"Happy Birthday Harmony! Wake up sleeping beauty!" I heard a chorused yell from within my place of sanctuary.

My eyes shot open as I screamed. I ended up rolling out of bed, onto my floor with a thud. Bloody hell that hurt. I may have had a rug underneath to break my fall but I could still feel the pain on my face from the collision. I just wanted peace in my own room and be able to sleep in on my birthday. I guess that was too much to wish for on my 'special day'. I grumbled under my breath in disdain at the combined familiar laughter. I struggled to sit up considering my body was still asleep and so was my brain. I glared at Kylee, Ruby and Evelyn from across my bed. They all wore party hats and had party blowers in their hands. I'm just waiting for them to use that and rupture my poor eardrums. I'm terrified of the unexpected when it comes to the three. I know they'll do it when I'm least expecting. 

I grabbed Kylee's outstretched hand and stood up. Not even a second later, I was attacked into a group hug by all three of them making me stumble back, almost falling onto my bed. My eyes widened at the overwhelming amount of love shown by them today. "Ok, ok, I love you guys too but I'd like to live long enough to experience my birthday" I wheezed out, jokingly. They let go of me and gave me a wide cheeky toothy grin.

I was still sour at being woken at up at the early hours of the morning but I loved them nonetheless

"So how does it feel to be eighteen, my friend?" Evelyn asked.

"Uh great I guess but the day only just got started and you three barged in on my beauty sleep" I joked with a glare.

"Too bad, we are here to make your birthday special!" Ruby shouted. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Well, time get ready bitch, we are going to go out and celebrate your special day" Kylee ordered.

"Ok ok, but could you guys please leave my room and give me some privacy?" I politely asked.

They nodded before leaving my room, closing the door behind them. I huffed and sat on my bed to then run my fingers through my hair, messing it up even further than it already was. Now that I was awake, I could finally think clearly. It's been only a week since the Halloween party. It's Saturday now, the day of my birthday. My friends have been hyping it up for the past few days, whether it be in class or whenever we were out. I'm sure just about everyone knew by now. It's how Daniel found out. I didn't want to tell him because I didn't want him to do anything for my birthday, I didn't even want the attention but it's to be expected from my friends. I appreciate their efforts though to do something.

I pushed myself off my bed to get dressed into a yellow and white striped button-up collared shirt with denim shorts and white flat sandals. I left my hair down but made sure to brush out the damned knots. My hair is naturally wavy but the knots are always a struggle to untangle in the mornings. I quickly grabbed my phone before running out of my room. When I got downstairs, I was immediately taken aback by Evelyn and Ruby throwing confetti at me while they, including Kylee, all laughed. Confetti is naturally just my enemy. The mess is triggering. I huffed and shook my head, trying to get it all out. 

"I see your friends made your morning very special" my mother laughed as she entered from the hallways with a cup of coffee in her hand in her pyjamas. I pouted.

"You shouldn't have let them in, now I got injured and confetti thrown on me" I complained. My mother rolled her eyes while my friends glared.

"Stop overexaggerating Harmony and enjoy your birthday with your friends" she smiled. I returned the gesture and hugged her. Before I exited the house, she stopped me. "Happy birthday Harmony, I love you" she called out. I turned my head.

"Thanks, mum, love you too."

I knew she was ok with me being out with my friends on my birthday. Though I do wish I could stay home and spend time with her. Maybe tonight we can have a movie game night or something to celebrate together to make up for it. Throughout the whole ride, Ruby and Evelyn chattered away about how excited they were for today. To celebrate with me. I didn't get the hype over it, it's my birthday that's it. Nothing special though everyone keeps saying it is. I guess since I've never really ever properly celebrated my birthday, I never get excited. It's also never exactly been ideal considering most of the times I would have to go to my grandmother's house to avoid my father being home to ruin it. Being with my grandmother was great during those times because she'd teach me art and about the history of some of the greats, like my favourite, Vincent Van Gogh. 

"We are here!" Evelyn shouted upon arrival. I looked out the window to see that we were parked by Venice beach. 

