EVANESCENCE

CHAPTER 8| Not so Happy Birthday

Chilling on the pool wasn't really a great idea when the weather is too cold and trashy, but I was glad they have a heater in this hotel. Just so it happened that Calum has wonderful connections with the person who runs this place that's why they were able to rent this for us. The pool has balloons floating everywhere and Michael was currently making fun of the twisting balloon jacking it off like a p***s. Stupid f*****g s**t. However, the place was good enough for us to have a great time, the position of the pool gave an overlooking view of the staggering skies with the lights coming from the tall buildings seemingly competing with each other was entirely overwhelming. The idea of basking in the view makes me oblivious somehow.

Luke was perpendicular to me, his elbow was resting on the side while his other arm was wrapped around Christen who was wearing a floral two-piece swimsuit with her hair tied tightly in a bun. He was no longer giving me glances which are better. I should really forget it.

"Hello, I'm pennywise and you're about to see some dope balloon art!" Michael announced as Ashton was already giggling like a teenage girl. "Please, make a camel!" Calum wailed like a little girl. Michael randomly twisted the balloon as it popped and they erupted in laughter.

"God, I just can't believe, I'm already twenty-one. Time really flies so fast." I spoke after a lack of conversation thereof.

"Yeah, But you still look like you're sixteen. You'll be our baby sister forever." Michael lowly chuckled taking a small sip of his cocktail. "God, do you remember how Stacy looked like when she used to wear braces-"

I cut Ashton off, "No! Don't go there, Don't f*****g go there."

"Okay, okay." He said.

"No, wait seriously you guys. I almost forgot my own birthday." I admitted and all of their eyes were on me. Calum motioned to me keeping me company.

"You almost did? Why?" Luke asked in disbelief. "We share the same birthday," He added as if we didn't go through a lot and we're just casual friends. He's too good at this and it's unfair. I wonder if Christen knows about us but from the look on her face, it seems like she doesn't. I wonder what would happen if she finds out that I am an ex-girlfriend. Will she even revolt, for all I know I just need a place to stay. I hope Luke will resolve this as soon as he can.

"You should take some time for yourself maybe. You're too immersed with work I guess." Christen said like she knows what's going on around.

"I really should," I agreed, nodding my head although I don't feel any comfortable when she talked.

"How did you come up with the surprise? I mean it's f*****g stupid. " Luke curiously asked, chuckling again.

"Calum's a rich boy. He actually paid for the rent because of his 'connections' " Ashton finger quoted. Michael exaggeratedly widened his eyes and hollered, "I smell DRUG CARTEL!"

"You stupid f**k, I just got a discount. Get off here, I hate you." Calum rolled his eyes. "So, yeah that's it. We're pretty obvious with what's going on but it's fun."

"Calum is a f*****g i***t. We are supposed to act as though we are going to kidnap Stacy, but he's too soft and too obvious so we failed."

"You're a f*****g i***t too. You're more stupid than me." Calum spat and smacked Ashton who was now closer to us. The conversation faded as they went back with their same comical doings with Luke evidently trying to make Christen laugh. I just watched them and kept a smile on my face for the absence of the transparency of my thoughts.

I guess this is my first ever birthday celebration which was celebrated differently from my previous year although it has been a tradition of ours to celebrate with our friends. They managed to keep it intact. In spite of that, this gave me a wave of unfamiliarity because Luke and I are no longer together. I remember the most remarkable celebration was our eighteenth birthday. We visited an amusement park together although it wasn't my thing but he was a dork so he made me laugh so bad I couldn't be recognized anymore. That day, there was a fireworks display and we kissed all throughout with people giving us glares but we didn't mind because we were having the time of our lives. I climbed off the pool to get something to drink as I proceeded on the patio chair and sat feeling myself heavier due to the water. I popped a beer can open, taking large gulps. The surroundings were filled by the sounds of their laughter as they did their businesses like jumping and singing out loud. A faint sound of footsteps was nearing me as I panned my head to my side and see Luke whose hair was not damp but it was brushed up by his fingers. I carefully observed him as he crouched down and got a can of beer himself from the icebox. I was expecting him to go back to the pool but he sat on the patio chair next to me.

"Happy Birthday, Stacy," Luke said, his voice calmer and softer than the way he talked to the boys. "Happy Birthday," I replied, my voice coming out as a thick breath. I didn't dare to look at him knowing that his visage can be so fatal.

"About what happened to us-" Luke cleared his throat, pausing. I took another large gulp of my beer. I'm afraid that my breath was now reeking with the foul smell of alcohol. "I- I didn't really know where I was going." He said. My saliva felt like rocks the moment I took a hard swallow.

"Luke, enough with this. I know that it's wrong. Let's just not ruin this night." I dismissed.

"I'm not bringing it up to make you feel like it's your fault," He replied in defense. Why is he so into this bullshit?

"Just please," I breathed out. "Stop explaining yourself, either way, it hurts." He looked at the ground as I closed my eyes so hard that I wouldn't have to worry about my tongue veering in the opposite direction.

"I just wanted to talk about it,"

"Don't confuse me Luke, I know I love you but I just want to be a good person. You already have Christen right? If she makes you happy why would I press myself onto you? She seems like a nice girl, please don't waste her." I said as Christen called him from the pool. "Baby, you got to see this!" She hollered as Luke left me.

-

I lost track of time. I was a little tipsy already lying down on Calum's chest as he was typing a message on his phone. Ashton was sitting on the couch with his feet resting on the table while watching stand up comedy on his phone. Michael, on the other hand, got drunk and was now dozing off on the bed Ashton and he had to share. Luke and Christen had their rooms separated probably for privacy. Nevertheless, I'm slowly learning not to care. Ashton loves us so much that he wants us to stay in the same room as a family which was fine for me. He told us that he is both the paternal and maternal figure, Calum as the mighty son, me as the baby and Michael- Well, the prodigal and alcoholic son. It was excessively frigid. I was almost quivering to the 60 degrees Fahrenheit of the air conditioner. Michael was the one who operated the air conditioner and wanted it to be 'Winter Mode'. No one bothered to make the temperature higher.

"It's a f*****g Monday today Calum," I giggled softly. Ashton was laughing loudly but it wasn't annoying enough to complain. In fact, it was contagious. "Correction, it's a Tuesday."

"God, what am I doing with my life?" I rubbed my eyes, yawning. "Hey, Calum?" I said as he placed his phone on the drawer next to our bed. He flipped on his side so he was facing me.

"I know what you're going to say, yeah?" He smiled, waiting for me to speak. "Was it really okay for you, I didn't know that was your first time." He said.

"Yeah, it's okay, " I said, softly laugh it off so I wouldn't have to be tensed. "You don't have to be tensed around me, Stace. I know- you and Luke. It's that hard, I just want to be here for you." I nodded.