“So, why don’t you like your birthday?”
Alex and Annabelle were curled up in a quiet corner of the venue in Washington. Their faces close so that to each other they looked like cyclopses, their eyes merging with proximity. Annabelle leaned away so she could see Alex properly. She sighed.
“I just don’t get why it’s necessary to celebrate a mediocre persons life.”
Alex furrowed his eyebrows, and thought for a moment.
“Number one, you’re not mediocre.” Alex started, Annabelle went to protest, but he cut her off, “Number two… I think its nice to be celebrated. I mean the average person doesn’t get to feel like what its like to be so celebrated. We can’t all be rockstars like me.”
Alex’s expression turned into a cheeky grin. Annabelle giggled slightly, whacking him lightly on the arm.
“I dunno, I just feel like it’s pointless.” Annabelle sighed again, “A whole lot of people, who generally don’t care about you wish you happy birthday. It’s become so meaningless.”
“And if they do care about you?” Alex defended, pushing closer to her again. Annabelle gave up, nuzzling into Alex chest, smiling.
“I don’t know.”
Alex’s smiled broadened as he tightened his grip around her. Annabelle felt warm. Alex was thawing her out, making her feel better about herself, about life generally. Momentarily, Gavin and the other night disappeared from her mind, and all she could think about was Alex. His warmth, his scent, how calm he made her feel. This was turning out to be a pretty excellent birthday.

***

Matt approached Alex before he went on stage, grabbing his arm he said,
“Just in case you were gonna do anything, up there, for Annabelle’s birthday…” He whispered hurriedly, “Just, keep your relationship on the D.L.”
Alex frowned, shrugging Matt off. He could do what he wanted with his relationship. He understood that he was meant to remain desirable to the fans; however, he and Lisa had been common knowledge. His fans didn’t love him any less. The fans. He suddenly remembered the amount of hate Lisa had received about their relationship. The insane girls who took it too far, staking out every piece of knowledge about his ex, invading her private life. He sighed. He didn’t want to make any more stress for Annabelle. If he needed to keep it a secret from the fans, he would. But it would be leaked eventually. He hoped that they would be prepared for it. He wondered what they would say about the age gap. In fact, Alex thought, it might even make him more desirable, to have the fans know that he had just made himself available to seventeen year-olds. Not any seventeen year-olds. One. Annabelle. Her immaturity infuriated him sometimes, but there was something about her, something he wanted to protect. Her frailty and weakness, in a way, made him love her more.

“Buddy!” Jack jumped on him from behind. “I’m pumped for your set-list!”
Alex emerged from his ocean of thoughts.
“Yeah?” He enthused, “Annabelle helped make it. But I added that last on for encore.”
“Excellent choice buddy.”
“I hope everyone remembers it from that time when we practised it once?”
“We can just make it up, we’ll be right.”
Alex turned to go grab his water bottle that he left in the dressing room, but stopped and faced Jack.
“Do you think we should sing Happy Birthday to Belle?”
“Why the fuck not?”
Alex laughed nodding. Then fell silent, “Well, actually, she doesn’t like the stage.”
Jack gnawed his lip for a moment, “Yeah, I guess that’s right. We can sing her happy birthday at her party tonight!”
Alex thought that was a better idea. “What did you organise for tonight, anyway?”
Jack grinned, and began loping away, he called back, “You’ll see!”
“Fuck that.” Alex swore under his breath, chuckling slightly. He was excited for tonight, for what the gang had planned. He hoped it was something Annabelle would actually enjoy.

He retrieved his waterbottle, suddenly aware of the crowd that had gathered under the stage; the rumble of voices mixed with the occasional screaming. He was returning to the wings when he crashed into Annabelle, who was staring at her camera, looking at photos. She stumbled backward a bit before he grabbed her shoulders to steady her.
“Thanks!” She grinned. He beamed back at her, still holding her shoulders. Her eyes flickered around his features. Her grin faded into a smile, her eyes warm, and she leant up to kiss him. Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight.
“Good-luck out there.” She said quietly.
Alex sniggered slightly, flipping his hair, “Like I need it!” Then composed himself, “Thank you.”

