Chapter 37: Surprise

"Was it really necessary to get every single class I have to sing me 'happy birthday'?" I ask once we're at my locker, at the end of the day. He's wearing the most self-satisfied smirk ever.

"Absolutely necessary. Perfectly essential to the continuation of life as we know it."

"I could beg to differ."

He flashes a toothy grin from his position leaning against the locker beside mine. "But you won't, because you know how right I am."

I pause what I'm doing to give him a squinty-eyed glare. He laughs.

"It's my job. Are you really surprised?"

"No, it fits perfectly with your character to publicly embarrass me."

He laughs again. "It's your birthday! It's not even like I had to go out of my way to do it!"

"It's so awkward, though! Everyone was staring at me, and what am I supposed to do? Just sit there?"

"And blush immensely," he adds, and I give him another look. He smirks.

"When's your birthday, then?"

He smirks even more. "During summer vacation."

I scowl. He grins widely, displaying his pearly whites.

"Alright, stop complaining about what a bad person I am and let's go. I'm driving you home."

I lean into him a little as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. "You're a bad person. A very horrible person. You're the worst."

"You sound so convincing."

I roll my eyes and don't respond.

As he's driving me back to my house, he asks, "So, are we still on for tomorrow?"

"I have nothing else, so I would assume so, unless something's changed on your end."

"Do your parents know about it, this time?"

"I'm pretty sure they still think I'm tutoring you. So yes."

"What if I asked them if I could do something with you for your birthday? Like, as your friend. Just in the name of being honest."

"I mean, if you want to." The idea makes me a little nervous. I don't know how they'd react to me doing something non-school related, and after that, they might not let me see him at all unless it was explicitly for an assignment.

He's studying my reaction. "Alright, I won't. It's your birthday."

I grin. "So you would have if it wasn't my birthday?"

He smirks as he pulls up to my house. "Possibly. Now go and have a fantastic birthday celebration with your parents. And don't worry about anything."

I get out of his car, smiling. "Thanks for the ride. And I'll try."

"Good. Happy birthday, Todd. I'll see you tomorrow."

I blush a little. "Thanks. See you."

He flashes me one last toothy smile, then drives off. I go to my front door, for once finding it unlocked. I go inside, dropping my school bag on the stairs and wandering into the kitchen.

"Happy birthday!" both my parents yell in unison as soon as I enter. I grin as they come over to me, beaming.

"Thanks," I say, trying not to blush for the millionth time today.

"So, how was school? That study friend of yours- the one who drove you to school this morning- he told us he was going to make sure at least one of your classes sang you 'happy birthday' today," my mom tells me.

"Oh, he did. He made sure every single class did."

My dad laughs and pats my shoulder. "Good."

"It was embarrassing!"

"Oh sweetie, it's your birthday. Your friends are supposed to embarrass you on your birthday," my mom consoles me. "Now, what do you want to do first? Presents? Cake?"

"Cake after dinner," my dad tells my mom. "Don't want to spoil his appetite."

"Then, by process of elimination, presents," I say. "Though, you guys know you didn't have to get me anything."

"What are you talking about! You're our only son, and you just turned 18! Of course we have to get you something, sweetie," my mom says while my dad goes to get whatever it is.

My mom makes me sit down at the kitchen table, moves some stuff off of the table, then sits down across from me, wearing an expression similar to the one he had on earlier, after he'd made all my classes sing me 'happy birthday': very pleased and a bit smug.

My dad comes back with three wrapped packages, stacked together from biggest to smallest and all tied with the same bow. He sets the bundle down in front of me and goes to take his seat beside my mom, wearing pretty much the same look on his face. I examine the three boxes- the bottom one is thin and large, wrapped in blue. The middle one is a little thicker, as well as smaller, and is wrapped in gold paper. The top box is the thickest, and the smallest, and is wrapped in the same blue as the bottom one. The ribbon is white, holding them together and finishing with a fancy bow on top.

"Should I start at the top or the bottom?" I ask my parents, looking at them.

"Bottom," they say at exactly the same time, then attempt to look innocent. It makes me suspicious, but I do as they say and carefully remove the bottom box from the stack.

Without ripping the paper (I'm very diligent when opening presents, and this paper looks more expensive than our usual rolls) I unwrap the parcel to find a book. I flip it over, grinning at the nice, dark grey cover. I open it, flipping through the blank, lined pages until I reach the cover again. "A new notebook! Thank you guys!" My current one was never anywhere near this nice to begin with, and it's not even close to new.

"Oh, don't thank us yet. Open the next one," my mom says.

Obediently, I take the middle package and (with the same care) remove the wrapping paper. It's another book, but this one has writing on the covers. I scan both, smiling even more now. "Hey! A book on biology! Human systems, no less-"

"Yes, yes, open the last one," my dad says, looking more excited by the minute. What is in that last present?

I'm getting curious by now, so I cautiously remove the blue gift wrap and ribbon to find...

A small box.

With a picture of a cell phone on the front.

My eyes go wide, and I stare at it for a moment before carefully opening the box, feeling a little shaky. Sitting inside is a phone. An actual cell phone.

I look back up at my parents, sure that I'm the picture of absolute shock. They're both beaming at me.

"W-what? A phone? B-but... I thought the plan was for me to buy one once I went to university and started working-"

"We know, sweetie. But we wanted you to have one before you graduated. So you can get contact numbers from high school friends, or take pictures, or do whatever kids these days do with their phones."

"We didn't want you to miss out on anything, son. And you're an adult now, you should have your own phone number."

"This is... I..." I swallow. "Thank you guys so much. Thank you."

"Happy birthday, son," my dad says, smiling at me.

"We love you, sweetie."

I feel... overwhelmed, with happiness, and still some shock, and gratefulness, and love for my parents. I know that phones aren't cheap. They must have both been working extra in the morning for months to pay for it.

"Alright! Dinner!" My mom says, and my parents both stand up. I stand as well, carefully putting the phone on the table. I intercept them before they can pass me on their way to wherever they're hiding the cake, enveloping them both in a hug. They hug me back, smiling.

"Thank you. I love you both so much," I choke out, feeling happy tears prick at my eyes. My dad ruffles my hair affectionately, and my mom kisses my forehead.

"We love you too, son. And we're so proud of you."

Eventually, we get around to eating dinner, which is hamburgers, another childhood favourite of mine. After that, the parents get out the cake (ice cream cake. Delicious) and sing me 'happy birthday' (it's the fifth time today I've heard the song, but this time is different, and I can't stop smiling). My dad carries it over and lights the number 18 candle stuck into the top, while my mother videos the whole thing on my new phone. With cake, we decide to watch a movie together- my choice. There are a lot more options now that I'm 18 (not that the tv would know, but I've never watched an R-rated movie, ever. Though, I haven't watched too many movies). I eventually settle for Shrek, despite my new freedom.

Sitting on the couch, eating ice cream cake with my parents while watching Shrek- it's nice. I feel content, and fulfilled, and happy. It's the best birthday I could ask for.

Surprise update to celebrate over 10K reads and 1K votes on this story (and also Todd's birthday)! THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!

What did you think of Todd's birthday chapters? Thoughts on Todd's conversation with the millionaire? How about his birthday presents? And his parents giving him a phone? Let me know!

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