Jonah Clarke Is Surprised

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Author's Note: So I managed to update!!! I will be writing from now on but weekly updates may be a struggle so I'm not going to set myself a schedule as that tends to


The first thing Daniel sees the next morning is his mother standing in the doorway with a massive smile on her face and a cupcake in her hand.

"Happy Birthday sweetie."

Daniel takes the cupcake graciously and smiles up at his mother. This is one of the few things Daniel likes about his birthday, the fact that he gets to eat cake for his breakfast. There's no other day in the year that offers that particular benefit.

"Thank Mum," Daniel says through a yawn, "you didn't have to do this."

"It's your birthday," his mother replies simply.

Daniel quickly places the cupcake on his bedside table, scrambles out of bed and pulls his mother into a tight hug. Daniel has to bend slightly at the knees to do so but the smile on his mother's face is worth it.

"Best Mum ever," Daniel whispers in her ear, "like seriously."

His Mum lets out a small burst of laughter as Daniel releases her from his grip.

"Whatever you say, but just so you know, you're my favourite son."

"I'm your only son, the only competition is Marcus and technically he's not yours.."

"Exactly."

Daniel shakes his head at her.

"Anyway I'll leave you to get ready for school," Daniel's Mum says, "enjoy your breakfast; it's only your birthday once a year!"

After demolishing his cupcake, Daniel quickly pulls on his clothes before heading out the door, not entirely looking forward to today. It's not that Daniel has anything against birthdays in general; it's more that he really hates the attention being on him. It just makes him feel uncomfortable.

As soon as Daniel walks into school he is greeted by a smiling Isaac and Jonah who instantly shout 'Happy Birthday!' when they spot him from half way down the corridor. Daniel tries to ignore the looks people are giving him after that.

"Here you go," Isaac says placing a massive badge into Daniel's hand, "that's for the birthday boy."

"Isaac..."

"And you have to wear it," Isaac interrupts, "else I'll cry. And neither of us want that to happen."

"I don't know," Daniel replies, "that'd be a great birthday present."

"Heartless," Isaac mutters, "the boy's absolutely heartless."

Daniel elects to ignore him and before long a present is thrust into his hands, and Isaac offers him a smile.

"You better like this," Isaac tells Daniel, "you've been saying you want it for ages and it cost me fucking loads. So please dear god pretend you like it even if you don't, cause it nearly killed my wallet."

Daniel shakes his head at Isaac's mini speech before peeling back the wrapping paper, carefully placing it neatly on the table next to him. He can hear Isaac and Jonah sigh at how long he is taking but Daniel doesn't pay attention to them, it's important to him that he doesn't rip the wrapping too much, it makes him feel bad after they put so much effort into wrapping it for him.

Eventually Daniel is finished with his task and his jaw drops open.

"Zach, you didn't have to."

Isaac doesn't reply, he just smiles smugly.

"Like seriously Zach, you have no idea how much I wanted this."

Daniel stares down at the copy of Sims 4 and feels like crying. He doesn't though; he doesn't need to give Jonah more reasons to stop being friends with him.

"I had an idea," Isaac says, "I mean you've only gone on about how amazing it looks since it came out. I actually thought you were going to explode if someone didn't get you it."

Daniel rolls his eyes although he knows that what Isaac is saying is probably true.

"Shut up," he mutters under his breath.

"Sorry what was that?"

"Thank you Isaac," Daniel says louder this time.

"You're welcome."

Daniel is beginning to tidy away all the stuff on his desk when a tin and then another present is placed in front of him. Daniel looks up to see Jonah staring at him with a sheepish expression on his face. When Jonah notices Daniel looking at him, the expression quickly disappears.

"I told you not to spend anything on me," Daniel says.

"I didn't," Jonah replies, "the present cost me nothing, just a bit of time and effort."

Out of the corner of his eye Daniel can see Isaac raising his eyebrows suggestively and Daniel's cheeks heat as he remembers yesterday's conversation.

"Promise?" he says.

"Promise."

Daniel opens the tin first and looks up at Jonah with a grin on his face.

"You made me a cake."

"Well technically Ruth made the cake," Jonah admits, "I just decorated it and supervised the baking part."

"Oh," Daniel says, "and uhm, what the picture supposed to be?"

