Maria

I knock on the door. Jeez, her house is big. A pair of sparkling green eyes peep out from a crack in the door.

"Happy birthday, Cat!" I nearly barge in through the door.

Wow, her house is so big - especially inside. On a couch, someone is sleeping. A few dirty plates are on the coffee table, as well as the presents I gave her.

"How did you like my presents?" I say, walking next to Kitty as she goes to the couch.

"I was thinking of opening them up after Alexander wakes up." She replies, collecting the dirty plates. So that guy on her couch was Alex?

I sit on one of the chairs near the couch. Kitty comes back and sits on the edge of the couch, and starts stroking Alexander's hair.

"Alexander, it's time to wake up," She coos. He rubs his eyes, and looks up at Kitty. She smiles at him.

"Maria's here, we're thinking of opening presents." Kitty whispers, and continues to stroke his hair. He begins to stretch and sit up. Kitty looks over at me.

"Can you please get the presents on the dining table over there." She says, gesturing towards a long table strewn with cake, birthday decorations, and a tiny green box and card. I nod quickly and begin on my way.

Kitty

"Oh, thanks Maria." I say as she sets down my presents on the coffee table. I sit Alexander up and he grins.

"Presents time." Maria says, as she sits on the other side of me.

I place the sparkly green box Alexander bought me in my lap. I carefully untie the bow and open the top. A nice embroidered diary sits in my lap, emblazoned with the Livingston coat of arms.

"Thank you, Alexander." I say, grabbing the matching letter. I nearly rip it open as I find in ink the most beautiful words I have ever read.

"Did - did you write this?" I look over at Alexander, and he looks back.

"Uh, yes?" He says, blushing.

"Woah, with is so good! You should consider joining the newspaper club." I say, smiling.

~~~

"Thanks for coming by," I lean against the door way. Alex waves as he jogs down my front porch stairs.

"See you at school!" I wave. Alex smiles as he jumps into a car, the driver being a freckly boy.

Maria looks at me.

"What should we do now?" Maria's chocolate brown eyes look me over. She smirks.

"Maybe, go into the city?" I say. I smile at the thought of sitting with Maria in some French bakery.

"Yeah, maybe! I can call my boyfriend to pick us up." Maria begins to text someone. Tap tap tap.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a boyfriend." I say, peeking over at her screen. Maria does not notice me until a blond strand of hair falls down.

"Cat! That's so rude." Maria pouts and boops me on the nose. She grabs her coat, with its red trim.

"Well, he should be here any minute now. Go grab whatever you need." I hurry up the stairs and gather up into my purse my basic necessities, make-up, and a hairbrush. I pull my hair into a ponytail and wash my face. I get on my emerald green dress as Maria calls.

In the few minutes I have been getting ready, it seems Maria has transformed into a beautiful siren of sorts.

"M-maria." I stammer. She looks over at me, and smiles.

"You look really pretty, Kitty...let me just..." Maria begins to adjust my hair, pressing up against me. My face heats up. A sharp knock on the door breaks our moment as Maria glances up at the door. Her face drops.

"Oh. He's here." She opens the door wide.

~~~

"Thanks, babe!" She gives her boyfriend, James, a peck on the cheek as she hops out of the car. We have arrived at our destination: a shopping mall.