𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐭 || 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐧 [𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝]

5- Baby Blue

Hayden, 18 years old

It's my birthday. I thought I'd be happier but since my boyfriend of three years broke up with me last night, I'm not feeling too great.

"Happy birthday, Sweet Tart!" My Dad said as he burst into my room. My mom came in behind him holding a rectangular present and my brother behind her holding a stuffed bear.

"Hey," I smiled. I sat up in my bed and tried not to look sad. Everyone came around my bed. Mom handed me the present and Dad took pictures.

"Open it, Hay," Mom smiled.

I ripped open the shiny silver wrapping paper. I tore open the cardboard box and inside lay a simple baby blue dress.

"Mom," I gasped. "It's beautiful."

"For your birthday," she said. "To wear at your birthday party."

A pang of heartbreak shook me. "Right, my birthday party." I was happy at the moment but I was not happy enough to party after a breakup.

"Maybe it'll get your mind off of him," Dad grinned.

"Here," Caleb said, giving me the stuffed bear that was wrapped in his arms, "I heard what happened last night, I got you a bear," he said in his cute high-pitched eight-year-old voice.

"Thank you, bub," I said and patted his head.

"Get ready for your party, it starts soon," Dad said, taking Caleb out of the room.

Mom followed them out but then turned around. "Happy birthday sweetie."

—-

I looked at myself in the mirror. My white-blonde hair was pulled back by a red headband and my blue dress fell to right above my knees. I covered myself with a short red sweater, bigger than the one I had when I was seven, but just as special.

"Hayden! The Herron's are here!" Mom called up to my room.

Shoot. I almost forgot I invited them. Now I have to spend a day with my ex-best friend's family when all I want to do now is lay in bed.

"Coming!" I called back.

I ran down the stairs and was greeted with Reese's smiling face.

"Hayden!" She screamed. I loved her so much.

"Hi, Reesie!" I exclaimed. She ran and jumped into my arms.

"Hey Ryan," I called to him. It's been a while since we've actually hung out together. Myta sometimes forced Zach and I to play with Ryan and Reese, but it was okay (for me at least) because I love both of them.

"Happy birthday!" Ryan smiled.

"You look beautiful," Myta cried.

"You're so grown up," Josh smiled. I showed off my new dress to her by twirling in circles, making the skirt flare.

We gathered in the living room after cake for presents. Everyone gathered around me as I started to open the first gift that Myta had given to me.

Inside a shiny purple gift bag was a collection of my favorite perfumes. A vanilla scent, peach scent, and a fresh white scent.

"Thank you, Myta."

I opened two other bags that were labeled from Reese and Ryan that had some jewelry like necklaces and bracelets and earrings inside. After that was another bag filled with an assortment of bath bombs.

I thanked them both and I got two giant hugs.

"Okay, your dad and I got you one gift this year. I hope you like it, sweetie," Mom beamed.

"It was kind of difficult to wrap so I have to go get it," Dad said then scurried in the direction of my parent's bedroom. When he came back he was holding an acoustic guitar.

"You didn't," I said, completely shocked. I've been begging my parents for a guitar since last year. 

"Happy birthday, Hayden," Mom laughed.

I took the instrument into my grasp and started strumming the strings. It was easy to play because Zach taught me the basics a few years ago and I would obsessively steal his guitar to practice.

Later, once all the festivities were over, I was sat in my room on my bed strumming my new instrument. As I played it, I thought of Zach. He's the one that got me so into music. I mentally thanked him for this.

Now I'm eighteen, almost eighteen and one day. Who I thought would be my best friend forever didn't show up to my birthday party, my other best friend stopped talking to me and my boyfriend broke up with me. What a great start to a new year of life.