BONUS #4 | DEAR, APRIL 13TH
Written on and centred on April 13th.
"Happy Birthday, Graham!"
I tackled my best friend from behind, jumping onto his back as he reflexively wrapped his arms under my thighs. He laughs, despite carrying my weight, and he continues to go into his steps as if a 140 pound weight didn't just hop into his back.
"Thanks, Francena," he sobers. He turns around, making eye contact with Julian following a couple of steps behind him, "you jealous, Dean?"
From the course of Stanford's year, Graham and Julian had gotten closer. Because of Stanford's requirement of dorming the first year, Graham and Julian gotten each other as roommates. Despite their hostile beginning, they had finally begin to gotten used to each other.
They still can't find it in them say each others' first name.
"Not really," Julian shrugs, rolling back his shoulders, "I've already got the girl."
"Hey, Dean, you know what this reminds me of?" Graham returns back to facing the front. "When we were at the senior getaway and you got jealous because Francena got onto Gabe's back." Graham laughs, the memories flooding back into our minds. I couldn't help but let out a small smile, turning back around as I see my boyfriend unbothered.
"And you know what happened afterwards, Rivera?"
Graham halted in his destination. Shifting me comfortably up his back as I had slide down. He turns back to Julian, who holds up a cocky grin, "alright, look, I said I'm sorry but think of it! Had Tasha came back when you and Francena were dating, wouldn't you had taken her back either way? Wasn't it better than you gotten to break out of that toxic grasp before entering a relationship with my best friend?"
Julian stayed silent, his feet halting in steps as well. I think he was taking the words in; absorbing them.
"Go, Rivera, just go to your birthday party,"
"And I'm right!" He pumps his fist into the air for a split second before returning down the path. The familiar field coming into the light as the green grass burns into our visions, and the game lights shun bright.
In the middle of the field, the familiar faces of our friends begin to show. I spot Iris, with her curls, wrapped around her girlfriend who have since dyed her hair blonde. Tara, Nick, Colin and Isaac. Not to mention, a couple of Julian and Graham's soccer buddies in Stanford: Ethan and Knox.
"Happy Birthday!" I saw Tara screaming, running down the field as she closes in on her little brother. I quickly hopped off of Graham's back—just in time—for Tara to tackle her brother to the ground, hugging the hell out of him. "I miss you so goddamn much, I cannot believe you are almost finishing your first year—"
"Tara, breathe!"
"Fuck, sorry," Tara jumps to her feet, brushing off her skirt as if she hadn't tackled her brother to the ground. She holds out a hand for him, "I'm excited. I missed you."
Graham takes her hand silently, pulling himself to his feet before coming into a hug for his sister. "I miss you too, you arrogant bastard."
I shot Julian a look, who merely shrugs. I somehow took that words as an inside joke.
Tara pulled apart and punched Graham on the shoulder; "how's classes?"
"Studying like hell," Graham rolled his eyes. "Law school is going to be hard to get into."
"Wasn't Legally Blonde like your favourite movie—"
"Why are you exposing me, sis?"
Tara throws her head back in laughter, just patting Graham on his shoulder. Iris, appearing with Erin by her side, came up to see the both of us.
"Ahh!" Iris screamed, she runs up to Graham, tackling him into a hug as well. "Seeing y'all on FaceTime wasn't the same. I miss y'all the time—I cannot believe you're back for your birthday!"
She pulls from Graham, and looks at him sternly, "still studying? Focusing without me there to force you?"
Graham rolled his eyes, "of course, Rose."
She nods, taking his words to heart, before turning to me. "Y'all are still cute!" She exclaimed, tackling me into a hug. I almost lost my footing because of her strong force, and her weight, before having Julian holding my back and stopping me from falling backwards.
"I miss you so much! Why didn't you come here for your birthday! Why was the last time I freaking saw you was Christmas? What the heck, Francena? I—"
"Iris," Julian warns, "she's still upset about her—"
"Oh crap, right," she pulls apart, her face riddled with sympathy before she wiped it clean and smiles. "How's psychology?"
"Good," I answer, feeling the slight lump in my threat at the near mention of my little brother. "I'm taking double classes, which could shorten my years needed and then I'm planning on heading off to Stanford Medicine for my degree."
"I remember when you couldn't decide on what to do for your major."
"I'm not like you, Iris, I didn't have my job planned out for me since I was like, seven."
"Eight," she corrected, and I roll my eyes. "Whatever. Come on; we didn't come here to gossip or talk or catchup—despite us always being on FaceTime—we came here for Graham's birthday and we've gotten it all set up."
"What you guys do?" I asked, eyeing the field. Last time I checked, Tara was in charge of Graham's party.
"This idiot," Tara cuts in, shoving her brother, "didn't want to have a big party like we did for Francena, and he only wanted to meet up with his friends and family. So, I decided on a soccer game on the field. Then, I got dinner reservation at a local restaurant that Graham likes."
I groan, "not soccer."
"Yes soccer," Graham points out, beginning to walk towards the field where his buddies from Stanford were and they were conversing with Isaac, Nick and Colin. "And Dean, you owe me a damn rematch!"
I groan again, feeling Julian tug my arm and I look up to meet his brown eyes. His lips were curled into a full smile, "come on, babe. For me?"
"No."
"Babe."
"I love you."
I paused, cursing the fact that Julian's eyes soften and his lips pulled into a pout after he lets out those words. God, I hate him so much right now.
"Fine," I sigh heavily, causing Julian to let out a small cheer before plotting down and kissing my lips.
"I love you so much."
"I hate you so much."