“Happy birthday to you…” I roll onto my stomach in bed. Push my face into the pillow. Words are slowly making their way into my consciousness. But they are quiet, slow. Dreamlike. “Happy birthday to you…” Now onto my side. I pry my eyes open. I see my closet, desk, door. The door flings open and hits the wall with a bang. My mother is standing there with arms wide. “Happy birthday, dear Lindsay, happy birthday to you!” A groan involuntarily escapes me. My eighteenth birthday. I roll onto my other side. 8:12 AM, the alarm clock reads. Another groan. “Thanks,” I say.
I’m up and out of bed at 8:47 AM. The sound and smell of eggs frying travel up to my room. I drag myself downstairs after throwing on a big hoodie. As soon as I step foot in …show more content…
There’s about ten of us huddled around the fire. Jake and Cassie are here, too, sitting at either side of me. Sarah Benedict slides a mickey of Jack Daniels out of her purse and passes it around. I internally groan and wrap my arms around my knees. Cassie nudges me.
“Not having fun?”
I shrug and smile weakly at her. “No, this is nice. Thank you for coming.”
She raises her eyebrows, not taking my crap. “But it’s not Cynthia.”
Katie Williams takes two swigs of the Jack Daniels and turns to me. “Cynthia! Where is that lesbo? Someone call her up, let’s get her over here. It’s Lindsay’s birthday.”
A few people pipe up in agreement and my blood turns cold. No. Yes. No. Yes. I try to wave Katie off, forcing laughter. “No, no, it’s fine.”
Some girl whose name I don’t recall holds up her phone. “I’ve got her number. Let me put her on speaker phone.”
This can’t be happening. I cannot possibly bear to hear Cynthia refuse to come. It would rip open the scar that’s only just begun to heal. “Really, guys…” I stare at the girl in horror as she dials the number. Hits talk. The phone rings once and I spring into action. I dash around the fire and snatch it from her hands. “Hell—?” I hit …show more content…
I sheepishly hand the phone back to its owner and take my seat. Reese Roberts says, “Well, that was dramatic,” and everyone laughs and gets back into the rhythm of chatting.
Jake squeezes my shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay, Lindsay. It says something that she didn’t show, anyway.” I nod. As much as it hurts to acknowledge, maybe Cynthia really doesn’t care about me anymore.
“Lindsay?” I turn to see my mother beckoning me from the door. I scrunch my nose and walk up to her.
“You have someone else here to say happy birthday.” She gives me a small smile.
My eyes widen. I push past my mom and half walk, half jog to the front door. Don’t get your hopes up, Lindsay, I tell myself. I stop, take a deep breath, and pass the final corner.
Cynthia is standing in the doorway with a gift bag and a bouquet of flowers, looking down. She lifts her head and her eyes meet
I’m up and out of bed at 8:47 AM. The sound and smell of eggs frying travel up to my room. I drag myself downstairs after throwing on a big hoodie. As soon as I step foot in …show more content…
There’s about ten of us huddled around the fire. Jake and Cassie are here, too, sitting at either side of me. Sarah Benedict slides a mickey of Jack Daniels out of her purse and passes it around. I internally groan and wrap my arms around my knees. Cassie nudges me.
“Not having fun?”
I shrug and smile weakly at her. “No, this is nice. Thank you for coming.”
She raises her eyebrows, not taking my crap. “But it’s not Cynthia.”
Katie Williams takes two swigs of the Jack Daniels and turns to me. “Cynthia! Where is that lesbo? Someone call her up, let’s get her over here. It’s Lindsay’s birthday.”
A few people pipe up in agreement and my blood turns cold. No. Yes. No. Yes. I try to wave Katie off, forcing laughter. “No, no, it’s fine.”
Some girl whose name I don’t recall holds up her phone. “I’ve got her number. Let me put her on speaker phone.”
This can’t be happening. I cannot possibly bear to hear Cynthia refuse to come. It would rip open the scar that’s only just begun to heal. “Really, guys…” I stare at the girl in horror as she dials the number. Hits talk. The phone rings once and I spring into action. I dash around the fire and snatch it from her hands. “Hell—?” I hit …show more content…
I sheepishly hand the phone back to its owner and take my seat. Reese Roberts says, “Well, that was dramatic,” and everyone laughs and gets back into the rhythm of chatting.
Jake squeezes my shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay, Lindsay. It says something that she didn’t show, anyway.” I nod. As much as it hurts to acknowledge, maybe Cynthia really doesn’t care about me anymore.
“Lindsay?” I turn to see my mother beckoning me from the door. I scrunch my nose and walk up to her.
“You have someone else here to say happy birthday.” She gives me a small smile.
My eyes widen. I push past my mom and half walk, half jog to the front door. Don’t get your hopes up, Lindsay, I tell myself. I stop, take a deep breath, and pass the final corner.
Cynthia is standing in the doorway with a gift bag and a bouquet of flowers, looking down. She lifts her head and her eyes meet