"Well it's supposed to be a dragon," Jonah tells Daniel, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks flush, "but uhm, there's a reason I'm not doing Art for A-Level."

"It's great," Daniel enthuses.

"No it's not," Jonah sighs, "but is should taste good at least."

"And that's the important part," Daniel assures him.

"Shut up and open your present."

"Be patient," Daniel warns Jonah, "I've gotta open the card first anyway."

Daniel sees Jonah roll his eyes as he opens the envelope but he ignores him and looks at the card in disbelief.

"'Happy Tenth Birthday!'" Daniel reads.

He lets out a small giggle and finds that Jonah is chuckling too.

"The woman in the card shop got a bit confused and so I just went along with it."

"Now open the present," Jonah urges.

Daniel carefully unwraps this present too, again placing the paper neatly beside him so as not to make a mess.

When he finally opens it up all he can see is a CD case, and then he flips it over.

Playlist For Daniel (alternatively titled 'A Load Of Fucking Great Music That Are Daniel in Song Form')

Daniel stares up at Jonah, not entirely sure what to say.

"I know it's kinda lame," Jonah tells him, "but it was the only thing I could think to do."

"I love it," Daniel says, "like so much."

"I mean you don't have to listen to it if you don't want to," Jonah replies, "but y'know, it's a modern day mixtape and all that."

"Thank you Jonah."

"No problem."

xxx

Jonah is relieved to say the least. All morning he'd panicked that maybe Daniel wouldn't like the present and perhaps, Jonah muses, Daniel doesn't, but Daniel is saying he does and so Jonah will take what he can get.

They're sat in an empty classroom, and Daniel is poised with a knife hovering over the cake, offering Isaac a glare.

"I'm just saying be careful," Isaac says, putting his hands up in defence.

"And I'm just saying I'm not a toddler, I am perfectly capable of handling dangerous instruments."

"Can we just cut the damn cake," Liam whines.

Jonah was almost surprised to see his friend reappear again this break time. But Liam had joined them without a word and Jonah figured that if Liam wasn't going to make a big deal about spending time with them, then Jonah wasn't either.

"I'm doing it, I'm doing it."

A handful of minutes later and they're all sat on the desks, paper towels being used as makeshift plates and Jonah is relieved to find that Ruth's baking tastes just as good as it did the last time he sampled it.

"Your sister is an amazing baker," Isaac says simply, "like can she make cake for us every day?"

Both Daniel and Liam nod in agreement whilst Jonah contents himself with rolling his eyes.

"Yeah she wants to be a baker or something," Jonah replies shrugging his shoulders, "if you think her cake is good then you should try her cheesecake."

"Can I marry your sister?" Isaac asks through a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, you're not really her type."

"What is her type?"

"Really hot muscled football players."

"Fuck that, maybe she could do with a change."

Everyone rolls their eyes this time, except Isaac that is who sits there with a strangely hopeful expression on his face.

"I already told you Zach," Daniel says, "me and Jonah can set you up with his co-worker."

"From what I've heard she sounds hella scary."

"She's not that bad," Jonah replies.

"Yeah," Daniel agrees, "I'm sure she doesn't bite."

"Well actually," Jonah says, "there was a time a couple of years back when we were fighting over who got the last scoop of the triple chocolate ice cream."

"Anyway," Daniel quickly interrupts, "I think you two would be really cute together."

"Why?" Isaac asks sceptically.

"Because then you wouldn't be moping around after Alice Cooper all the time."

"I'm not moping around after her; I'm waiting for the right time to make my move."

"Dude," Liam interjects, "the right time was about three years ago."

Isaac opens his mouth to respond but Jonah quickly cuts him off. This is not an argument that Jonah really feels like right now.

"So any hot plans for tonight?" Jonah asks Daniel. "I mean it is your birthday after all. So what is it? A party? Rock climbing? Heading to Vegas?"

"Uhm, I'm actually just going to hang out with my grandma."

"Oh," Jonah replies.

Jonah didn't exactly expect Daniel to have the most thrilling plans, but he didn't expect plans quite so... normal as that.

"You're going to visit Grandma Grace!" Isaac says excitedly.

"You can come if you want."

"Yes!" Isaac replies, and then his face falls slightly. "Can't, I'm babysitting the horrors."

