It’s Leighton’s birthday, Moet thinks happily to herself as she quickly gets the things she needs for homework out of her locker. She has an adequate idea of what to get Leighton but she has to hurry to and back from the mall so Leighton wouldn’t get suspicious. They’d agreed to spend tonight together to celebrate. While walking to the exit of the school, she rummages in her bag to double-check her belongings when all of a sudden, she walks right into someone else.

            “S-sorry,” Moet stammers before looking up and immediately recognizing the face of Quinn. “Oh. Hi, Quinn.”

            The right side of his mouth quirks up a bit into one of his famous half-smiles before he answers, “Hey.” They stand around for a moment before Quinn asks, “Do you need a ride?”

            Moet’s eyebrows draw together in thought before she realizes that she indeed did need a ride. The mall was quite a long walk away. Quinn didn’t even wait for her answer before he took her arm and led her to his aged forest-green truck. It was a hand-me-down from his brother, Moet remembered.

            “Where to?” Quinn asks once they’re buckled in.

            “Um, I actually need to go to the mall. It’s Leighton’s birthday today. I want to get him a present.” Moet awkwardly explains.

            “Leighton… Leighton B.? The boy genius?” Quinn asks, making a right turn.

            “Yep.” She was never really good at making conversation.

            “So are you two… together?” He glances over at her as he asks this.

            Hmm. Were they together? They never really officially said so, but Moet liked him. She liked him a lot, actually. As far as she knew, he felt the same. “I guess so,” she finally replies.

            “Hmm.” Quinn nods in thought. “We’re here.”

            Moet makes a beeline for the bookstore. The dark-haired gruff boy trails behind her at a leisurely pace. Scanning the book shelves, she ruffles her hair in frustration. Where could it possibly be?

            “Have a certain book in mind?” Moet jumps at the feeling of Quinn’s breath tickling her ear. She didn’t know he was that close.

            “Yes, but for some reason I can’t find…. Oh! Found it!” The pale-haired girl shuffles through the copies to find one without creases or bent spines and walks over to the cash register to pay. Once she’s paid, she walks over to her companion and leans around to see what display he’s looking at.

            “The Fault in Our Stars,” she reads under her breath. Quinn puts back the copy he was looking at and turns towards Moet.

            “Ready to go?”

            She holds up the bag in answer. “Yeah.”

            The two walk out of the mall and back towards the parking lot.

            “Where to?” Quinn repeats once he’s behind the wheel.

            “Home.” She replies.

            “Happy birthday,” Moet says with a smile when Leighton opens the door.

            “Thanks,” he grins. Stunned by the sight of his brilliant smile, Moet falters for a bit. “Is that for me?”

            “Huh? Oh! Yes, this is for, um, you…” She could feel the heat of her blood flowing into her cheeks as she practically thrusts the smaller of the two neatly-wrapped packages she held into his hands. His gray eyes flashes a bit with playfulness as he holds the box to his ear and shakes it.

            “Hmm, I wonder what’s in here…” He shakes it some more and listens.

            “You can open it if you want.” God, her cheeks must have been as red as tomatoes. Mortified, Moet covers her face with her hands in an attempt to hide her blush.

            “Moet, what’s wrong?” Leighton’s voice holds a hint of concern as he sets the present down on the coffee table and gently pries her hands away from her face.

            “I can’t seem to stop blushing… it’s uncomfortable.” Moet states awkwardly. She starts when Leighton lets out a bark of laughter. Without preamble, he leans forward and quickly plants a kiss to her right cheek before returning to his former position.

            “It’s endearing.” He smiles and traces her cheekbone with his thumb. Unable to control it, Moet feels a small smile start to form across her lips. She ducks down, grabs the present and holds it out in front of him.

            “Open it.” She commands. Amused at her sudden change in behavior, he takes the package and starts to tear away the wrapping paper.

Holding the orange-covered book in his hands, he reads, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.”

“It’s one of my favorite books,” Moet nervously says. “I heard from… Charlotte that you liked to read, so I thought I’d share it with you.”

Smiling, he says, “Thank you, Moet. It seems just like the type of book I would read.”

Relieved, Moet smiles and says, “You’re welcome.” They continue to smile at each other goofily before Moet realizes that she made dinner reservations for the two of them. “Oh, I forgot! Come on.” She grabs Leighton’s arm and leads him out the door.

“Where are we going?” Leighton asks once they’re outside and he’s locked the front door.

“I made reservations at this little restaurant about two blocks away.” She replies.

They walk the couple blocks and Leighton curiously reads the sign in front. “The Black Olive. Italian?”

“My favorite,” Moet remarks a bit shyly.

“Mine too, actually.” Leighton’s expression suggests that he’s quite satisfied with that fact. He reaches out and takes her hand before they walk in. She blushes at the fluttering feeling in her tummy in response to the gesture.

“My goodness, Moet Holmes, is that you?” A middle-aged woman with fluffy brown hair exclaims when the two step through the door.

“Hi, Mrs. Bloom.”

“I haven’t seen you in forever!” Mrs. Bloom walks over and squeezes Moet in a big hug. “And is this your boyfriend?”

“Uh…” Moet stammers.

“I’m Leighton. Her boyfriend as far as I’m concerned.” Leighton throws Moet a playful grin as she tries to control her seemingly flaming cheeks in the background. He wraps his arm around her waist and she hesitantly does the same, secretly loving the comfort and safety that seemed to emanate from his arm around her.

“Well, aren’t you two adorable,” Mrs. Bloom remarks. She picks up two menus and gestures for the couple to follow her. When they’re settled down, Mrs. Bloom starts talking again. “So, from what I understand, it’s your birthday today, isn’t it, Leighton?”

“Yes, it is.” Leighton glances towards Moet.

“Huh. Well, since I want to see your face when they bring out the cake I might as well do it now before I leave and Rob takes over.”

“Cake? What cake--”

“Happy birthday to you,” a team of waiters sing as they bring out the chocolate cake Moet had reserved ahead of time as a surprise. Smiling at Leighton’s awed face, she feels her stomach warm up with a foreign feeling when a beautiful smile lights up his face. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Leighton, happy birthday to you.”

“Make a wish!” Mrs. Bloom adds in.

Staring straight into Moet’s eyes, Leighton mouths “thank you” before blowing out all seventeen blue wax candles. And Moet could just tell from his slate-gray eyes that this was one of the best birthdays he’d ever had in a very long time.