Page 40 of Make You Beg

Unlike me, they enjoy socializing. I prefer my quiet. Some chocolate, a good TV show, or a smutty book under the blankets. For me it’s the perfect way to spend the evening. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to get away with this.

Jasmin shows up behind Kira and suffocates me with her affection next. “Happy birthday, girlie. We were going to bring you a present, but we thought we’d do something better and take you out for dinner, before giving you the night of your life. There might be a stop or two in places involving underage drinking and stolen alcohol.” She winks at me.

“Well, I mean, we did get you something.” Kira nudges Jasmin. “Here.”

She hands me a gift with wrinkled wrapping.

I am quick to unwrap it and am met with a big bow hair clip that shines bright purple.

“This is so cute!” I hug both my friends. “Thank you.”

“So, we’re heading out, yeah?” Jasmin asks.

“Not with her dressed like this.” Kira points at my outfit.

A lilac pajama set with white flowers on it.

“Oh, heck no.”

“Let’s go to your room. We can gossip about school drama while we wait for you to get ready.”

It’s Saturday, which means we’re off from school. I didn’t want to do anything, but the sudden serotonin in my veins is undeniable. That’s the thing about friends, you might want to stay home and be a couch potato, but their energy can change your mind in a second.

“I was going to suggest we stay home, make popcorn, and watch a movie, but your idea sounds more fun,” I say.

“Oh, absolutely not.” Kira shakes her head. “What are we? Seventeen?”

Jasmin giggles.

Kira’s birthday was last month, kissing our summer vacation goodbye. And Jasmin’s was in June. Being a September baby, I’m the last one to become of age in our friend group.

I laugh with them.

“It’s your eighteenth birthday; we have to do something proper!” Jasmin says, steepling her fingers in an evil-mastermind kind of way. She’s definitely planning something.

Nostalgia fills me up as we go up to my room, and the girls jump on my bed while I debate whether to wear a dress or the classic jeans and T-shirt.

Soon, we’re all going our separate ways to different colleges. We promised to keep in touch, but I don’t know if that’ll hold up.

This makes me even more eager to spend this time with them on my birthday.

I end up going with a lilac camisole that matches the hairpin I got, and washed-out jeans.

“Hey Mads, what’s this?” Kira, who’s lurking at my desk, picks something up and flashes it at me.

My eyes widen at the sight of the red puck.

Last thing I remember, I left it with Kayden. I’d hoped for once, he would be the one calling me, but this past month, we’ve both been busy. Him, with the coding and nagging from his dad, and me, starting my senior year.

As much as I enjoyed our conversations and our time on the roof, life got in the way.

We greet each other daily and make small talk during dinner, a typical stepsister and brother relationship. We haven’t gotten deep with each other again.

I try not to make a big deal out of it or think too much of it. I have no idea what we’re doing. I won’t lie, being at school without him, and not having him being a dick to me in the halls, is lackluster. I can’t believe we’re not pushing each other’s buttons anymore. That we finally came to terms that we’re stuck together.

Fuck, being at each other’s throats was exhausting.

But…I think I miss the attention it brought me.