***

Annabelle had finally found Kara, who was grinning mischievously, and they were dancing backstage. Annabelle had put her camera aside for Alex’s night. It was a good set-list, though it was obvious which songs the crowd enjoyed more; mostly from So Wrong, It’s Right. Annabelle decided that she loved their songs more and more. Before she came on this tour, she was a fan of All Time Low, for sure. However, she had now gained an appreciation for their music live. It was a completely different experience than listening through headphones. They were playing This is How we Do. One of Annabelle’s favourites, and Kara and her were dancing wildly in the wings, falling over each other giggling while trying to do the daggiest dance moves. Matt was approaching them carrying beer. He handed one to Annabelle, leaned down and yelled,
“Happy birthday!”
She grinned her thanks, yelling back, “Stop being such an irresponsible manager!”
“What?!” He called, he was laughing though, and sent her a wink letting her know he had heard her as he passed a beer to Kara. Annabelle leaned up and kissed him on the cheek just before he left again. He smiled sheepishly.

Alex kept glancing over at Annabelle and Kara dancing in the wings, looking like idiots. He snickered, shaking his head. He pointed them out to Rian who burst out laughing at the sight of the two girls doing the Sprinkler. Alex’s spirits were high, seeing Annabelle have so much fun, and he launched into the next song with renewed vigour. The Party Scene, one of Alex’s favourites, brought back memories of his teenage years. Those that were not that long ago, but seemed a lifetime away. The amount Alex had achieved, the amount he had learnt in the time between being seventeen and twenty-one, was astonishing…to him at least. He was actually looking forward to Annabelle undergoing the same discoveries as he did, becoming more mature. He was looking forward to watching her grow. He realised he had a lifetime of maturing to do himself. He was excited about that too. This song reminded him that he had a whole life to live, and let him reminisce on his teenage years. He watched Annabelle and Kara dance, being completely silly, and loving every minute of it.

***

The boys had just run on stage again, for an encore.
“What are you playing?” Annabelle screamed over the roar of the crowd before they had finished the set. She didn’t recall adding an encore song on the set-list she and Alex had created.
“You’ll see.” Alex winked and sloppily kissed her cheek. She wiped off his sweat and raised her eyebrows, laughing. She had procured a second beer and was thoroughly enjoying herself. She had let herself go. She was going to make the most of this birthday, surrounded by good friends. Nothing would inhibit her. When Alex strummed his guitar beginning the opening riff, Annabelle screamed, just like the fans in the crowd. Kara laughed at the girl’s reaction.
“Come on now,” Alex yelled, “Wild thing! You make my heart sing!”
The crowd shrieked in excitement. The amount of charisma Alex brought to this single song astounded Annabelle, he was a regular Mick Jagger.

The way Annabelle moved under the beat, under the rhythm of the song made the breath catch in Alex’s throat. The command the girl had over her body, over her movements, the way her hips circled, controlled and utterly sexy; it made Alex quiver with excitement. After ‘borrowing’ Annabelle’s iPod, Alex had explored her music taste. To Alex’s surprise, Annabelle had several versions of Wild Thing on it, including the original which was one of the highest songs in her ‘Most Played’ playlist. He thought it would be a nice surprise for Annabelle to hear the band play their rendition of it.
“You make everything….groovy.” Alex sung seductively into the mic, “THANK YOU, WASHINGTON!”
The crowd went wild, and the boys leapt off stage for the last time, throwing plectrums and drumsticks and kisses. Annabelle caught her breath, grabbing Kara’s hands and giggling madly. Kara was laughing too as Annabelle was torn away from her by Alex who had picked her by the waist.
“Happy birthday, beautiful girl!”
“You’re the best.” Annabelle manoeuvred herself to face him and kissed him. He melted into her lips, pressing her closer.

“Okay!” Kara said as the boys danced through the hallway, high from their show. “Party time!”
“Woop woop!” Jack cried, throwing his hands up. “Shout out to all my brothers and sisters from other mothers and misters!”
“Jack?” Zack asked, “What the fuck?”
Jack ignored him and stole Annabelle from Alex, lifting her up and rocking her side to side. “I’M GONNA ROCK YOUR WORLD.”
“That is my favourite thing for you to do!” Annabelle enthused.
“Guys!” Kara squealed. “LISTEN.”
Everyone fell quiet, now in the change room. Alex handed Annabelle a beer before he cracked one for himself.
“So as most of you know, I organised a little something for our favourite babygirl Annabelle.”
Rian, Zack and Jack cheered.
“So we will be traversing to the venue, but not before we get changed.”
“Changed?” Annabelle queried, “Into what?”
Kara rummaged in a draw that she had hidden the costumes in early. She pulled out Annabelle’s outfit.
Annabelle’s mouth drew into a surprised smile, her eyes wide. She began to laugh.