dakota's pov +

the amount of phone notifications that i woke up to was basically the only reason how i remembered it was my birthday today.

my head has just been consumed by so many other things lately that it slipped my mind.

there were texts, memory snapchats and instagram stories all wishing me a good day, being grateful for my friendship and their excitement to see me tonight.

half of these people have only really been my "friend" from the time that i got close to jack, but i guess it was really just the thought that counts.

i checked jack's snapchat and instagram, and there was nothing. then i checked our text conversation together and there weren't any three dots appearing.

i still can't believe how inconsiderate he was being the other day and i haven't spoken to him since, but it just hurts knowing that he's not even trying.

"happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you" i heard my mother singing outside my bedroom door until nate interrupted her.

"wait, we can't just walk in. what if gilinsky's naked in her bed?" he said, making me roll my eyes.

"dakota is smarter than that" my mom defended.

"is she?".

"you know i can hear you out there!" i exclaimed before the singing restarted and they both walked in with a tray of well presented pancakes.

"thank you guys" i said as they settled the tray in front of me.

"make a wish and blow out the candle" mom excitedly insisted.

i shut my eyes and made a quick wish, before blowing out the small flame.

"i can't believe my baby is finally eighteen, my last baby is eighteen" she spoke almost in tears, stroking nate and i's heads. "so what have you got planned today? i know you're not ten anymore so you wouldn't want to spend the day with me, and i also know that this day every year you'd go and have lunch with your father".

"yeah but i got over that many years ago" i shrugged. "um, i'm actually having a party - sam is hosting it at his house".

her eyes lit up with a smile, "ooo, that sounds fun".

"everyone's been talking about it, so expect chaos dakota" nate sang and pointed his finger at me as he left the room. my mom settled my tray of food beside me and sat down on the bed with me, resting her head against mine.

"let me tell you a secret - i think i can convince nate to give you his car if you decide to go to stanford since he's going travelling" she confessed to me.

i lightly smiled as the topic of colleges immediately rained on my mood.

"what's the matter?" she inquired.

i sighed and turned to her, "jack and i had a fight the other day. he found out that i was planning on going to nyu and he just freaked out, didn't believe in me at all and just said a lot of hurtful things".

she hugged me closer to her, "aw, sweetie. has he apologised?".

"no, not yet. but to be fair i told him not to see me today" i said. "but do you think i should go? to new york?".

"well i'll miss you a bunch, i'll be all alone in this house" mom chuckled. "but you're the only one who can tell if you should go or not. going to stanford just for your boyfriend isn't the answer".

"so what is? i'm not ready to end things with jack".

"okay, well, first tell me what your plans are for nyu?".

i sat up more comfortably and crossed my legs on the bed, ready to spill everything.

"so i'm going to study english literature and get a part-time job somewhere in the city. i researched that coffee shops are the best place for students, then while studying i'll write my own books to be ahead of the game before graduating in four years".

i continued with a small hesitant hum, "then after that i'll hopefully get a job as a journalist before i make it as an author".

"so you pretty much have it all planned out from now to four years time?" she pointed out, making me suddenly realise too. "look, i know you dakota and i know that even though they scare you, you like to have surprises in your life. so, you just have to figure out which one will do that for you".

my mother kissed the top of my head after her words. i knew what she was talking about but i didn't want to dwell on that now, i didn't want to think about one of the biggest decisions of my life right now.

she eventually walked out of my room, leaving me to enjoy my birthday breakfast and watch some tv.

+

i was checking my outfit for my party in the mirror one last time, ensuring that i made the right decision on it before i left.

jonah, kelsey, seriyah and adrianna helped pick it out - it was just the black lace bralette that was making me question whether i was comfortable in it or not.

"dakota, let's go!" liam's voice called from downstairs. "we'll get there and the party will be over".

i finally walked down the staircase, furrowing my brows, "look who's all excited to go to a party for once".

"i decline every invite you give me to those jock parties, but it's your birthday so i'm making an exception" he told.

"how do i look?" i asked as i reached him.

"amazing".

i exhaled with relief, "thanks. okay, let's go before my mom wants to take pictures like prom night".

as we reached liam's car, i glanced over at jack's house to see if his bedroom light was on. it's been two days since we spoke and regardless of what i said, i miss him and want to celebrate my birthday alongside my boyfriend.

"give me two seconds" i said to liam.

"dakota," he dropped his shoulders, leaning against the car door, "jonah will kill me if we're even a second later".

"i know, there's just something i have to do" i backed away from him and gave him a brief thumbs up to assure that i'll be quick.

i made my way to jack's house and knocked on the door before it was opened by his father.

"hi david, i'm sorry to knock on the door so late" i began.

