April insisted on riding my handlebars on the way home.

Part of me believed Mom had sent her to ensure I wouldn't skip out on my own party but the other half reckoned she hoped to gain a peek at Spencer. Leaned against the bike rack she waved us over, offering Spencer a painfully large smile. I took note of her skewed skirt and drooping v-neck, immediately wanting to shrug off Flemming's sweater and throw it over her.

"Hello boys," she beamed and I was quick to shove her aside, working on the lock.

"April, charming as always," Spencer winked, batting my hands away. "I swear your brother is the only person who can't get this thing open."

"Fuck off," I rolled my eyes, straddling the now freed bike and flinching back at the mouthful of hair that flew my way as April made herself comfortable.

"Enjoy your evening children," Spencer said, making to stride off when I stopped him.

"You're not coming tonight?" I asked, puzzled because I knew for a fact April would've invited him given the heart eyes she was still sending his way.

Spencer shrugged. "I'm not sure what you're implying I come to, since there is totally not a surprise party waiting for you back home or anything. I have work though, until midnight if Debbie does end up ducking out of her closing shift."

"You will be sorely missed, but right now I have a feeling that any more of a hold up may result in a scolding from our mother," April said, clapping her hands together before motioning for me to start cycling.

Offering Spencer a look I waved him goodbye before gingerly gripping the handlebars.

"Anyone ever tell you, you have the thickest thighs of the family," I grimaced when I had to wedge a hand underneath April to make a sharp turn off school grounds.

She hummed back, wiggling enough that I almost rode straight off the curb and into the pile of cardboard stacked by a garage can.

"I'm ignoring that because it's your birthday, the one day of the year you matter more than I do."

"But we both will never matter more than Thomas does," I reminded her, and April nodded. "Is he coming to my non-surprise party?"

"I think he's bringing Willow, which should be interesting because Dad doesn't like her."

"No shit? Then again, Dad doesn't like any of Thomas' girlfriends."

I pulled to a stop before the house, arching a brow at the numerous cars parked on the sides of the road.

"We couldn't make everyone walk here now could we," April groveled, hopping off the bike and to the front door. I laid the thing on its side and practiced my surprised expression as April, with the least amount of subtlety, knocked lightly on the door frame before pushing the thing open.

In my pocket, my phone buzzed and I quickly checked it, turning on my data to load a photo sent from Spencer. It was a three-pack of chapstick, follows by a single text.

S. Fox (3:53 PM): This enough grease for you?

I snorted at it, going to reply when a violent chorus of voices greeted me, startling me enough to send my phone crashing to the ground. The thud was swallowed by the roars of laughter and I flinched as Thomas bombarded me with the flash of his phone, taking several photos while tears streamed down his face from laughing so hard.

"I didn't think we'd actually scare you," he wheezed, collapsing against my shoulder to sneak a picture of the pair of us. My non-amused expression didn't change when he finally glided off to April's side, showing her the photos. Kneeling I collected my phone, wincing at the large crack that ran across its screen protector. Thank god I let Mom convince me to buy one.

"Happy birthday, son," Dad said, clapping my back as I got to my feet, passing me off to Mom who pinched my cheeks.

"Still haven't grown out of these yet," she said, tone wistful as she jostled my skin hard enough I was glad when Jenny gently pried her away before wrestling me into a hug.

"It must be genetic, his father hasn't either," Jenny chuckled, ruffling my hair. "He's a man though now, his haircut even says so."

"I'm gonna barf if you two keep that up," Flemming muttered, bumping my shoulder as he bypassed into the kitchen.

"I thought you weren't coming," I called after him, earning no response.

"Your friends are outside, Theodore the only one I trust manning the grill," Mom fussed, running a hand along the sleeve of my sweater. "This is very nice, though I don't remember buying it for you."

"Jenny got it for me," I told her, tilting my head in confusion when Jenny frowned.

"Unfortunately my gift to you was neither soft nor navy," she said, plucking my other sleeve.

"There's no way in hell Flemming bought me something so nice."

"Flemming bought you this? That boy has always been so thoughtful," Mom purred, patting my cheek and ignoring the way I wiggled out of both women's clutches. "Go say hello to your guests, you're being rude Beau."

"I would be mingling if you two weren't pawing at me," I muttered when they both let go, breezing into the living room.

Bumping elbows with a few distant relatives and people I hadn't seen since I quit every club known to man and became a recluse, I was more than glad to finally be outside and swallowed down some fresh air.

"Beer?"

"Did I ever tell you, you're the greatest person I know." I grinned at Tommo, offering him a quick hug before taking a slow sip from the bottle he passed my way. Rolling the cold glass across my forehead I squinted down at the barbecue, stomach rumbling from the mere smell of the steaks he had on the go.

"I'm liking the new you. Mature haircut, finally smart enough to realize I'm the shit," he teased, randomly stabbing at the meat before turning a couple over.

"Don't make me snort my beer in laughter," I warned him, nodding a hello as Julius and Romeo flanked Tommo's sides. Romeo sent me a weary look but I'd begun to take that as his general expression when around me. We didn't click and that was fine by me.

