Octavian sat alone at a table in New Rome Cafe. There was a cupcake on the table. There was a cupcake on the table and he was alone. He was alone but smiling. Grinning like a happy little kid. As if he wasn't alone, as if he was surrounded by all of his friends. It was his 11th birthday, and he was surrounded by all of his friends, and they were singing happy birthday. And then he would blow out the candles on his cake and open the presents.
There was only one candle, and his fingers trembled when he lit it with a match he'd scored from the praetor. He'd invited her. Tohis surprise party. In the Cafe. At seven. Today. Lovely day for a party. The cupcake was chocolate. Purple icing. He blew out the candle, humming happy birthday and making a wish. It was a great day for a Happy birthday. He smiled at no one.
"Its my birthday." He said forcing hurt out of his voice. He'd invited people. It was his surprise birthday party, and no one had showed up. He'd looked around to see if maybe people had forgotten that his part was here and now. No one seemed to even notice him, with his paper party hat. He continued to hum happy birthday as he ate the cupcake. It tasted good. Chocolate, purple icing, his favorite. He loved purple icing. It was his weakness. A poorly wrapped present sat on the table.
He picked it up. He'd wiped his face free of cupcake crumbs, and a partially melted birthday candle sat wrapped up in the cupcake wrapper. Maybe he'd save it for next year. Surely someone would come to that party. He inspected the present, pretending to be surprised. The wrapping looked like what you'd expect an eleven year old to do. He tore into the present, pretending to be surprised. He'd spent the morning searching the augur sacrifice pile for a toy that struck his fancy. He'd chosen a small stuffed panda and hugged it as if he was shocked and amazed and honored to receive such a wonderful gift from the friends that had forgotten to show up for his party. He trashed the wrapping paper and the cupcake wrapper and the paper hat. He held the stuffed panda a bit sadly walking back to his room. He fell asleep telling himself that he'd had a good birthday and would have an even better one next year.
But the truth of the matter was that no one had remembered his birthday, and that was the most surprising thing that had happened at his surprise party. Not a single soul at camp jupiter bothered to show up to his surprise party. Because no one cared if Octavian was 10, 11, or 29. Just so long as he didn't bother them.