Fake Bully, True Crush

Gift

Friday evening, six pm, I knocked on Mia’s door.

She revealed herself with a welcoming grin on her tiny face, we hugged each other in greeting and went inside, she closed the door behind us, and I felt elated to spend the start of the weekend with her. She was the best hangout buddy for me.

Her house was neat and full of life, the table had a variety of food across with her favourite ruby tablecloth she liked, the living room was decorated by her brother with paintings on the wall from school, the chairs aligned beside each other in an orderly fashion as we took a seat to eat dinner together.

I was in my own thoughts until Mia interrupted me: “What’s on your mind?” she was in her cute brown overalls, her hair in a messy bun and her pink nails on the table as she reached for her spoon to eat.

“Noah invited me to his birthday tonight, and I don’t want to go. Maybe it’s time to text him about that, after all, there’s less than two hours left.” I said while getting my phone out. I fretted over what should I text him, my mind was on the party. That was what distracted me from Mia.

“Wait.” Mia stopped me from texting Noah with a shy look, her cheeks reddened and she fluttered her eyelids at me. “Actually, Aiden invited me to this party as well.” It was weird how he didn’t mention it back at the library. Maybe Mia told him that she wasn’t sure.

I felt a burst of delight towards my best friend being invited by her crush to a party. Aiden was a good choice for her, and I could already imagine them together. They would upstage Noah and Ava easily with their cuteness.

I excitedly freaked out to her, “Big gossip, tell me more!” I demanded, her contagious smile made my own blown out of proportion, this was a huge announcement.

As if that wasn’t enough news already, Mia kept stabbing the food on the plate but did not eat it. Her little voice said, “We kissed once before.” My eyes widened at my best friend, who refused to meet my eyes. She expected me to get mad at her for not telling me, but I knew that she didn’t do it intentionally. I hid stuff from her too, it didn’t mean that we judged each other. Some stories took more time than just spurting it out and I understood that fully from her side.

So, I dropped my phone and hugged Mia instantly, “My, my, my little girl makes such big things quietly!” I cooed at her as I pinched her cheeks, and she swatted my hands light-heartedly. She chuckled in relief when she saw that I wasn’t freaking out over her not telling me.

Mia told me how everything started for their first kiss. I visibly showed her love and appreciation as she narrated the story on the couch.

Weeks ago, she found the best game partner. They had an awfully good talk online after realizing that they lived very close in reality, so they arrange a date at Code 9 Cafe. They recognized each other once they meet, and remember they talked before, at her younger brother’s school, he was a volunteer there. After a few dates, they kissed.

My heart thwapped happily at the girl who had lovestruck eyes and I couldn’t comprehend how enchanting she looked; it was like he owned her heart. I felt full knowing that my best friend was with a gentleman, not some player who would break her heart.

After we giggled for a while together, Mia asked, “Do you mind accompanying me to the party? Please, forgive a girl in love.” She gushed with a desperate pleading look as she held both of my hands. I didn’t want to burn down her happiness, and I could see how much it would mean to her that I went with her.

It would be better to have Mia’s company if we joined the party together, so I nodded at her, and she squealed before grabbing me for another hug.

“Come on, let’s hurry, there is half an hour for picking a gift and another half hour to prepare us for the party.” Mia pulls me up, very happily. I groaned as she dragged me, leaving my bag on the table. She was right, we didn’t have time left as we ran into her room.

She picked my outfit for me and ordered me to get dress, I huffed as I undressed in her bathroom only to see that she chose the sexiest dress to exist. It was a light silver off-shoulder dress that showed my thin shoulders with matching silver flats, I was glowing the moment I put it on my body, and it fitted me elegantly, I tried to pull down the dress that stopped mid-thigh, but I had no luck, so I trusted Mia’s judgement. I walked out of the bathroom and Mia clapped as she gave me a once over before putting her thumbs up and pointed towards the chair for my makeup and accessories.

I felt attacked by her as she dabbed foundation onto my face, placing her hand behind my neck to steady me, she had on her pink feathery dress that also stopped mid-thigh with white heels. She knew that I couldn’t handle heels throughout the parties, but my flats were pretty enough and comfortable.

“You look stunning, Mia.” I reminded her, and she smiled down at me before she resumed transforming me. She had on a nude look which consisted of rich brown lipstick with creamy eye shadow, showing off her cat eyes very fondly. She beamed at my look and twisted the chair for me to get a glimpse of myself in front of her radiant mirror. I was more than stunning with a soft golden look with my lip’s plump red and the doubled mascara layers on my eyelashes. I almost didn’t recognize myself.

We were going to turn heads when we got dressed in matching black coats to drive to the gift store for Noah’s gift, we couldn’t just get in unhanded. It was inappropriate, Mia locked her apartment and we got into her car, the thrill sophisticating us more as we drove off to the store nearby.

The store had shelves among shelves of amazing, memorable gifts as few people strolled around the gift section. Mia and I roamed around the sections for gifts. We didn’t have much luck as Mia showed me her taste in getting him a perfume, I cringed obviously at her, and she kept searching, I pursed my lips as I tried to pick out the nicest gift. But there weren’t any options since Noah basically owned everything from clothes to perfumes.

I complained internally as we spent half an hour trekking into more gift options. Even the employee was confused because each time he showed us, we refused the alternatives. I rubbed my forehead, getting a gift for a guy was frenetic. Mia agreed too as she whined at how she couldn’t find a gift.

My eyes identified the amazing silver tie that matched with Noah’s eyes, I held the soft fabric in my hands as I loved the feel of it. It was simple and nothing too fancy, it was more of my taste than his. I presented the gift choice to Mia, and she nodded encouragingly, smiling at how sentimental it looked, though she only seen Noah once on the rooftop, she noted that it was suitable for him.

We finally succeeded in getting something. We were going to pay half from me and her. It was a shared gift, and I hoped that Noah would like it.

We crossed the road to get to the car with calmed smiles, holding each other’s hands as we reached her car. She let go to drive and I placed the gift in between my legs in the passenger seat as we adjusted our hair from the wind.

“I swear if he doesn’t like it, I am going to cut him.” Mia threatened mockingly. I laughed at her. He better like it since we gave effort into the gift.

“I am sure he will, let’s enjoy the party.” I cheered her on and she hooted along with me as she sped through the streets, I peeked at the wrapped gift with an elated smile, it was a special gift that reminded me of him.

“Noah, I hope you enjoyed my present.” I prayed inside.