The Bestest Birthday Ever 2
Emily's P. O. V.
Jayden's reaction surprised me, alright. Instead of grinning or thanking us, he turned sharply away and started to head away. Blinking back my questions, I rushed up to my boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" I inquired.
"I don't like my birthday," he mumbled, looking angry, "it brings back pretty unpleasent memories."
Curiosity washed over me like a wave. It pained me to see him so angry on his birthday, the happiest day ever. In his blue eyes I saw sadness and a hint of moisture, and I felt pity.
"What happened?" I asked softly, signaling behind my back for the others to stay back.
He didn't look like he wanted to tell me. Shaking his head, he strode off quickly. His legs were longer, so it wasn't fair he could move faster. That guy left me in the dust, disappearing in the crowd.
"What was that?" Antonio demanded as the others rushed up.
"He said something about unpleasent memories," I shrugged, "ideas, anyone?"
"Maybe we could ask mentor," Mia suggested, and we all agreed.
"But what about Jayden?" I asked, worried for my mate.
"Wesley and Emily, you go find him," Kevin took charge, "Mia, Antonio, and I will go ask Mentor."
"What about Mike?" I asked, confused for him leaving out my big brother figure.
"I think he's pretty good," we all looked at Mike, who was inhaling pizza.
"Right," Mia agreed, "come on!"
We parted ways, Wesley and I diving into the crowd. He took my hand, since I kept sliding on dirt and rocks, people knocking me around. I grinned up thanfully at him, and we started searching intently. Soon, I saw him, sitting on a bench near the exit, head bowed. We two scurried over through the crowd to him, me sitting beside him.
"Jayden, what happened?" I asked, out of breath.
"I don't want to talk about it," he didn't lift his head, "just go have fun."
"We're can't unless you are," Wesley sat on his other side, "dude, what is so bad about your birthday?"
He refused to look at us and stayed silent. Then I noticed how he was trembling, sniffing and whimpering softly.
"Come here," I urged him, opening up my arms.
Our fearless Red Ranger looked at me with watery eyes. Nodding and blinking quickly, he wrapped his arms around me. We just sat there, him weeping softly against me. I put my face in his and began to cry, hating to see him cry. I felt two strong arms around my other side and a sigh, mumurs of comfort into my curls.
Wesley was sure helpful when it came to comfort.
When Jay stopped crying and had soaked my yellow blouse, we all broke away from each other. Looking ashamed, our leader wiped his face with his own shirt and blushed deep.
"I'm sorry," he sniffed sadly, "I made your blouse wet. I'm a weakling."
"You are not," I wrapped my arms around his neck, "it's okay to cry, Jayden."
"But..."
"Not buts, dude," Wesley cut him off, "I have seen you cry a lot. Everyone cries if they breath. That's how our life happened. And so if it helped you live, it must be okay."
"Good point," the Fire Samurai agreed, "but sorry about the shirt."
"I don't care about the shirt," I took his hands, "I care about you. Please." I put on my famous puppy dog eyes.
Slowly nodding, a sigh escaping his lips, he started to tell us the story that broke my heart in two.
Mia's P. O. V.
Kevin, Antonio, and I all skidded to a stop at The Shiba House. We were greeted when we entered by Mentor doing a yoga video. When he noticed us, he put it on pause and got up from the downward facing dog pose. My eyes were forever burned, but I spoke up.
"Mentor, do have any idea of why Jayden doesn't like his birthday?" I asked.
His black eyes turned a little misty, "He hasn't told you?" When we shook our heads, he sighed, "It doesn't really surprise me. He's always hated to talk about it."
"About what?" Antonio sat on a chair, and Kevin and I followed in his example. If Antonio and Wesley didn't even know, it must have been pretty important.
The old man then told us the heartbreaking tale, "Jayden used to have a little sister."
"He did?" Antonio choked on his own breath.
"Used to," Mentor went on with the story, "her name was Anna Maria. We called her Maria, and she was the sweetest little girl in the world. She was a lot like Emily, always bubbly and the glue. Her smile lite up the room, and she was born on his birthday. Jayden adored her, and looked after her like a very senstive big brother. She had coco curls and big eyes just like his. He never told you about it, Antonio, because he didn't want anyone to hurt her. He knew you had Samurai blood in you, and...well, your not exactly graceful on you feet."
I was trying not to laugh as he blushed red.
"What about Wesley?" Kevin asked.
"He knew Wesley wasn't one for girls," Ji shrugged, "she stayed at home, since he was training to be Red Ranger. When she visited, it was when Wesley was sent out with me, but I knew Jayden was thrilled and happy. The pleasure she gave him was something not even Wesley could give him. He loved her, alright."
"What happened to Anna Maria?" I asked softly.
"Well, when Jayden was nine and she was seven," Mentor's eyes were far away, as if he was reliving it, "they were celebrating their birthdays. Then, a Nilock attacked them as Master X was rerising. He took Anna Maria, and Jayden blamed himself for being too late. He's never seen her since. And ever since that day, he's never liked to think about his birthday."
"Poor Jayden," I was weeping in Kevin's arms.
"I can understand his pain," Antonio muttered, "I'd hate thinking about my birthday if that happened."
"We can't let him stay miserable," Kevin declared.
"Right," I agreed, wiping a final tear, "come on, guys."
Emily's P. O. V.
When he finished the story, I was crying with him. Wesley was blinking back moisture, both of our hearts breaking. Our leader stared at his shoes.
"I'm so sorry, Jayden," I choked up, "I never knew..."
"I just need to be alone," he stood up, gaze still low, "thanks for trying." He strode out of the gates.
"Poor Jayden," Wesley's eyes were full of pity.
"You heard?" Mia's voice made us look up at the others.
"Yeah," I wiped out the rest of my tears, "we've got to cheer him up."
"Agreed," Kevin nodded, "we've got a plan."
When I heard it, I grinned up at them, declaring, "This is going to be the bestest birthday for him EVER!"