SCHEDULES ARE CREATED for a reason. They keep you organized, they keep you on track, and they keep you from spiraling out of control. Despite all the teasing I get, there's no denying my schedules work when carried through. I just wish more people would understand that and as a result, not constantly pull me from my schedule.

I want to strangle Darren when he breaks into my room and pinches my nipples to wake me right when I've fallen asleep. I reach for his neck and I'm close to carrying my threat out until he explains himself in a quick moment of defense.

"I'm sorry, man. Me, Aleena, and Summer are going to the lake and your girl insists on inviting you for some reason." He turns his head to the door, where Summer and Aleena are perched by the entrance. "I told you he'd try to kill me if I woke him early."

I'm still in a hazy half-asleep state, but when Summer strides towards me in her sweat shorts and tank top, I'm instantly awake.

She crouches down to the side of my bed and smoothes the hair out of my face. "Will you come to the lake with us?"

"Yes," I say instantly.

She could ask me to come rob a bank and I'd say yes. Especially with this sweet voice, especially looking this good.

I get ready in five minutes. With my head in the nook of Summer's shoulder and arms around her waist, we make our way to Darren's Tesla in the dead of night.

"You have time for this?" I ask.

We've maintained a nice steadiness when it comes to spending time together, but sometimes I worry she's putting stuff off, dropping them completely to meet up with me. For us to work, we can't lose sight of the individual goals we had before our relationship started.

"Memories that will last a lifetime?" She says. "Of course. Plus a wise man once told me, when I find that right person, I should make the time."

I smile at her, grabbing her jaw to plant a light kiss on her lips. Once my mouth connects with hers I can't help it, the spark is lit and the only thing my body wants to do is dig deeper, stay connected longer.

We spend most of the ride to the lake making out in the back seat. Darren and Aleena make some gagging sounds, but they mostly let us be.

When Darren parks at our destination, a new happiness takes over. This shabby abandoned lake has really grown on me. It holds so much importance to our relationship.

Before I can reach for the door to get out, Summer holds me back in and snakes her hands over my eyes.

"Close his eyes, Summer," Aleena says.

"I closed them." Summer responds.

"Why are we closing my eyes?" I ask, being forced against my will to maneuver out of the car awkwardly with Summer refusing to stop restricting my sight with her soft hands. My head is dragged back twice and the second time, I nearly fall completely to the ground but she still persists.

"It's a surprise." Darren muses with mischief that adds a level of fear to my curiosity.

They're tight-lipped after that and we walk slowly for a few beats in silence until Summer holds me back from walking further.

"Alright, I'm gonna remove my hands now," she says, dramatically pulling her hands from my eyes in slow motion.

When they're gone, I look at my surroundings and a new smile tugs at my mouth, this time accompanied with slight embarrassment.

They've hooked Christmas lights around two surrounding trees by the picnic table then tied a large banner to their branches. Happy birthday, Carter, it says. The table is lit with candles, a speaker, and a basket.

"Happy-" Darren starts, then stops himself, studying his watch. "No, not yet, thirty more seconds.

I awkwardly lean to the side as all three of them count the thirty seconds down. They really didn't need to do this.

"Three, two, one, happy birthday, Carter!" they scream and before I can even let the embarrassment reach its max, they lunge at me in a coordinated effort that catches me completely off guard.

"Shit." I hiss, feeling myself and the three dumbass people I love falling to the ground.

We hit the grass with a thump that's nothing compared to the punches they supply to my chest and arms in quick succession. The pain is light and bearable enough that laughter is my only reaction. Even with Aleena beating my chest, Summer punching my arm, Darren's dry-ass hands slapping my face.

"That's enough, guys." Summer taps Aleena and Darren's hands off of me, laying her body over mine in a protective way. "No more abusing my boyfriend."

"Happy birthday." She whispers in my ear and kisses my cheek where Darren's hand was just working. All the pain is gone in an instant.

"Thank you." I kiss her back.

After Darren and Aleena get off the ground, Summer lifts herself from me and holds her hand out to help me up. She doesn't have the strength to lift half of my body weight but I take her hand anyway and do most of the work.

