Chapter 30

Toad
An extremely detestable and unpleasant person.

• o 🦋 o •

It was today. Riley’s birthday. The event we’d been working towards for months. And I was not looking forward to it. Selfish, I know. 

I was supposed to bring Riley to the club. It was a Saturday and we were going out together anyway. Her mom was in on this too. She’d told Riley she’d planned a party on Sunday so Riley thought this was just a one on one hangout.

I waited in front of Riley’s house on my bike.

The door burst open. “The seventeen year old is here!” She declared. 

“Happy birthday, Riley.” 

“Thank you, thank you.” She bowed. 

She was honestly dressed like a circus person. With brown striped tights, a red poofy skirt, some type of matching corset and a mini top hat. 

“Why are you dressed like that?” I chuckled. 

“Hello? You only turn seventeen once. I need to look special! Here, take a picture.” Riley shoved her camera in my hands with so much force I fell over and my bike nearly crushed my legs.

“Ow!” 

She laughed at me. 

“Why are you laughing! I could’ve broken something!” 

She continued to giggle like nothing was wrong. 

I grumbled some obscenities as I got back on my feet. I took a bunch of pictures of Riley and then we were off. 

She rode on the back of my bike. 

“Where are we going anyway?” She asked. 

“The cinema. But I have to stop at our club first. I forgot my shoes last week.”

“You’re such a doof, Jay.” 

“I know, I know.” 

The wind was nice. It was a pretty hot day and we were going to spend all of it outside. 

“Did you put on sunscreen?” I asked.

“Yup! I even put some in my hair!” 

“Riley!” 

“What?” 

I laughed. We pulled up at the club. 

“Woah, lotta cars here today. I wonder why. There’s only the junior league practice today.” Riley wondered. 

“Ha! Yeah.. Oh, well.” 

We both got off the bike. 

“‘Oh well’? This is important! What if there’s like a festival today and NO ONE told us?! We have to investigate! Come on!” Riley grabbed my wrist and ran towards the entrance. 

“Wait! Riley!”

“I will not wait, Jay!” 

There were garlands and festive deco everywhere! There were flowers in beautiful pots hanging high on lamp posts. It looked amazing. 

“Oh my God! I love sunflowers!” Riley shrieked. She looked around at the decorations and shook her head. “A secret festival. I knew it. Traitors!” 

We walked along further into the campus until we’d reached the plaza in front of the football fields. 

It was so full. There were even more people than expected. Riley was right. It really was like a festival.

“There she is!” Someone announced. 

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” We all screamed in unison. 

“Oh my God!” Riley covered her mouth. Her eyes twinkled in surprise. “Is all this for me?!” 

Mica stood at the front of the crowd. I felt sad looking at him. Though he looked fine, normal as always. 

“Happy birthday, Riley.” He smiled. 

“Did you do this?!” 

“It wasn’t just me.” Mica nodded at me. 

Riley turned to me and her mouth fell open. “You too?!”

I smiled and shrugged. “You deserve it, captain.” 

“Aww..” Riley actually started to tear up. Mica pulled her in. 

“I can’t believe this!” 

“Thanks for always being there for me. And for being a great friend to me and Danny too.” 

Riley actually started to bawl then. Some people chuckled. Everyone seemed touched. 

“Let’s get this party started!” Waylon declared. Music started playing from the speakers. People dispersed and went to check out the many activities that there were. 

“You!” Riley jumped into my arms. “Thank you so much, Jay!” 

“It’s alright!” I laughed. “Just stop crying and start smiling okay?” I rubbed her back. 

“I am going to spend my birthday with my two best friends!” Riley grabbed my wrist and Mica’s as well. “This is going to be so fun!” 

Mica and I shared an awkward glance but smiled for her. She was ecstatic. 

“Oh my God, DAX!” She shrieked as she saw her boyfriend. He was holding a bouquet. The one Mica had picked out. 

Riley ran up to him. I was left alone with Mica. 

It was so awkward and quiet. I was angry at him. I totally wanted to bring up what I saw a few days ago but decided to be the bigger person.

“So-” I attempted to break the silence but Mica went up to Riley and Dax as if he didn’t hear me. 

What a cold-hearted-

“Come on! Let’s go on the bouncy house! Oh my God, it’s YELLOW!” Riley shrieked. She grabbed Mica and Dax’s arms and yanked them forwards. I followed behind them without much vigor.

Riley made us get on the bouncy house with her. There were also a couple little kids using it but she paid no mind. She was smiling bright. The four of us all held hands and jumped up and down. 

Then it was one o’clock and the music stopped. 

“Riley Heart, please make your way to field one. I repeat, Riley Heart, to field one.”  Waylon announced over the speakers.

Riley’s excited eyes grew big. “What’s going on?!” 

“Check it out.” I smiled. 

“Eeek!” She ran off the bouncy house, leaving her shoes behind. 

Dax laughed lovingly and grabbed them for her. We all followed her to the field. 

The junior league was lined up in their uniforms. They looked adorable. 

They sang a song they’d written for her. They thanked her for all her hard work and named all her greatest qualities. She teared up again. 

“THAT WAS AWESOME!” She yelled. 

A couple of the juniors moved aside revealing a huge, beautiful soccer ball-shaped cake with candles on it. 

“Oh my God, that’s my dream!” Riley covered her mouth. 

She looked at Mica and then at me. “I can’t believe this!” 

“Go blow out your candles before the wind does it.” Mica urged with a gentle smile.

“Eeek!” Riley ran across the field. She closed her eyes for a moment. She smiled even brighter as she thought of her wish. Then she blew out all seventeen candles at once. There was a photographer who took pictures and filmed all of it. 

Everyone applauded and Riley smiled happily. 

