Destined

Forty

Vince

I returned to my previous table where I found Liz and Maddie giggling like they had some secret.

"Happy birthday, Vince," Tracy appeared beside the table.
I gave her a polite smile and nodded, "Thanks,"
"I got you a drink, we all miss you in class. You were very insightful,"

I noticed the moment Maddie and Liz stopped whispering between themselves to glare at Tracy. She either didn't notice or didn't care.

"I don't know what you like so I just got the basic, I could get something else if you prefer," she said.
"Oh, I don't drink," I declined the bottle she offered me.
"And that's why I'm drinking for the both of us," Kristina said from beside me, taking the bottle from her and taking a large gulp.

Tracy frowned at her and walked away and Liz laughed.

"You're really taking those down," I said to Kristina.
She smiled, a warm and yet sultry smile, "I'm celebrating,"

Talia appeared at the table before I could think of my girlfriend's drinking any further. She had a huge knowing smile on her face that made me feel like there was something I was unaware of. With these girls, I wouldn't be surprised.

"Happy birthday, Vince," she said to me.
I nodded, "Thank you, Talia,"
"Krissy, I need your help, please," Talia said.

Kristina turned to me and smiled again. She'd been smiling all day. Not that I was complaining, but something was definitely up with her. I hadn't seen her most of the week so I was too intoxicated by all the attention she was giving me then to really care.

"I'll be right back, babe," she kissed my cheek and slid out of the seat she'd just taken.

I watched her and her best friend leave, until they disappeared around the corner of a counter. Immediately they were gone, Jonah and Tyler returned, soon after, Matt. Matt seemed a little buzzed and Jonah was well onto drunk from the looks of it since he kept flirting with everyone. And I mean everyone, males included.

We were all laughing at some lewd comment he'd made, that Tyler had fired back at him, when Kristina reappeared, wheeling a cart that had a huge birthday cake with candles shaped in the numbers two and five.

"Surprise!" She smiled at me.

Well, I was definitely surprised. I hadn't had a birthday cake since my mother died. Of course, she didn't know that, but the gesture was still enough to have my heart warming with love for this girl. I watched her light the candles as people filed around and surrounded the cake and my table. Then she started singing.

She sang the first line before everyone else joined in. It was a mixture of high and low voices and I'm not exactly sure how they managed to butcher the birthday song but I couldn't care less because I was solely focused on her.

Once they were done, I blew out the candles and everyone cheered and clapped and made me feel like I was a little boy again. It would have been demeaning if I cared. Then Kristina dipped her finger in the white frosting and smeared it all over my face. People laughed at her antics, including me, and her. She looked so happy, I didn't bother trying to stop her.

And then she leaned forward and kissed me. Again, went the claps and cheers. Someone shouted for us to get a room. Jonah, no doubt. She laughed and pulled away from me. Then offered me her hand.

"Come on, lets get you cleaned up,"

I took it and followed her. Why wouldn't I follow her? More cheers and hoots filled the place. They were all acting like adolescents with their minds in the gutter but again, I didn't really care.