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-'ˏ Margo's Pov ˎ'-

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The Hargrove's House

Feb 28 , 3:07 pm

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"Happy birthday to you!" The family sang out.

Rowan's smile was contagious as she grinned before pausing and blowing out her sixteen candles. Everyone clapped and cheered while Billy sneakily dipped his finger in some of the frosting and rubbed it on her nose.

Even then she still laughed and smiled before grinning up at her dad. He loudly laughed in response before bending down to kiss her forehead.

"Happy birthday baby. I love you." He said as he stepped back.

"Ew dad!" She exclaimed with a giggle before dramatically wiping off his kiss and the frosting.

"Present time!" Max yelled as she carried in a huge gift. Michelle quickly stepped forward and pulled the cake out of the way just as Max plopped the gift down.

Slowly Rowan's face peaked over the box as she began to unwrap it, revealing a large skateboard.

"Auntie Max!" She shrieked in delight as she stood up and started clapping excitedly.

"So we can go skateboarding together now?" She asked.

"Of course. As soon as your dad lets you out of his sight for once." She replied while lightly shoving Billy who was fiddling with something in his pocket.

He rolled his eyes before saying "She goes to school Max. That is out of my sight!".

She only rolled her eyes back in response before turning back to Rowan.

Michelle walked up with a smaller present and placed it in front of her, which Rowan immediately unwrapped. Revealing a small charm bracelet.

"Thank you Gramma." She says as she rolls it onto her wrist.

"I'm gonna outdo all of you!" Dustin screams. He proudly drops a bag onto the table before theatrically bowing. She smiles at him before digging her hands into the present. She takes her time before pulling out a large Dungeon and Dragons kit.

"Ta daaa!" Dustin says as he crosses his arms in satisfaction.

Her head tilts knowingly, giving me a look before she turns her attention back to him.

"Thank you uncle Dusty." She says as she fist bumps him. I stifle a laugh at her not enthusiastic response and my brothers lack of awareness to that fact.

Finally, Billy stepped up with his hands dug into his pockets.

"Where's my present, tell me you didn't forget!" She jokes with him.

"I didn't forget." He replies with a grin as his hand moves in his pocket.

He lightly drops his signature blue Camaro car keys into her open hand.

Quickly she jumps up and shoves past him as we laugh at her speed. We pile out into the driveway and watch her frantically rip open the trunk. When she doesn't find anything her face drops a little before she moves to peer into the backseat window.

"Where is it?" She asks her dad confused with her shoulders slumped.

Billy leans against the driver side door before he opens it with a smile. "All for you baby." He replies as he gestures for her to get in.

Her whole body freezes. "You're fucking with me. You're joking dad."

"Language!" He says with a laugh.

She stands there for a second before saying "When I blew out my candles, I wished for a car."

Suddenly she starts jumping up and down and shrieking at the top of her lungs. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Rowan sprints forward and around the open door to tackle Billy. He engulfs her in a hug as she still jumps up and down in his arms.

"Thank you dad!" She screams in his ear before letting go and practically throwing herself into the car.

"Calm down I haven't even taught you how to drive yet." He grumbled before getting into the passenger seat and already starting to scold her about hand placement on the wheel.

"When do I get a car?" Maxy asks.

Dustin ruffles his hair before saying "Well you better hope she doesn't crash it before you can get your hands on it!"

"Dustin!" I chide as I knock my shoulder into his on the way inside.

"What! I'm just saying the first time driver crash statistic is-"

"Oh shut up!" Max exclaims.

"Yeah! Shut up!" Maxy responds as he angrily clutches his toy Camaro.

"Language!" I say with a laugh before turning my head to see out of the door one last time.

I caught a glimpse of Rowan with her tongue stuck out in concentration as Billy explained how the gear shift worked to her animatedly.

I smile before shutting the door fully and letting the two trouble makers have their fun.

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In my head Max is alive and well and not blind !!!!!!!! I actually screamed and sobbed when she told Lucas that she was scared and not ready to die yet 🥲 who wants to jump the Duffer brothers with me because that shit was actually insane