Unlocking my phone I half-heartedly listened as the guys bantered, only looking up when a few other guys on the track team added themselves to the huddle. Part of me wondered how old the guest list to this party must've been, since I hadn't spoke to some of these guys all year. April most likely invited anyone on my Facebook friends list.

I started typing out a response to Spencer but paused, unsure what to say.

Balancing the beer bottle to my lip I blew lightly on the glass, deep in thought.

"Stop overthinking everything," Tommo's voice called out right beside my head. I jerked up to look at him, sloshing beer all over my sweater. Letting out a low groan I pulled the material from my chest, frowning.

"The fuck dude," I moaned, dropping the bottle to the grass and standing up. As I wrung out the excess liquid Tommo sent me a look, pointing a steaming spatula my way.

"This is your party, everyone's here to talk to you, not watch you draft a text all day. Send the thing already and start engaging."

Blushing I nodded before pointing to the house. "Let me change first then I swear Social Beau will be out."

Snorting Tommo pulled a bunch of steaks off the heat, rolling his eyes at me. "Leave the phone upstairs and maybe I'll believe Social Beau is a thing."

"You'll regret saying that," I called behind me, weaving my way up the stairs and to my room.

Pushing the door open I tugged my sweater over my head, groaning when it got caught on my head, flinging it into a corner. Rubbing my eyes I halted at the sheepish pair of smiles that greeted me.

"What're you two doing up here?" I stuttered, grabbing the closest t-shirt and shrugging it on. It was, unfortunately, Flemming's and sat snug against me, digging into my armpits and choking my neck slightly.

"I was hoping to stash your present here before you got in. Guess I timed it wrong," Clark admitted, throwing me a breezy smile that didn't meet his eyes. Perched on the edge of my bed Jessica sent a soft smile, seemingly unaware of the copious waves of unease radiating from me. I hadn't spoken to Clark since I stormed out of his house, and had assumed he wouldn't stop by tonight.

"I thought you were sick."

"I was sick, now I'm not. Kind of how it works."

"Why are you here?"

"I told you, the present."

I spared a glance at Jessica, who fidgeted before getting up.

"I'll let you two talk," she said, finally catching on. Squeezing my arm she slipped out, shutting the door behind her. I waited until the sound of her footsteps faded down the hall before speaking.

"You shouldn't be here," I said, firmly and Clark rolled his eyes, dropping onto the end corner of my bed.

"Beau–"

"I'm serious. You shouldn't be here. I'm still fucking pissed at you,"

"Come on, it's your birthday. Can't we put that shit on pause–"

"Jeremy, I'm serious. Get the fuck out of my room."

Clark fell silent at that, an expression on his face I'd never seen before.

Slowly he stood up, dragging out from under the bed a hastily wrapped gift. The paper was purple, more creases than anything else and so Jeremy that I hated myself for the small smile that pulled on my lips when he extended it towards me.

"Whatever it is, I don't want it." I lied and Clark sighed, going to unwrap the thing himself before I stopped him. "Hey, no! You can't unwrap my fucking gift."

"You won't take it!" He huffed, an annoyed tilt to his eyebrows developing.

Taking the present from him I pulled off the paper, ignoring as he made his way over to me and sat on the edge of my desk. Kicking a leg out he watched over my shoulder as I looked down at what he gave me. A clunky frame greeted me, painted neon pink with green letters that danced around the edges but that wasn't what caught my attention. Instead, I stared at the photo glaring back at me.

"What..." I trailed off, pulling the thing closer to my face, unsure what I was looking at.

"Four years ago you ripped the thing up. It was the first time you had ever honestly called off our friendship. Even went so far as to call my Mom and say we weren't friends anymore. I think I cried a good few hours when it happened. Half because you were mad, and half because of the verbal ass-whooping Mom gave me. Anyway, I still had the original on my old camera. Jessica's dad helped me restore it so I could print it out and get it framed at that shitty kiosk you hate in the mall, the one you always complain only thirteen year old girls go to. It's not much, but I thought it was fitting since it was our first ever photo together, and god look how wild Tommo's hair used to be... but anyway, it was our first photo, part of our first fight, and hopefully enough to make you realize that I miss my best friend so fucking much."

Speechless I glanced up at Clark long enough to note the redness of his face, the way his brown eyes gleamed under a layer of tears he was holding back. I ran a thumb over the photo, a cringing smile making its way across my face as I glimpsed down at the awful reflection of my own face only more than ten years younger.

"Did you always have such bucked teeth," I settled on saying, earning a choked laugh from Clark before he threw an arm around my neck.

"Shut up, at least I didn't have cow eyes. And those lashes on Tommo, Jesus, the guy could've starred in a L'Oreal commercial."

I barked out a laugh at that. "Dad almost didn't drive us to pool that day. He had a meeting across town, but Thomas started crying that he hadn't swum all summer and it was the last day before they were closing down for renovations."

"Yeah, renovations my ass. The place still looked like shit when they had finished," Clark mumbled, hooking his chin over my shoulder. "I still remember your dorky ass being the only one wearing floaties your arms."

