Morgan's POV

I love my mom... but her treating all my exes like family will probably be the death of me today.

Not a good way to start Matty's birthday.

"Morgan is my birthday what did you get me!" Matty interrupted my thoughts as he barged into my room and began jumping up and down on my bed.

"A life."

Matty stopped jumping and frowned, "That's so lame. I wanted a new playstation."

"I got you an Xbox for Christmas." Matty's eyes widened and he got out of my bed, eyes shining and a guilty smile on his face. "Matthew what did you do?"

"It... it broke." He responded sheepishly.

"It broke? How did it-" I didn't get to finish asking as Matty ran out of the bedroom.

It hasn't even been a year since I got him a console, how did he even break it? And why did my parents not tell me?

Whatever, is not my problem, I'm sure my parents dealt with that.

I stood up from the bed with my mind made up on this being a bad day for me—only for me though, I hope is amazing for my little brother.

After doing my morning routine I headed downstairs to find my mom practically running around the house while talking on the phone as well.

Yeah, I don't think is a good idea to bother her right now.

Instead I looked around for my dad—who I found in the backyard on top of a ladder putting up some birthday decorations.

"Careful up there old man—we don't need you breaking your hip today." I teased him.

"In case you forgot I'm the captain of the fire department kiddo, my body is as healthy as a twenty year old's." He slowly stepped down from the ladder and at the last step he was always with a hand of his back.

"Soon enough you are going to be the captain of the retirement home, dad."

"You are not funny, Morgan. I am completely fine." He went to grab a can of coke that was over one of the tables and drank a sip from it.

"Okay let's pretend you are... for today. Anyway I think mom is losing her mind in there." I pointed back to the house and shrugged.

"You know how you mom gets with organizing birthdays. It's even more intense since we adopted Matty, she missed all that we used to do with you—the parties, baking cupcakes for Matty's class and she even took him to swimming classes last week."

"Yeah, she loves being a mom." I smiled a bit as the memories of some of my best birthday parties as a kid.

The one that stood out the most was my eleventh birthday party. Every one in my class was invited, it was a pretty good party even though I got my head smashed into the cake by Jason and Kaden. I remember Hayley laughing at me and Jessie trying not to—my younger self was a bit upset about being embarrassed in front of my then crush.

Anyhow, my mom knew something like that would happen and got a back up cake, that everyone could eat and enjoy. That's my favorite childhood birthday—my dad even got me a piñata and it was fun until my uncle tried to land a hit on it with the stick—he instead ended up breaking a window when then stick slipped out of his hands by accident. A lot happened that day.

"She also seems like she wants to see me get murdered by my two ex-girlfriends." I sighed making my dad chuckle at my concerned reaction. "Why would she do that? It's insane!"

"I don't know what to tell you kid—you know how your mom is."

"Yeah she gets too attached to my girlfriends." I grumbled with arms crossed while my dad hummed softly in agreement while drinking his beer.

"Also, Matty told me you got him 'a life' as a birthday gift." My dad gave me a bored look.

"He wouldn't stop annoying me— also how did he break his Xbox?" My dad patted me on the back and started walking towards the house. "Dad? Dad?"

"Trust me you don't want to know, you'll get a headache."

I frowned at that... but thought it was better to ultimately just leave it at that and in fact—just not know.

—

Not wanting to keep myself in the house overthinking every single thing—I asked my mom if I could help her with anything else for the party and so she sent me on cake duty. She had gotten two cakes and already paid for them, so all I had to do was go and pick them up—it didn't take me long before going and doing what I was asked of. It was a bit too fast for my liking as I hoped it would take my mind off things for a little longer.

But anyway, the party had already started when I got home, so it was probably for the best that I didn't take as long.

I entered the kitchen after successfully avoiding to run into any of the kids running around the house and put the two cakes in the counter.

"Oh sweetie, you are finally here. Thank you for picking them up." My mom approached me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. It took me a moment Kaden at the door of the kitchen—I wonder if Hayley arrived as well while I was out... but I doubt she did, she's never early to these sort of things and I know she will come because my mom invited her—and she has a soft spot for her.

"You're welcome mom... hey Kade."  I waved at her, but it seems that that wasn't enough for her as she came towards me and engulfed in a hug.

"Hey dumbass." She mumbled against my shoulder.

Okay Morgan, don't overthink she's just your old best friend... who wanted to great you with a hug. No big deal.

"You are early."

"Of course, why would I be late?" Kaden gave me a confused look with a smile as she backed away from the hug, but not too much either.

"No reason, just a bit surprised." I explained and created some more distance between us.

"It's been a long since we saw each other, we need all the time we can get, besides we still have a lot to catch up on. Don't we?" Kaden laced her arm with mine and basically rushed me out of the kitchen.