"But I'm not wearing any swimmers," I frowned. I got out of the car along with the others. Why would they bring me to the beach when I'm not equipped to go in the water? Unless I'm willing to go in my jeans and top but I'm not going to, never.

"We are not going to the beach today," Kylee said.

"Unfortunately" Evelyn interjected. Kylee glared at her, making Evelyn close her mouth and take a step towards me.

"We are going rollerskating on the boardwalk all the way to Santa Monica pier since Evelyn told us you used to go rollerskating before you moved and that it was something that relaxed you" Kylee explained. I beamed at the sound of that. Back home I'd go rollerskating at the skate park a lot during my free time to relax and unwind while I'd either listen to music or be with Evelyn or Maddie. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to go rollerskating for a couple of months now and I've missed it.

"Thank you guys, also thanks Evelyn for remembering," I smiled. Evelyn smiled back and swung her arm around my shoulder.

"You didn't think I'd forget about your favourite outdoor activity did you? I mean I know you love looking at the night sky but it ain't night at the moment" she chirped.

"Well, thanks guys," I said.

"Ok now let's go! I'm excited to try this!" Ruby exclaimed before running into the shop so we could rent the skates.

We all grabbed a pair after paying to use them for about two hours. Evelyn is the one that ran over to pay for me before I could do it myself. I put on the socks they gave me to use and the skates. I began to skate down the boardwalk, to Santa Monica pier. Kylee had her music playing in the background. It was a rock song. I enjoyed it but I know the other two despised it. It's funny how Kylee is weirdly the exact opposite of all of us. Most people tend to call her goth but she's not. She just likes to wear the occasional dark clothes and listen to music different from what they would like. She comes off as intimidating to just about everyone because she puts up a facade but around us, she's different and shows that she cares.

"Are you going to meet up with you know who tonight?" Ruby whispered as Evelyn and Kylee talked in front of us.

"He hasn't said anything so I assume no, not today, maybe tomorrow, I don't know" I shrugged.

Daniel didn't message me yesterday or today. We didn't even get to hang out after school this past week ever since he found out when my birthday but that was on Tuesday. I was starting to worry that I had probably done something to make him distance himself from me. I don't believe that I've done anything to possibly push him away. Unless he knows about my feelings because as Ruby likes to tell me constantly, I can't contain them when I'm around him. I've gotten better at hiding my feelings for him, that's what I think. If I haven't, then well bloody hell that's all on me for thinking otherwise. 

I've barely seen him this week other than in school when I saw him hanging out with his friends. There's been no indication that he knows. It's bothering me that I've tried to talk to Daniel but he's always busy but he doesn't tell me with what. During school was a no go considering during lunch, Evelyn would eye me like a hawk so I couldn't even talk to him then either. On top of that, his friend, Ivy, weirdly keeps shooting me glares here and there, most of the times whenever I'm with Evelyn. I know why Evelyn and Ivy hate each other, well, not really, but I don't know about why she would hate me. 

It feels like I'm suddenly just pissing everyone off at this point by just existing apparently!

"What's got you down Harm?" Ruby asked. I looked up at her with a fake smile plastered across my lips.

"Nothing, I'm just tired from you guys waking me up so early" I joked. Ruby gave me a pointed look, raising both her eyebrows.

"You know, if you need to talk, I got you," she said softly.

"I know and I will but maybe later ok?" I promised. She sighed and nodded her head.

"Ok, it's your decision" she complied.

"Hey, guys! Want to race?" Evelyn asked. Ruby and I looked at each other before grinning and nodding. By now we weren't far from the pier. We hadn't noticed how quickly the time had past or how far we'd skated but we still had the energy and were up for a challenge. "Ok, me and Kylee against you and Ruby, agreed?" she inquired. We nodded again.

"Ok great! Ready! Set! Go!" Kylee shouted.

She was quick to push herself forward to rollerskate faster then all of us, even faster than Evelyn and me and her have been doing this since we were probably nine years old. Ruby and I pushed ourselves to get to the Santa Monica pier first, trying to surpass Evelyn since she was behind Kylee. I laughed when Ruby threw her hands in the air in victory after we both passed Evelyn. We soon passed Kylee and Ruby started to do a little dance with her hands as she skated backwards. I rolled my eyes as she started singing a song in a mumble.

