Call it Fate, Call it Karma

Birthday Boy

"We have roughly ninety minutes before we need to get to your guys' gig, so let's just enjoy now while we still can!" I announced, then pulled Albert into a hug. "I'm sorry you had to work for most of your birthday."

Then, Julian pulled him into a hug and said, "...and I'm sorry we booked a gig on your birthday, too. It was all we could get for the next few days."

I felt bad for lying to Albert, but I was glad everyone was going above and beyond to keep the biggest surprise, a surprise.

"Present time!" Fab squealed, yanking Albert from Julian's grip and onto the floor where everyone sat around the table.

Albert looked at the table full of presents and smiled even bigger. "You guys really didn't have to do this-"

"Shut up!" everyone responded in unison.

"Sorry, but we don't have enough time for you to be humble right now." I said, patting him on the shoulder. "Okay...who's giving first?"

"Me!"

"No, me!"

After the gift opening, we all set out to the gig and got there at around 8.

Albert was insanely tired to begin with, but was harmlessly peer-pressured into doing a line of coke to amp him up a little, which worked a little too well. He was up on the stage tuning everyone's guitars for them because he was so hyped to play that he just couldn't wait for the band to gradually get themselves on stage.

While the band finally did start playing, I met up with Ryan, Adam, Kimya, Karen, her band and some of their friends and we slowly began decorating the venue with typical birthday party decorations. We did a little at a time to make sure Albert wouldn't notice immediately.

Once we were finished, we made our way into the crowd to dance for the last song and show our usual support.

The song had quickly finished and the crowd roared with appreciation and excitement. It was at that point that Albert and everyone else who wasn't in on the surprise had noticed the party decorations and their faces filled with puzzlement.

Julian picked up the mic and spoke closely into it once all the commotion had died down. "Yes! It is our lovely guitarists birthday! Happy birthday, Albert!" Julian walked over and planted a kiss on Albert's bright red face. "We love you, man! Anyways...I think we need to call up the person who planned most of this to say a few words. Jade?" He began scanning the crowd. "Where are you? Come up here!"

I waved my arms and he locked his eyes on mine. He gave me a look and held out the microphone, waiting for me to gingerly push past everyone and walk onto the stage. I took the mic off him, my hands trembling a little, but once I turned to Albert, who had the biggest grin, all my nerves vanished.

"Hey, everyone...I'm Jade. I'm glad you could all come tonight! Albert is such a hard worker and the best friend anyone could ask for." I said, looking over at him with such adoration. "He looks after us all more than himself sometimes, and for that, we love him to death and we're very grateful to have him in our lives." I then walked over to him and pulled him in a side hug. "Happy birthday, Albie! Where would we be without you?" I turned back to the crowd after kissing his cheek. "He's been at work for most of the day and hasn't decently celebrated at all yet, so make it a killer night, everyone! Go fucking crazy!"

Karen and her band ran on stage to set up as everyone began cheering and Ryan made his presence known as he tapped on the mic.

"Hey, guys!" said Ryan once everyone began paying attention. He raised a large intricately frosted cake above his head with a huge grin. "Albert, come back up here and make a wish, birthday boy! This is for you!"

Albert climbed back onto the stage as Karen helped light the candles. She leaned into the mic once she was done and began waving her hands like a conductor. "And a-one...two...one, two, three, four! Haaaappy birthdayyyyy-"

"...tooooo youuuuuu!" The crowd continued the rest of the song as Albert grinned from ear-to-ear, looking like he was about to cry.

After Albert blew out his candles, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs began playing, and that's when the real party started.

Everyone was dancing, drinking, smoking, tripping, hooking up—you name it! Some were even doing all five at once. I could check a couple off the list as I pinned Julian against a wall in the grungy mens bathroom and passionately blew smoke into his mouth, which resulted in a hot mess of a makeout session. He lifted me up and sat me on a sink at one point as my hands tangled themselves in his hair, my mouth yearning and hungry for his.

A door to one of the bathroom stalls was kicked open and a girl rushed out with a smirk. Julian and I stopped kissing to look, and inside the stall remained Albert, looking quite starstruck as he wiped lipstick off his mouth and zipped up his fly.

"Ooh, shit!" Julian yelped. "Someone's getting some b-day action! Was that your first groupie, Albert?"

I applauded, laughing quite hard as Albert's face flushed red. "Albie, you slut!"

Albert rolled his eyes and chuckled, then looking at me challengingly, he smirked. "I can see your thong, Jade."

I gasped and swatted Julian's hand off my thigh, yanking my skirt down and crossing my legs with a frown. "I knew I should've worn jeans!" It was my turn to blush from embarrassment.

"I'm glad you didn't." Julian whispered in my ear, his hand trailing up my thigh. I giggled in response and placed my hand on his chest.

Albert cleared his throat and began slowly backing away. "Gross. I'm leaving the room now."

"Dang it! I was hoping for a threesome..." Julian pouted. Albert rolled his eyes once again and left.

I jokingly slapped him. "Nasty, nasty!"

"As much as I wanna do you right here on this sink, we should probably work on spending time with the birthday boy." said Julian with a sigh.

"You're absolutely right." I nodded. "And I wouldn't have let you screw me in here anyways...don't feel like contracting any diseases tonight." I said as I looked around at the grimy bathroom that very strongly smelt of urine.

"Can't believe Albert got his dick sucked in there," said Julian with a grimace as he pointed at a stall. "...I think there's blood on the wall."

"Can we get outta here before I puke?!"