My ears perked up as the sound of whispers echoed around my still body. I squirmed under the warmth of my quilt blanket as the annoying noises grew louder. 

"I still think this is a bad idea."

"No, she'll love it!"

"Oh! She's waking up! Shh. Quiet! Just like how we rehearsed."

Okay, enough is enough! Who dares to disturb my beauty rest?! 

I groggily sat up and removed my silk, pink sleeping eye mask. Surrounding the bed was mother, Natalie and Aunt Hana. I took notice of the items that were being held by them. Mother had a full breakfast-in-bed tray held with both hands. Natalie was holding a bouquet of golden balloons with the number "18" written on the front. And aunt Hana held three gift wrapped presents stacked on top of each other.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAISY!" They happily said I'm unison.

The annoyance that once was filling up in my body quickly evaporated as I smiled at everyone's efforts. "Thank you, guys."

"Of course sweetie," mother said before kissing my forehead. She carefully sat the long tray on my lap. The delectable scents of maple syrupy pancakes, Belgian waffles, turkey bacon and fresh cut fruit wafted up to my nose as I looked down at my all time favorite breakfast.

What a lovely gesture. I'm sure glad they didn't sing ha-

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR-"

"Uh, that's okay, Natalie. It's not necessary to sing," I put my hand up, stopping her from finishing.

"Oh, alright," she giggled.

"Here are your presents, Daisy," aunt Hana smiled as she sat them next to me. "The one from me is in the middle."

I chewed on a piece of cubed pineapple as I hurriedly ripped open the pink wrapping paper. "A mini instant camera?" I asked as I looked over the box.

"Yeah!" She said eagerly, although with a hint of unsureness. "I just thought that since you have such a big impact on social media, and you're clearly interested in film and photography, that it would be- um? Useful."

I happily smirked as I opened the box, then playing around with the powder pink camera a bit. "No, you're right. It's great, really. Thank you."

I heard a small "woo" escape her lips when she realized that I did actually like the gift. "You're very welcome."

"Open mine next, Daisy," Natalie spoke up. "It's the one on the bottom."

Nodding, I set the camera on the white bed stand before grabbing hold of Natalie's wide, rectangular shaped gift. I wasted no time before flinging the wrapping paper onto the clean floor, revealing an iridescent makeup vanity mirror. "Oh! This is perfect," I smiled before I pulled it out the box. Turning it on, I began adjusting the different light modes.

"Yeah, I already put the batteries in it. I knew you'd love it," Natalie gave a confident smirk at my eagerness. "Now you can finally do your makeup without hogging the bathroom mirror for an hour every day."

I smirked up at the cheeky brunette. So she got me this gift for her own benefit as well. Hmm, it seems as if she's actually taking after me... 

"Open mine, darling," mother nudged me with an endearing smile. 

Looking down at the last remaining present, I took hold of the long, black gift box with a pink bow. I slowly opened it with anticipation. Every year, mother would get me a diamond charm to go on my favorite bracelet. It is a tradition that may seem ostentatious to some, but a special bonding moment between her and I. Having that final eighteenth one would have been the icing on the cake. But, alas, I see how it would be futile given our current situation.

My eyes widened in astonishment as I looked down at the silver charm bracelet that laid on a cushiony bed inside of the box. I covered my agape mouth with my left hand as I picked up the bracelet with my right. There dangling on the end, was a charm that I wasn't at all familiar with. Encrusted with pure, pink diamonds it took the shape of a crown. 

A pink diamond encrusted crown charm!

I looked my shocked face up to be greeted with mother's excitedly beaming one. "I assume that you like it, pumpkin?"

"Like it?" I paused, fumbling with what right next words to use. "I absolutely adore it!" I looked back and forth between her and the bracelet. "But how did? When did-"

Her soft laughter cut off my rambling. "Don't worry, dear. I bought it for you a few months ago. I saw it when I was shopping one day and instantly thought of you. I knew it would make a great addition to your collection." She then smirked down at me, "and you have to admit. The crown embellishment totally screams Daisy, does it not?"

Words couldn't describe the happiness that welled up inside before I hugged onto her small waist, the fast action accidentally sitting her down abruptly on the bed. "Arigatou gozaimashita, mama," I whispered in Japanese into her ear. I had to let her know that I had the utmost thanks for her, and not just for the pink diamond charm, but for everything that she's done for me up until this point. She's been the one to look after me through everything so far, even trying to take matters into her own hands by starting up her own small business.

I knew she had a smile resting on her face as she moved her head, her loosely waved black hair brushing some against my cheek. "Aishiteru, Daisy," she whispered back. 

