Burning Pages (Lil Xan Fan Fiction)

Happy Birthday!

"Happy birthday kiddo."

My eyes flickered open to only connect with my ceiling. It seemed like everything stood still as my father's voice echoed through my head. I'm 18 now and he didn't even make it to see that.

I got up and made my way over to my closet and pulled a pair of converse and placed a hat on my head. I grabbed my jacket and zipped it up as I slowly made my way down the stairs trying not to run into Diego or Candy.

I got out the door and decided to go take a walk around the park. Thoughts crowded my mind as I got lost inside my brain. Thoughts of Diego mostly. My mind always trailed back to that night, that one night where nothing mattered but us. He made me feel as if I mattered and no one could take that away from me.  I smiled to myself as I continued to walk. I admired the skies and the beautiful scenery until something ugly came into sight.

Austin and the girl who he cheated on me with. I didn't understand why I was so upset considering that I wasn't being loyal to him either. But the sight of him and that girl made me sick. I tried to dodge him but that clearly didn't work.

His smile faded as soon as he laid eyes on me and a look of concern spread across his face. I quickly cut off the stare and made my way down another path, heading over to the swings. I took a seat on a bench and held my head in my hands because I had gotten an instant headache, I felt as if I needed to throw up.

"Cassie?" A familiar female voice spoke.

I peered up to connect my eyes with the one and only Olivia.

"You okay?"

"Uh, n-no I'm not." I said as I choked back my tears.

She trotted over to me and took a seat next me and placed her hand over her plump belly.

"You can tell me what's going on." She insisted.

"Well today is my birthday and I decided to come here for a walk, but I ran into my ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend." I sniffled, "I-I don't know what's wrong with me I'm crazy."

"No you're not crazy." Olivia placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a smile.

In that very moment I knew that a true friendship had struck....

"And since its your birthday let's go get you over this guy." Olivia stood up and placed her hands on her hips.

"Like what?"

"Just come with me." She put her hand out for me to grab.

I eyed her hand then drew my eyes up at the smile painted on her face and finally gripped her hand firmly and got up. She lead me to her car with the same broad smile on her face.

As we drove she let the windows down and allowed the wind to flow through my hair. I looked up at the sky and began to think about my dad.

"Its okay dad, I'm fine I know you're up there." I thought to myself.

"So Cassie have you ever had a pet?" Olivia asked as we pulled into a parking lot with a big brick building sitting in the middle of it.

"No, but I've always wanted one." I replied.

"Well today I'm gonna get you a dog." She smiled.

"Wait really?" I cheered in excitement.

"Yes, I figured you would love an animal." She spoke as we got out the car, "What are you waiting for, c'mon."

I followed behind Olivia into the bulding that had, "ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER" big and boldly written on it.

When we entered the building a young man with a denim cap came around the corner.

"Olivia!" He spoke in a British accent. "Its been a while love, and I see your expecting a little one."

"Yes Sam, but I'm actually here for my friend its her birthday and I was going to get her a pet." She explained.

"Well come right on in." He opened the door to where there was loud barking.

"I'll wait here since he has cats back there, but once you get the dog you want I wanna see it and I'm gonna pat for it." She nudged me a bit.

I nodded and walked through the door while Sam and Olivia caught up.

As I walked through the door I noticed plenty of big dogs who were wagging their tails, and a bunch of cute ones. The cats seemed vicious so I didn't want one of those anyways, but it was one cage that stood out to me. As I got closer I seen a bunch of puppy toy poodles wagging their tails and barking.

"Oh my gosh." I gushed as I picked one up and petted another.

I look at the big white dog which seemed to be the mother, and behind her was a little brown toy poodle with big floppy ears. It was sleeping. I nearly cried when I picked it up and placed the other dog back. It must have been the runt of the group, but size didn't matter to me I knew that this would be my dog.

I petted the mama dog, "Its okay don't worry I'm gonna take very good care of your baby." I smiled and she licked my hand.

When I came out of the back room and into the main area Olivia began gushing as soon as she saw the dog.

"Oh my gosh, let me hold him!" She put her hands out to pet him. "How much?" She asked Sam.

"This is on the house, you can get it for free and Happy Birthday to you." He winked at me.

"Awe what's his name?" Olivia questioned.

I looked at his small little face and smiled, "Toby."

-

When Olivia finally dropped me off it was night time and we had spent all day shopping for dog stuff. As I was grabbing the stuff out of the car my mom pulled up, and when she got out of the car she had a smug look plastered on her face.

"You got a dog!?" She yelled.

"I bought it for her." Olivia spoke up.

"No get rid of i-"

"For what mom, nobody has done anything for me this whole day and its supposed to be my day! My freaking birthday." I shouted.

My mother covered her mouth with a shocked look on her face, "I can't believe I forgot." She began to sob and pulled me into a hug.

"You can keep it I-I'm a terrible mother." She sobbed. " I'm gonna take off of work and I'm gonna do better." She declared.

"No mom-"

"No I'm gonna make it up, I swear...."