"There's not that much to catch up on really." I feel like when she means 'catching up' she mainly means knowing more about my relationship with Hayley —which I don't mind talking about, but I feel like it would be kind of awkward. I can't do awkward right now.

"There sure is."

The living was occupied with kids running around between her and the backyard—of course all of them lead by my little brother.

"Right... I gotta give Matty his birthday present now though." I pointed upstairs with my thumb.

"Sure, let's go get it." I was dragged again by Kaden but this time up to my room.

This is going to be a long day.

—

"What is this?" Matty frowned as he held the gift I got for him.

"A skate board. Don't you like it?"

"No—I wanted a hoverboard."

I sighed.

"Matthew, don't be rude and say thank you to your sister." My mom gave him a serious look—making the kid pout.

"Thank you Mor." He gave me a quick hug  before scurrying to the backyard, back to his friend with the skate in hand. My dad was out doing a barbecue while talking to my uncles and some of the other kid's dads.

I rubbed my temple and released yet another sigh—I then felt a nudge on my arm, Kaden looked at me with funny face and wordlessly offered me a can of beer— which I accepted and thanked her for. "I thought that would go about different."

"He's turning seven, Morgan."

"Well I skated at that age!" I moved my free hand in exclamation.

"I remember, you also lost a teeth and broke your arm trying to learn."

I groaned and threw my head back, "Fine! I guess you do have a point." Kaden was going to say something but I spoke again before she could say it. "But he could still fall off a hoverboard and hurt himself the same way."

"Why does that even matter?" Kaden asked confused.

"It doesn't. But I hate those lame scooters."

"They are not scooters."

"I don't care."

Kaden rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. We were sat on the couch of the living room since many of the people have gone outside to the backyard for the barbecue, so besides us and a couple other mom's, inside was pretty calm.

My mom was still running around the house and the backyard taking out snacks and making sure everything is perfect, meanwhile listening to my aunts. I don't know how she manages to do all that, I would've gone mad.

"So, I think this would be the perfect time to start to properly catch up." Kaden put her arm over of the sofa's cushions and looked at me.

I sipped my beer and nodded, "Okay... why don't you start? How's work?" I could tell that Kaden was aware of my efforts to avoid talking about my life.

"Work is more than fine. I got this job as a marketing director at an art gallery in Toronto about a year ago and it's honestly been more than great."

"Thought you would be the one making the art for the galleries." I joked making my best friend laugh.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure they would love stick drawings in their exhibitions."

"Misunderstood art." I shrugged my arms and chuckled.

The house bell rang and immediately my mom went out of the kitchen. "I'll get it!" I watched her with a slight frown of confusion as she rushed to the front door.

"Hi honey!" I saw her pull the familiar blonde into a hug.

I wanted the couch to swallow me right now.

"Hi Caitlin." I faintly heard Hayley greet my mom.

"Well this got interesting." Kaden commented with a mocking grin.

"Shut up." I mumbled as I watched Hayley enter my house... along with a girl?

What the hell?

Okay Morgan, do not jump into conclusions, be a grown up about it. They are probably friends... and if not you two have been broken for months, you can just sit and watch. Unfortunately.

Don't be dramatic. Keep it together and act naturally.

"Morgan looks who's here!" My mom said loudly.

Oh my god my mom absolutely hates me.

"She can't be serious." I grumbled and Kaden chuckled quietly by my side. I watched as they approached us— or more like as my mom dragged me ex and her friend followed behind them.

"Morgan, sweetie look who came."

Hayley was by her side with a wrapped gift on her hands. She looked slightly different from the last time I saw her—her hair was down in waves and longer—she had dyed it a light strawberry blonde, a bit different from her honey blonde hair but it matched her green eyes perfectly as well. She looked as stunningly beautiful as ever.

When our eyes met it was as if time slowed down—my breath hitched on my throat and I felt my heart skip a beat before it started racing like mad. Just one look at those gorgeous cat like eyes and I felt myself fall in love all over again.

I gulped and nervously smiled at the girl that I'm in love with. "Hey..." I said still in a trance of her—completely forgetting that there were other people in the room and that I surely looked like an idiot.

"Hey Morgan." Hayley smiled but it soon banished when she looked at the person besides me. Her classic resting face now on as she stared at my best friend, "Kaden Stone," she said with obvious no interest to speak to her.

"Hayley Duvall." Kaden gave her the most fake and forced smile ever.

Well this is uncomfortable.

Someone cleared their throat breaking the awkward moment. "I'm Monique," the girl accompanying my ex introduced herself with a short wave.

"I'm Morgan." I was polite and extended my hand towards her—which she shook.

"Kaden." Kaden said and waved.