•••••

"Do they really expect you to act surprised?" Natalie asked me as we rode up the elevator.

I chuckled at her obvious question. "Yes, believe it or not." We were on our way up to the exclusive, rooftop surprise party that Gwen and April threw for me. I tugged at the top of my pink, strapless, sweetheart neckline dress; subconsciously pulling it up a bit so that my D-cups wouldn't dare to spill out.

A ding echoed through the small box, confirming that it transcended up to its destination. 'It's showtime' I smirked to myself as I mentally prepared for my grand entrance.

My Louboutins merely took three steps forward before everyone jumped out of their hiding places. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAISY!!!" They roared. 

My eyes lit up as I took in the atmosphere. The deck was huge. Scratch that– gigantic. There were strings of fairy lights lined up, helping illuminate the almost sun setting skyline. Silver and pink clearly were the main theme colors for the decorations and furniture. "Oh my gosh, guys," I slowly gasped in astonishment. The sweetest looking smile spread across my soft lips, "This is so totally unexpected and amazing."

"Eeek!" Gwen squealed as she ran up to give me an air hug, which I returned. "I'm so happy that you love it."

"Of course I do. I have to give you and April props on this one," I smirked, impressed by their performance.

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "You know how incompetent that girl can be. She broke down in tears because she broke her pinky nail just by setting a table."

"Sounds like her," I laughed. "Sorry you had to do all of this work alone."

She then gave me a weird look, as if I'd just said that in a different language or something. Wait, I didn't say it in Japanese, did I?

"What?" I questioned her confused expression.

"Uh, nothing," she shook her head as if she didn't want to give me a full explanation. I folded my arms under my chest as I continued to look her in the eyes, a sure signal that I wasn't going to drop the subject. "Okay, fine." She then paused. "It's just that I've never actually heard you say sorry before. Let alone hardly care about anything that didn't have much to do with you."

Realization soon hit me like a truck. "Oh," I replied, letting my eyes drop down to the ground.

Okay, I get that I was never the most "apologetic" person alive, but the way Gwen put it made it seem as though I was an ice queen! I never intended to make my friends feel as though I didn't care about them at all. Hm, maybe what Chad said the night we broke up was right. Was I really as "self-absorbed" as they claimed?

"I didn't know you felt that way," I muttered.

Her expression quickly turned shocked with a mix of fear. "No, Daisy, uhm-- I didn't mean to-!" 

"Don't worry," I cut her off. "I'm not mad at what you said." I took a quick sigh as I ran a hand through my wand curled hair. "I'm actually kind of glad you told me that."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't further improve as a person if I don't acknowledge myself."

Her eyes opened wider as her rose colored lips parted slightly. It was as if she was going to say something but couldn't find the right words. "Wow," she finally spoke. "Brodie was right after all."

I furrowed my brows at her comment. Why would Brodie discuss anything about me? Let alone to Gwen. Picking up on my confusion, she continued, "I asked him to get his cousin to DJ the party, and soon he mentioned how he ran into you at the mall after April and I left." She put her finger up to her chin, tapping it while looking up in thought. "He said something along the lines of how you're different now. Less like your usual self."

I could feel my hands start to get sweaty as my heart rate steadily quickened. Getting exposed as an ex-rich fraud was definitely not on my birthday wish list. Did he find out that I'm now a have-not? What else could he possibly mean when he said that I'm "different now"?!

"But now I see what he meant," Gwen smiled. "You're more humble now."

I hastily let out a breath I was holding in anxiousness. Okay. I'm still in the clear for now. 

"Yeah," I decided to roll along with it. "That must have been what Brodie was trying to say."

"Have I ever told you how much I love the way my name rolls off your tongue?"

 I rolled my eyes as I turned around. Knowing exactly who the husky voice belonged to. "Don't get used to it."

He heavily chuckled which made his wide chest vibrate some with his movements. "Be nice if you want your present," Brodie told me as he pulled out a small gift box from his inner grey blazer pocket.

"Depends on what it is," I shrugged at him. The box was quite small after all. Does he really expect me to treat him like royalty just for that?

"Open it and find out," he grinned down at me before handing over the blue bow wrapped box.

I took hold of it, half expecting it not to even peak my interest in the slightest. Only when I removed the top, my mouth dropped as I was completely proven wrong. I swiftly took the shiny, rose gold Cartier hoop earrings from their laying place. "They're so pretty!" I gleamed while inserting them into my earring less lobes.

"Happy birthday, Daisy," he cockily smirked as he pulled me in for a half hug, letting the woodsy scent of his Versace cologne swarm around me. "I'd love to stay here with you, but I'm actually supposed to be getting a drink for April right now," he slightly rolled his eyes while pulling away.

