Ok. So let me explain about this story. Now she is 8. It's not going day-by-day, cause then she'd still be in 1st grade. Nope. She's moving up!

Today's the day! I thought, opening my eyes wide in my bed. Not even a minute later, my mom came bustling through the door with a breakfast tray.

"Hi honey!" She ruffled my hair and set the tray on my lap. "In half an hour we're going to the mall to get your ears pierced, so get ready!"

I inhaled and started to tear apart my scrambled eggs, ruining the fancy ketchup writing that read Happy 8th Birthday Kimberly! Yep. It's my birthday! My eighth birthday!

I was at the bowling alley, watching the rest of my friends file in. Julie ran over to our huddle and fawned over my new sparkly blue earrings. Julie wasn't allowed to get her ears pierced for 2 more years. We giggled and played tag while we were waiting to bowl.

"Ok girls, boys, gather around!" My mother said. There were quite a few boys here too. Just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean that I can't have boys for friends!

"We're going to split up into 6 different teams, so go to Mrs. Wilkerson so you can bowl!" We all cheered and ran to Elle's mom, Mrs. Wilkerson.

"Well, one of you is missing! We should have 24 children, but we only have 23!" She exclaimed, surprised.

"Probably Jack…" Jessica muttered into my ear. I looked over at her. She looked, not mad, livid. Her cousin Jack and her had never had the smoothest relationship, and him being a no-show to my party didn't help at all.

"It's ok Jess." I patted her shoulder. "It's not the end of the world." That was a lie. It wasn't ok. I had always thought of him as one of my closest friends, and he wasn't even here! But I couldn't make myself get that mad at him. I just wasn't the type of person to stay mad at people.

"It's not ok…" Jessica muttered and went to lane 4. I followed her, since we were on that lane with William and Monique. We bowled for a while, giggling and joking throughout it, until BANG! Grace was so startled she dropped her bowling ball, and then turned red.

In came an annoyed Jack. He came in, sat beside me, and crossed his arms, looking pouty.

"Are you ok?" I asked, concerned.

"Yeah, just peachy!" He grumbled, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Ok…" I watched him for a minute, trying to figure out what the matter was, but he turned his back to me. I sighed and got up for my turn.

"Jack, you're on lane three!" Mrs. Wilkerson called, and he got up, muttering angrily, and went to go pick out his ball.

"Open this present next!" Jessica squealed, throwing a soft present at me. Inside I found some cute kitty-cat socks and diamond studs.

"How do you always know what I want Jessica!?" I tackled her into a hug. "Thank you!" We both giggled while all the boys groaned. Every single person who had brought me a present got a very enthusiastic hug, which 'icked' the boys out.

"Ok honey," My mom said, handing me a gigantic present wrapped in bright blue wrapping paper. "I saved the best for last!"

I eagerly ripped at the wrapping paper, and started giggling when I saw what was inside. A gigantic remote control car! The same one Jack and I had been fawning over when we saw it in the mall with our moms! I gave my mom my signature hug and 'thank you,' grabbed the toy, and ran over to Jack.

"Jack, Jack, Jack!" I yelled at the sulking boy.

"What?" He snapped. Then he got a good look at what I had in my hands. He jumped up. "No way! You got it?!"

"Yeah!" I said proudly. "Do you wanna go try it out?"

"Of course!" He looked at me like I was stupid for asking such a question. I giggled and ran outside, happy that I could snap him out of his stupor. We tore the packaging off and started playing with it.

"Jack, it's after 5:30! We need to go eat dinner!" His mom had been waiting for him for at least half an hour. He was rebellious, and didn't want to stop playing with my car. I let him. Besides, I had at least 20 other toys to play with! But his mom wouldn't have that.

"Jack, give Kim her toy back and let's go! Your dad will already have the hamburgers done by the time we get there!" Jack sighed and turned to me with puppy dog eyes.

"Can I take it home with me Kim?" He said, and looked at me with his big, brown eyes. But I knew better. If I gave it to him, I might never get it back! And he had been playing with it the whole time. I hadn't even gotten to touch it yet!

"Jack," I said sweetly, "I haven't gotten to play with it yet. You can take it home next week, ok?" His sour expression returned. He dropped the controller and turned around.

"Mom, I'll be right back." He ran back into the bowling alley. I followed him, exasperated. Now what? He ran in, and paid for some fries, and waited, not talking to me. I slowly approached, and talked to the nice woman making the fries. She commented me on my new party dress. It was pretty, too! It was white with purple ruffles all around the bottom and blue sparkles dotting the whole thing. I smiled and thanked her when Jack started walking towards the exit. I easily overtook him; he was walking extremely slow. Just as I was about to comment on his pace, thick, red, gooey paste slid down my shoulder, right onto my dress. I cried out in surprise. Ketchup! I looked up to see Jack smirking at me.

"Next time, don't be so selfish!" He called over his shoulder as he went out into his car. I ran home with unshed tears in my eyes, which was only a block away, and changed. My new dress was ruined! But instead of being mad, I was just extremely sad.

Three days later, and I found something from Jack in my inbox.

Kim, I'm sorry. I was being the selfish one, I know. Forgive me?

Your friend, Jack.

I sighed and typed a quick reply. I hoped he was being sincere.

I forgive you. I guess.

Kim