My mom clapped once—regaining our attention. "This was great... but I need to go back to attending the party." That was the last thing she said before scurrying away.

The woman wants to see the world burn but not burn with it, most definitely.

"We'll go and give Matty his present." Hayley said and walked away with her... friend? Date? Girlfriend? God I hope not.

"That was a lovely moment." Kaden said sarcastically.

"Oh shut up." I finished the rest of my beer in one go.

"I see. Was it that bad of a breakup?"

I thought about her question— back to the day we broke up. There was a lot of yelling and tears so you could say it was... not a good kind of breakup.

"By the look on your face I suppose it was." Kaden spoke breaking me from my thoughts.

"We said many things." I was being vague about it but I didn't feel like explaining the tears and words said.

"Why did you two broke up? If you don't mind me asking."

I sighed, "We were in different places in our lives, that and the long distance was hard even though we didn't want to admit it."

"I don't how you could do long distance. I could never put myself through that." Kaden put the empty can of beer over the cupboard on the coffee table.

I looked to towards the backyard and watched as Hayley gave my brother his gift and he launched himself at her in a hug. "It was worthy every second of it... being with her. I would do it a thousand times if it meant I got to be with her." I averted my gaze from her and stood up from the couch, "I need another beer."

—

"This cake is delicious." Kaden said—I looked at the double chocolate cake on her plate and nodded. "Why don't you eat some?"

"Not really in the mood for cake." I mumbled as I discreetly watched Hayley and Monique from across the room as they laughed together.

Hayley and I haven't spoken since she arrived—if that even counts as talking. It wasn't easy to try and speak to her as I'm pretty sure she was avoiding me and also, Kaden has been all over me the whole day.

"Bullshit, have some." Kaden tried to feed me some a few times but me moving away a few times causing me to smear my face with some cake glazing. I laughed the moment Kaden started to, "Look at your face! No come on have at least a bite now." She showed me a spoonful of the cake again, but this time I finally relented.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes playfully and opened up my mouth.

"So how is it?"

"Very good, yeah." I nodded.

Kaden chuckled and put the rest of the cake down on the table. "Okay, but now we need to get your face cleaned up," she grabbed me by the hand and lead me to the bathroom downstairs.

"Kade I think a napkin would do." I said as I watched her close the door.

"You will be sticky."

I saw her glance down to my lips and back to my eyes making me gulp and back away, to the point I was almost against the door. "I— what are you? Kade I—" my eyes widened when I saw her wipe some of the cake's glazing with her finger and lick it.

Okay I got to stop whatever this is.

"Kade I think there's been a big miscommunication between the two of us." I gently pushed her back—creating some distance between us. "I don't— I don't like you like that. I think I should make that clear since now, because god knows not speaking up has been my recurrent mistake."

"I'm— it's because you love her, right? Hayley."

"It is. But even if I didn't... I don't have those kind of feelings for you anymore. I thought you felt the same way about me?"

"I do... I'm not sure what I was thinking since I saw you yesterday. Maybe it was nostalgia or— god I don't even know. I'm sorry if I made our friendship even more awkward."

"It's fine, we'll work it out, we just need to spend quality time together. It's been way too long since we did. We can fix this—no matter what you will always be my best friend Kade."

"Same here... but you still have glazing on your cheek, dumbass." Kaden smiled pointing at it, I chuckled and turned to wash myself—I then dried my face with a towel and looked at my best friend.

"We should get back out there, come on." I said before opening the door of the bathroom.

God today is not my day.

Coming across with Hayley while leaving the bathroom with Kaden was something that could be interpreted in many ways. Most of them bad—and even though we are broken up and I'm not sure yet what her relationship with Monique is, I still don't want Hayley getting the wrong idea of well— Kaden and I.

"Sorry, didn't know it was occupied." Hayley said with venom on her tone before abruptly walking away.

"Damn, I think the she-devil got the wrong idea." Kaden commented with a chuckle.

"No shit!" I retorted in annoyance.

"Well what are you doing standing here? Go after her, dude." Kaden pushed me forward and nodded with her head.

"Right."

I exited the bathroom and searched around the living room and the backyard for her but failed to see her. When I caught sight of my mom I went to ask her if she had seen her—if Hayley left my mom would know, cause I know she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to my parents.

"Mom have you seen Hayley?"

"She just left with her friend, she said she was tired and wanted to head home early. Why?"

I didn't stay to reply to my mom—instead I went outside of my house to see if I could still catch her before she left. But I didn't get too far from the door, I stopped myself when I saw her hugging Monique in front of her car. The taller girl backed away and cupped her face and seemed to be telling her something.

All along it felt like I was intruding a rather intimate moment between the two. So with a heavy heart I wordlessly backed away and went back inside the house.

-