A Happy Birthday.

“Thank you for today. Thank you for coming. Thank you for turning around. Even if we didn’t get to talk almost at all. Thank you. I had a wonderful birthday.”
“Hey, sweetie, no problem. It was your birthday, it was the least I could do.”
“Hey…”
“Yeah?”
“ You should know that I love you.”
“Oh… really…wow…you’re sure?”
“Absolutely positive.”
“And you’re sure it’s not a little crush or maybe some sort of puppy love?”
“Yes, I’m quite sure it’s the real deal.
“ I see…”
Clearly it wasn’t the answer she had expected, truth is, she did not know what to expect. She was happy she had told him, now she was simply confused at his reply.
But she saw it all to clearly in her head. The scene from few hours ago.

The loud music blaring in the background, she had been standing in the corner talking to Tori, when Tori started squealing.
“Ohmygosh, Keira, he’s here.”
“What? Who? Where?” suddenly it felt like the very little alcohol had kicked in, there was no way he would be here. He said he wasn’t coming. He simply couldn’t.
Still, there he was. As he looked out sifting through the throng of people for her, she did the first thing that came to mind.
She grabbed Tori and ran outside.
“Keira, what on earth are you doing?”
“I need to breathe, he’s not supposed to be here!”
“So? Just go in and say hi! What’s the matter with you?”
“Well, I don’t know… I’m nervous.”
The door swung open, and David stepped out.
“Ey, what’s up? What are ya’ll doing here?”
Keira grabbed the cigarette he was holding, “Sorry, I need this.”
“Sure…”
Keira took one long puff and returned it.
“Ok, let’s go…”
The two of them had just gone back in when they were pulled onto the dance floor, and while they were dancing Keira felt someone’s hand on her back.
He motioned that he was leaving and left. Keira stood there stunned for a moment, before she realised what had happened.
She turned to Tori with a look of almost horror, “You have got to be kidding!?”
“Listen, calm down, we’ll go and see if he’s still outside, and if he’s not you can call him, ok?”
“Ok…”
It did not surprise Keira that he wasn’t outside. If there was one thing he was good at, it was escaping. Quickly.
She took out her mobile and dialed his number.
“Hey, where did you go?”
“Sorry sweetie, something came up and I had to leave.”
“But you were here for barely a minute and you haven’t even wished me yet.”
“Yeah, I know…”
“Where are you?”
“I’m on my way into the city, why?”
“Well, you can’t possibly be that far out, turn around, come back.”
“I can’t sweetie.”
“You have to. Just for awhile. I didn’t even get the chance to say hello and you’ve already said goodbye.”
“I might be awhile, say 10 minutes?”
“I’ll wait, Tori and I are waiting outside.”
As she pressed the red button on her phone, her friends Michael and Ryan showed up.”
Oh great, why did they have to show up now?
“Hey guys! Thanks so much for coming!”
Just as they were approaching her, she saw his car pull up.
She threw an anxious glance at Tori, silently screaming for help.
He walked up towards them and just stood beside her as she entertained her friends. She quickly pulled Tori aside, hoping she had an idea of what to do.
“Well, what do I now?”
“Kie, I honestly do not know…”
“Come on Tori, think!”
“Why don’t you just go over there and talk to him like a normal civilised person.
I’m pretty sure those friends of yours have seen you talking to a guy before without raising speculation.”
“Right, good thinking, maybe.”
Keira and Tori started walking back only to realise that there was no one there.
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me…”
Keira flipped out her cell again and called him.
“Where’d you go?”
“Sweetie, there was no way we could have spoken in privacy without anyone coming out looking for you or those guys wondering who I was. Why don’t you go ahead and enjoy your party, I’ll talk to you soon. I promise.”
“Oh, ok. Ok then. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Keira?”
“Yeah?” she tried not to sound too disappointed.
“Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks.” she smiled.

She lay in her bed still smiling, while she heard him talk to her over the phone. There was something about his voice and the things it made her feel. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it. They talked on into the night, and after they said goodnight, Keira fell asleep a little more peacefully than she usually did.