Usernames || A Garmau Fanfic

Nineteen

"Mom—"I laugh— "that is the worst looking 'Happy Birthday' I've ever seen."

"Oh, hush. I'd like to see you do better."

"I iced his cake last year! And it was great!"

Mom squeezes the green icing onto my nose with a playful pout. I attempt to lick it off to no avail. Mom laughs.

"Grab the candles, goofball. I'll clean up here."

"Okay, mom." I turn to the drawer with the birthday candles and fish out the box. Fourteen candles spill onto the counter and I begin to carefully place them on the cake when the doorbell rings.

"Can you get that, hon?" Mom asks, washing her hands.

"Yeah. It's probably just Laurance." I wipe off my hands and approach the door. I pull it open and spot Aphmau's hazel eyes staring back at me. My limbs freeze up.

"Uh...hi, Aphmau... I...um...glad you could, could make it..."

She giggles adorably: "You have icing on your nose."

My cheeks flush red as I frantically try to wipe it off. Aphmau's mom appears from behind her, holding Levin and Malachi in her arms.

"Hello, Garroth! It's good to see you!"

Praying I've gotten all the green off of my face, I look up and manage to smile.

"You too, Ms— erm...Sylvanna..."

"I hope you don't mind me bringing the boys along. Can't very well leave them home alone."

"It's...it's fine. I mean, I don't mind."

I step aside to allow them into the house. Sylvanna sets the boys down, but they remain around her. Aphmau holds out a gift-wrapped box to me, most likely for Vylad.

"Where do you want me to put this?" she asks me.

"Um...I... Here, just...I'll take it." She hands the box to me and I gesture for them to follow me into the kitchen.

I set the gift on the dining table just as I hear a high-pitched, girly squeal. My head snaps over to the noise, only to see mom and Sylvanna hugging and screaming like two teenage girls.

"Oh my goodness, Zianna, it's so great to see you, girl!"

"I know, girl! I know!"

Ugh, I'm getting a headache...

Aphmau makes a face at me, as if mentally trying to tell me 'Sorry'. To retaliate, I cover my ears, acting like their screaming is physically hurting me. She giggles again and I feel so accomplished.

She grabs a napkin from the table just as I take my hands off of my ears.

"You still look like you're turning into the Hulk," she teases, passing it over. I blush again and use it to wipe my nose again.

"Did...did I get it?" I ask and she's really obviously trying to stifle her laughs.

"No." She grins as I try again, ending in another failure, apparently. With a playful eye roll, she takes the napkin from me.

"I'll just get it," she says as she steps dangerously close to me and I suck in a breath.

What do I do? What is happening? I'm confused. Laurance, where are you when I need you?

The paper napkin scratches against the little corner on the edge of my nose that I am fairly certain I got at least five times.

"I thought I got that spot," I whine and her smile widens.