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“Not really. I have practice after school, and then I was thinking of sleeping over at Sarah’s tonight.” I wait, but my mother doesn’t bat an eyelash.
I’m grateful the real estate market has been booming. She hasn’t been to her book club in months, which is the only way I’ve been getting away with the number of times I’ve supposedly been at one of my friend’s houses lately.
“Sounds good, honey,” is all she says. “We’ll celebrate as a family on Saturday, all right?”
“Yup, that sounds good,” I reply, shoveling cereal into my mouth. I glance at the clock. I’m running late. Rapidly finishing my breakfast, I put my dishes in the dishwasher. “I’ve got to get to school. Did Liam already leave?”
“Yes, he and your father headed in early for some film review, I believe. I’ll be glad when this game against Alleghany is over. Those two are running themselves ragged.”
“Yeah, I will be too,” I reply. More than she knows. “I’ll see you later, Mom.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
I’m late enough I have to park in the furthest lot from the school’s main entrance. I’m glad I put on my down winter jacket on the way out the door. It feels especially chilly this morning. Any trace of summer is long gone, but the brisk gusts of wind making the dead leaves that litter the parking lot dance indicate winter is just around the corner.
I burst through the blasé front doors of Glenmont High just as the morning announcements are starting. I rush past the few students lingering in the hallway and hurry into my first period Chemistry class. I give my teacher an apologetic smile as I take my seat.
As soon as I settle in it, I’m reminded Glenmont High includes birthdays in the morning announcements. When every head swivels in my direction. Just like every other year since kindergarten, Liam and I’s names are the only two announced.
Once the loudspeaker shuts off, Sam starts an off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday” that the entire class joins in on. It’s both sweet and supremely embarrassing.
I’m flooded with well wishes from classmates all morning. On my way to third period, I see Liam for the first time. He gives me a hug.
“Happy birthday, little sis.”
“Happy birthday, big bro by two minutes,” I respond.
Liam grins at me before continuing down the locker-lined hallway.
When I enter the cafeteria, Brooke and Sarah both leap up and give me hugs.
Sarah pushes a small pink box toward me. “Happy Birthday, Maeve!” I open it to find a chocolate peanut butter cupcake from my favorite bakery in Glenmont.
“Awww, thank you guys,” I tell them. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Of course we did,” Brooke replies. “You only turn eighteen once, Maeve. Speaking of, when are we celebrating? You only have practice until six tonight, right?”
I’m saved from having to answer when I’m suddenly lifted up and spun around. I turn to see Matt’s smiling face. “Happy Birthday!”
I smile. “Thanks, Matt.”
“A twirl, Crawford?” Sam asks as he takes a seat at our usual table. “You better up your game. I managed a thirty-person serenade, and I’m not even the one with a thing for Maeve.”
The words are teasing, so I expect Matt to laugh or make a joke. Instead, he glares at Sam. An awkward silence descends upon the table, and I scramble to fill it.
“I can’t do today, Brooke. But let’s celebrate this weekend, okay?”
She’s quick to follow my lead. “Perfect. I’ll start planning!”
That worries me slightly. Birthday celebrations Brooke has planned in previous years have included prank calls and a visit from the Glenmont Fire Department. But I’m more preoccupied by what Sam just said, and how Matt reacted. Sam’s always been a jokester, but something tells me he was stating the truth about Matt’s feelings.
I add Matt’s possible interest in me to the ever-growing list of things that could easily implode on me at any moment.
The rest of lunch is uneventful, and the twenty-five minutes that normally feel short seem to drag. Mostly because I keep checking my phone.
Sarah catches me obsessively tapping the screen. “You expecting a message, Maeve?” she teases.
“Ha, no,” I lie. “Just eager for school to be over.”
