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“Your birthday is over in a couple of minutes,” he says.
I didn’t need that reminder. “Yeah. I’m going to open it now. I’ll talk to you at school tomorrow.”
“I got to wait until tomorrow?”
“I doubt it’ll be worth the wait.”
“Better not be.”
“Thanks again for the cupcakes.”
“Happy birthday, Griffin. See you tomorrow.”
It’s weird seeing Theo’s dorm address on the package instead of his Manhattan address. I grab a pen and stab my way into the box. I pull out a pair of navy boots with black laces and a card.
The card reads:
Happy birthday, Griff. I saw these and thought of you immediately. You’ll look cooler than everyone else out here.
Your best friend in the apocalypse,
Theo.
P.S.: Wear these EVERYWHERE because the post office here sucks. EVERYWHERE, I SAY, EVERYWHERE.
It’s a great gift and I will wear the boots everywh
ere, but I don’t know how I can count on him to be my best friend during the apocalypse when he can’t even call me on my birthday. There’s still another two minutes.
I’m sure he’ll come through. Right?
Thursday, June 30th, 2016
Everything feels wrong. I’m hugging Theo for the first time since last August. I have both arms wrapped around him, with my chin pressed deep in his shoulder, and he’s hugging me like I’m his uncle, not best friend slash first love. Theo feels wrong.
He looks wrong too. He’s come home with a slight tan I didn’t really expect because of all the filtered photos he uploads. I don’t want him to look unhappy, but I don’t like how airy he seems, like life has finally made sense now that he left.
“It’s great seeing you guys,” Theo says, hugging Wade a lot more intimately than he does me. It’s not like Jackson is here and can see us; he’s vacationing with his father this week in Cancun. I’d be surprised if it’s actually for “father-son bonding” and not a guilt trip.
“You too,” I say, burying my hands in my pockets.
“It’s been a minute,” Wade says.
Theo sees the boots he got me for my birthday, the toes scratched from how often I wear them. “The boots!”
“I’m wearing them everywhere, as requested,” I say.
“Good going on messing up his birthday,” Wade says.
“Honest mistake,” Theo says. “It’s weird thinking of Griffin being born on an odd-numbered day. At least I got the shoe size right!”
Why can’t Theo’s coming home ever be simple? Even though Jackson isn’t here with him this time, I still feel his presence all afternoon. Theo avoids saying his name so he doesn’t set me off. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer it this way, but whenever Theo’s about to talk about him, he turns to me and changes the subject, like I should feel guilty. He’s also checking his phone constantly, answering Jackson’s texts immediately. I can’t wait until we’re underground on our way to Brooklyn for randomness so his California me-knockoff can’t reach him.
On our way to the train station, Wade brings up colleges. “I don’t think I could be away from home that long. I’m probably going to stick around here in the city next fall.”
“It’s not the worst thing,” Theo says.
It’s not the worst thing because he’s found himself paradise, whereas the rest of us are stuck here missing him, alone. “I’m definitely applying to SMC,” I say.