"that's okay. happy birthday by the way - your mom told us and katherine couldn't resist to buy you a gift. i can go get it right—".

"actually," i interrupted. "um, i have a party to get to. is it okay if i collect it tomorrow?".

"yes, of course" he replied then shook his head back into my reason for being here. "so what can i do for you?".

"is jack here, by any chance?".

"no, he left about an hour ago, maybe for your party. is everything okay?".

i nodded, "yeah. it's fine, i'm sure i can text him".

"okay, sorry about that" david apologised.

"it's okay. bye" i smiled lightly and left his doorstep as i heard the door shut behind me.

"what happened?" liam called out whilst i approached him.

i shook my head and brushed off the conversation i just had, "nothing, let's just go".

there was complete silence as liam and i entered sam's house - even though i knew about the party, my friends wanted to decorate the place and still insisted to surprise me.

"surprise!" the lights came on and all of my close friends and many others jumped out from hiding. the whole living room was decorated with banners and balloons that all consisted of my favourite colour palette - rose gold and silver.

"wow, i can't believe you all did this" i held my hand against my chest in awe.

"it was my decor idea of course" jonah mentioned with a proud grin.

"i love it, thank you everyone" lightly, i smiled at them all before the party gradually began to start up again with the music blasting, people conversing over it and then me, moving my eyes around the room to see if i could spot the one person missing.

"this outfit looks even better than i remember" jonah told alongside kelsey.

"thanks and thank you both for convincing me to have a party, it's amazing" i said to them, before my eyes wondering around sam's large living room again. "...you guys haven't seen—".

jonah shook his head sympathetically, "no, he's not here".

"i'm sorry, dee" kelsey apologised.

i pushed out a smile, "i told him not to come, so it's my fault".

liam stroked my shoulder, clearly seeing through my words, "don't let it get you down, it's your eighteenth birthday. you need to have fun".

i exhaled and shook my thoughts and regrets out of my head.

"you're right" i replied, linking my arm in his. "come on, i'm taking you to sam and johnson, they'll show you what a real drink is".

after a while of liam interacting with the jocks more than he has in his whole lifetime, he was currently trying an alcoholic drink in courtesy of them, mixed with god-knows-what.

he coughed excessively and grimaced at us, "what the fuck is this?".

"i don't know, but it's good right?" johnson proudly nodded.

"no, it's not good. it's burning my throat!" liam exclaimed, taking a small sniff of his cup.

"don't be such a baby" sam forcefully patted his shoulder. "come on, jones! drink up!"

liam rolled his eyes then downed the rest of his drink, receiving a loud cheer from the boys surrounding him and raising his arm for praise.

i chuckled at them welcoming him to their group with many high fives and bro hugs, before sam nudged me for my attention.

"hey, i'm sorry that jack didn't turn up" he held his hands in his jeans pockets.

"don't worry about it".

"no, i should. if i had just kept my mouth shut then crystal wouldn't have found out and told everyone".

"yeah, i should be mad at you to be honest, but you let us use your house to throw this party, so i forgive you for doing what i was too afraid to do" i explained.

"um..." sam looked up from his phone and placed it back in his pocket. "how about i make it up to you?".

"this party pretty much makes up for it" i chuckled with my brows narrowed.

"yeah but a party is just a party" sam took hold of my arm and dragged me in the direction he was going. "come on".

"sam, what are you talking about?".

"just trust me".

i shrugged at my friends as they stared at us with confusion and i reciprocated the same look.

we eventually left through the large front door and i had to blink twice to make sure i was seeing right.

jack was leaning against his car outside the house, pushing his lips out into a smile. i dropped my shoulders and could feel tears edging closer.

without hesitation, i ran towards him and jumped up into his arms.

"hey" jack spoke into the crook of my shoulder, kissing it lightly.

"i'm sorry, i'm so sorry" i apologised.

jack settled me down and stroked my tear away, "hey, no, i'm sorry. i'm the one who stepped out of line...i missed you".

"i missed you too" i replied. "i thought you weren't going to come because of what i said".

"come on, it's my girl's birthday. of course i'd come".

i looked behind me at sam who was awkwardly watching us from his door step, "did you know he was gonna come?".

"everything is his idea, not me" sam held his arms up to surrender.

i knitted my brows at jack, "what was your idea?".

"i wanna show you something" jack fitted his hand into mine and opened the passenger door of his car.

"but the party" i stopped him.

"it's only half ten, it'll still be here when we get back" he chuckled.

at this point, all i cared about was spending time with jack to make up for lost time so i gave in and got into the car. he said his goodbye to sam then entered his seat to drive away.

-

been too long dakota and jack shippers !!

i said there would be only three parts to the epilogue but there's actually another part coming since i still have unfinished business with this book lmao 🌹

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