The more days went past, the more I realised it didn't matter how much time I would've gotten to make up my mind, it'd never have been enough. 

I happily went on lunch break walks with Jem, despite knowing I was only putting off having make some sort of choice on whether I would sit with Farah and Bailey, or Jasmine and her friends, or alternate between them, at some point. It didn't matter - I wanted to stick my head in the sand for the time being, at least until the stress of the double parties was off my shoulders. 

Sometimes, I found Autumn staring at me when I walked outside with Jem day after day, but she didn't comment. If she had something to say about it, knowing her she would, so I supposed she didn't. Autumn only texted me to tell me to swing by her house before Jasmine's party so she could do my makeup. I always thought I was okay at it, but apparently Autumn didn't trust me to pull off party-makeup. 

Monday turned into Tuesday, Tuesday into Wednesday, and before I knew it, I was baking cakes with Bailey and Farah at Bailey's place. Which, yes, mostly meant I was watching them do all the work and occasionally taking orders from Bailey or her mom to cut something up.  

Then, the day was suddenly there. Bailey was excited about her birthday, Jasmine was excited about hers. I got pelted excitement from both sides. All it did was make me feel twice as bad. 

There was a plan, in theory, to navigate this afternoon and night. I'd go to Bailey first. Then, I would expand on my excuse of spending time with Jem to the evening. I'd leave early and tell Bailey it was to hang out with Jem, rather than Jasmine's party. I could probably convince her to not tell my parents about it, considering she was enthusiastic about me getting a boyfriend and supported it. 

Or so I hoped. I could only hope, because I had no more time to plan anything else today. 

The plan involved going to Baileys birthday first, directly after school ended. As said, as done. So, with my gift, a fun game called 'Evolution', safely tucked in my backpack, I walked up to Bailey's doorstep and rang the doorbell after school. 

Quick little footsteps ran to the door on the other side and I heard the giggling of one of Bailey's small cousins. The door swung open and the adorable, blonde little head of Dina appeared. 

"Hi!" Dina greeted me with a wide smile. "Come quickly! Or you'll miss the apple pie again like last year!" 

"Alright, alright!" 

I laughed when she started tugging on my hand, and allowed her to drag me to the living room. 

I wasn't late this year, yet, the room was already packed with various family members of Bailey's of all ages. Bailey's only living grandmother was seemingly taking a nap in the comfortable lounging chair in the corner. I wondered how, with all the noise and ruckus Bailey's younger cousins ranging from the age three to ten or so made. I didn't see Bailey or Bailey's parents, but they were probably in the kitchen, cutting some extra cakes. 

Farah was helping by setting up some extra tables for the tabletop games we'd play after eating the insane amounts of pie and cake. Farah and all Bailey's family members weren't the only ones there, though. 

My jaw nearly dropped when I spotted an all folded up Spencer, wedged between Bailey's brothers, at one of the already placed tables. There was a game set up on the table, which I recognised as some football-themed game that Bailey and her brothers had played to death. It was worn and torn, but that didn't stop them from playing it even more. 

Spencer was here? He was invited to Jasmine's as well, but I was happy for Bailey that he came to her instead. She must've been thrilled as well. Knowing Bailey, she'd squealed to herself when Spencer appeared at the door. 

I looked down and patted Dina's head. She was still holding my hand, but I gently pulled myself free. "Thanks, but I'm on time this year. I'm sure I'll be able to get some pie. I'm going to say hello to my friend first, okay?" 

Dina looked up at me like I was crazy. "No pie?"

"Later," I said, but Dina had already lost her attention for me. 

One of her sisters, Megan, distracted her with a pony plush. Pony plushes were way more interesting than I was of course, and Dina ran after her sister, giggling and screaming that 'mommy told us to share! It's my pony, too!' 

I grinned shaking my head. Bailey's extended family was fun. I was an only child myself and sometimes I wished I had a sibling or two or three. But I was glad I didn't have to deal with the screaming, crying, and laughing children on a daily basis. 

I walked over to Spencer and Bailey's little brothers, dodging stuffed animals and other toys on the way. 

"Hey!" I greeted all of them. 

"Hi!" Both Bailey's brothers replied almost simultaneously without looking up from the game - they were far too engrossed in it. 

Spencer's head did tilt up, and he smiled slightly at me. "Hey, Celia. So, you decided to go to Bailey's instead as well." 

"Yeah, I guess," I replied, suddenly realising Spencer being here posed a bit of a problem for my plan. 

Of course, he'd been invited for Jasmine's party as well. If I left early, he probably knew what was going on and why wouldn't he talk to Bailey about it? He'd assume she knew the reason I was leaving early as well. Could I still get away with telling Bailey the truth instead of my lie? Probably not. She'd be hurt if I cut her most important event of the year short for Jasmine's sake and more importantly: she'd tell her mom, who'd tell my mom. 

I needed to think fast. 

With a shrug, I took a seat opposite Spencer and Bailey's brothers. The latter still mostly ignored me. 

"I didn't think the club was really your scene, anyway," I told Spencer. "Jem's house party was already enough, wasn't it?" 

