I woke up giddy, expecting to see Julio beside me as soon as I opened my eyes. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten that he hadn't been able to come over the night before.

I got dressed for school, scrolling through and replying to the 'happy birthday' texts I'd gotten from old friends in SF. It was sad that, now, I barely spoke to people I used to spending everyday with.

Ally was going to pick me up for school, and she had a habit of coming early because she enjoyed homeroom for some reason, which meant that I had to be ready by 7:20.

"Ah, there you are." My mother said, in her usual clipped tone. It was a Wednesday, so why was she here? Was she here to ruin my birthday?

"Yes?" I asked, pointedly. 7:15- Ally would be here any minute.

"You're having a birthday party tonight at Jack's house. Tell whatever friends you've managed to make. It was Jack's idea. He's fond of you, for some reason, so don't you dare slip up and mess this up for me." She ordered, and didn't say another word. How did she know it was my birthday? It was probably Charlie who told Jack, and when Jack mentioned it to my mother, she would've pretended to know already.

I was touched that Jack wanted to throw me a party, but I didn't think it was really what I wanted. I'd just wanted a quiet day, with only Julio to keep me company.

Chase had called me at midnight, telling me that my present was in my closet, under the fancy clothes I rarely wore– it was a pair of rose gold earrings that had probably cost him a fortune–and Ally, Chris, Ryo and Romi had texted at around the same time. Julio hadn't said a word, and I just hoped he remembered. I mean, I wouldn't blame him if he'd forgotten, but it would be nice if he knew.

But, now, my birthday was already ruined and the day had just begun.

"Happy birthday!" Ally yelled, storming into the kitchen and hugging me. I hadn't even heard the doorbell ring, I'd been so absorbed in my own thoughts.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed, returning her hug.

"Happy birthday, Tay." Romi said, entering the kitchen after I'd gotten Ally off of me, much less enthusiastically and much more gently.

"Oh, hey, thank you!" I said, smiling widely. I couldn't hug her because Ally was holding on to my arm happily, chattering away.

"So, I'm so glad that you're having a party! It's going to be great." Ally said suddenly, and I looked at her, alarmed.

"How did you know I was going to have a party? My mom told me, like, two minutes ago."

"Please, this entire thing was practically my idea. When Charlie was feeling particularly guilty the day before yesterday, I told him I wished that there was a way to throw you a party, and he immediately agreed. I'm pretty sure he broached the subject with his dad the same day, because the next day he told me that Jack was throwing you a party."

This girl was a mastermind. However, when she said that Charlie was feeling 'particularly guilty' I just felt bad for her. Judging by Romi's expression, she did, too.

My day significantly brightened by these two amazing girls, I headed to school with a lighter spirit, after eating a muffin that Ally had got me from this adorable little bakery, apparently to tide me over till tonight, when I'd get my presents.

"Happy birthday, Taylor." Chris said, the moment I saw him by the doors, engulfing me in a hug so tight I thought he'd break something. The boy was serious linebacker material. He was on the football team, I knew, but my lack of school spirit had resulted in me not knowing what position as I hadn't been to a single game.

"Thanks, Chris!" I said, kissing him on the cheek. The past few weeks, I'd been looking for another gay guy in this place so that I could set him up. He, of all people, deserved love.

"Happy birthday, idiot." Ryo ruffled my hair. He wasn't really a hug person, so I didn't touch him, choosing to only smile at him.

"Thanks. Are you coming to my party tonight?"

"That depends." He said, grinning at Chris over my shoulder. Those two had become surprisingly good friends. "Will your mother throw me out?"

"Please, she wouldn't risk anything like that in front of Jack." I scoffed, looking over their heads for some sign that my boyfriend was around, like crying children or relentless storm clouds.

"Then, sure." He agreed, shrugging. "It's not like I've got anything better to do."

"Lover boy isn't here?" Chris asked, throwing his arm around my shoulders, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Haha." I said humorlessly, rolling my eyes. Chris hadn't left me alone since he found out that Julio and I were dating.

