Skipping forward to like, two Sundays ahead (I've no idea, I can't count), and it's ya girl's birthday. Nothing special, I mean I turn 15 and I'm one year closer to death, so why celebrate (I'm so goddamn morbid and it's such a flaw)? I saw no point, so I just honestly didn't give a shit. Not in a bad way, but like, I was just getting old so I couldn't care less.

"And here she is, at...one-fifteen pm!" John said as I made my way into the kitchen. I was genuinely quite surprised at how enthusiastic he was about mybirthday, but then again, I'm sure everybody was.

"Mhm, I've arrived. It's my birthday, whoo." That "whoo" was accompanied by a sarcastic fist pump, and I faked a smile. I'm such a cold bitch, honestly.

"Happy birthday, kiddo. Be more enthusiastic, please." John then attacked me in a hug and messed up my hair. Typical.

"Nothing much to be enthusiastic about though."

"Don't be ridiculous, there's a lot to be enthusiastic about. For example, it's your day today, so you can call all the shots. I mean we can go wherever, do whatever you like. And besides, birthdays are cool, y'know? Get treated like you're made of gold."

"But I am made of gold."

"Yeah, sure you are. So tell me, baby sister, whatcha wanna do for the day? And if you say, "oh, I wanna go back to bed", I swear to god." I got the hint that my pessimism was wearing thin.

"I don't know yet, but I'll decide. For now, I'm getting some Cap'n Crunch and like, a PopTart or something. I'm starving." I shrugged and hopped up onto the countertop to reach the cereal cupboard (oh, the joys of having little legs) and fished around for the Cap'n Crunch.

"Oh, happy birthday, Teagan. Sorry I wasn't exactly present a minute ago, I was on the phone." Kennedy said as he came out of the living room, and I gave him a high-five.

"It's cool, I'm not bothered. Thanks, by the way!" I then gave him a single-handed thumbs-up as I got down from the countertop, and shrugged again. I'm an extra-special joy on my birthday, if you hadn't guessed.

---

Since I'm apparently "such an awkward person to buy for" (which's such a fucking lie, might I add. All I ask for is cash, food, makeup or CDs) John decided to let me go on a spending spree online with his credit card, and I'm not even joking when I say most of my limit was spent on NYX makeup and a couple CDs and a ~signed~ Paramore poster. I was way more than content, and my stuff arrived on Friday but I was severely warned to not touch it until Sunday, aka today, aka my birthday. Not much of a surprise, I know, but I'm not phased by that at all.

So since I was "calling the shots" today, I made sure to milk it for all it was worth (but not too much: I'm by no means a brat, and I know John's not made of money). First off, we went to Dunkin' Donuts because honestly, I haven't been there since last year and it was nice, just the two of us (apparently there was a "band meeting" (where they don't talk about the band and just end up playing beer pong) and John ditched it to hang out with me, bless) because I mean yeah, I live with him and he's got legal guardianship of me (sad long story that's not to be discussed) but we don't "hang out" so much anymore. But anyways, that is all.

Then we headed off to the arcade/bowling alley because ya girl's an arcade junkie. Honestly, it's the only place I like to hang out with "the squad" of friends I've accumulated over the years. Soeaking of them, they must know me all too well or something because there they were, all 5 of 'em plus some other guy that I vaguely recognised.

"Um..hi..how'd you guys know we'd be here...?!" I asked, still trying to put two and two together and figure out how they knew we were gonna go to the arcade/bowling alley.

"I read your mind, it's no big deal." Caleb said and shrugged, before literally smothering me in a hug, which caused me to suffocate on the smell of his Lynx (of which I thought was the Voodoo one (he's got like, a whole collection of the different versions of Lynx in his room like honestly I didn't believe him till he showed me)). "Happy birthday, small friend. You're getting old."

"Don't remind me, man." I said as I wriggled free (also it seems as if he's been at the gym more like seriously, he's amazing at going and keeping in routine with it (he made me go with him once and I was in a heap of pain for about 4 days post-gym session)). "And besides, you're getting older, man. It's two months and seventeen days until you're seventeen!" I lightly punched his arm.

"Oh yeah, you're right. Mom said I could get a tattoo for it, but I've no idea what to get."

