Here is the next chapter everyone!! I hope you enjoy it and please share your thoughts!! :))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June 21st, 2017

Beep Beep.

Dylan opened his eyes to the sun shining through the window onto his face.

Beep Beep.

Dylan yawned, sitting up to turn off his alarm clock.

A bright light of his phone turning on showed he had a ton of notifications.

He immediately grabbed his phone off the bedside table and saw the top one was from his sister.

He opened up his phone;

~~~

Sissy: Hey Dylan! Happy 26th you old fart! Have I wonderful day! Love you😘

~~~

Dylan smirked at the message and told her thank you.

He had also gotten a ton of dms and comments on instagram and twitter from his fans wishing him a happy birthday. It felt good to him that they cared and messaged a few back "thank you!" and "love you too!" and "😁😁".

The young man got out of bed and started to get ready for the day as normal.

...

"Happy birthday, Dill Pickle!" Sam yelled as soon as Dylan came through the door of McDonalds.

He laughed embarrassingly as other workers turned towards their direction, "Thanks, Sam."

Kevin walked over to him as well, "Yo happy 26th dude."

"Haha thanks, Kev."

Samantha frowned, "You didn't get a day off for your birthday?"

Dylan walked over to the swipe in machine, "I never requested off."

"Why not? You really want to spend half your day in this dump?"

"H£ll no, I just need the more money I can get."

"Ah I feel you," Sam nudges him, "there's gonna be some fun tonight!"

Dylan remembered.

All three of them were going to go out to a pizza place at 6 o clock. He was pretty happy they wanted to hang out with him on his birthday. They've only been friends for a few months and he'd never thought they'd be this close.

He smiled at her, "Yeah, I can't wait."

Kevin licked his lips, "Mmmmm, pizza!"

They all laughed and headed to their work stations.

...

After two hours of being off of work, Dylan changed into some casual attire for the evening. He was glad that he didn't need to go all out and dress up.

The crew had decided to meet in the restaurant and whoever got there first would hold a table.

They had even made a group chat for the occasion;

~~~

Los Tres Amigos

S: Really Kev??😂😂

K: What?? You said pick a
name for the group!

D: I actually dig it lol

S: haha me too

K: guys, i'm five minutes away
so i'll get a table.

S: Kevin! You're texting and driving??

S: so unlike you!!

K: what?? You do it all the time!

S: lol i know

S: I'm leaving now I'll be
there in 10!

D: I'm leaving in a minute,
see you guys there👋

K: catch you there guys

~~~

He grabbed his wallet, coat and keys and headed out to his car.

...

Dylan stepped out of the car and parked in front of the pizza place.

It was a nice evening and the sun was still out.

He turned towards the building, the letters lit up with neon lights and a mascot statue stood by the front window.

The aroma of the restaurant radiated the air. He could smell the delicious pizza seasoning and could almost taste the warm pizza crust in his mouth just standing out there.

"Dylan!"

The man heard his name and turned around to the noise.

His eyes caught sight of someone walking over to him.

It was Sam.

She was wearing a short sleeve blue shirt with ripped jeans and held a bag in her hands. Her hair was worn down, bopping up and down as she walked. Her face was glowing with cheerfulness.

He smiled at her as she came closer in view, "Hey, Sam."

"How funny is it that we arrived here at the same time?"

"Yeah what a coincidence."

The girl took a whiff of the air and sighed, "Man, you can smell the pizza from out here! I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

Dylan laughed, "You're speaking my language."

The two soon headed up to the enterance, Dylan holding the door for Samantha.

She playfully curtsied with her invisible skirt, "Why thank you kind sir."

He played along and bowed forward, "Pleasure is all mine."

Dylan and Sam both laughed out loud in the doorway and finally made it through when another customer was waiting behind him.

They looked around the building until they saw a man waving his arms at them.

So the two walked to Kevin who watched them come over, "Did you two ride over here together?"

Sam shook her head, sitting down, "No, we just happened to show up at the same time."

Dylan nodded, "It was a funny coincidence."

"Ah okay, that's cool. I already ordered my drink so you guys can get yours and then lets split the price for a pizza."

They both agreed.

"Hey what pizza do you wanna get, Dill?" Sam asked.

"We can just get plain. That's always a good favorite."

And it was settled.

...

Moments later, they were all chowing down on pizza, laughing and chatting.

Kevin then slid a envelope towards Dylan, "Here buddy, happy birthday."

Dylan looked at it and took it hesitantly, "Oh Kev, you didn't have to get me anything.."

He just smiled, "Quiet and open it."

The other obeyed and he pulled out a Starbucks Gift Card.

20 dollars worth.

"Kevin, are you sure?"