"We will! We will, rock you!" Ruby began singing loudly. People shoot us strange, disapproving looks.

"Come on Ruby! We haven't won yet" I told her.

Ruby and I kept going until we noticed the pier. We roller-skated by the entrance to the pier, onto the sidewalk of the street. We waited for Evelyn and Kylee until they caught up to us. Ruby was skating in circles whiling pumping her fists in the air and a wide toothy grin. Evelyn looked completely tired when she collapsed onto the bench, huffing and puffing, red in the face. Kylee rolled her eyes with her hands on both her hips before mumbling 'dramatic princess' under her breath. Ruby snickered but I kept quiet. I'm pretty sure Evelyn hasn't done this in a long while and that's why she's exhausted after skating for so long and so fast in the sun.

"You good Evelyn?" I asked with a frown and tilted head.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just need to exercise more" Evelyn replied in between huffs. 

"I want ice cream" Ruby declared. 

"Go get some then," Kylee said, pointing to the ice cream shop across the street.

"You paying since we won?" Ruby asked, tilting her head and smirking. Kylee glared at her.

"No way, pay for your own ice cream" Kylee retorted. Ruby poked her tongue at her.

"No fair! We won the race!" Ruby whined making Kylee huff.

"I wish I could slap you" Kylee grumbled.

"Try me bitch and see what happens" Ruby sassed.

"Ok let's go, karate girl," Kylee said with a monotone as she grabbed Ruby's wrist and dragged her towards the ice cream shop. 

"And Ruby the great wins again!" Ruby shouted, raising her fist in the air. Evelyn and I laughed as we heard them start bickering with each other. I sat next to Evelyn as she ran her fingers through her hair and slouched forward. She sighed before putting her head against my arm.

"I want to sleep" Evelyn mumbled, closing her eyes.

"Well don't sleep on my arm or it'll go numb" I joked making her chuckle. It was silent after that until Evelyn spoke up again.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"What do you think of Daniel? Like do you like him?" 

I almost choked on my own spit. Actually, I did since I started coughing rapidly to the point my throat started to burn. Evelyn patted my back as I tried to catch my breath. Now that was a question I didn't expect. I was looking at Evelyn with wide eyes after my coughing fit. Why would she ask something like that out of nowhere? She doesn't even know that I hang out with him. I've managed to hide any indication that I might like him, even more than a friend because Evelyn is observant. At times she's also nosey when she's curious. I know what she meant but I don't want to answer it, it will not end well for me.

"Why would you ask something like that?" I croaked out my thoughts.

"I wanted to know since I noticed that he tends to stare at you a lot when you're not looking and sometimes I notice you do too, is there something going on that I should know?" Evelyn questioned with narrowed, suspicious eyes. I frowned. I have no idea what she knows or why she's looking at me like as if she's interrogating a murder and despises the suspect. I haven't done anything, I mean yes, I like him but I haven't acted upon my feelings. I thought we were good with hiding our friendship unless she saw us one day and I never noticed. Ugh! I hate overthinking, I got to get over this habit. "Well..." she snapped.

"Um...well...I mean I think he's a nice guy" I answered nervously. 

"But you didn't answer my question on do you like him as a person."

Of course she noticed

"Yeah I like him as a person but why are you asking me this?" I asked.

"But are you attracted to him? Like would you kiss him?" Evelyn deflected my question with her own. I huffed in annoyance. I knew she wouldn't drop the subject just like that.

"No Evelyn happy?" I said, trying not to snap at her. I was trying to be calm but that was proven to be a struggle at the moment with this conversation.

"Well every other girl seems to fall for him but why not you?" she kept interrogating.

"Evelyn! Can we not talk about this today of all days? Please?" I begged. Evelyn opened her mouth to reply but that's when Ruby and Kylee walked over with two ice creams in each of their hands. I instantly felt relief that they interrupted and the 'conversation' with Evelyn was cut short. The two gave me a worried look, which most likely meant that they heard us...great. Ruby gave me one of the ice creams before sitting next to me as Kylee handed Evelyn one and sat next to her.

