Heartless

63

As we drove I found myself lost in thought, thinking about how different my life was from a year ago.

"You okay sweetie?" Vincent said as I started wiping down the table of people that had just left. "Yeah, Everything is fine." I said softly and turned to go wipe other tables down. The door opened to the restaurant, my dad came in holding a bundle of flowers. "Happy birthday squirt." He said and pulled me in to a side hug, planting a kiss on my temple. "Thanks dad." I said quietly. I was getting ready to clock out and go home. I could feel the tears burning my eyes but I didn't want to cry at work, I would save it for when I was alone. "Smile Cora, it's your birthday.." Dad said sadly causing me to flash him a grin. "Here's your present, I hope you like it."  I grabbed the box he was handing me. I opened the box and saw a new ukulele, it was black and had a port for it to be plugged into an amp. "Thank you dad, I love it!" I hugged him tightly. "It's for when you do shows in LA, I got an amp for it too, you can play with it when we get home, come on let's get going." He smiled at me. I admired how hard he was trying to lift me up, but at the end of the day, this birthday would end like every other one before it. Me crying alone.

"Cora?" Colby said bringing me out of my thoughts. "Yes?" I shook my head then looked at him. "You just looked like you were about to cry." He said and pulled into the driveway of the house. "I was just thinking about how this is the best birthday I have ever had." His face irrupted into a smile. "You deserve it so much baby. Every single ounce of love you are getting." I smiled, "thank you." I whispered and looked at him. He got out of the car and ran to my side, opening my door for me. I laughed and got out.

When we opened the door Kat came running over, "welcome to the partyyyyyy!!" She then gasped at our faces, "guys what the hell!!" Colby and I turned to eachother and laughed. "Don't ask." Colby said and Kat rolled her eyes, "you guys suck." I laughed, "we know, but come on! Show me the party you put together!" I said and dragged her into the other room. She had set up Halloween decorations, with various games set up around the room. There was a cake on the table that looked homemade, "I love it Kat." I said and hugged her tightly. "Thanks! Colby made the cake so if it tastes bad it's not my fault." I turned to Colby, "you made the cake??" He nodded and looked down, looking almost embarrassed. "I love it." I said and wrapped my arms around his waist. He kissed my head, "I'll go get us some drinks." I nodded and he walked away.

"Kat this is so nice, nobody has ever done anything this nice for me." She smiled, "you're my best friend! I couldn't NOT go full out!" I smiled and hugged her as Devyn and Tara ran up, "come play beer pong with us!" Tara yelled and pulled Kat to the beer pong table as Devyn pulled me. "I'm not very good" I said biting my lip. "Don't worry girl, I'm not very good either." Devyn said and bumped my hip with hers. She had been drinking so she was extra bubbly.

As we played the boys would come and go, watching us. Kat and I were losing horribly for the third time, meaning we were pretty drunk by now. "Kaaaaat we suck at this" I said with a giggle, suddenly my legs felt like jello, causing me to lean on the table. "Woah there dizzy" Colby said as he came up and held my waist. "I'm fiiiiine Colby" I giggled and leaned against his chest. "Hey baby??" I slurred causing him to smirk at me. "Yes, love?" He said and pulled me closer. "Will you...finish my game..I'm gonna take a.." I said and melted into him. "Nap." I finished and he chuckled, lifting my body into his arms. "Goodnight, baby." He said as blackness came over me.

When my eyes opened I was in Colby's bed. It was still dark out which meant I hadn't slept for long, but I felt way more sober. After rubbing my eyes and brushing my hair I looked in the mirror. My cheek didn't look as bad as I thought it would be, which was nice to see. When I walked down the stairs Colby came through the kitchen, "oh hey there miss sleepy pants" I smiled and walked to him, "shut up." I mumbled and rested my cheek on his chest. "What time is it?" I felt his chest rumble with a laugh, "it's only 11. Come on, we want to sing you happy birthday before the night is over." He pulled me by the arm into the other room. "Well look who it is!" Sam said and pulled me into a bear hug. "Hi Sam" I said with a laugh. "Where's Kat?" She wasn't in the room with everyone else. "She's upstairs, She is super drunk but I'm gonna go grab her. She would kill me if I let her miss singing happy birthday to you." I nodded, "you're smart." When he left Mike and Ariya came up to me. "Hey birthday girl." Mike said and hugged me. "Hi Mike." I said quietly. "Hi we haven't really met but im Ariya, I have heard such good things about you." I smiled, "well that's good, I'm glad I don't have a bad rep" Ariya laughed, "no, Colby always talks about how amazing you are. I'm glad I got to meet you finally. Also Mike told me you do music, I'd love to make a song with you." I smiled, "that would be amazing! I didn't know there were so many musicians in this friend group." Mike laughed, "yeah, we are a creative bunch that's for sure." Just then we heard groaning,

"Kat! You're gonna miss it!" Sam said as he held her body on his shoulder. "Miss what?" She said groggily, "singing happy birthday to Cora!" She groaned again, "nooooo I can't forget to sing happy birthday" she said as he set her on her feet. Devyn handed her a bottle of water, "drink this whole bottle then we will sing to her." Kat nodded sloppily and started to drink the water, "she needs a nap too I guess." I said with a giggle as Colby wrapped his arms around my waist, "yeah you guys suck at beer pong." I laughed and rested my head on his chest.

Kat drank her water and was sitting down as Sam went over to the table, and placed candles in the cake.