They Booked Me a Bungee Jump. I Booked a Flight.

Claire's POV: They'd forgotten my birthday for four years. This year, my boyfriend and my childhood friend Sophie finally promised to make it up to me with a trip to an amusement park. But Sophie headed straight for the immersive haunted house, insisting she wanted a thrill. Noah paid for the tickets. "Come on. I'll go with you." Lucas, my brother, went to hold our place in line. My boyfriend, Julian, ruffled Sophie's hair. "You're brave now. Don't come crying to me in there." No one noticed the sweat on my palms. I had a heart condition. Frights and enclosed spaces were dangerous for me. I caught Julian's sleeve. "I'm scared. I really can't go in." My voice shook. He frowned. "You're not going in alone. Stop being dramatic." Lucas sighed. "You wait until we're at the door to say something? Way to ruin it." They pushed and pulled me inside. The place was pitch-dark. The three of them surrounded Sophie, laughing with her, while I was squeezed to the back. My vision blurred. Their flashlight beam receded. No one looked back. I stumbled out through the entrance and crouched in the bushes, retching. When I looked up, Julian was reading the park guide. "We're short on time. Skip the carousel and do Sophie's favorite roller coaster. We'll take you next time." I coughed up blood. On my 18th birthday, they'd brought gifts only for Sophie. On my birthday two years ago, I worked late and came home to cake scraps. Sophie was wearing the gift meant for me on her wrist. I'd thought this outing meant they felt guilty. But once again, it was all about Sophie. Watching them walk away, I stopped. There was no room for me in this friendship of five. If Sophie was all they cared about, I was done. ***** I pressed a hand to my aching chest. My vision darkened, and I nearly threw up. A few steps away, they finally noticed. Sophie gasped softly. "Claire, what's wrong? Are you sick again? Does that mean you can't ride the roller coaster? That's too bad. I wanted us to go together." Noah pressed his lips together. "When isn't she holding us back? She'll catch up." "Leave her," Lucas added. Julian frowned. "You always say you don't feel well right when Sophie has plans." They blamed me without seeming to see how pale I was. I looked up, panting. "And when have I ever gotten sick without Sophie having something to do with it?" Julian fell silent, but Lucas cut in. "Still blaming Sophie for everything? Fine. You'd only spoil the day. Wait here, and we'll find you when we're done." He took Sophie's bag and walked off with Noah. Julian glanced back once, then followed. Even though I could collapse at any moment. They had always chosen her. In my senior year of high school, they promised to visit after my heart surgery. But Sophie developed a fever. I ended up spending the night in the hospital alone. Julian promised to come to my graduation, but Sophie had a club performance the same day. They took flowers to her stage and forgot mine. Whenever she needed something, I came second. My phone buzzed. Noah had sent a photo of Sophie laughing on the roller coaster, followed by a souvenir photo of all four of them. Their messages came one after another. Lucas: You need to lose the princess attitude. The world doesn't revolve around you. Noah: We tried to make up for your birthday, and you had to make everyone miserable. Julian said nothing. He sent a selfie of his cheek pressed against Sophie's. I stared at it for a long time and replied one word: Okay. Noah called minutes later. "What's gotten into you? Since when do you agree so easily?" Julian laughed in the background. "She knows she spoiled the fun." From the other end came Sophie's excited shouting, clamoring to go around one more time. I hung up without answering and left the group chat. I bought a flight to Harborview for the day after tomorrow. Its amusement park was famous. If they kept overlooking me, I'd go by myself and celebrate the birthday they'd failed to give me for four years. I wouldn't pin my hopes on them again. Once I left, our paths would part for good.