"Speaking of lover boy," Ally began, reminding me that she was still there, "You two are getting pretty serious, huh?" She noted, smirking.

"Okay, now it's time for us to leave." Chris said, as he extricated himself from me. Ryo nodded, seeming to agree with him.

"See you tonight." I called after them, momentarily forgetting that Ryo was in Physics with me.

"So," Romi prodded, giggling, "Give us all the details on your relationship." I'd always assumed that she wouldn't be a huge fan of Julio and I together, but she seemed to be more than okay with it.

"There's nothing to tell." I blushed, brushing it off, "Everything is amazing. He's amazing. He's surprisingly sweet."

"Are you in lurve?" Ally teased, as we headed to our lockers, all of which were in the same vicinity.

"I think I'm really, really close." I confessed, admitting it to myself even as I admitted it to them.

"Wow." She sounded speechless for once, like she hadn't been expecting that. "Haven't you guys been dating for, like, a month?"

"We've been dating since the 27th of November, so I'd say a month and a half, 'cause today's the 15th of January."

"Time really does fly, huh?" Romi remarked, before adding. "I have to go meet Brad before homeroom, so I'll see you later. Have a great day, birthday girl!"

She hugged both Ally and I, although my hug was longer, before disappearing down the hallway to see her boyfriend. I wanted to see my boyfriend.

"And then there were two." I noted, and Ally giggled. "Come on, we should get to homeroom."

*

Julio didn't show up to Physics, and so the first part of my day was spent trying to figure out where my boyfriend was.

After the third text I sent him, I finally got a response, asking me to meet him during lunch. If he broke up with me on my birthday, I didn't care how much I liked him, I'd still murder him.

So, during lunch I waited in the parking lot, hoping to God that he wasn't going to dump me.

Finally, he came, his motorcycle making too much noise as usual. He took off the helmet, shaking his hair out.

Judging by the smile on his face as he approached me, and the little crinkle that emerged by his eyes that I adored, my worst fears weren't about to be realized.

"Hey, princess." He said, resting his hands on my hips as he leaned in for a kiss. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you." I breathed, placing a hand on his arm, going for another kiss. "I missed you today."

"I missed you, too." He promised. "But, come on, I have to give you something first."

"Okay." I let him lead me closer to the bike. On the seat of his motorcycle, there was a little white cardboard box, the kind that cake came in, which he gave to me.

"Happy birthday." He said again, sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as I opened it.

My jaw dropped when I saw what it was. A chocolate cake, looking slightly lopsided but still perfect, with the words 'Happy Birthday Taylor' written on it with with icing. It wasn't homemade, but the gesture still shook me.

"Is this from Celia's?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"Yeah, I remember you telling me how much you loved this stuff so I decided that there wasn't really anything better to get you for your birthday than this."

"Did you seriously go out to San Francisco just to get me cake from my favorite bakery?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yeah." He shrugged, like it was no big deal.

"Julio..." I started, pausing before continuing, "I didn't think anything could possibly beat my Christmas present but this is quite possibly the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."

Julio met my eyes with a hesitant smile. He'd never looked so unsure before in front of me and my heart ached at the sight. I'd never met somebody who made me feel so much.

I carefully set the cake back down on the seat before throwing my arms around him and hugging him tightly. I was perfectly aware that we were in the middle of the school parking lot where anyone could see us, but that was the last thing on my mind.

He smelled familiar, like pine and mint, like home.

A rush of emotion hit me, and mixed in with the rest was one that scared me yet exhilarated me much more than the others.

"I love you." I voiced my thoughts, slightly muffled by his shoulder as he held on just as tight.

"Are you sure?" He asked almost vulnerably, pulling back enough to look me in the eye.

"I don't think I've ever been surer about anything else in my life." I informed him, leaning up to press my lips to his as his eyes filled with unadulterated joy.

It was the truth.