(Derek's P.O.V)

"Thanks, Grace but I know." I chuckled, finished with wrapping the velvet box in decorative paper.

"Well, that's good to hear. You know I reminded Lila about your birthday?"

Amused, I remarked, "So you were playing matchmaker?"

"Yep. I told you I was on your side since the day I caught you creeping on my sister on video."

I cringed, switching the phone from speaker to normal. "Won't you please delete it?"

"I'll think about it," she mused. "Anyways, all the best. I talked to Lila already and wished her a happy birthday." Static sounded on her end of the call before she continued, somber in mood. "But I'm so glad you guys are talking normally."

"That'd be an overstatement, Grace."

"Why?"

"Because." I shrugged. "We pretty much dusted the kiss under the rug and...well then some." I thought back on all the instances Lila and I shared and the one time with the Wildcat.

"Yeah but I mean Lila had a hickey and I doubt anyone else got as close to her as you for that to happen."

"I try."

"Good. Don't give up on her please, she's not an easy nut to crack but Mellisa's death messed with my sister big time." Grace was being too forward but I guess Nora had been keeping her updated about everything happening here especially concerning Lila. Because there was no way Lila would share such things with anyone herself.

With a heavy heart, I replied. "Yeah, I know." I shrugged, "We pretty much talk normally but it's just that we have a lot unsaid and unsorted. We'll have to talk it out soon."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." Grace reassured me and I sighed nervously. "It's four in the morning though." I rose an inquisitive brow aware she couldn't see me but still.

"Yeah and?"

"And Lila's usually always asleep. She hates waking up early."

Grace laughed, "And you're already so attuned to her habits. But today is her birthday so it's an exception, I suppose."

"Great. Understood. I wanna catch her soon though, so I'll talk to you later."

"Sure, have fun kiddo." Then Grace paused. "And, uh, thanks for not giving up on her."

Before I could respond, Lila's sister had cut the call. I stared at it and then a smile tugged at my lips.

Grace had called me up a few days back and asked if I had anything prepared for Lila's birthday.

I did.

I'd started preparing a few days after my very own birthday wanting to make her gift even more special. And now this gift was going to be the bridge that'd heal the rift caused between us, the distance that couldn't be seen.

Luckily, today was a Saturday and not a school day. We had plans to spend the evening with Lila since her parents had taken the day off to spend it with her. I had to wait a while before I could get her alone but I was up for it. 

Desiree had left when her small vacation was over after my birthday and she hadn't been able to bring up the incident to Dad. Although she promised we would tackle it, she also said she needed time to process the facts and the consequences it might bear for us as a family if Dad were to know.

Lila hadn't said much about this because we hadn't talked deeply about anything in a while. However, tonight would surely change that.

I'd make sure of it.

12th September would go down in our history as a monumental birthday.

So I bided my time and sighed, clenching my fist as I leaned on the windowsill, watching Lila's window, hoping for time to pass like quicksand.

•♤•

(Lila's P.O.V)

I hadn't expected Mom and Dad to take the whole day off when I knew they'd be super busy. But they had  and we'd gone to a diner for breakfast then spent the day at home, simply talking and watching Netflix and I seriously couldn't have asked for more.

"Thanks, Mom." I smiled. "Dad." I raised my glass of sprite, "Today was amazing."

My parents smiled. "It's the least we could do. We're so busy we never spend enough time with you." Mom sadly smiled.

My heart twisted.

"But you never complain. Like a champ." My Dad winked and I chuffed, feeling suddenly emotional. "And now you're 18."

My Dad chuckled to himself, as if he couldn't believe it. I glanced at Mom sitting next to me and only missed Grace. We'd had a video call later in the afternoon and she'd expressed how she missed us. We all talked for almost an hour before she said she had to sleep and we let her go.

"And well, I think it's a good thing Mellisa's case was reopened."

My heart sank at the quiet words from my parents.

Mom and Dad hadn't known.

I know they hadn't.

The true documents never reached my Dad and Mom had been removed from the hospital during the time Mellisa's autopsy was carried out by Michael's Dad. A Lawyer and a doctor, both influential but nothing compared to the dark influence of the Gambinos in this town.

"Right." My words came out flat but I was feeling a whirlwind of emptions on the inside.

Mom and Dad had been helpless when they found me. Grace was the only one who'd seen my scar, the branding on my skin. When I'd locked myself in, crying in the darkness or sitting aimlessly, she came in and tended to it. No questions asked.

She'd booked an appointment at a  hospital two towns over and dragged me there. That's how I'd gotten proper treatment. But the branding would certainly leave a scar. On my soul and my skin both.

My parents were on business trips or usually quite busy even though they took time off after this ordeal but it was easier to avoid their questions when they were so absent.

When I started going to Blue and coming back bruised and broken, she applied the ointments and the bandages and helped me avoid Mom and Dad on the worst days.

Like I said, I was pretty sure she knew I was the Wildcat but she never brought it up and I liked it that way. Having to speak about any of the past made me feel like dying in humiliation and the pain would sear itself into my heart all over again.

