Unparalleled

After school, I
walk home with my siblings
like normal
(because being driven home
by Natalia
is definitely not normal).
Euni looks like she's
bursting with some kind of secret,
while Thias is buried
in his phone again -
an increasingly common thing
for my older brother.
What's become even more common
is the frown stuck
on his lips, like someone
had pasted it on.
It doesn't look natural on him,
and that worries me
more than a little.

But I have no time
to spend fussing over him
before my sister bursts
with her news.
"Guess who got invited
to a party this weekend?"
she squeals, resulting in
Thias rolling his eyes
and me groaning under my breath.
"It's gonna be so much fun -
you should come with, Matty,
even though you hate parties.
And Thias, too, and Sara can-"

"I'm already going,"
I interrupt, saving Thias
from having to reply when
he obviously doesn't want
to say a word to anyone.
Euni shoots me
a startled glance, while
Thias gives me a grateful,
yet tight-lipped smile.
If I look closely,
I can see a bit of
half-hidden misery in his eyes,
but I can't even guess
the cause of it.
"Natalia already told me about it -
Seth, too.
But I can't believe that she
would invite you
of all people."

If she had noticed
that thinly veiled insult,
she doesn't let on.
"Oh, right,"
she says,
"you're Talia's friend.
Of course you would
know about it."
Then, she drops
her voice to a whisper
and say conspiratorially,
"Have you gotten her
a present yet?"

I have no idea
what she's talking about
for a moment -
but then, suddenly,
it hits me.
Birthday party.
Right.
I've never had to buy
a birthday present
for someone before,
unless you count those
that my mom would buy
on my behalf
for various family members
or the birthday kid
at parties I went to
in elementary school.
I've never had a close enough friend
that it was necessary before.

But now, I realize,
I do have to get her a gift
because it probably would be
really bad if I didn't.
I don't know what to get her,
though, considering I've
only known her for a couple months.
What in the world
does Natalia Davis even like?
What am I supposed to
get her as a present?

As soon as we get home,
I run to my and Euni's room
and shut the door behind me
as I jump onto my bed.
After a couple moments of scrolling
through my contacts list
and staring at the screen
(mostly staring),
I punch in a text to Seth,
presenting the question
I've been puzzling over for
the past half hour or so.
What do I get
Natalia for her birthday?

A present,
he replies helpfully
after a few minutes,
to which I flop back
on my back with a groan
and an eye roll.
I'm sure you'll
think of something,
he adds a second later,
as if aware of my frustration.
Girls like Natalia
like makeup and clothes
and stuff like that, right?
There you go.

I don't want to
buy her a generic gift, though.
You've known her for
longer than I have -
what does she like?
This really isn't fair,
being expected to be able
to pick out the perfect gift
for my new friend when
I barely even know her at all.
Why couldn't her birthday
have been in August, anyway?
I'd have a whole year
to come up with a gift,
and we wouldn't have to deal with
idiots freezing in her pool
at her birthday party, besides.
But no -
it has to be in December.

Tell you what,
Seth texts back at length.
We can go pick out presents
together on Friday,
if you want.
Two heads are better than one,
after all, and I'm sure
we'll find something
if we look around.

Are you asking me
on another date?
I can't help a tiny smile
at his not-so-subtle suggestion.

No!
he shoots back -
and if I wasn't so worried
about what I'm supposed
to get for Natalia's present,
I would have laughed
at his fervent denial.
Not like that.
Think of it as
a matter of convenience.
We can help each other,
save a trip.

Saving a trip would involve
taking Eunice along with us.
She's coming to the party, too.
I know what his reaction
will be to that -
and sure enough,
his reply is immediate
and vehemently opposing.

Screw convenience, then.
I'm not letting her
tag along again.
It was bad enough
the last time.
If you want to consider
this as a date, then fine.
I'm just trying to help.

A smile plays at my lips
as I type back.
I know,
I'm just kidding.
Pick me up at five?

You got it.
And I can almost see
that easy smile of his
behind the message.

×

Hey y'all, how's it going? A bit of a shorter chapter today, but I'm gonna get more writing in the next few days since I have off for a bit. Hopefully I'll get something longer out for tomorrow.

If you guys liked this chapter, I'd love if you would vote and leave me some feedback. It'd be very much appreciated c: