Best Friends

Chapter 4 - The Birthday Party

"Hey Noct, isn't it your birthday this weekend?"

Iris already knew that it was – August 30th. She still received calendar reminders about it. It would be his 17th birthday.

"Come to think of it...yeah it is," Noctis answered Gladiolus. The two boys were standing around Noct's locker when Iris happened to walk by – unnoticed by both of them. Regardless, she overheard the following:

"Wow, our boy is getting so old, he can't even remember his own birthday."

"Hey, I've got a lot of other shit to worry about than that," Noctis said. He was dismissive, but he sounded serious.

"Oh yeah? Do tell."

That was all Iris heard from that conversation– but the moment she heard "birthday" her ears perked up by way of instinct. Usually, Noctis' birthday was something she looked forward to every year. She had even gotten him a birthday present in advance. But this time, she felt like leaving it behind.

Noctis usually held a party at his mansion with his friends. A small number of people were invited, but friends of friends were welcome too.

On the aforementioned birthday party, one particular friend showed up that she hadn't spoken to in a while.

"Cindy?" Iris gasped.

"Hey there, girlie!" Cindy Aurum exclaimed, pulling her into a warm bear hug.

Cindy had been working at her grandpa's Hammerhead gas station all summer, so Iris hadn't been able to see her that much, though they were good friends. It was fair to say that Cindy was pretty well off since her grandpa Cid owned a few gas stations, some real estate, and convenience stores here and there. But Cindy was humble and down to earth, always dressed down and cracking jokes in her southern accent.

In fact, Cindy was the "blonde bombshell" of Insomnia High, albeit in a rugged kind of way. More than likely, she'd have a grease stain on her cheek or her clothes (which gave her the nickname, "Grease monkey") but her warm, hospitable nature, topped with her curvaceous body (and often, revealing clothes) made her a girl most guys would kill to take on a date.

And tonight, her date happened to be Iris' brother, Gladiolus.

"Gladdy asked you out?"

"Sure did. He asked me to come by this party – and how could I say no to this fancy place? Plus, it looks like our "Prince" finally got himself a girl..."

The "Prince" she was referring to was Noctis, because Iris, as well as many other girls, nicknamed him the "Prince of Insomnia High."

Cindy had a small crush on Noctis too – and she had playfully flirted and bantered with him in the past. But judging by her comment, and the smile that played on her lips, it sounded like she was over it by now.

"Yeah..." was all Iris could say as she drifted her eyes to the living room where Noctis and Luna were laughing about something. She only hoped she could be "over" her own crush as well.

"So, are you and my brother dating?" Iris turned back to Cindy.

"Oh no, honey. I'm not that desperate," Cindy rolled her eyes, which made Iris laugh. She was secretly relieved to hear that.

"But girl, did ya see Ignis?" Cindy gossiped in her ear. "Ain't he a Dreamboat?"

"Definitely," Iris shamelessly conceded. The moment she saw Ignis without his glasses, it was like meeting him for the first time. But it wasn't just his appearance that she had fallen for. She could still feel his soft green eyes on her skin and hear his smooth voice echo in her mind: