The Replay ✓

{06}

"Happy birthday Finn!" exclaimed Brett, yet his voice wasn't full of excitement.

Their relationship stayed about the same way all the way to the end of 2018 and was now not changing even when they reached in February. Finn couldn't even admit to himself how much he hated that their relationship was in such a weird state.

So many things went unsaid and there were so many secrets, yet neither of them wanted to end it. Of course, it would be pretty hard to end something that never really existed but in secret in the first place.

"Thanks, Brett," thanked him Finn genuinely and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Your gift still hasn't arrived. I want to sue the delivery service for that, but I'm sure that it'll come one day..."

"That's fine..."

Finn then turned his complete attention to Audrey and Charlie. They both had huge smiles on their faces. It wasn't as clear whether they were really happy or just happy for him as Finn hoped, but he'd seen worse.

His entire senior year the first time.

People treated him like absolute shit. If they even paid attention to him, it was to give him a hard time, not to ask whether they could make him feel better.

And then a spark of hope appeared. One that wasn't sure to ignite a bonfire, but enough to hope.

Finneas saw something that seemed a lot like Audrey and Charlie holding hands.

They all walked together to the cinema to watch a film, a tradition they kept up every time one of them celebrated another year spent in the world. Alive.

It felt weird to Finn. He was celebrating his birthday a second time, yet even if most things were the same, some things weren't. The gifts Audrey and Charlie gave him were the same in both timelines, yet Brett's gift wasn't late during his first senior year.

But it seemed like Brett was already giving me his gift. If only that gift would last until after that Friday the 13th in April when everything started going wrong. Mom found my diary, Brett cheated and Alice and Charlie went to her parents' cabin in the woods. And on the way back the next day...

"Is something wrong?" asked Charlie, snapping Finn out of his thoughts.

Yes, everything is wrong, he wanted to answer but he couldn't. He couldn't tell them that he had been hiding something as big as that for months from them.

So instead, he lied. "No, everything's fine. Why?"

"You just looked really emotional or something. And you're usually not like that, so I had to ask."

"Oh no, I'm fine," he lied again. 

They all knew that he was lying, yet it was his birthday and everyone was scared to voice their opinion, in fear that it would somehow ruin the day.

So instead, they all just stayed quiet and continued walking to the cinema.