(luke)
Birthdays were never a big deal for me. Yeah, it was fun to have a party, be with your friends, and eat too much food, but I've never felt the need to make a spectacle out of mine. I don't know, they just seem a little redundant for me. However, I am guilty of constantly making a big deal out of other people's birthdays.
Yesterday, Emily was talking about how Meghan's birthday is coming up in a couple weeks. Emily's busy planning some stuff and she was asking me for my opinion all throughout Pro. Comm., I mean it's not like anybody pays attention in the class anyways.
However, that conversation got me thinking about Emily's birthday. More specifically, how I didn't even know when it is. So, I texted Meghan and found out that it's in October. I felt bad that I missed her birthday (even though I didn't know her then) and I realized that her half-birthday was in a few days, so I came up with a plan.
And that brings us to me currently driving to Emily's house at two in the morning.
She's told me some time ago that she really likes the idea unexpected trips (she hasn't experienced one, apparently, so she likes the idea of them), and I figured that's a fairly good birthday gift, or at least I hope it is. I drum my fingers nervously on the steering wheel of my car as I pull into the familiar driveway.
According to Emily, her parents are out on a business trip and she's given me a key (in case she locks herself out, which actually has happened a couple times since she first gave me the key), so I just let myself in and walk upstairs to her room.
I quietly tip-toe into her room and sit down cross-legged right by her bed, directly across from where her head is facing. I take out my phone and play "Is There Somewhere" by Halsey, which is an alarm on Emily's phone that's gone off in class a few times. She begins to stir and slowly opens her eyes, once she sees me she groans loudly.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Well, shit, at least try to contain your enthusiasm," I roll my eyes.
"Sorry," She mumbles with closed eyes, "but if you want enthusiasm, don't play a song that I use for my alarm."
"I knew that it would wake you up, though."
"That's true, but it's evil," She whines, "Wait, is it Monday already?"
"No," I laugh, "It's Saturday morning."
"Oh, good," Emily opens her eyes and little and smiles sleepily, "What time is it?"
"It's about two o'clock."
"Two?" She groans, "Why are you here at two in the morning?"
"I came to surprise you."
"Surprises can happen at noon, you know," She moves her hand from under her pillow and holds it out to me.
"Yes, I know, but this surprise has to happen at two," I smile, intertwining our fingers.
"Why?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"
"What if the surprise is just that you're going to let me sleep? That'd be a great surprise."
"Just get dressed, yeah?" I ask.
"Where are we going?" She eyes me suspiciously.
"Just wear what you normally wear," I shrug, "It's nowhere fancy."
"We're going somewhere?"
"Yeah, and you can even sleep in the car on the way there," I smile.
"Okay, fine, I'll get up," She sighs with a smile.
"It's a Christmas miracle!" I cheer dramatically.
"It's April, you dork," Emily rolls her eyes and squeezes my hand.
"Close enough," I shrug. She laughs and sits up, lets go of my hand, and sleepily walks across her room to her closet.
"I'll wait here," I say.
"Okay," She holds up a thumbs-up and shuts her closet door behind her.
A few minutes later, she walks back out dressed in her favorite black running shorts, a light grey t-shirt, and her white converse.
"Ta-da," She says dramatically as she walks over to me.
"You look great," I smile.
"Thank you," Emily blushes, "So, how far away is this surprise?"
"About two hours or so? Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I'm not doing anything today, I was just wondering."
I nod and we both stand up. Emily grabs her phone, charger, and a large blanket. We walk hand in hand downstairs and out of the house.
We get into my car before Emily speaks up, "Wait, why are you even giving me a surprise?"
"It's your half-birthday!" I exclaim excitedly.
"Half-birthday?"
"Yeah, it's six months away from your actual birthday," I explain.
"Why couldn't we have just, I don't know, celebrate my actual birthday?"
"I don't want to have wait until October to celebrate your birthday," I whine.
"I'm okay with you wanting to celebrate, I just don't like people interrupting my sleep."
"Trust me, babe, this is going to be better than sleep."
"I'm sure it is," Emily smiles.
We drive about twenty minutes or so before stopping at a local grocery store. We go inside and I pick out a bag of mini chocolate-covered donuts and a bottle of orange juice while Emily chooses a bag of mini powdered sugar-covered donuts and a bottle of chocolate milk. We pay for our things and soon, we're in my car again, driving to the surprise.
Emily connects her phone to my car's stereo system and starts to play a playlist that I made one time when I took her phone from her. We sing along to all of the songs, occasionally screaming out the lyrics. I keep our fingers intertwined throughout the car ride, neither one of us letting go.
About half an hour later, Emily grows quiet. I look over and see her leaning back, eyes closed, mouth slightly parted. Her fingers are still interlocked with mine and I smile. Quickly letting go, I reach forward and turn down the stereo volume a little, not wanting to wake Emily. I reach again for her hand and bring my focus fully back to the road.
It's a fairly uneventful car ride, seeing as no other person in their right mind would be driving around this early in the morning. Eventually, I merge off of the highway and I turn onto the street that leads to the surprise. We pass a large sign and I hear Emily sigh.
"Williamson National Park," Emily reads quietly.
"Ta-da," I chuckle, squeezing her hand.
"What are we doing here?" She turns to me with a smile.
"You'll see," I take our interlocked hands and bump them into her forehead, "Now, stop asking questions."
"Ow," She pouts, holding her hand to her forehead, "Jerk."
"Aw, are you okay?" I say sarcastically in a baby voice.
"Oh, shut up," she rolls her eyes and laughs.
I park my car in a parking space next to the entrance to one of the hiking trails.
"What are-"
"Do you trust me?"
"Well, yeah, of course I do, but-"
"No 'buts', Em," I smile and shake my head.
"Okay, fine, let's go," She nods.
I grin and let go of her hand as we both get out of the car. I open the back door and reach for my maroon backpack.
"What's that?" Emily asks.
"I've come prepared," I shrug, following Emily to the entrance of the hiking trail, "Can you hold this for me? I need to get something out of one of the pockets."
"Sure," Emily nods and takes the backpack from me. I reach into the front pocket and take out two flashlights. Once I zip up the opening, Emily puts on the backpack. I hand her one of the flashlights and she takes my hand, intertwining our fingers.
"Ready?" I look down at her and raise an eyebrow.
"Ready." She smiles up at me.