"Fuck you, I wasn't a confident swimmer at the time."

"Good thing I saved you from drowning," he smirked and I rolled my eyes this time.

"You were the reason I nearly drowned in the first place. Why I let you convince me to race you to the deep end I will never know."

"I almost cropped Thomas' thumb out the photo," Clark said after a moment spent in silence, remembering that day. Clark and I were just coming into our friendship, though at seven I had already begun to idolize the guy. Sad how little that had changed over the years.

"I'm glad you didn't," I told him, smiling at the red imprint of Thomas' thumb that blocked a good chunk of the frame. I couldn't remember the face of the girl he blurred out, but the three other faces I had known well.

Tommo, with his long hair, messily pulled back from his face, grinning at the camera with three teeth missing.

Clark, who had yet to lose his giant front baby teeth, stood with his chest puffed out for the camera.

Julius, eyes closed and grin wide as he stood huddled into Tommo's side, wearing neon board shorts no one else would ever dare to buy.

And myself, with far too many freckles for how little I went into sunlight, staring at Clark as if he were the greatest person on earth.

"So am I," Clark whispered and I placed the photo on my desk, next to the overfilled pencil holder that housed more half-dead highlighters than anything else. Turning back to Clark I jumped when his hands landed on either side of my face, gently cupping my cheeks.

"Happy birthday, Beau," he said, voice low and his eyes soft enough that I almost let him pull me into him. Our chest pressed together and I raised my hands, pushing his shoulders.

"Goodbye, Jeremy," I told him, taking a step back and ignoring the shocked look on his face. Opening my door I didn't bother to look back at him, making my way downstairs and into the kitchen. April stood with her back to the room, rustling about the fridge as Mom slowly wedged candles into a large green tinted cake. Dad was the first to notice my presence, sliding a cookbook in front of the cake in an attempt to hide it from view.

"I think you only have to do that for weddings," Flemming remarked, licking icing from a spatula.

"I thought I told you to clean those properly, you heathen," Jenny scolded, pulling the thing from his grip before dumping it into the sink.

"I have to kiss a boy," I said abruptly, causing everyone in the room to freeze.

"I'm sorry, what?" April asked, knocking her head as she weaseled out of the fridge, a carton of strawberries in hand.

"In the play next week. I forgot to mention that I'll have to kiss another guy and I thought I would give you a heads up," I explained, carefully cataloging each of their expressions. "The play is raising funds for the local LGBT+ shelter and Bella wrote in an on-screen kiss between me and Spencer."

April and Flemming's expressions didn't change much, though the smirk on my cousin's face made me squirm a little. Dad, however, broke the silence, dropping the cookbook he was holding and gave me a small smile.

"I think it's wonderful that you're helping out such a great cause, Beau." He said and Mom nodded, face open and warm.

"No need to look so nervous Beau, we won't kick you out for something when it's contributing to the wider community and helping you with your probation requirements," Mom added, going around the counter to press a kiss to my forehead before moving towards the living room. "I should let everyone know that we'll be ready to eat and cut the cake soon."

"You should've told us earlier, we would've donated when we got the tickets. Will there be a collection bin on the night?" Jenny asked and I mentally kicked myself for how shitty my lie was, how shitty I was for lying in general.

"No, Bella met her goal already with earlier fundraisers so don't worry about it. Just come and enjoy the play." I said and April cut in, smirking.

"Oh, I will definitely be enjoying the play, and taking videos, don't you worry about me."

"Spencer has a girlfriend, stop being creepy," I frowned at her, grunting when Flemming dropped the cake into my arms.

"Take this to the table outside wouldn't you, princess?" he beamed at me, bypassing Jenny as she made to hit her son on the head.

"Ignore them," Jenny said, glaring after her son and sent April an equally unamused look. "I think it's wonderful how you're helping out, albeit you do get something out of it."

My eye widened in panic.

"Community service hours," Jenny clarified, either catching my worried look or just explaining anyway. "Either way it must feel good to be helping out."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling like a complete piece of shit for being weak and lying, but pasted on a smile anyhow. "Definitely."

"Come on, your guests are waiting to sing an out of key birthday song to you," Jenny smiled, pressing a kiss to my cheek and exiting the room.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, matching eyes with April, who looked unimpressed.

"You're getting better at lying to them, I'll give you that much," she said, taking the cake from my hands with an equally forced smile. "Wash your face then head outside. Big smiles because Mom is documenting every second of your entry."

I did as she said, taking care to dab around my eyes. Pausing in the living room I wrestled my phone out of my pocket, checking Spencer's message from hours earlier.

Not thinking twice I typed out a response to him and stepped outside.

When Clark's face wasn't there in the crowd I pretended not to feel the dip in my smile, thanking everyone who came out and laughing as Thomas dropped a slice of cake down the back of my shirt. It would be when everyone cleared out and I finally made my way to the shower that I checked my messages and the texts I got back from Spencer.

S. Fox (5:49 PM): I'm sorry I missed out on the party too.

S. Fox (5:50 PM): Happy birthday, Prince Charming.

I smiled down at them, turning the water on before replying.

You too.