A Journal To Share

(11) Gifts

After our first date, I saw Josh all the time. When we went somewhere and he found a friend of him, he always presented me as his "girlfriend". The first time he said it was at KFC, and he made blushed and he surprised me.
My birthday is the 19th of December. As we were very close to Christmas, my birthday was very close, too. I always hated my birthday. I really don't have a reason, but I just find it boring. Maybe it is because getting older is not something to celebrate...Whatever. I don't know.
The thing was that Josh asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, and then I told him all that.
He insisted and insisted about making this huge party, but I just wanted to be chill. with him. The day of my birthday had arrived. As always, I woke up in Aaliyah's room, and said "good morning Aalaiyh", and she was supposed to answer..."Aaliyah?", I repeated.
I went to the kitchen, where Shawn generally was, but he wasn't there. "Oh, seems they went to the market", I thought.
I went to the dining room, and I sat to have some breakfast. I started eating a cookie and before it could even enter to my mouth, six hands jumped behind me and pushed me a little bit. I freaked out so much, that I screamed, and I punched Aaliyah in her face and she was like "Aaah!" and I said sorry to her, her mom, and the three of us started laughing.
After that scene, they told me "happy birthday", gave me an Oreo cake, and a box with a little bow on it.
I opened it. Inside was a golden collar with a little butterfly and a "J". I was shocked. It was beautiful. I told them I couldn't accept it, but they were unable to convince. I asked them where Shawn was. They had no idea.
I thought I would see him at school. I didn't. I entered the Economy class, and when Josh saw me, he said "happy birthday" very kindly.
I have to say I felt sad when I didn't see Shawn in the class. Maybe he was getting a bit late. He would maybe be at Geography. I didn't know. I just wanted to see him, and he was the only person, apart from Josh, that I wanted to hear "happy birthday" of.
I went to the cinema with Josh. Then he drove me home (Shawn's house).
I arrived. I was very tired. I went to take a hot shower, but I stopped at Shawn's door. I didn't hear a sound.
I entered. There was a guitar and many partitures on the floor. I saw a STAR WARS poster, next to the piano. I walked towards it, and touched it slowly and softly.

SHAWN: Oh, hi.
ME: He-hey, um sorry I didn't know that you-
SHAWN: It's fine...Can, can we talk?
ME: A-about what?
SHAWN: About "In my blood"...? That's what you came for, right?
ME: ...Yeah...Right.
(Large silence)
Look, Shawn, there's something I need to tell you. I'm sorry. I've been very selfish and I ignored you...Like, a lot.
SHAWN: You don't have to be sorry. I should be sorry.
ME: For what?
SHAWN: First, for disappearing on your birthday. I just...I needed to think. I don't know if you have seen how I felt...Whatever. I needed a few days to...Think. Just that. And secondly, I didn't give you a-
ME: Is this about the present? 'Cause if it is then I-
SHAWN: No. It is not. It's about that I didn't give you an explanation about Josh. The thing is that...a few years ago I dated her sister. She then cheated on me, so we broke up, and here sister was broken-hearted. Josh was so angry with me, that we had a fught and everything...well, he then told the school I was a jerk, and the day I asked you if he had told you something was because I wanted to know if he had told you something about me. As you ignored me I thought-

-

ME: No...no. I'm sorry about ignoring you and...I don't know, you suddenly turned mad, and if you had told me all this I would have understood. Josh never mentioned anything about this...Anyway, why did you care when he said you were a jerk? 

SHAWN: He's very popular...so was I. Everyone judged everything I did, and with Josh's sister confirming I was a jerk, everyone now thinks I'm a jerk...but I don't care what they think...I care about you thinking I'm a jerk.

ME: ...Why?

SHAWN: You're different. You're like...the closest thing I ever had to a best friend.

I was glad, but at the same time sad for listening to that from him. However, that was all I heard. What a nice birthday gift.