Two weeks passed since the homecoming and Mila was excited that she was turning sixteen in just two days. Her parents were giving her a sweet sixteen birthday party and she couldn't wait for the day to arrive.

With the help of her friends, they passed out invitations to almost everyone. And almost everyone wanted to go. Somehow, she thought it was mostly for Evan and Jared than for her, but she didn't mind. She just wanted everybody to have a good time.

The bell rang through the halls, and she was the last person out of the classroom, not realizing time was going by so fast. She didn't even have any of her things put away in art class. Not even bothering to put her art book and sketchpad in her backpack, she quickly rushed and was out the door just to smack right into Evan.

Her books and papers went flying everywhere.

"Oh, shit! My bad!" Evan bent down to help her pick up all her belongings.

"What were you doing outside of my classroom, Evan?" Curiosity overshadowing her shock when she realized it was him that she had run into.

He put all her stuff that he had picked up on top of the stack that was already in her arms. "Waiting for you." He answered with a grin.

She smiled as they both stood up facing one another. "For what?"

"I wanted to see if maybe you'll go out on a date with me." He stated casually as if he was stating that the sky was blue.

She almost dropped her things again, completely surprised but also completely pleased that he had just asked her out. She had waited for years for him to do so and finally he had done it. She felt herself get red in the face as she completely became shy all the sudden.

"Are you being serious right now? Like this isn't a joke, right?" She couldn't help asking, trying very hard not to put too much hope into it.

"Um, yeah, I am. I know it's your party and all and I already planned to be there anyways, but I was thinking maybe that it could be our first date you know." He shrugs, putting his hands in his jean pockets.

She tried very hard this time not to feel disappointed. She didn't want a date for her own birthday party. Doesn't that kind of beat the purpose of it? Even though she wanted to object to this kind of date, she still heard herself say,

"Yeah, sure, that's fine."

"Great! Well since its at your house guess I don't really need to pick you up." He laughs. "I'll just see you there."

He walks away feeling good about himself, leaving her standing there in the now almost empty hallway just staring after him. He had finally asked her out, granted it was to her own party, and there was going to be dozens of people from their school present. But then why didn't she feel ecstatic about it or any overjoyed happiness?

She had waited and waited for this to happen, but now that it actually has, she felt...well she felt that it was way overdue. She walked to the other end of the hall, opposite where he had left and went out the back doors, needing to get to her next class before the tardy bell rang.

***

"Jared, did you hear me?" Selena asked for what felt like the tenth time since she has been trying to get his attention.

She knew her brother was ignoring her on purpose. Actually, he had been ignoring everyone for the past two days and she had an absolute feeling about why, even though he wouldn't admit it to anyone.

She shook his shoulder this time, getting fed up with his cold demeanor. "Jared!"

"What?!" He turned to stare at her with an angry look on his face.

She quickly backed away as she didn't expect the harsh features to be flown her way like that. "Are you going to go or what?"

Jared turned back around at his desk in his room, trying to finish another project that wasn't due until after Christmas break. It was the beginning of November, and it was the night of Mila's birthday party.

"You go. I have to get this finished." He told her, looking down at his barely written paper.

"Really?! That thing isn't due for another two months!" She practically snaps at him in disbelief.

When he didn't answer she gave an exasperated sigh and nearly fell on his bed. Evan wasn't there tonight since he decided to stay home. Which actually surprised her. Jared on the other hand seemed relieved.

"Please go Jared. You know she would be upset if you didn't."

"She wouldn't care one way or the other. We can't stand each other remember." He sounded a bit dejected.

He then started searching for something and when he found what he was looking for he handed it to her. His eyes weren't as bright as they usually were, and his shoulders slumped a little.

"Give this to her for me will you."

Selena grabbed the small box wrapped with birthday paper with the cutest little pink bow she had ever seen.

"It would be better if you gave it to her yourself. It would mean a whole lot more to her." She said softly, feeling a bit down herself.

"Yeah, well...she probably wouldn't even notice that I'll hand it to her or what was inside so what does it matter." He turns back around to face his desk again.

She had seen the pain flash in his eyes before he did, and her heart went out to him. She didn't need a confession from him to know he had some deep feelings for her best friend. Somehow, she thought that maybe she always knew. She got up and threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. She put her head on his shoulder.

"Are you sure you won't go?"

He gave a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm sure."

As soon as she left his room, he threw his homework in the drawer and got up. It was just an excuse for him to use for not going to the party, but somehow, he didn't think it fooled his sister. He stared out the window and hated himself for feeling so hopeless. He was glad Evan wasn't here and wouldn't be for a couple of days.

He needed time to be by himself. He wanted to hit something, and he hated himself even mor that he wanted to hit his best friend. When he found out about the date between Evan and Mila, which spread throughout the school like wildfire, he simply got up and walked away not saying a word. He had heard people calling out to him, but he had just ignored them all.

He also ended up avoiding Evan and Mila.

They didn't know that he knew about the date, but Evan knew that something was wrong.

"Okay, what's wrong with you? You've been very standoffish lately and you have been ignoring everybody, including me."

