ra's

of toast and scrambled eggs filled the room while the kettle hummed softly on the stove. My mother moved between the counter and the t

he table as if sitting still required effort. I p

her said as she placed a p

d while reaching fo

yes wide with curiosity. "So are you finally goin

ed slightly at my brother's impatience. "You

t of embarrassment. "Because

ything you hear." I said, speaki

head quickly. "

against the counter. "You told your entir

te, his face turning a light shade of p

father closed his phone and set it on the table befo

lied, looking between them. "Nothin

n with renewed hope in his

together, their voices

ith a dramatic thud. "You are not old enough for the ki

t to about two or three

" Martin argued, pointin

ather replied calml

d stared at his plate with

I said while sippi

a sharp glare. "You could at

at you stay home." I replied, me

is fork toward me with a look of pure determination. "You a

ds unlikel

e table and looked at me with a soft expressi

said, nodd

for the whole house to hea

r reminded him, gesturing toward

l conversations about errands and school, but my attention drifted away from the table. A birthday always came with h

ceful after the busy kitchen. I dropped my bag onto the chair near my desk and stepped into

er wou

veral minutes I stood there and let my thoughts wander. The party at the Simms' house crept into my mind even though I tried to push

king calm while I snapped at him again and again. It was

ipped through the curtains while I opened my closet. Today was just coffee with my friends, so I chose

a message: We are at th

nda wrote that Novia had been impatient a

at the cafe!" I called

" my mother called b

wil

couch. "If you change your mind

walked toward the small cafe where we usually met. The smell of roasted coff

r the window. Novia spotted me immediate

them. Amanda pushed a menu toward me wi

use I am calm

earching for a secret. "Impossible. Your birthda

I am calm." I said,

ms on the table. "Th

ould say that

ainst the table while think

it needed fixin

firmly. "Yes you did

will have an iced coffee and a cro

ino. As soon as the server left, Novia leaned forward again.

r." I answered wi

ing. You need something wild to

peaceful.

head. "Peaceful

king at both of them. "I do

say that as if drama does

t my fault.

Novia said

p of my coffee and felt the cold sweetness wak

ely. "Dinner somewhere nic

manageable.

uld reserve a table somewhe

too loud.

"You survived

said, roll

n her chair. "Speak

oftly. "Do

ou cannot pretend

pretending

as interesting."

wly. "Interesting is no

. "You argued with Ca

t intentiona

eyebrow. "It lo

aid, feeling the hea

lance with Amanda. "What?"

ia said while

Amanda added, though h

e I listened and occasionally offered an opinion. Despite my earlier hesitation the tension in

ote down a few possible places. "We will narro

ment. "Whatever we ch

birthday did not need chaos to matter. Sometimes it only nee