GROW

birthday boy

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birthday boy
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Naomi walked into the large house. She had never been to Xavier's house before. It was a lot like her own. It seemed a little larger than hers.

She held a wrapped gift in her hands, it was Xavier's 7th birthday. Once she entered the home, Xavier was immediately at the door to greet her.

Naomi smiled at him and noticed the house was empty, she had expected it to be full of kids her age.

"Mimi, look." Xavier began to drag her to the living room and stopped abruptly looking at her yellow vans, "Wait, take off your shoes."

Naomi kicked off her shoes and Xavier continued to drag her to the living room where a pile of presents sat.

Naomi put her present down and followed Xavier to the back door. As they approached the back door, the sounds of children screaming with joy got louder.

In the backyard, Xavier had a big bouncy house set up. It was mid-November so the air was slightly chilly.

"Hey Naomi, how are you?" Xavier's mom approached them.

She had very tan skin and bright green eyes and a thick Latino accent.

"I'm good." Naomi looked at all the girls surrounding a new boy who had just come from Arizona. She gripped her bright yellow dress, not sure what to do next.

"That's great Naomi, if you want any cookies or sweets, we have some in the kitchen inside." Xavier's mom rubbed Naomi's shoulder comfortingly and walked back to her husband.

Xavier noticed Naomi watching the new boy and quickly tried to distract her.

"Hey! I want you to try something my mom made inside." Xavier said and sprinted inside, holding onto her wrist.

"Xavi, do you have to pull me everywhere?" Naomi groaned as they entered the house.

Xavier ignored her questions by responding with a new one, "Mimi, do you like pudding?"

"I don't know." She replied and Xavier shrugged handing her a bowl of arroz con leche.

After a few minutes of them trying every sweet in the kitchen, which Xavier had been waiting to eat anything before Naomi arrived, Xavier wanted to show Naomi his room.

"Xavi, you seem pretty popular. I think a lot of the girls like you." Naomi said as they walked into Xavier's room.

The walls were navy blue, glow in the dark stickers stuck onto the ceiling and walls.

Xavier tilted his head, "Well..." He looked at the ground and replied, "I don't like any of those girls."

Naomi poked him, "Do you like anyone?"

Xavier paused and a blush covered his face causing him to look away from Naomi.

"I like someone" Naomi said before Xavier could respond.

Xavier's stomach dropped and he flicked his head back towards her.

"Who?" He asked immediately, trying his best not to sound disappointed.