They had been walking home from school that day and Evan had to keep up with Jared's fast pace. He adjusted his backpack and hugged it close to his body.

"Nothing is wrong. It's just one of those days that's all."

"Dude, slow down. What is this, a speed walking race?" Evan huffed out trying to catch up.

Jared forced himself to slow his strides and waited for him.

"I need to stay home for a few days." Evan stated flatly.

He looked at him then and saw the grim look on his face. "What's going on?" he asked with a hint of concern.

"It's my dad. He came back and is giving my mom a hard ass time like he always fucking does. I can't leave her alone with him. He might do what he did last time she was by herself with him."

Jared clenched his teeth in suppressed rage. He knew exactly what his friend meant. A few years ago, his dad had beaten his mother so badly that he had put her in the hospital. She nearly died that night, but she wouldn't press any charges against him. And since they were married there wasn't anything that anyone could do about it. He had skipped town and only came back when he didn't have any money or a place to stay. He never lasted more than four days until he leaves again repeating the whole cycle over.

But every time he came back, he would beat Evan's mother. Unless Evan was there with her. For Evan could hold his own now and nearly beat the life out of him when he kept beating his mom even when she was unconscious.

"You going to be alright?" Jared asked him, a little worried like he always was when news of his dead-beat father was in town.

"Yeah, you know me." He chuckled and sobered up again in the space of a few seconds. "See you at the party then?"

Jared looked away, hiding the hard look on his face. "Maybe. I have a lot of things to do. I might not make it."

"What?! What do you mean? You said that you were going this morning. You even told Mila that you were going to get that DJ for her for free since you knew the guy." He looked disappointed and a bit confused at his sudden change of heart.

"And I did. So, she doesn't have to worry about that. It's just some things came up that's all." He shrugs acting like it wasn't such a big deal.

He wanted to end the subject because with every word being spoken with his friend was like a knife through his gut.

"Well, I guess I'll let her know since we're a couple now."

Jared stopped and stared at him. "Couple? I thought it was just one date?"

Evan shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, it is. But I'm pretty sure its going to be more than that so." He grins.

"How do you know? You haven't even gone on the date yet." He demanded, his tone almost harsh.

"Just a feeling. I mean everyone knows she likes me." He gave off another grin and didn't notice the look on Jared's face.

He hated him. He was actually beginning to hate him. "I got to go." He didn't even bother to say anything else to his comment as he walked off.

That was the last time he had spoken to him and was glad of it. He sighed as he sat back down on his bed. Well, now what? He looked around his room to where his clock was, showing that it was just barely past five thirty in the evening. He yawned thinking that maybe a nap didn't sound too bad.

He laid himself down with a hand behind his head looking up at the ceiling. He didn't feel like thinking anymore, especially of a green-eyed beauty that kept haunting his waking moments. Soon he closed his eyes and sleep had taken over.

***

Everyone showed up. Well almost everyone.

Selena and Jared still weren't there but it was still early in the party. The place was packed, there was music from the DJ that Jared had asked a favor of and there was plenty of food and drinks. Even though there was no alcohol everyone was enjoying themselves.

"Hey." Evan said loudly over the music.

Mila smiled at him. She was near the front door waiting for anybody else who may have yet to make an appearance. "Hey." She yells back.

"Turned out pretty well." He was very close, moving in next to her ear so she could hear him better.

"Yeah, it did, didn't it." She looked over when she saw the front door open to reveal Selena and Ian.

Her best friend smiled at her as she quickly gave her a hug. "Happy birthday! Wow, this is so amazing! Everyone showed up!" She stated enthusiastically, looking around the house.

Mila frowned as she looked behind them just to see no one else coming in. "Where's Jared?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. He told me that he might not make it since something else more important came up." Evan stated matter of fact.

Selena gave him an irritated look with that statement. "Sorry, but he couldn't come."

"Oh...well, that's okay. It doesn't matter I guess." She forced a smile, trying hard not to show her disappointment and hurt.

"Here, he got you this though." Selena said sweetly, making sure Evan saw her hand over the gift that Jared had gotten for Mila, his date.

He gave a scowl in her direction.

"Oh, he didn't have to do that." Mila smiled as she took the small box from her friend's outstretched hand.

She felt her body go warm with happiness as it spreads throughout her chest. She didn't get any other presents from anyone else, except for her family, not even Evan had given her a gift. She suddenly didn't want to open it in front of everyone. So, she just put it in her pocket for later.

"Well, he felt bad for not making it. So, he thought that maybe that would count for something anyways." Selena shrugged giving a little smile of her own seeing how her friend lit up just a bit at seeing the small box.

"I got you something as well, but that's for later okay." She hugged her again and took hold of Ian's hand, then dragged him towards where people were dancing and having fun.

"Happy birthday, Mila." He quickly said to her before he disappeared into the crowd.

Evan takes her hand. "Let's go join in." He too dragged her after him.

Some people called out to them as they merged into the moving bodies, and she felt happy about her party with how well it was going. But the disappointment wouldn't go away and suddenly she just wanted everyone to go home.