"It's a shame she made us stop," Darren says. "I'm finally getting all that pent-up anger out. Next year I'll finally get that punch, I guess."

I snort at him. "They're supposed to be birthday punches, not birthday slaps, you dickhead. And who says you have to wait till next year? Let's go right now."

Darren is smart to show panic at my look, but he's not smart enough to start running before I charge towards him. He bolts before I can reach him and I rush right behind with determination in my sprint.

It doesn't hurt that I hear Summer cheering me on from a distance. "You can get him, Carter," she says.

"No you can't." Aleena cuts in with her own encouragement. "Run, Darren, run." She screams.

Darren is slightly faster than me on a regular day and he shows it tonight in his unwavering speed. His lead is only shortened when he trips on a rock and is slowed down.

I take advantage of his mishap by diving onto him. We fall to the ground again and tumble to the side until we're inches from the edge of the lake. I hook my arm around his neck and keep him in a headlock.

"I'm sorry, bro. You know when I slap you it's with love." He's wheezing and gasping for air.

"And you know when I choke you it's with love." I counter back.

We shove and twist, using our strength to pin one another down in an impromptu wrestling match. Darren and I do this all the time. Challenge each other, push each other to our limits, but it's all in fun, always safe.

"Real men take their birthday slaps in stride," he says, escaping from my grasp to get himself standing.

I follow him up. "I'll take it in stride after I toss you in that water, how about that?"

By that point I can hear Summer and Aleena come towards us, running with much less speed then Darren and I employed. While Darren is distracted staring at Aleena and her long hair waving in the wind, I push him over the edge of the lake straight into the water.

He falls in with a high-pitched scream. The splash is so large that a good amount of it showers me after his fall.

When he rises back to the surface, he wipes his eyes and spits out the water that got in his mouth. "You're so lucky it's your birthday."

I watch him flap around, tilting my head back to laugh. I'm in the moment enjoying the fruits of my labor so much that I don't notice when Summer and Aleena finally catch up to us.

Darren's struggling turns into a smirk and before I can figure out the cause of his changed mood, four hands are on my back pushing me into the water. Had I been paying attention I'd be able to hold myself back but I wasn't, and now I hit the water with a crash and sink in its dark body until the shock wears off.

I swim back up to the surface, landing right besides Darren. I'm already uncomfortable from the feel of my wet clothes clinging to me, but I can't be too mad, not with Darren smiling at me and the girls infectiously laughing at the edge.

I lean into him, keeping my voice low enough so only Darren hears. "You think we should go back out and drag them both in?"

"Hell yeah. You grab your girl, I'll grab mine." He whispers back.

"What are you guys talking about?" Aleena nervously asks.

We trudge through the water to the edge and hoist ourselves out. My hair sticks to my face, my T-shirt clings to my chest, and my jeans feel like someone's added a ten pound brink to each leg.

"We're just gonna step out of the water and carry on the festivities, that's all." Darren lifts his arms and shugs.

We walk to them in sync and with each step we take forward, they take one fearful step back. They can see through our bullshit. Good. It still won't save them in the end though.

I'm laser focused on Summer. She knows I'm coming after her and she's rightfully terrified because of it.

"Wait, before you do anything rash, let us get into our bikinis first at least." she pleads.

I shake my head, reaching for her waist. "One person gets tossed in fully clothed, we all do. That's the rule."

While she bargains, Aleena has already given up, and allows Darren to dive back into the water with her caught in his arms.

I tip Summer's chin up and plant a kiss on her lips, then lift her up over my shoulder and keep my hand secure over her legs as I stride back towards the water.

"Please, I love you. Don't do this during black history month." She clutches the back of my wet shirt.

"It's April, Summer." I lift her off my shoulder and fling her into the lake. As soon as she lands in the water, I diligently watch the spot she falls in, until her head pops back up. Only then can I let out a breath and continue the fun. "If it's any consolation, I'll let you throw a taco at me for next hispanic heritage month."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." She chokes out a chuckle and wipes her hair out of her face.

