The Acceptance of Change

Chapter 9: The Firebird Place.

It was 5:50 when we got there.

Sadie wore a similar outfit to what she wore at the park today. A teal shirt with a printed outline of a dog, a black jacket with safety pins lining the edges, and jeans with work boots.

Her car was old and rustic, but very comfortable. She put on a playlist that had either a punk song or a song from the 80s that you would expect to play in a modern movie that was set in that time period.

"So, are you excited?" Sadie said.

"For what?" I responded.

"They are all gonna be excited to see you, 'The Mange' has been hyping you up ever since the day at the park. Letting everyone know about my knight in shining armor."

I sigh.

I realized then that I forgot to take my second daily pill, but it's been a week. Maybe I've gotten over it, not sure if that's how it works though.

"Are you not quite the people person Jonas?" Sadie said with an almost sarcastic tone.

"I just haven't been super social with people in a long time." I responded.

"Why is that?"

"Conversation for another day."

"If you say so."

We arrive at The Firebird Place and there aren't that many cars here. We are downtown and have a good view of the capitol building and surrounding buildings from here. The parking lot looks like it was once paved, but it's turned into ashy rubble. The building is older, but still looks as nice as it can.

"Are we here early?" I ask.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Me and 'The Mange' always get here early so we can hang out and grab the nice seats. A lot of the other kids get rides from their parents, so they can't even get here early." Sadie said.

"Oh, are we even allowed to be here?"

"We are. This is actually where the coordinator of the place works, so he is around if we need anything, and he's known us long enough to trust us."

"How long have you been going here?"

"About 6-7ish years. Since the beginning of middle school."

"I hope that's long enough to trust you."

"Yeah...I definitely took some getting used to."

"How so?"

"Conversation for another day," she says with a smirk.

I give her a scowl.

"You ready?" Sadie asked.

"As I'll ever be," I said with a sigh.

We walk inside the building and I'm greeted with a white brick hallway illuminated by fluorescent lights. Almost bright enough to sting my eyes.

"It's just down here," Sadie says.

I follow her until we reach a closed door. The lights seem to be off on the other side. We open the door and all of the lights are still off. Sadie goes for the light switch, but pauses when she hears a voice from the darkness quickly say,

"3, 2, 1."

Then the lights flicker on and we see a bunch of party balloons strewn everywhere with a group of people huddled in front of us.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY-" I freeze "-SADIE!!!" I sigh and relax.

Sadie begins to scream in excitement at the surprise that was just given to her. I had no idea it was her birthday. I see The Mange in the crowd. This is why he couldn't pick me up. I was shaken after this so I went and sat down. Everyone crowded the party girl, so at least all of the attention was taken away from me. Since I walked in with her I expected a few people to try to talk to me, but thankfully, it seems they chose not to. However, a boy with scruffy red hair seems to be walking my way.