"It's alright," I giggled up at him, tucking a piece of my hair behind my left ear to show off the earring. 

"Save me a dance later?" He questioned down at me. 

"Only if you're lucky," I playfully smirked up at him. 

"Men," Gwen flipped her hair over her shoulder as she watched Brodie stride over to the mini bar. "It's amazing how they all adore you."

"Wouldn't you if you were one too?"

She paused for a moment before thinking it over. "You're probably right."

"Daisy!" Natalie ran over to me with a plate full of desserts. "Have you tried the cream puffs?!" 

"Not yet," I told her. "We did just get here after all," I folded my arms as I judged her greedy behavior.

"Ah!" Gwen let out as if she just remembered something very important. "You should have blown out your candles  by now!" She hastily pulled her phone from her Valentino clutch and began speed dialing a number. "Chef Blanc, bring the cake out now!" 

Without so much as a warning, she frantically grabbed my hand and led me over to the other side of the rooftop where a long silver table sat the vast array of my wrapped up presents. They all were organized in each row by color. Hanging above on the brick wall was a wide, glittery silver banner that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAISY" in bold pink letters. 

"Here it is, Daisy!" Gwen happily sang next to me. I turned to my right to see a French man dressed up in a chef's hat and jacket, roll out the most extravagant looking cake I've ever seen.

I eyed the tall, five-layered, whipped cream vanilla cake that was perfectly iced with vanilla buttercream. Swirling around each layer up to the top was delicate, strawberry frosting roses. As I took a closer look, I could see that there were edible silver flakes sprinkled all around. The entirety of the cake looked way too beautiful to eat.

The man lit the two number "one" and "eight" candles on the top as everyone gathered around us. There weren't as many people as I was expecting there would be. Maybe around forty people, all including the baseball, soccer and cheerleading teams. I guess that's what Gwen and April thought I meant by exclusive— to invite the most popular students only. 

Closing my eyes, I circled around the thoughts in my head, trying to find the perfect wish. The only thing I truly wanted was for my life to be back to normal. Back to when everything was easy and I didn't have to pretend. I inhaled before blowing a huff of air over the flames, igniting a rupture of cheers from everyone.

I took the sharp knife that sat on the cart before cutting out a large slice of the cake for myself. "Alright, you all can dig in now!" I called out before slipping away from the hungry herd that ran over to the cake.

I began making my way over to one of the vacant tables when a large hand took hold of my waist, spinning me around. I gripped onto my plate of cake, sparing it from falling to the ground due to the swiftness of movement. I glared up, eyes meeting with the one who almost destroyed my slice of birthday cake.

"Really, Ryan?!"

He only gave me that same stupid, sexy smirk as he looked down at me. His eyes traveled down further, landing on my slice. Taking his long index finger, he swiped it along the top layer of icing before quickly eating it off.

How dare he?! This slice is reserved for me only!

"Do that again, Ryan, I dare you," I seethed.

He slightly cocked his head to the left as his eyebrow arched up. That smirk returned as he continued to look at me. Clearly he was thinking of accepting my challenge. I could barely even react from how fast his finger swiped across the icing again, this time he dabbed a bit of it on my nose.

I puffed my cheeks out in frustration as I wiped the tip of my nose clean again. "Must you be so childish?" 

He licked off the remaining of the icing that was left on his finger before chuckling at my words. "I've been eighteen for five months now. So you tell me, who's the real child here?"

"On the contrary, I'm all grown up starting today," I flipped my hair over my shoulder as I shot him a smirk. 

"Touche," he said as he eyed me over. "Cute dress," he commented as his gaze traveled from the short hem to the low neckline. He couldn't help but to stare three seconds too long at my exposed cleavage before snapping back to reality.

"What would I do without Ryan Lombardi's approval?" I sarcastically asked him as I folded my arms under my chest.

He smirked down at me again and opened his mouth, about to say something, when the other girls from my clique ran over to us. "Daisy!" Chelsea shouted at me, her green eyes widening in utter shock. 

I narrowed my brown orbs over to her. Did this dummy seriously just interrupt a conversation between Ryan and I?!

"What?!" I growled under my breath as I looked over at her and the rest of the girls.

"Chad is downstairs. He's making a scene because security won't let him in."

I rolled my eyes at the audacity of said idiot. What part of he's not on the guest list does he not understand? Ugh, all I want is for my special day to be drama free. Is that too much to ask?!

I sighed as I handed Ryan my plate of cake. 

Time for damage control...