"I am, hope you like it."

Dylan was really grateful. Kevin didn't have to bless him like that, but he wanted to.

Sam held out her gift bag to him, "Here's mine!"

He took the bag and it took him by surprise, "Wow it's really heavy..."

"Just be careful with it, it's fragile."

The youtuber set down the gift softly, pulling out the tissue paper.

He looked down into the bag and made a face, turning up to Sam.

She was holding back her laughs.

He pulled out her gift, "Really, Sam? A jar of pickles??"

"Not just pickles, Dill Pickles," she grinned, "hope you enjoy!"

Dylan shook his head chuckling, "I love it, thank you."

Suddenly, Kevin checked his watch on his wrist, "Oh man, sorry guys I have to head out. My fiancé is having her parents over and she wants me to come," he waved to them and rallied his stuff, "I'll see you guys at work tomorrow. Enjoy your birthday, Dylan."

Dylan and Sam said goodbye to Kevin and they turned to each other.

Sam looked over at him, "Guess it's just us now."

Dylan another bite of his slice of pizza, "Nothing wrong with that."

He watched her take a bite of her pizza, "Hey, after this would you like to hang out a little longer? But if you have somewhere else to be that's fine-,"

She stopped him with a grin, "Of course! I'm bored out of my mind at my apartment. It'd be great to get some fresh air."

He didn't want to admit he was happy to hear her say that. It was boring just sitting around his apartment all the time with nothing to do but watch TV while eating cereal.

"Great, then lets go after I finish off this crust."

"I'll get a to go box."

...

Sam and Dylan walked around the small town nearby the pizza place. They looked through the shop windows and watched the sun begin to set. It wasn't anything thrilling but he liked being in the fresh air.

The girl beside him rubbed her arms back and forth as they walked down the sidewalk, "...and that's why I hate pretzels."

"...Are you cold?"

"Uh, yeah a little."

"Here."

Dylan took off his coat and handed it to Sam.

"Dill, what are you going to wear?"

He waved his hand at her, "I'm not cold."

She reluctantly took it, "Thanks, I guess I should've dressed warmer."

They walked a little farther and chatted up a storm about customer stories at work or crazy things that happened in their childhood.

Dylan felt like he was starting to get to know Samantha more and even learned about things he hadn't known.

"You're afraid of elevators?"

Sam laughed nervously, "Yeah...it's weird. I've always been terrified of them getting jammed or detaching."

Dylan smirked, "You know how rare that is?"

"Still! How about you, tough guy," she nudged him as they walked.

"I'm not afraid of anything."

"Yeah right, spill."

"I'm serious!"

"Nothing that freaks you out?"

"Eh."

"Nothing that makes you scared?"

"Not really."

"How about clowns?"

"Clowns are fine."

"You're crazy, clowns are terrifying!! They could jump out at you in any given moment, creep behind with their balloons and pull you into the sewers!"

Just then Dylan poked her on the shoulder and she yelped, grabbing onto his arm.

He gave a hardy laugh, "That was too easy!"

Sam pulled away, "Oh you!"

She hit him and started to laugh as well.

...

Later the two sat on the bench looking out to the clear sky, the sun almost disappearing from sight. They sat there comfortable for a while without words spoken.

Sam broke the quiet, "Are you feeling any better? You know...with getting over your ex?"

Dylan started to frown, "It's been getting alot smoother, but memories of us keep coming back to haunt me."

She sighed and held her legs against her chest, "I've never really dealt with not being to let go of my ex from the past but...my dad was devastated when my mom died,"

Dylan looked over at her as she continued, "She was my best friend but he and my mom were soulmates. She was his whole world and when she was gone, so was his universe. It's been 5 years and he still cries about the whole thing,"

Sam wiped her eye, "but something that helped him ease the pain was finding something else to replace the pain. It could be a new hobby, investing yourself into something you've wanted to be apart of, anything or anyone. She never left our thoughts but now my dad doesn't have to be sad all the time, he has a new thing to look forward to."

Dylan could tell she still missed her mom, "I just want to let you know I'm no where comparing my experience to you losing your mom.."

Sam faced the young man, a tear traveling down her cheek, "I know...I just thought I would share that with you."

He smiled at her, wiping her cheek, "Thank you for telling me that.. It really gives me perspective on how to move forward with my life."

Dylan turned his head down at the grass below them, "I've just always wanted to have a person that would always be there. Jasmine left me and it tore me apart because I worried I'd never have the life I've always wanted. Someone...I could spend the rest of my days with, you know?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah, I totally get it."

They sat there a little longer till the two began to walk back to their vehicles.

Dylan smiled at the thought of his long day. This was the best birthday he's had in a long time.