Written in the Stars (completed)

Chapter 3

    Jayden starred at the sketch he made of Alex, the date there was September fifth, it was September seventeenth now. Tomorrow was Alex's seventeenth birthday.

    Alex laid on her bed, watching the ceiling as she thought of Jayden. He was supposed to call her any minute now. It was nearly midnight and it was a tradition that he always called her exactly at midnight, the very minute the eighteenth, Alex's birthday, started. He denied ever doing so every time she asked him but he was obviously teasing her.
    At first she would sleep until his call came but eventually she started seeing him as more than just her best friend, she was starting to think she was in love with him, so much so that she stayed awake every night before her birthday until he called just to hear his voice.
    She was startled as her phone began to wring, the familiar tone she set to Jayden's contact sounded. Alex scrambled to grab it, she was in such a hurry to answer Jayden's call that she rolled off the edge of her bed and onto her stomach. She scrambled to her knees and took her phone, answering it, out of breath.
    "Jayden!" she said excitedly.
    "Happy birthday!" Jayden called through the phone. Alex smiled, she had gotten over being mad at him for calling so late a long time ago. Now she loved it, it was one of the best parts of each birthday she had.
    "So, my now seventeen year old best friend, how has your," he paused to check the time. "one and half minutes of being one year older than sixteen been so far?" he asked, she could just see his stupid grin.
    She smiled "well, I fell off my bed a few seconds ago..." she trailed off, thinking of how stupid that sounded, but her anxiety over her statement vanished when she heard his laugh, she laughed herself, rolling onto her back again as she sprawled on top of her bed.
   "What an exciting start to your birthday." he said through his laughter. She smiled as the two of them fell silent, and though the other didn't know it, they were thinking of each other, and wishing the other was with them. Jayden was the first to catch the silence between them filled with longing and unfulfilled wishes neither of them knew the other had.
    "Well, uh... I better let you get some sleep birthday girl, I'll pick you up tomorrow for school alright?" Jayden asked, sadness suddenly filling him.
    "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow JJ." Alex said, her own sadness taking in her, Making her feel cold.
    Now was the hardest part for both of them, ending the call. Neither of them wanted to they wanted to stay on the line all night until they saw each other that morning, but Jayden finally ended after a few moments of that same time consuming silence that hurt them both deeply.

    The rest of that night Alex and Jayden both didn't sleep, they were both thinking of the other too much. Jayden had tossed and turned and even splashed cold water on his face to try and make himself snap out of it to no use. Alex on the other hand accepted it, but couldn't help but smile when she thought of him.
    Jayden's jeep pulled in front of Alex's house several restless hours later. Alex took her house keys and left the empty house, locking the door behind her. She jogged to Jayden's car and opened the passenger side door just to see Jayden sitting there looking at her. He gave her a mock terrified look.
   "What is that!?" he shouted in fake terror, pointing a shaking finger at the lemon poppy seed muffin held lightly in Alex's mouth because her hands were full with her backpack and journal.
    Alex slung her backpack over her shoulder and used her now free left hand to take the muffin out of her mouth, taking a large bite out of the top and saying through the crumbly mouthful, "Breakfast. Now get out of my seat." she said acting annoyed. Jayden shook his head, wiggling a scolding finger at her.
    "Oh Alex, I see you have not learned that on your birthday, even if your parents aren't here, you have a much better breakfast than just a muffin." Jayden said in his best British accent. He dramatically raised his right hand over Alex's head and threw it down on top of her muffin,smacking it out of her hand and to the sidewalk below.
   "Jayden!" Alex shouted, trying to be angry but failing as a laugh escaped her lips, a folly of crumbs coming with it.
   "Now spit that out." he said pointing to Alex's mouthful of muffin, still being chewed.
   "No Jayden, I'm not going to spit it out!" Alex said trying not to laugh as she put the back of her now muffin-less hand to her mouth.
    "Alex. If you don't spit it out I will be forced to give you the heimlick, and then you will be forced to spit it out." Jayden said, still using his accent.
    "Jayden, wha-" before Alex could finish her question Jayden prepared to get out of the car.
    Knowing Jayden he would do as he said and give her the heimlick just to make her spit the muffin out, so she raised her hands, "Okay! Okay! I'll spit it out!" she said and went to her houses garbage parked on the street and spat out the half chewed muffin piece that had occupied her mouth into it, throwing the muffin Jayden had grounded to the cement in the trash too.
    After walking back to where the passenger side door stood open with Jayden sitting there Alex said, "Okay, now get out of my spot." Alex laughed.
    Jayden shook his head. Alex threw her hands in the air, "What else do you want?!" she asked now starting to get a little annoyed.
    "You're driving." he said now in his normal voice. Alex's annoyance vanished as she starred at Jayden, he gave her a sly and knowing smile. He had known Alex's dream car was a jeep and she always wanted to drive one.
    "You're kidding." she said looking at him in disbelief. Jayden shook his head, laughing.
    "No, I'm not." he laughed.