to lead me around before we finally came to a stop. I hear him rustling and shifting a few things before he speaks again.

'Surprise!' Steve says as he pulls off my blindfold, I blink at the sight infront of me and instantly I start to scream in excitement.

'Holy- what- where was this?' I question as I examine the little blue house covered in paint splatters and vivid marks, it was the little play house Steve and I used when we were kids, Steve's dad had built it for my birthday, and all throughout our childhood we had used it to hide in from our parents, and basically as a canvas to draw on.

'Dad never threw it out, and it was too important to just be discarded' Steve says as I gawk at the house just a little smaller than me, my hands skim over the rough pictures scribbled on the wood, and I smiled as I read some of the words on it.

'I figured why not refresh our memories, and recap what we did on your birthday the day we got this-' Steve says before he reaches over and pulls back the little black cloth that hung from the entrance of the little house. I felt a wide smile grow on my face as it revealed a little picnic basket inside with two cushions and a few blankets.

'We had a picnic' I say as I remember the events that happened on my birthday almost nine years ago. As soon as his parents presented the gift to me, Steve asked his parents if they could set up a picnic and a cake for me, and since it was only big enough for the two of us to fit in it, he suggested we had a private birthday dinner between the two of us.

Steve squeezes in first, shifting so he was propped up against one of the walls while he sat on one of the cushions, I followed in after him and managed to just fit into the little house. It was a tight squeeze and there was only a few centimeters of space between our bodies, so my question was how we were going to eat in here.

'I know, I should've thought about this before I planned it' Steve says as we stare at each other while we're squeezed tight in the space, and I let out a laugh before I shake my head.

'It's perfect Steve' I sigh out and he watches me for a few moments, his eyes lingering on me while a small smile rested on his face, he opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it quickly and just shook his head.

'Let's eat' He says before he opens the brown basket.

'I could only get food that could last being in here for an hour, sorry it's not hot' Steve says as we bite into the ham sandwiches he bought, but I gave him a reassuring smile.

'It's fine' I say as I finish off my first sandwich and watch as Steve reaches into the basket and pulls out a little chocolate cupcake, and I start to laugh as he pulls out a candle and lights it.

'Couldn't fit a cake either, but I hope this is a good alternative' Steve says as he holds it out and lets me grab it before we sit there. I shut my eyes and make a wish before I blow out the candle, and listen as Steve sings Happy Birthday to me, completely out of tune and cracking at the high notes. But I clap anyway and mock him about how bad he sounded.

After we finished eating we crawled out of the little house and sat outside of it, scanning our eyes over the messy drawings and random sentences written on it. We just laughed at our terrible our handwriting was, and fought over who drew the ugliest picture on the house.

'I wrote this when I got angry at you for pinching me' I say as we spot one of the sentences I wrote which said 'Steve is stupid', it was so innocent and I doubt I'd write an insult like that now, believe me you'd have to censor the words out.

'Ooh, look at this one' Steve says as he points at one of the drawings of two stick figures holding hands, the picture was barely visible because it looked faded, but I could see some of the detail, one of the stick figures had long hair, and the other had what seemed to look like a buzz cut.

I could see that it was an image of Steve and I, I was the stick figure with the long hair and Steve was the stick figure with a buzz cut. Although, he should be the one with the long hair now. I nudged him as we read the writing underneath the picture.

'Best friends for life' I say as I read the writing, it was so simple but had so much meaning and love behind it, and I felt a smile grow on my face as Steve's hand lowers from his knee and grasps ahold of mine, he interlocks our fingers and I lean my head on his shoulder.

'Bestfriends for life' Steve repeats as we gaze at the little blue house full of child hood memories, laughter, tears and promises, and in this moment as the sun cascaded over our heads, our hands grasped tightly together, and content smiles on our faces, I realized I didn't want to be anywhere else.

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Stevilia man's, got me shook ♡ Sorry if it's short, there's more of them in the next chapter :)) - D ♡