But now revenge was being enacted.

And I was Eighteen.

I knew this was it. Things would change going forward.

Because Roy and Ana weren't about to sit still. Diego had already confirmed their movements and that my being legal evened the playing field for him. Well it had been evident from Roy's explicity descriptive letters that my eighteenth birthday would spell doom for me.

But I wanted to enjoy today rather than dwell on the pain that was sure to come.

My Mom rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder and Dad gave a soft smile.

"We miss her too."

I smiled even though it was tinged with the darkest of my vengeful thoughts and the most painful of my memories.

•♤•

"HAPPYYY BIIIRRTHHDAAYYYY!!"

Nora and Rebecca shouted at the top of their lungs while Warren and Michael sent up sparkly pieces of those decorative shit I never bothered to learn the name of. Derek stood with the cake, flashing me a dimpled smile that set the butterflies in my stomach astray.

I let out a long breath, smiling widely as I invited them all inside.

"Thanks, guys. Come in."

Everyone filtered in, Derek last of them all with bags of what were probably gifts. 

I sighed, "What's with all these gifts?"

"They're for you, of course." Warren blinked innocently and everyone laughed good-naturedly. 

With the house empty since Mom and Dad had left again, we had it all to ourselves.

Food, drinks, netflix, gossip. We were all ready for it.

Even Rebecca and Derek.

It was going to probably be awkward but somehow our dynamic worked.

"Well, then. Turn on the music!" Michael whooped and I rose amused brows. Derek joined him and Warren grabbed a slice of pizza.

"Okay, guys, this is very important but......." He bit on the pizza and everyone stopped to listen to him. "We have not discussed The Wildcat and The Wolf's fight two weeks ago and we simply have to."

Everyone started chattering and my eyes flew to Derek's only to find his already staring at me. He grinned and I shook my head, a faint smile on my face.

This felt home-like.

No real burdens to carry.

This felt natural.

It took a lot for us all to get here and open up this much but I appreciated every single one of my friends in this case. Even Rebecca with whom I'd formed an unlikely sort of companionship.

"Sure, let's gossip."

•♤•

"Get out, no guys allowed. This is a sleepover!" Nora kicked Warren and then kissed Michael on the cheek, blushing as he chuckled.

Warren frowned, "Ow! This is cheating! And sexist!"

"Not really." Nora blew him an air kiss and Rebecca snickered.

Warren's eyes flew to hers and he rose a challenging brow to which she looked way. I noted that and then smirked at Warren who cringed as he caught my eye.

"Okay, so, leave." Nora ushered Michael, War and Derek out of my house and they all groaned.

"Aw, come on." Derek sighed dramatically and Michael grabbed Nora again, kissing her smack dab on the lips.

We all watched with our jaws hitting the floor because this was the first real kiss they'd had in front of us.

"Oh my god!" I squealed and the rest followed with a swarm of cute gushing or scorned looks from the guys.

Nora turned a thousand shades of red before hopping back inside and glaring at us all, softening her look when she saw Michael looking amused and chuckling.

They were so adorable!

Oh, my god, I feel so single. *insert crying emoji*

In good spirits, the guys eventually caved and waved us goodbye, night having fallen and covering the world in its blanket of darkness. Rebecca walked in but I stayed out when I saw Derek hovering. Nora glanced at me with a mischievous smile as he approached us and looked at my blonde bombshell of a friend.

"Can I borrow her for a bit?"

My traitor of a best friend nodded vehemently, so much that I thought her head would detach itself from her neck like those bobbing toys. I glared at her as she shoved me out and I yelled accusingly.

"Hey! I never agreed to this!" I hissed as I stole a glance at Derek looking thoroughly amused.

"Go! I'm rooting for you!"

"What–"

And the door of my very home was slammed in my face.

Just what every girl wants for her birthday.

I rolled my eyes and when silence descended on us after such a boisterous time, I sucked in a sharp breath.

I looked at him from the corner of my grey eyes, his dark silhouette defined as the crickets croaked. "So."

He chuckled as I shifted from foot to foot.

"So." He parroted and slipped his hands into his pockets, a small bag hanging from his wrist. My heart skipped a beat.

"Follow me?"

I rose a brow, able to glean some features because of the street lights casting a yellowish glow on us. "Where?"

"To the end of the world."

"I'm hesitant."

"Not possible when it's you and me."

My heart raced at his words and I gulped, thankful for the cover of the inky night. He twisted on his heel with a light chortle and I grudgingly followed.

We walked down two streets in silence that was filled with anxiety till the small neighburhood park came into view. I breathed in the scent of fresh grass and relaxed slightly.

Derek beckoned me over to the metal pair of swings and I followed, sitting down on one.

The park was nearly empty save for a few stray dogs and someone who was jogging on the other end of the park. I looked up at the sky, my body going with the motion of the swings as the stars came into view. 

"I always love the nights in Ladenhill." 

