✐ᝰ5 𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻જ⁀

"Happy birthday, Gem!" everyone yelled in unison. "Okay, let's have Gem open her dad's present first since it's her birthday." Cameron suggested smiling at me. I looked forward to what my dad had gotten me.

My dad handed me a box with a big smile on his face. As I took off the lid, a soccer ball was visible, wrapped in shiny wrapping paper. The word "Gem" was written on it with sparkling gems. I moved it aside and found three books in the box. "Wow, thanks dad! I love it!" I looked up at him and hugged him tightly.

"Okay, now it's time for my gift," Cameron said, a smile on his face. After I sat down, he handed me a gift bag containing a journal. My dad playfully feigned offense, saying, "Seriously, a journal?"

I thanked Cameron, smiling, knowing only he and Bash knew about my fondness for journaling. Cameron had overheard me discussing it with Bash five months prior. "It's perfect," I said, genuinely appreciating the gift. Opening the journal, I traced over the smooth pages, thinking about the countless stories I'd write in it.

Bash, who had been quietly watching, broke the silence, "You know, I got you a gift too."Bash interjected with an excited look. Bash handed me a beautiful memory box, and as I opened it my eyes widened with nostalgia. Pictures of me and Bash together filled the box. There was a polaroid of us playing soccer when I was five and he was six, a booth picture from the cinema, and a snapshot of our Halloween costumes, me as a witch and him as a vampire. I smiled warmly, my eyes welling up with emotion. "You remembered all these moments," I said to Bash, flipping through the photos.

The picture from the cinema had us both grinning widely, standing in front of the giant movie billboard. The picture of us in our Halloween costumes brought back the memory of us trick-or-treating together, his vampire fangs showing as he laughed. My fingertips gently touched the polaroid picture of us playing soccer. I could still hear the sound of our laughter and the feel of the grass under our feet back then. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I remembered the carefree joy of that moment.

Bash chuckled at the memory of our Halloween costumes. "Remember the time we scared everyone on your street with our costumes," he recalled, a mischievous grin spreading on his lips. A smile tugged at my lips as I remembered that night. It was a chilly October night, and we had decided to prank the neighborhood with our costumes. We walked from house to house, knocking loudly and demanding candy with our best sinister voices. Faces of children and adults alike would turn pale before us, only to relax after they realized who we were. Bash's fangs and my witch hat never failed to fool people, or so we thought at the age of 6.

After we had spooked everyone in the neighborhood, we retreated to my porch, exhausted from all the trick-or-treating. Sitting on the porch steps, we laughed uncontrollably, our stomachs hurting from all the candy we had eaten. The memory of that night was one I would always cherish. "That night was probably the funniest prank we ever pulled," I said to Bash, still smiling. His eyes gleamed as he remembered the next part of the memory. "Yeah, and do you remember what happened right after that?" Bash asked, his voice dripping with excitement.

I was about to reply when Cameron interrupted us, "Okay, okay, guys. Enough reminiscing. The ice cream cake is gonna melt," he jested, gesturing to the cake that sat on the dining table. We both snapped out of our reminiscing, chuckling at Cameron's interruption. The ice cream cake that laid on the table indeed looked like it was starting to melt a bit, the cream already starting to form a puddle around it. "Can we at least finish one memory before we eat the cake?" I asked, not quite ready to leave the nostalgic moment. Bash, understanding my desire to revisit more memories, suggested we finish the cake and continue reminiscing later. "We can finish the memory another time," he said, gently guiding me toward the dining table where our dads were waiting.

Reluctantly, I nodded my head, knowing that we would probably finish the memory later that night. I looked at the ice cream cake, my dad and Cameron were anticipating our arrival, waiting for us to join them. As we joined our dads, I couldn't help but cast a final glance at the memory box. The moments and memories captured in the photos sparkled in my mind. I reminded myself that we would continue digging through the memories soon enough. For now, though, the ice cream cake called.

We sat around the table, enjoying the birthday cake. The creamy cheesecake flavor was a perfect choice, as it was my favorite. I took a spoonful of the creamy goodness, and with a satisfied grin, I savored every tasty bite. My dad smiled as he watched me enjoy the cake. "I knew you would like it," he said as he took a spoonful of the cake himself. The rich taste of the cheesecake filling our mouths caused the room to be silent for a few moments, everyone completely focused on the delicious treat before us.

Cameron was the first to break the silence. "Dang, this is good," he exclaimed, wiping the cream from his lip. "We really know how to choose a good cake, don't we?" he said, looking at my dad with a jokingly smug expression. I looked at Cameron, surprised he had helped with the cake as well. I had assumed my dad had gone to the store to get it all by himself, but instead, both my dad and Cameron had worked together to make this special birthday treat. "Wow, you helped with the cake too, Cameron?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Cameron chuckled, a prideful look in his eyes. "Yep," he responded, "Your dad and I went shopping together to pick out the perfect cake, and man, did we nail it or what?" I started laughing, Bash joining in on the laughter. I expressed my gratitude to Cameron and my dad, "Thank you both, this cake is incredible. And yes, you guys definitely nailed it," I said with a smile, enjoying the delicious dessert.

After we were done with the cake Bash and I sat on my bed in my room, the door partially closed. The room was cozy and dimly lit, creating a private atmosphere where conversations could occur.

"Bash," I began, looking him in the eyes, "can I tell you something?" His gaze met mine, and he nodded encouragingly. "Of course, you can tell me anything," he replied kindly, his voice laced with genuine interest. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, then spoke, "You know that we've been friends for a long time, and these past few years, have been some of the best years of my life, right?" He smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "Yeah, I feel the same way," he responded, his tone sincere. "These years have been amazing, and having you as a... friend has made it even better." I paused, looking down at my hands as I fidgeted with the bed sheet. "I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you, and I don't know what I would do without you," I confessed, my voice filled with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability.

Bash reached out and gently placed his hand on mine, his touch warm and comforting. "You don't have to worry about that," he reassured me, his voice gentle. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what." I smiled at his words, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I know, but sometimes, it's nice to hear it, you know?" I admitted, realizing how fortunate I was to have him as a friend. He nodded, understanding my sentiment. "I get it," he said, his words filled with empathy. "And I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it, you can count on me, no matter what."I squeezed his hand gratefully, appreciating his unwavering support. "Thanks, Bash," I replied, feeling grateful for his presence in my life. "You're the best friend a girl could ask for." He chuckled lightly, a faint blush on his cheeks, but quickly composed himself. "I just do my best to keep up with you," he replied playfully, attempting to divert from the emotional moment.

Cameron's voice called out for him to leave. Bash and I shared a knowing look, expressing our mutual disappointment. Reluctantly, he stood up, getting ready to head out. "I guess it's time for me to go," he said with a tinge of resignation in his voice. I nodded, also feeling saddened by his departure. I stood up and opened my arms wide. "Hug before you go?" I asked, a hopeful tone in my voice. Without a second thought, Bash wrapped his arms around me in a warm and tight embrace. I returned the hug, clinging onto him, not wanting to let go. We held each other for a few moments, savoring the comfort of our embrace. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, and time seemed to stand still for those few seconds of connection. Finally, Bash pulled away, his hands lingering on my shoulders for a moment before fully letting go. "See you Monday," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice, but also a determination to remain optimistic. I smiled warmly, forcing myself to let go of my melancholy. "Bye," I replied, my voice steady.

Today was Friday, which meant I would be at my mom's house until Sunday. Time to have a second birthday...

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Wonder how it's gonna go at Gemma's moms place🤔👀
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