"Gimme time, I'll help you think of something!" I gave him a wink and then made my way over to where Hayley and Tay were standing just a little behind where Caleb and I were, as they were looking very vexed.

"Is everything okay?" I asked cautiously, to which I'd startled them in the process.

"Happy birthday!" They both turned and said in unison, with fake smiles plastered on their faces.

"Thank you. Now tell me, why do you both look like you want to kill somebody?"

"We can't play a round of bowling." Tay said, rolling her eyes and shotting TJ the "dagger-glare".

"What, why?" I was kinda bummed.

"So don't hate us, but we made a groupchat without you to organise this whole thing, and I got Ken to pass on the message and he got John involved." Hayley said, looking more pleased than remorseful that I wasn't included. "So, we'd planned to kinda get together at two places John knew you'd wanna go to today: the movie theatre or the arcade. And I mean I know we see each other in dribs and drabs every other day, but it's rare that we're all together. So, while you were enjoying your Dunkin Donuts after you'd told John youd like to head to the arcade, he texted me and I got the ball rolling. So yeah, here we are!"

"So why's there a problem?"

"Oh yeah, I was getting there. So, it was meant to be just the six of us taking up two lanes, since we'd divide evenly and John said he'd sit it out and be the referee for it which was cool, so that was all set. But, what we weren'tall set for was for TJ to bring his buddy Danny over there. That's gonna completely throw off the teams now, and we've only got six tickets anyways, so if he wants to play, it'll mean somebody'll have to forfeit."

"Awh man, I see. It's weird that he never said anything about it, though. And you're gonna kill me for saying this, but I honestly don't mind forfeiting, it's totally cool. My knee's kinda sore anyways, so we could use that as an excuse if you want?" It's true: I get hella sore knees.

"No no, don't be ridiculous." Tay gave me a small smile. "We'll figure something out. Just means he'll have to fork out some cash and we'll juggle the teams."

"I'm sure John would play, though. He's "cool" enough that he won't mind. Plus he'll blend in, since Caleb's nearly the same height as him." Caleb's 6-foot, if you were wondering.

"We might need him to. Anyways, we'll figure something out amongst the two of us. You, however, go talk to TJ and his friend and get the gossip for us! I'm dying to see what this guy's like, since he showed up here."

I did did as I was instructed and made my way over to the guys, which Caleb had joined into conversation with, and Ben had come back from wherever he was. I mean God only knows what they were talking about, but I joined in anyways. Plus, I went looking for John in the process and noticed he'd been talking to the old lady (she's about 410 years old and I've no idea why she works here) at the front desk, so at least he's got some form of entertainment.

"Hi hi hello, I'm here." I waved to make my presence known so they could cut short whatever conversation they were having.

"Happy birthday to the little sister I never had!" TJ lifted me up slightly and gave me a hug in the process, just because he could. As I've mentioned before, he's like a brother to me on the account that his cousin Eric and my brother John have been best friends since back in the day. "And before I forget, this's my friend Danny from science. He'd no plans so I said he could tag along. Is that okay?"

"Yeah sure, of course! Hey, it's lovely to meet you!" I'm so polite when I want to be.

"Back at you. Is that..an Against The Current shirt you're wearing?" Danny asked, and I noticed that he had a British accent. It was then that I really took in his appearance, and oh my god, he was such a fine specimen. Tall (not as tall as Caleb and TJ though), kinda muscly, stubbly (beards gross me out as a whole, might I add) messy hair, Green Day shirt and the generic "pop-punk guy" look of washed out jeans and Vans. Holy shit (was I in love? I think I was). I realised I hadn't replied to his question.

"Oh yeah, it is. Caleb has a matching one since we apparently look like two-thirds of the band, though I don't see it. And hey, whereabouts in the UK are you from? High chance I've been there with my brother before." I motioned to John to let it be known that he's the said brother I was talking about.

"Just in Surrey, so you probably haven't been, though. When were you there?"

"Naw I'm sorry, I haven't been to that area. Oh, we were there back about four years ago on the Pioneer World Tour. He's in a band, if you hadn't figured, and I'm pretty sure I saw some girls ask for his autograph a few minutes ago."

