sign of the times | joshua bassett

SIXTEEN

EMMIE'S POV

     "you're turning eighteen next week, dude!" olivia said as i scrolled through instagram.
     "i know! its so crazy," i looked at her. "feels like just yesterday when we were sitting over there playing with out zac efron and vanessa hudgens barbie dolls."
     "because it probably was yesterday." she laughed. "what are you planning? anything fun?"
     "no, i'm boring."
     "no? it's your biggest birthday until twenty one! you have to do something!"
     "maybe we could have a sleepover?"
     "you're such a plain jane! we do that all the time! i'll think of something, dont you worry!"
     "of course you will," i shook my head.

OLIVIA'S POV
IMESSAGE
spicy uno world champs
[josh, olivia, dara, julia, frankie, joe, matt, sofia]

olivia: emergency
olivia: who can plan a
bday party in a day?!

dara: oh me duh

olivia: can you think of
something really fun and unique to
do for emmie's 18th?
olivia: its next friday

dara: she likes broadway, yeah?

olivia: oh yes
olivia: her favorite show is
dear evan hansen

dara: weekend trip to nyc?

frankie: holy shit
frankie: can i come

olivia: dara you're a genius!
olivia: squad trip to nyc!

julia: how are we gonna
pay for this?

olivia: i'll convince her mom
to pay for her ticket and we can
book last minute cheap-ish tickets!
olivia: i have points at a nyc marriott!

josh: i'll buy her the deh tickets

olivia: are u sure? we can
all pay you back definitely

josh: yeah i needed to buy
her a gift anyways ;)

olivia: okay! we'll figure out the
surprise details later! i'm booking
tickets now, just venmo me!
olivia: TO NYC BABYYYY

convincing emmie's mom took a few tries, but eventually she gave in. she trusted me to keep her safe—that woman was very protective of her child. together, with the help from my parents, we planned a weekend trip to new york from LA. i planned on "kidnapping" her early in the morning and hopping on the plane with everyone from there. truthfully, i was surprised we pulled it off.

-

EMMIE'S POV

i woke up to my body shaking. my eyes opened and saw olivia's face hovering over me. i checked my clock—three in the morning.
"happy birthday!" she yelled.
"its three in the morning, but thanks!" i said groggily.
"lets go, get up!"
"what?" i said confusingly.
"we're going somewhere and if you dont get dressed we're going to be late!"
"okay, okay!"
i threw on leggings and a sweatshirt the my moccasins. i saw a duffle bag on my floor.
"your mom packed for you," olivia told me.
"where are we going?"
"its a surprise!"

when we showed up to the airport i knew something was going on. we went through security, grabbed breakfast from starbucks and went to sit at a gate.
"happy birthday!" a group said.
"my birthday twin is here!" i smiled.
"turn around, you clown." olivia laughed. behind us was our entire friend group. i gasped and ran around the chairs to hug them all. josh stood up and we shared a long embrace.
"happy birthday, em!" he placed a kiss on my head.
"are y'all-" frankie asked.
"that's who we didn't tell!" i tugged on josh's arm. "them!"
"girl, we knew. we all knew!" dara laughed.
"i didn't!" frankie pouted.

"flight 394 to new york city is now boarding all first class fliers." the intercom rang.
"lets go," josh nodded.
"we're going to new york city?" i asked.
"and we're sitting first class," he winked.
"oh my god," i felt like i could've cried right there. i dreamed of new york city since i was little and watched jessie on disney channel.

"who did this?!" i asked olivia as we sat on the plane.
"all of us," she said nonchalantly.
"what? why? what did i do to deserve you people?"
"i didn't want your eighteenth birthday to be like all your other ones. you deserve it!" she smiled.
"i love you so much," i hugged her.