Waylon announced something else over the megaphone. “Alright Riley and everyone else, please grab a slice of cake and make your way to the pond!” 

“Wait there’s more?!” Riley sliced her cake in turbo speed. “Wait, it’s chocolate! I love chocolate!” 

She sliced pieces for all four of us. After that the guy that worked at the bakery started slicing and a line formed. 

Together we went to the little field near the pond. It was shaded by trees but that’s not what stood out. What stood out was the small stage placed in the middle of it. 

“HUH?!” Riley yelled. 

There were little pillows on the ground to sit.

I was impressed. Mica had thought of everything and it all came together perfectly. He did perfectly fine without me. 

I looked at the pond nearby. That was where I told him I loved him. 

I glanced at Mica and met his eyes. Maybe he was thinking the same thing. His expression was wistful. 

“What’s happening! Oh, I can’t take the excitement, say something!” Riley said as she shook Mica’s shoulders. 

Mica forced a laugh. “You’ll find out soon enough. They should be here in..” Mica looked at his watch. “Five minutes?’ 

“THEY? Who’s they?!”

Riley was losing her mind. 

“Eat your cake, love.” Dax reminded Riley. 

“Oh yeah!!” She took a huge bite. “It’s so good!” Riley said with her mouth still full. 

Mica didn’t hear her. He was just staring at the pond and picking at his skin. 

The band members of Human Drool one by one came on the stage. Riley’s mouth dropped. 

“Hey guys, we’re Human Drool.” The lead singer announced into the microphone. 

Riley was squealing hard.

I smirked at her. 

“Riley Heart, happy seventeenth birthday. We hope it’s your best year yet. Let’s hit it, boys!” Cheerful rock music began to blast through the speakers and most people stood up from their pillows, including Riley. 

Everyone sang along and cheered. It was a really happy moment for Riley. 

I couldn’t stop looking at Mica. And Mica didn’t seem all that cheerful either. He wiped a tear from his cheek. 

“Mica, is everything okay?” Riley asked concerned. 

There she was. The captain. Even when it was supposed to be her day, and her spotlight, chaotic as she might be, if one of her friends didn’t feel well she was first to speak up. Even while her favorite band was performing, instantly all her attention went to Mica. 

“I’m fine.” Mica smiled. “I’m just..uh.. Glad you’re happy.”

“Are you sure?” 

Mica nodded. “Yeah, enjoy the concert. Don’t worry about me.” 

A line I’d heard all too often. 

I was starting to get angry. I thought of Mica’s dad and then I thought of freaking Orlando and I just wanted to punch something. 

Riley was screaming the lyrics to the song. 

“I’ll be right back.” I said into her ear. 

I left the mass of people and went to the bathroom for a moment. I felt like I could cry. I was so incredibly mad. I took a few breaths, splashed some water on my face and made my way back fifteen minutes later after I’d cooled down. 

Human Drool was going to be playing all day. Little sets of thirty minutes spread out over the day. They’d just finished their first set so after fawning and squealing in disbelief Riley was dragging Mica and me along to the three legged race that was happening on one of the fields. 

“Okay, you go with Mica and I go with Dax! Let’s see who wins this one.” Riley said happily. 

“Uh.. I don’t know.” I said. 

“I think I should probably sit this one out.” Mica said. 

It pissed me off way more than it should’ve, especially since I was trying to achieve the same thing. Still, it hurt when he said it. That he didn’t want to be in a team with me.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” I asked pointedly. 

Mica looked kind of confused. 

I rolled my eyes.

“Exactly! You have no excuse, Mica!” Riley laughed. 

“Fine.” Mica agreed with little enthusiasm. 

The referee tied our legs together. Mica looked super uncomfortable and it just made me angrier. 

“Everyone ready? Set…” The old man said.

Riley got into position. 

“GO!” 

Riley and Dax were completely in sync. They easily made it halfway there without falling once. 

Mica and I on the other hand.. 

“You’re going too slow.” I growled. 

“Alright, sorry.” Mica sped up but now he was going too fast. 

“Wait up!” I said but it was too late. I lost balance and fell to the ground, Mica followed. 

“I told you to slow down.” 

“You told me to speed up!” 

“Let’s just get up!” I snapped. 

We both staggeringly managed to get up on our feet. Right then Riley and Dax reached the finish line. 

“YES!” Riley screamed. She hugged her boyfriend and they shared a kiss. 

I turned away. I ripped the rope off my foot and made my way to them. I told myself to act cool. 

“You can’t be that mad you lost.” Riley said. 

“I’m not. Congrats.” I tried to sound normal but it was obvious I was pissed. 

Riley looked at me. “Are you okay? You were acting weird during the concert too.” 

“I’m fine.” I shrugged. Mica joined us. 

“Congrats Riley, Dax.” 

I sighed annoyed. “Such great sportsmanship.” I mumbled under my breath. 

“Did you say something?” Mica asked. 

“Nothing you need to hear.” 

Mica sighed and said nothing. 

“What is going on with you two?” Dax asked. 

“Nothing.” Mica and I said in unison. 

“Are you guys fighting?” Riley asked. 

“Nope. There’s nothing to fight over. Mica is just so agreeable and perfect.” I said sarcastically. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mica asked. 

“You know what it means.” 

Riley frowned. “I don’t know what this is about but Jay you’re way out of line.”

“I’m out of line?!” 

The music stopped again and it was time for the next announcement. 

While Riley listened to it Dax stepped closer to Mica and I. 

“I don’t know what’s going on between you two but stop. You’re ruining everything.”

“Alright. You’re right.” I agreed. Mica nodded. 

“Did you guys make up?” Riley asked when the announcement was over. 

Mica and I nodded again.