"Thought I recognised him from The Maine, though I didn't say anything. My sister's a fan, I think, and I quite like them myself. And yeah, some girls were badgering him for an autograph a while back. He didn't mind, though, good on him."

"I knew he wouldn't, he's not like that. So anyways, Hayley and Tay are organising teams, so uh, yeah, I'll see you guys in a bit!" As a finale to my billion different conversations, I went to annoy John, just because I wanted to (he loves me dearly, I promise).

"Have you talked to Hayley and Tay yet?" I asked him, and he stop talking to the dinosaur lady at the desk.

"No, why?" John replied to my question with a question, which he always does and I hate it.

"They're gonna need you to join a team. There's uneven numbers and yeah, you're probably on a team with myself, Tay and Caleb."

"Yeah sure, I'll play if need be. Everything okay?"

"Oh yeah, we're fine. I'll see you in a minute." I must've burned a good few calories with the amount of back and forth running I was doing between my dispersed friends. I may have even broken a sweat, but who knows?

---

The game was great. Hayley got so bitter because her team lost, but I, as the pain in the ass that I'm well aware that I am, made sure it was known that I had won. I like to gloat, so I guess it's a flaw.

Then they all did what I made them swearnot to do: bring out a cake and sing "Happy Birthday" to me. I don't know why, but even going way back to my childhood, "Happy Birthday" always reduced me to tears. It's a bit bizarre when you think of it and I really do think that John is severely worried by it, but hey, it's only a couple times a year that it happens. It's not only when "Happy Birthday" is sung to me that I cry; it's when it's sung to anybody. For example, when The Maine were touring last summer, it was one of the crew member's birthdays and they got him a cake and sang that dreaded song, and I had to leave because I was tearing up. I'm so weirded out by it.

As everyone was packing up to head home and converse in our group chat, I gave my "thanks so much and see ya later!" hugs to all of my squad (now armed in the hella expensive friendship bracelet that Hayley and Tay got me (they've got the same ones as I do too) along with a couple Boys Like Girls CDs as they know I'm trash for 'em) when Caleb pulled me aside. I was totally convinced that he was gonna tell me some dirty joke he'd found on Facebook or whatever since I always seem to be in the firing line for his jokes, but I was dead wrong. Instead, he handed me a CD.

"Hey look, I know it's not much, but here. Took me about a week of searching up all of your favourite songs and songs that, for some reason, reminded me of you, and I got Mike to help me put them on a CD for you. Plus, I went all Monet on the CD cover because I'm that creative." He said and looked mega shy and awkward, which totally isn't his style. My gut instinct was to give him a hug, because he's my very tall, attractive best friend, y'know? Gotta be supportive and nice 'n shit.

"Wow god, that's the sweetest thing anybody's ever done for me..thank you, like, so much! I've no idea what to say but I can tell I'm really gonna like it, since we've the same taste in music. The cover, by the way, is super cool. How long'd it take you to do that?" I took a closer look at the CD cover to notice it was doodled on, but not in the way that I doodle when I'm on the phone; more like carefully doodled on. I was beyond impressed.

"Not too long. Let me know if you like it when you give it a spin, though. I'll make you some more if you ever want any, by the way. I've got tons of extra blank CDs just lying around." He started slowly backing his way towards the entrance and I figured he must've saw Mike outside to come pick him up.

"Sure, of course I'll let you know what I think! Oh and hey, I'll help you come up with some idea for your tattoo idea. Least I could do."

"That's cool, I'd like that. I'll probably get it done next Saturday, so are you free then?"

"You want me to come with?"

"Obviously. If you're gonna help me think of something, you should come see the final like, thing of it. I'll buy you French fries if you come, y'know."

"Sold. I'll message you later when I get back, okay?" I blew him a kiss (this's an odd inside joke, I swear) and waved as he left, before looking to find John. I eventually did so.

---

The mixtape CD was literally the coolest thing ever. He even put Thunder by Boys Like Girls onto it, since that's such a special song. I'd be lying if I say I didn't shed a tear at it.

Notes

[im so sorry I didn't update sooner wtf I forgot]

also that big conversation block was a pain in the ass to write, but it was needed so idk

this's way longer than I'd intended omg

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