She looks beyond beautiful in this moonlight. I need to get closer and feel her against me, so I dive back into the water and swim past Darren and Aleena's intense makeout session to get to her. She opens her arms out, waiting for me to scoop her up and I do just that.

"You okay?" I plant kisses up and down her neck.

She tilts her head, allowing me more access.

"With you by my side, I'm more than okay."

"Thank you for all of this." I breathe against her neck.

"This is just the start, birthday boy."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, looking at her.

She winks and kisses my forehead. "Be patient and you'll see."

She probably means the rest of this night. Being here with her and two friends, I wouldn't think of doing it myself, but it was a perfect choice. I couldn't have asked for a better celebration despite how much I don't like celebrating.

We kiss for a lingering moment, then separate to continue fooling around. Summer splashes water in my face and swims around me, trying to play fight and duck me into the water, and I do the same to her. I get her under twice, then ease up to allow her to push me down for a change of pace. Also to see her excited face and victory dance when she thinks she's beaten me fair and square.

To be more comfortable, we all head back to shore and peel off our soaked clothes, wringing the water out of each item and laying them across the picnic table to somewhat dry. There's probably no hope for our shoes, and I'd definitely rather stay barefoot until we get back instead of slipping my feet back into my mushy sneakers.

This time, we all jump back into the water voluntarily. Aleena decides we should play a game of chicken, so she goes over Darren's shoulder and Summer sits over mine.

I keep her knees locked in and steady while she reaches over and attempts to push Aleena off of Darren's shoulder. Both girls are competitive and maintain a back and forth that goes on longer than I thought it would.

Darren's grip on Aleena slips for half a second and it's enough for Summer to go for one push and knock her off of him. Aleena crashes into the water and Darren immediately scoops her back up to comfort her.

"It's okay, baby. You played a good game." He kisses her cheek.

"Screw a good game, I want to win. Saddle back up, pony." She hops back onto Darren's shoulder.

We play two more games and with Aleena's determination, they end up winning two-to-one.

By that point the water's temperature has lowered so much that goosebumps prinkle on my skin and with the other shivering, we get out for good.

Darren goes to connect his phone to the speakers and Aleena hands out towels, while Summer grabs the picnic basket. She sprawls a large cloth blanket onto the floor and we take a seat while Darren and Aleena argue over who's playlist to play.

"Baby, I do not want to listen to the Hairspray soundtrack at one in the morning. We need some blood pumping music, like Drake's new album," Darren says.

"How about we meet in the middle and play Harry Styles?" Aleena says.

"How is Harry Styles in the middle of those two?" Darren asks, but with one pout from Aleena, he relents and lets her play her artist.

While they talk about Harry's new album, Summer takes a slice of chocolate cake out. She opens the container and places a candle on top, then pulls out a lighter and lights it up. She scoots closer to me and I pull her into my lap.

The candle illuminates her face until she shifts the container into hand. "There, make a wish."

I grab the cake and just to appease her, close my eyes. I don't believe in any birthday wishing crap, but I do put one hope into my mind. I hope for Summer and I make it through, if we're truly meant to be.

I'm not some philosophical manifesting person, but I let this hope linger, then I blow out the candle.

Summer leans in and kisses me. "It's bad luck to ask what you wished for so I'm just gonna say, I hope it was a good wish."

I squeeze her hip and drink in her intoxicating scent. "It was. I kinda wish Sam was here, though. I think this would've been a good distraction for her."

Summer makes a face, then steers her eyes from mine. "She probably couldn't make it."

"What's with the look?" I half-laugh.

Summer goes quiet and presses her mouth into a line before a small grin spreads on her lips. "I think I got something in my eye, that's all."

"Well let me help you get it out then." I lightly blow into each eye and wipe the corners until she assures me whatever got in is out.

Aleena and Darren join us on the blanket, and together, we all eat the slice of cake and Mcdonalds, enjoying the music, laughing at each others' jokes, kissing and not wishing to be any other place than right here, right now.