Chapter 8

A couple hours later I find myself squished into a booth at Howdy Panda (a ridiculous name), Cassie on the left of me and Brooke on the other.

I’m shocked I even won a game all my thoughts were on trying to figure out if I had either gone insane or if that truly was disappointment, I had seen on her face.

But why would she be disappointed? Does she think of me like I think of her? Seriously I need to get a grip on reality it was probably just a trick of light or my imagination. Mum always said I had a wild imagination growing up. I just can’t stop thinking about all the possibilities if she did like me what would happen. I shake my head as if I that’ll rid me of my thoughts. What am I talking about nothing would happen, it will never happen because I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me.

So, recap: I won the first game, Paige won the second, and the Birthday girl “won” the last.

Although I don’t know if you could count it as a win, we agreed to let her win the last one as birthday-girl privileges and all, but even after we convinced Theo a little bribery, it still nearly didn’t happen. She wasn’t lying when she said she was terrible. I think about 90% of her bowls went into the gutter.

Brooke pokes me in the side. I realise I have once again zoned out; my ADHD really wants to shine.

“Ow.”

“Present time.” Brooke explains.

I look up properly and see that the table is littered with presents in different shapes and sizes and different wrapping paper.

“Ah.” I rummage through my bag and find the present. To say it’s a bit crumpled would be an understatement. Embarrassed I place it onto the table with the good ones.

“Sorry.” I mutter.

“I love the paper.” Cassie says picking it up.

“Uh thanks I got the idea from when you said you liked bats, rats and cats.” I say excitedly.

“C’mon open it! See what lovebird got you.” Theo sing songs.

This time Cassie starts choking on air. “I already told you she’s betrothed to another.”

“Betrothed?” I splutter. Since when were we living in the Middle Ages? I mean, I’m questioning if we even classify as girlfriends, betrothed. “A tad dramatic don’t you think and I don’t belong to anyone.”

“Eh.” Cassie shrugs, “Same thing.”

“It’s really not, that- “I’m cut off.

“Just open the present!” Theo whines.

Cassie shows him a finger.

Everyone laughs except, of course, salty Theo.

He makes a go for it, but Cassie is quicker and starts tearing it open. Her movements are quick, paper flying everywhere, until she realises what it is. She slows and turns to me.

“Is…it…no it can’t be.” She starts mumbling more to herself than me. I see tears spring to her eyes. “It’s a copy, right?”

I shake my head.

She picks the book up and turns over the cover. On the first page there’s an inscription: Cassandra Anderson. Please return. Her thumb lingers over her faded handwriting.

“So, what’s going on over there?” Leo asks. 

“I… I lost my original copy of “Percy Jackson: The Lighting Thief” when I was 11. I cried for days. Only a few months before I lost it, I had gone to meet and greet and had it signed by the author, Rick Riordan.” She turns properly to me now “How?”

“Uh well I was trying to think of something to get you, and I didn’t know what but then I remembered you saying once how you had lost.” I gesture to the book “So being the little weirdo I am, I contacted the hotel where you said you lost it. They put me in contact with a charity shop that they donate their unclaimed lost property to. The rest took me longer than I would like to admit. I hope- “

I’m cut off again but this time Cassie launching herself at me. I go stiff at first. Cassie never hugs people. Or at least I had only seen her hug Hazel. Slowly I melt into it. She holds on just a second longer than normal. Nevertheless, she pulls aways all too soon. For a moment the whole table is stunned into silence.

“Stop telling me; never tell me. I want to believe that it’s magic.”

I sheepishly chuckle.

“How are any of us supposed to beat that?”  Lizzie jokingly complains.

“Lovebird did good.” Theo says with an approving nod to me before turning to his sister. “Right, that’s going to be in my best man speech.” He finishes wagging his fingers between me and Cassie.

For the second time tonight, she looks like she’s going to punch him. Luckily for him the arrival of dessert foiled her plans.

                                                                                               ***

I managed to make it in at precisely 11:59. As quietly as possibly could I snuck upstairs and into my room. Once I had changed into my pyjamas, baggy top and shorts, I pulled out my phone to see that I had message from Rosalie.

Rosalie: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, babe! It’s going to be awesome!! Sweet dreams. XOXO

For some strange reason I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t going to be “awesome”. I’m just overthinking it that’s all.

Me: Ditto 😘

I set my phone down.

But my gut has never been wrong.