"What were you guys talking about?" Ruby asked while tilting her head.

"Oh nothing" Evelyn chirped before I could say anything. Kylee and Ruby both turned to me. Evelyn looked at me as if begging me not to say anything. 

"Nothing" I lied. 

She owes me

"Can I talk to you for a second Harmony please?" Ruby asked. I nodded and we both got up. Since we were still in our rollerskates, we skated off until we were sure they couldn't hear our conversation. Ruby frowned and crossed her arms. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, why?" I replied with a frown. 

"I heard the conversation and I know Evelyn can be a bit of a bitch when it comes to anyone liking Daniel or just when it comes to him in general" Ruby explained bitterly.

"She's just worried I guess" I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.

"Don't make excuses for what she did, she shouldn't be asking you all those questions about Daniel and looking at you like you're her enemy" she fumed.

I remained quiet, looking down at the ground. Ruby sighed before hugging me. I really just wanted to go home at the moment. I appreciated Ruby trying to comfort me and Kylee being worried because I could tell she wanted to come along with us to talk but couldn't because of Evelyn. I didn't want to talk about it though. My mood had gone from down to up to down again. What a rollercoaster of a day and it's not even lunchtime, how lovely. On our way back to the other two, I managed to convince Ruby not to confront Evelyn about her aggressive attitude today. 

I know I would have to tell Kylee the same because she's more likely to tell Evelyn off if she doesn't approve of what she does. I'll probably tell her later today or tomorrow maybe. Evelyn used to tell me stories of Kylee snapping at her and Kylee told me about how if Evelyn were to ever step out of line and be rude to her, she would 'put her in her place', that was her exact words. I was worried she meant punch Evelyn but luckily she never has and hopefully never will. Evelyn just needs to control her anger but she ignores everyone who tells her straight up. I'm trying but she doesn't want to corporate. It's frustrating at this point.

For the rest of the day, it was fun and I didn't think about the conversation I had with Evelyn. I was thankful she never brought up the topic again because I just didn't want to fight or hear her lecture me again. When we were done rollerskating, we returned the skates and headed back to Evelyn's house for dinner considering we didn't eat anything the whole day besides the ice cream. Whenever I tried to go get something like a sandwich, they dragged me away or slapped my hand away from grabbing any money I had on me, ordering me to wait until dinner. 

So far I was tired and my stomach was grumbling. I had to hold my stomach in hopes that it would shut it up but of course, that didn't work. I was relieved when I saw Evelyn's house come into sight. Ruby and Evelyn were grinning eagerly, squealing slightly as we exited the car making me eerily suspicious of what they were planning. Kylee rolled her eyes at them before motioning her head towards the door while looking at me. I followed them into the house but considering it was pitch black inside, I couldn't see anything.

"Surprise!" 

I screamed, jumping back when a bunch of people jumped out from some kind of hiding spot once the lights were turned on. My eyes were wide and I'm pretty sure my heart was racing. Confetti was then thrown at me as a few of them blew on the party blowers. I cringed at how loud they were in my ear. I can not handle loud sounds blaring into my ears. Nor can I handle confetti being thrown on me to the point I almost ate it when it was close to coming into contact with my mouth, disgusting. I shook my hair out, trying to get rid of any confetti in it before grinning at everyone. 

This was such a nice gesture. I can't believe my friends threw me a surprise party. I may be a bit bitter for a few reasons but this brightened up my mood partially. There were a few people I knew from school and had become friends with and there were some people I didn't know anything about other than their faces because I have had classes with them. They must have been the people that Evelyn, Ruby and Kylee all knew. Axel and Keith were there too to celebrate. The only person that wasn't here, unfortunately, was Daniel. I tried not to let that falter my mood as I greeted everyone.

"Let the party begin!" Evelyn shouted. A chorus of cheers followed after as they all raised a red cup full of whatever alcohol they bought most likely. 

Yeah, let the party begin I guess