"Yep," Spencer said. "I told Jasmine I had another party. She wasn't happy about it, and the guys from the team told me I was insane for skipping this one and tried to convince me all week. But..." 

Spencer opened his mouth, changed his mind about speaking, and then just shrugged. "It is what it is — I don't like clubs." 

I nodded. "Right. No point in going if you don't enjoy it." 

I admired Spencer for putting his foot down on this. Then again, what were they going to do? Shun him, kick him off the football team, and start losing again when the football season started? They needed him on the field, so Spencer had that kind of leverage. 

I didn't. If I was together with Jem officially, yes. But I wasn't. Yet...

"So you don't enjoy it either?" Spencer asked. 

I blinked. "Huh?" 

"The clubs." 

"Oh, I..." 

I hesitated. The plan could still work. I'd tell Bailey I was going to Jem, which wasn't untrue either considering he'd be there at Jasmine's party. I could tell Spencer the same thing. 

"Not especially," I said. "But I am leaving a bit early to go somewhere else tonight. To, uh, Jem's."

Spencer raised a brow. He seemed to think things of it, and to be honest, who wouldn't if you said you were going home with your date tonight. 

"I see," he said. Again, he had that look like he wanted to say something but was internally debating whether he should. 

"Be careful," Spencer finally told me. 

"Spencer! Stop talking! It's your turn, it's your turn!" 

Both Bailey's brothers were prodding Spencer, assaulting him from two sides. Spencer raised his arms in defence.

"Okay, stop! I can't take my turn if you keep poking me!" 

I took that as my cue to leave. With a last nod and smile at Spencer, I stood, and made my way to the kitchen to look for Bailey. 

I found her at the kitchen counter as expected, putting some final decorations on the biggest of all cakes. Her favourite: a simple yellow cake with frosting. Farah and I never understood why the simplest cake in existence was Bailey's favourite, but, it was her party so that yellow cake would be the centre piece. 

Bailey looked up at me as I walked into the kitchen and smiled. "Hey, you made it! And you're not even late this year!"

I jokingly rolled my eyes. "You're never going to let me live down last year, are you?" 

"Nope! Hope your gift is extra big this year." Bailey grinned, opening her arms for a hug. 

I hugged her, wished her a happy birthday again, then took a deep breath. It was now or never. I wouldn't be able to claim Bailey's alone time anymore after the games had started without drawing massive attention to myself. 

"Uh, Bailey, can I talk to you for a moment?" I darted a glance behind me. There was nobody else in the kitchen anymore right now, but they could walk in at any moment. 

"Outside?" 

Bailey's smile fell and her eyes were immediately wide with worry. "Yeah, of course." 

"It's nothing bad, don't worry," I said as Bailey guided me outside through the backdoor, but I knew she would anyway. 

Bailey took a seat on the garden bench and patted the seat next to hers. "What's up?" 

I took a seat. 

I could still tell her the truth... and possibly end up ruining part of her birthday. I didn't want to put a stain on it. It was such a big deal that she still teased me with being late last year. 

"Uh, Bailey... Jem's parents aren't home tonight and he invited me over," I blurted, feeling my cheeks go red as I spoke. 

It took a second to register for innocent Bailey, but then her mouth formed a perfect 'o' in surprise. 

"Oh my gosh! That's huge!" she called out. "What did you say?" 

"Not anything yet," I replied, which was the truth. I'd not confirmed nor denied that I would stay over with Jasmine or Jem tonight to either of them. "But... I— I kind of want to do it?"

There was the first lie. I didn't want to do what staying over implied with Jem yet, at all. 

"Oh my gosh!" Bailey called out again, now pressing her hands to her face. "That's so grown up! Are you sure?" 

I curled my hands to fists in my lap. "Yes, but I wanted to talk to you about it first, considering I'd need to leave a bit early..."

Bailey placed her hands on mine, and I quickly relaxed them. 

"Celia, I totally understand!" she said, giving my hands a little shake. "It's not every day that his parents are gone and the timing is right. Just, tell me everything tomorrow, okay?"

Bailey's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and I felt a stab of guilt. I had no intention of sleeping with Jem yet, and she'd expect a story tomorrow of how I had. Should I make it up, or lie some more? Lying more didn't sound great if I already felt so guilty for it now. 

"I definitely will tell you and Farah everything tomorrow," I said. 

Bailey laughed. "If Farah can stomach the story, you know how she is about dating and stuff like that."

I forced a laugh at the joke, too. "True. I'll try to censor a bit so I don't make her ears bleed." 

"Alright." 

Bailey stood, and brushed off her pants. "Let's go inside and get the birthday cakes out. And I'm ready to receive some presents!"  

I followed Bailey's example and also stood. I started walking, but before I could step inside, Bailey stopped me, placing her hand on my shoulder. 

"Wait, no, just one more thing... Be careful okay?" she said. 

"Yeah." 

I wish Bailey hadn't said that. Her being so sweet just made the guilt worse. And I couldn't help but note that was the same warning Spencer had given me. 

I forced another smile. "I will."