When Jonah and Liam look at Isaac in confusion he quickly explains.

"Eight year old twin sisters."

"Oh."

"That sucks."

"You can come if you want Jonah," Daniel suggests.

Jonah isn't really sure. To be honest the idea of meeting Daniel's grandma doesn't really appeal to him but at the same time he doesn't really want to let Daniel down.

"Uhm," Jonah mutters.

"You have to go," Isaac tells Jonah, "Daniel's grandmother is the coolest lady alive."

Jonah looks at Isaac in some disbelief, Isaac can be known to sometimes over exaggerate things and Jonah figures that this must be one of those instances.

But hey, what has he got to lose? Jonah knows that the only thing on his timetable for tonight is going home and doing homework, not exactly the recipe for a perfect Wednesday night. And sure Jonah doesn't like spending time with old people, but he sure as hell likes spending time with Daniel, and so surely the benefits outweigh the negatives.

"Sure," Jonah replies, "I'll come with you."

Daniel offers Jonah a small smile in reply and conversation quickly moves on. Liam can't stop bitching about something his Biology teacher has done but Jonah isn't really paying attention.

His mind is elsewhere, throwing him back to the days before Daniel, back when his break times were spent with a girl draped all over him and being involved with pointless conversations about whatever party was happening next weekend (or whatever stupid thing someone had done at the party last weekend). Sure there were more people, it was louder and Jonah felt happy, he felt content. He was popular, and back then, Jonah thought that was all he wanted.

But Jonah will readily admit that he is infinitely more happy here. Hearing Liam and Daniel bicker about their favourite Pokémon game. Because Jonah is starting to realise that there is a difference between the people who are friends with you because they think they should be, and the people who are friends with you because they actually want to be. And Jonah is just glad he's finally found the latter group.

And maybe Jonah is finding himself caught up in friendships that he doesn't entirely understand but he honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

Because as Jonah looks around at the three boys sat beside him, Jonah realises that he's happy. Truly, utterly, happy that he's with them and not sat in the canteen pretending to be someone that he is ultimately not. Back then Jonah didn't even realise he was playing a role, but now, Jonah thinks they might need to bring in his understudy.

xxx

Daniel rings the doorbell and waits for the staff to answer the door. He knows it won't be long, Daniel is a familiar face around here and he knows the opening-the-door routine as if it was part of his A-Level syllabus (disappointingly, it's not).

Behind him Jonah shuffles from foot to foot impatiently.

Daniel knows that Jonah does not really want to be here, and he's half tempted to tell Jonah to just go home if he really wants to. But there's something stopping Daniel, probably his own selfish desire to spend more time with Jonah. And so he keeps quiet and waits patiently.

When the door is finally flung open, Pepper stands there with a smile on her face.

"Daniel!" she shouts. "Happy Birthday! Your grandma's been reminding us you were coming round all day."

Daniel simply rolls his eyes.

"Thanks Pepper."

"And who's your friend?"

"Oh this is Jonah, he's in my class."

Pepper offers Daniel a not so subtle wink and Daniel is pretty sure he feels any love he had for Pepper disintegrate instantly.

"Well follow me; your grandma might kill me if I don't get you to her soon."

"Lead the way."

Daniel follows behind Pepper as they make their way through the foyer, and then the three of them clamber up the staircase.

"She's with Albert," Pepper warns him, "they actually have an announcement for you."

Daniel rolls his eyes. He knows exactly what the announcement is as they seem to make the same one every single month. Daniel should find it weird, scrap that, Daniel does find it weird but he goes along with it none the less.

"Daniel!" his grandma shouts when she sees him from across the room.

Daniel is quickly pulled into a hug and can do nothing but wrap his around her too and wait for her to release him.

Daniel turns around to introduce Jonah only to find Jonah with his mouth hanging open wide, Daniel can't say he's surprised, his grandma tends to have that effect on people and so Daniel is used to them reacting like this.

After all, Daniel is pretty sure that most people's grandmothers don't dye their hair violet, or wear leather jackets (or leather trousers whilst we're on clothing) and Daniel is definitely sure that most people's grandmother's didn't spend their sixty-fifth birthday in Brazil, kayaking down the Amazon. Daniel is certain that his grandmother doesn't even need to be in an old people's home, it's not like she needs looking after after all, but apparently she likes the company and so who is Daniel to question her decision?