Derek's voice sounded right behind me and when he gripped the chains of the swing, standing behind me as I swung softly, my breath caught in my throat.

"Oh." 

What kind of reply was that?!

But before I could overthink more, Derek dropped something onto my lap. "Happy Birthday, Kitkat."

I stilled, the swing coming to a standstill as well as I put my feet on the ground. I stared down at it before speaking. "You didn't have to–"

"But I wanted to." His breezy words made something stir in my chest. "Now open it."

"Right now?" I twisted to face him, staring up in confusion as he grinned down at me and nodded emphatically.

Feeling shaky for no reason whatsoever, I shrugged and then took the box in my hands. I unwrapped it slowly.

The velvety feel of it against my hands was soothing.

Derek didn't rush me and when I finally opened the box, the kind that's used for jewelery sets, I was confronted with a very baffling sight.

No words could express what I was feeling in that moment.

The necklace and pair of matching earrings shone with the light from around us and the shape, the colors, the significance of the design wasn't lost on me. I'd be able to tell what it was meant to be with just one glance but it felt too surreal. My mouth dried up and as I tentatively reached out to touch it, to see if it wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

"This...."

"Do you like it?" A tremor of nervousness bled into Derek's voice as he whispered right against my cheek.

My hand traced the necklace reverently as I nodded.

"Yeah." I sounded choked up.

Softly, he addressed me, "Want me to put it on you?"

I stared at the necklace with the flower and shook my head. "Not yet."

Derek didn't ask for more. Ever so patient.

How was I so blessed with people that were willing to take it easy with me? Be so patient?

The gift finally helped me make up my mind. I sniffed as nostalgia hit me hard.

"Sit." I patted the swing next to me.

Silently, Derek did as I said. I fingered the flower embedded with a red stone and golden fire-like petals surrounding it.

"Who told you about it?"

"No one."

I looked at him with a frown and he elucidated.

"The day you had a fever and I put your favorite books by your bedside. The design slipped out from one of the books and when I was done reading the series–it was amazing by the way–I was sure it'd be the perfect gift."

I stared at him, dumfounded.

"You read all seven books?" I croaked out in surprise.

He gave an affronted look. "Yeah. I read."

"Have you ever read any other novel before?"

He deflected and cleared his throat, "There's always a first time for everything."

Moisture collected in my eyes but I blinked it away. "Thank you. Really." Then I chuckled sardonically. "God, I'm only ever thanking you."

He nodded. "Yeah, how will you repay me now?" He rose a teasing brow.

I looked down at the earrings in my lap. "With truth, I suppose. I can....at least start."

Derek stared at me, his coper eyes widenend marginally and I snickered at his surprise.

"Throne Of Glass was Mellisa's favorite book. I didn't read the series until after her death. They provided much comfort." I looked at my surroundings, immersing myself in memories bittersweet as a chilly wind blew past. Summer was almost gone.

"I grew to love the books individually as well later on but it was only because of Mel that I tried them."

"Like I read them because of you." He sneaked in, a lighter tone of voice that was meant to elevate the somber mood.

I smiled at him. "Like that, yeah." I looked up at the sky, wondering if Mellisa was one of the stars twinkling down at us. "The design for this jewelery piece was inspired from the kingsflame flower mentioned in the last book of the series: Kingdom Of Ash."

"I figured that out when I read it."

I nodded. "The flower only bloomed during the presence of a good ruler and when there was peace in the land. We planned to get a matching set." I looked Derek straight in his copper eyes that looked inky in the dark. "I'm surprised you went through so much effort."

He smirked, "Well, it was my Kitkat's birthday."

"Its an expensive custom-made piece, Derek."

"The gloves you gave me were the same."

"This isn't a competetion." I groaned.

"If it was, I'd win."

"You already did." My soft whisper carried on the wind and Derek stiffened, his eyes akin to a physical caress on me.

I curled into myself and took a deep breath, swinging. "The night you came to my place drunk–"

"We kissed." He cut me off and I stopped swinging to look at him, brows furrowed. "I remember. I never forgot, Lila."

Heart racing, I licked my suddenly dry lips. My shoulders slumped and an unnatural ache imbuned itself into my heart. "Then–"

"I ignored it because I thought you didn't want it. It's how you are. You wouldn't talk about it or your feelings." He tilted his head, eyes lowered. "And you didn't. You were pissed and cold and I hated it."

Raw emotion flooded his tone and his expression.

That's when it hit me. "You don't remember." I scoffed. "That's the part you forgot." I clenched my jaw.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you didn't forget our kiss but you forgot that you moaned Tatiana's name when we were making out."

"What?" 

•♤•

A/N

Oh Kay well, opinions, guys! What do you think of the birthday gift Derek gave and the story behind it?
How about the fact that their friend group's dynamic changed? What about Grace and Lila's family?
And more importantly, what do you think of Derek and Lila trying to be honest with each other??

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Do vote and comment! Thanks!
Also, I may post more chapters in quick succession soon so yay no extra waiting!

~Skyler