Fearless

Happy (?) birthday

As I was standing there, dizzy from the dazzling light that my birthday cake candles emitted, everyone sang the "happy birthday" song to me.

Surrounded as I was by many people, and as their singing voices echoed in my ears, there was only one thing that occupied my thoughts and mind.

I turned my head around, I looked left, I looked right, and right behind the singing crowd there he was, standing there, looking at me and singing happy birthday just like everyone else. His eye caught mine and he smiled.

"Happy birthday" he mouthed.
I smiled back.

Distracted as I was, I didn't notice that the song was almost over.

"Happy birthday Dear Axel, happy birthday to you!"
The lyrics of the infamous song reverberated all over the place.

I smiled and gratefully looked at my friends.

"Make a wish!"
"Axel! Don't forget to close your eyes while you're wishing, if you don't, it's not gonna come true!"

I closed my eyes and while blowing the candles, I made a wish.

"Thank you guys... For all of this" I said.
My cheeks still bright red from the excitement and slight awkwardness a surprise party makes you feel. Being the centre of attention wasn't exactly my thing.

As everyone was hugging me, they handed me my presents. I had told them that this wasn't necessary, but I was feeling overly grateful for my friends and the fact that they actually liked me enough to throw me a surprise birthday party. Perhaps I was also feeling a little overwhelmed.

I invited everyone inside, and as they were entering, I caught sight of him again.

"Happy birthday" He said. Out loud this time.

"Thanks, are you staying? I'll order pizza and we can play truth or dare with the others, or watch a movie, or play video ga-"

"I have plans with Nicole"

Oh.

"But I can stay for a slice of pizza" he hurriedly added as soon as he saw the look on my face.

"Thats nice"

"Come on now, don't frown at me like that" he said, as he slapped the back of my head.

"Are you seeing things? I'm totally okay" I replied.

"Yeah right... Anyway, let's head inside" he said as he walked pass me to enter the house.

Then something occurred to me. An idea.
Probably not a very good one.

"Why don't you invite Nicole here?" I suddenly said.

Apparently, my words surprised him, because I turned around and realised that he had frozen near the doorstep.

He turned around so he would face me

"Are you sure Axel? That's your birthday party, and Nicole and you aren't all that close, wouldn't you prefer only for the people closest to you to be here?" he said in an almost serious tone, something quite uncommon for him.

"I know that I am not exactly the sociable type,  Leo, but if inviting Nicole here means that I can also have my best friend to stay at my party, then I guess I can stand it."

"Nicole's pretty nice." I quickly added, when I realised the probable rudeness of what I had just said.

"Okay..." he looked at me, apparently with an indecipherable look on his face.

"What?!" I said. And I felt my cheeks burning up once again. I quickly turned around and started walking towards the entrance of the house.

"Wait up!" He shouted, trying to catch up with me, which didn't take long.

As we entered the living room, everyone was already there.

"Axel! Leo! Where have you been?" My friend Nyx shouted.

"Uh-" I was waiting for Leo to respond but when I looked at him, I saw that he was texting someone. Probably Nicole.

"Anyhow, you shouldn't have taken so long! We are starving in here, are we ordering or what?" She said as she grabbed me by the hand and forced me to sit on the couch next to her.

"I'll order pizza" I said, trying to get comfortable in the couch.
"Yay!" She exclaimed.

Nyx was one of my closest friends, she was friendly, loud and nice. Everybody liked her.
We had met through Leo in 7th grade, and even though I wasn't as extroverted and talkative as her, we had immediately liked each other.

Now that I think about it, most of the friends I have now, I made them through Leo.
Leo. I wasn't exactly sure how I had remained friends with him throughout all those years. He is my childhood best friend and one of the most popular, extroverted and sociable guys in our year.

In a nutshell, my polar opposite.