"So does the coloured hair run in the family?" Jonah jokes.

"Daniel just can't stop copying me," Daniel's grandma replies in much the same tone.

"This is Jonah," Daniel quickly says before Jonah and his grandmother become best friends, "Jonah, this is my grandma."

"You can call me Grandma Grace."

"Well, I guess you can call me Jonah."

"This is Albert," Grandma Grace says before pausing for emphasis, "my fiancée."

Daniel's expression does not change, the pair make this announcement every time he visits, or at least it would seem that way. And then they fall out and the engagement is called off and then suddenly it's back on again. Sometimes Daniel feels as if he's watching his grandma's life through a television screen, that none of this could possibly be real.

"Congratulations," Jonah says awkwardly.

"Yeah congratulations," Daniel repeats, "what is this, the seventh time?"

"Eighth," Albert corrects, "but we mean it this time."

Daniel simply rolls his eyes in response, it's not that he's not happy for the pair, it's more that he can't possibly believe that the idea of them actually getting married this time can by any more realistic than every other time before.

"We do," Grandma Grace insists, "we've already booked the church."

This causes Daniel's mouth to hang open slightly, they've never got quite this far before.

"Well, congratulations then I guess," Daniel says once again.

"Anyway," Grandma Grace says, "how's your birthday been?"

"Great," Daniel replies honestly, "Jonah brought me a cake and I got presents so all good."

"Honestly, it seems like all you kids care about these days is presents," Albert mutters under his breath.

Grandma Grace rolls her eyes before fixing Jonah with a determined stare.

"And who're you young man? Are you Daniel's new boyfriend?"

Daniel shuffles uncomfortably in his seat, waits patiently for Jonah to correct his Grandma. He waits, and nothing happens.

"Well I suppose so."

"Jonah!" Daniel says in shock. "What the hell?"

"Well I am."

"You're not my boyfriend; you're my friend that's a boy."

"What's the difference really?"

For a few moments Daniel can do nothing but stare at Jonah open mouthed, because what the hell is the boy on about?

"Well the main difference is probably the kissing..." And with that Daniel trails off, because he's entering into dangerous territory once again.

Their friendship seems to have recovered from the kiss but that doesn't mean that it isn't still a very taboo subject, one that Daniel has no desire to go anywhere near. It's not that he doesn't want to acknowledge that it happened. In fact Daniel would gladly do that, but then he'd probably end up wanting to kiss Jonah senseless and so Daniel is quickly realising that locking the memory up in a corner of his mind and forgetting about it seems to be the best policy, it's certainly what Jonah seems to be doing. The only problem seems to be that Daniel's mind is not going along with this plan, in fact it seems to be trying to remind Daniel of the moment at every chance it gets, and Daniel is starting to get frustrated.

"You okay?" Grandma Grace asks.

Daniel realises that ever since he trailed off he's been sat in silence staring at the wall opposite. And seen as though it's been as good few minutes, people are understandably starting to get concerned.

"Fine," Daniel coughs.

He looks up, but desperately avoids Jonah's eye, there's no doubt in Daniel's mind that Jonah knows exactly what Daniel was just thinking about.

xxx

Jonah's only been at the old people's home for half an hour, but he's already pretty certain that Grandma Grace is one of his favourite people in the world. And he says as much.

"You're awesome," he whispers to her when Albert and Daniel are both engrossed in conversation.

"Thanks," Grandma Grace says offering him a wink, "and I know, don't worry."

It's not just her personality that had Jonah impressed but also the stories that Grandma Grace tells. Jonah has heard all about the time she visited Niagara Falls and when she nearly got eaten by a lion in Tanzania, been told about her adventures in New York, Sydney and Hong Kong. In fact Jonah has already decided that he wants to be that cool when he gets to Grandma Grace's age.

And it doesn't stop there either, Jonah is astounded when Grandma Grace is happy to discuss Vampire Weekend with him, is amazed when she announces to Daniel that she's beat his fastest time on Mario Kart and is admittedly slightly confused when she begins to speak Japanese to one of the other residents.

Grandma Grace is easily the coolest old

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