Friday, May 8th, 2020

Eighteen. The last age my brother was before he died.

I was officially the same age as him. I was officially the same age as my older brother.

Nix would have been nineteen late last month but I'd ignored it. I'd completely ignored his birthday and had been fine to go about my day.

But today, this feels different. I didn't think that I'd care. I didn't think that something like this would affect me at all.

My parents had bought me a new charm for my bracelet. A small, silver, champagne bottle. It was to celebrate turning eighteen. But I didn't feel like celebrating.

Kennedy had already ambushed me with a million texts wishing me the happiest of birthdays. The rest of the group had quickly followed suit.

My parents had let me have the day off school which I was surprised about. But I wasn't complaining. I didn't feel like facing everyone today. I'd have enough time facing them all tonight at the barbecue that I really didn't want to go to.

I could hear them both downstairs right now, talking loudly. It was almost 6:30 and I needed to start walking over to Harry's soon.

Surprisingly, both my parents had been okay with the idea but they'd told me I had to text them when I got there and when I was leaving. And my curfew was eleven-thirty. I almost told them that I was eighteen now but I knew today was just as hard on them as it had been for me.

I didn't know how dressed up I was supposed to be for this. I mean, it was just a barbecue. But what did I even wear to a barbecue?

I wanted to impress Harry's family as well. I know it sounded stupid but this was the one thing I could control. I couldn't control what happened in the future, but at least for now, I could control what they thought of me and how they saw me.

I scramble through my closet, throwing out jeans and jumpers and t-shirts. My floor was officially a mess and I hated nothing more than having a messy room.

By the time I finally decide on a casual wrap dress with a denim jacket, I'm running twenty minutes late.

I dive under my bed, reaching for my converse. I grab my phone, quickly brush my hair and apply another layer of lip gloss.

My phone begins to vibrate in my hand and I curse. It's Kennedy.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Tell Harry, I'll be there soon."

"Actually, could you maybe just—"

"Yes, I'm coming right now!" I cut her off, hanging up before she lectures me.

I shout goodbye to my parents before running down the street towards the Coleman household.

"What the hell?" I whisper under my breath.

Harry lived in a cookie-cutter house. It had a low, white-picket-fence with beautiful green hedges lining the front garden. It was painted light grey with white window frames and a wooden porch. It was a cute family home.

But I can't enjoy its beauty right now. I've officially rung the doorbell five times. I was way too embarrassed to do it again.

Could they not hear me for some reason? What if I had the wrong house?

No, that was ridiculous. This was Harry's house. I'd been out the front enough times to know that.

I've tried calling Kennedy but she hasn't answered the phone since I was at home.

I've tried calling everyone. In a generation supposedly addicted to their phones, you'd think that at least one of them would have picked up.

"Hello?" I shout.

I could hear the music from inside. It did not sound like the type of music you'd want to have at a family barbecue. More like what you'd hear at a nightclub.

It was likely that they couldn't hear me over the music. But seriously, Kennedy knew I was on my way. Don't you think they would have left the door unlocked?

I try calling Kennedy again but it goes straight to message bank. Did she just ignore my call?

"What the hell?" I repeat, muttering under my breath.

I walk up to the window. I cup my hands around my eyes, trying to peer inside. It's too hard to see anything though.

"Hello?!" I shout again.

The music is suddenly cut off and I frown. Everything is so eerily quiet that it's almost spooky. I look behind me, just to make sure I'm not about to get killed by Freddy Krueger.

I didn't expect Harry to have his phone on him. He was probably helping his parents prepare the food. I text Coops. He was just as sensible as Harry and I thought he'd be the soberest.

I wait another five minutes for Cooper to reply but still nothing.

I walk back down the steps, trying the handle on the side gate. It's locked.

I check out my other option. The garage. I try to pull up the handle but it's locked to.

"Fucking fantastic," I mutter.

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe the universe was agreeing with me. Coming to this barbecue was a bad idea.

I sigh, texting the group chat that I've been standing outside for over twenty minutes and that no one was answering. I was going home.

I wrap my arms around myself as I descend towards the footpath, exiting through the front gate.

The door suddenly swings open behind me, bouncing on its hinges as it slams into the wall.

"Lon, sorry! I just saw your messages."

I roll my eyes but turn around, smiling at Kennedy. "Took you long enough. What was going on?"

"Um, well..." she looks behind her like an explanation is suddenly going to pop up for her. "Why don't you just come in and see for yourself?"

"Huh?"

She skips over to me, linking her arm with mine. "Come on, you."

"What is—"

"You look gorgeous, by the way. That dress really brings out the colour of your eyes," she grins.

"It brings out the colour of my brown eyes?"

"Hey. Brown eyes are the best. Coops has brown eyes. That's why I date him."

"Right," I say, growing suspicious.

Something weird was definitely going on. I just couldn't quite work out what it was.

"Ken, how come no one had their phone on them? I was outside for a long time."

"Well..."

She pushes me ahead of her, kicking the door shut with her foot.

She stands behind me, suddenly placing her hands over my eyes. "Keep em' closed."

"Seriously, Kennedy. What the hell—"

"Shh," she whispers. "All in good time, my friend."

She starts to lead me forward. I take tentative steps, fearing the unknown.

I hated walking into situations blindly. Literally and figuratively.

She leads me down the long corridor and I keep my arms outstretched, scared that I'm going to fall over.

"Okay, stop here. But keep your eyes shut."

I do as she says, planting my feet firmly on the ground. "Okay, can I know what—"

"Okay. Open."

My eyes fly open. I rub them, trying to adjust to the darkness of the room. The lights were all off. I could hardly see anything. In the corner, I could just make out the outline of a figure. I squint but I have no idea who it is.

"Okay, Ken. I'm officially creeped out. What is—"

"SURPRISE!"

The lights flicker on and I hold in my scream. My heart is racing and my instincts are telling me to run.

I stay rooted to the spot in shock. Standing in front of me is a crowd of people. People with streamers and party poppers and air horns.

A large banner that reads, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY LONDON HALL!' is hung against the wall I'm facing.

This was for me. This was a surprise party for me.

"Oh. Fuck."