The Brightest Stars

Skyler

It's mid-October. Midway towards college applications.

But I can't worry about that today because it's Annabelle's birthday.

I was talking about Kristen's plan with Julia over lunch today. When Annabelle was distracted being surprised that Max was in the same Business Administration class as her, she wrote down the plan and made sure to put the piece of paper in the pocket of his sweater on their way out of class. Now that everyone knows what to do, we make sure to pretend like nothing is happening during theater. Just how Annabelle likes it.

She seems grumpy today as she enters the noisy class late. We're going over our Christmas play for next month and getting ready for auditions next week.

"Hey. Are you alright?" Max asks as she sits down next to Kristen.

I exchange a worried glance with my sister as Annabelle shrugs. "I just have a headache."

"I have some Ibuprofen if you want," Kristen quietly says. She knows how to speak to Annabelle when she's in her odd moods, but she still seems bothered and shakes her head.

"Annabelle!" Resolme says with a wide smile. Nearly everyone in the class turn to look at her and this makes her even grumpier. Yet, she hides it well behind that small smile.

"Happy birthday! What are you doing today?"

"Graffiti the whole school," Annabelle says with sarcasm. Something really is bothering her if she takes on Kristen's role.

Kristen quickly says, "What she means is that we're just gonna hang out. Get some pizza and ice cream. I don't know."

"But none of you are invited," AJ says loudly from across the room where he's talking with the guys. The class shares a laugh and finally go off to their own conversations.

"Here you go." Kristen gives Annabelle the packet of the play and says, "You know our rule. Don't audition what I want to do." She tries to carry tease in her tone, but Annabelle doesn't fall for it and shrugs.

My eyes find Ty across the room and he gives me a slight nod. That's when I know that the guys are ready with their part of the surprise. I watch him whisper something in AJ's ear and he quickly looks down at his phone. The next second, Max's phone lights up. Once he's read the message, he turns back to Kristen and Luna's conversation. Luckily, Annabelle has put her head down on the desk while AJ and Ty quickly make their way to the stage. I watch as they disappear in the audience seats.

The next minute, Max's phone lights up and he shoots a quick text. He puts his phone in his pocket and straightens his back. "Annabelle?" His voice is low and soothing as he stretches out a hand to put a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm going to catch up with the guys, okay?"

"Okay," she mumbles back and Max stands up. We look up at him and watch him mouth, "We're ready." He then disappears in the same direction towards the side of the stage.

"Hey, Belle." If there's anyone that could convince Annabelle to do something it's Kristen. So she uses her soft voice and says, "Let's go to the softer chairs. You can use my sweater to lay your head down."

"Or maybe you could even lie down on the ground all the way in the back of the audience chairs," Luna says this time. Her pastel green eyes carry an excited eagerness for our plan.

"If you insist," Annabelle says with a small smile. We all stand and guide her towards the back of the auditorium. We exchange smiles behind Annabelle as we go up the stairs of the back seats. The boys did a great job at hiding in the back.

The moment Annabelle finishes up the stairs, she gasps at the sight of the boys all sitting on the ground. Max stands up with a wide smile and brings out his arms to his sides. "Surprise!"