The ride to the restaurant was blissfully fan, as it always was when she was with those two girls. They had fun teasing each other, making blonde jokes for Peyton who despite her hair color was the anti-blonde in every way. Peyton had been kind enough in honor of Haley's birthday to play something other than rock, which in this case partially just to bug her, Brooke had chosen Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles, and they had screamed at the top of their lungs through the melodies, Haley being the only one that came close to hitting the notes. After only a few repetitions of the song, the three girls arrived at the café. When they walked through the door Haley gasped as she noticed the colorful decorations around the small café and Karen and Haley's best friend Lucas standing right in the middle of it all. Haley squealed giving Lucas a big hug and then Karen.
"Thank you, this means so much to me!" she said a bright smile stretched across her face
"Happy to do it…." Karen said
"Yeah Hales, you know that we couldn't sit back and do nothing for your eighteenth birthday." He said acknowledging the pure joy on her face "So where is Nate?"
"Oh he couldn't make it" Haley said a look of sadness crossing her face
"Hey, well I hate to break out of here," Lucas began "But, apparently this is supposed to be a girl thing and I'm going to go check on Nate, see that he isn't up to anything…" Lucas hugged her goodbye before heading out the door the bell jingling behind him. It was then that Haley noticed the table set up for four. Haley's favorite, blueberry pancakes were on a large platter in the center of the table and orange juice and coffee sat by each plate. Haley sat down with Karen, Brooke, and Peyton for her birthday breakfast.
"So…." Peyton began in a small voice "As you all know I happen to be a huge fan of that song called Happy Birthday…So can we please sing."
"Yes of course that's right tutor girl we forgot to sing to you" Brooke said, as she counted it off.
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Haley
Happy Birthday to you
When the song ended the girls clapped and Haley blew out imaginary candles before they all dug into their pancakes.
"So how does it feel to be eighteen?" Karen asked smiling
"Well so far, not much different." Haley replied
"God, I remember when you and Lucas were seven and were pushing each other on that old tire swing out in the backyard," Karen said
"I do too," Haley began laughing "We did it yesterday as well in celebration of my birthday…"
Everyone at the table began laughing. Haley and Lucas were always known for doing childish things. They loved to have water balloon fights on cold nights and play mini golf constantly. Inside they were almost the same kids that they were when they met eight years ago. Haley came from a big family, and really never felt special at home because of all the attention that her parents had to spread out over the rest of their children, so Haley practically lived in the café growing up. Her parents were currently out on a road trip to see the country in their new RV that they purchased after selling the house when their youngest, Haley got married. They had sent a card, but it wasn't much of a big deal that they weren't there because she had basically already lived her entire life without them. This way she had more time to spend with the family that she had come accustomed to being with.
Once she got to school Haley felt the same need for learning as she did every time she entered what Principal Turner called their fine institution. She was such a nerd that she loved school more than the majority of people her age who would rather be off partying or just being lazy. She had always believed in bettering herself and in most case she did it through education. Jake was the first to greet her at school. Haley never got bored of seeing the look on Peyton's face when she saw Jake. The girl was full on head over heels in love with him. The same way that she felt about Nathan since the day she had met him. Peyton was Nathan's ex, but that never kept all of them from functioning as a big happy group. Both claimed that nothing between them was ever special, and Haley believed them. Jake wrapped Haley in a hug,
"Happy Birthday Hales," He said pulling away from their hug and walking over to Peyton to give her a kiss. Even once he pulled away he still showed his love for his girlfriend by keeping his arm around her waist. Haley jumped when she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist. She turned around to see that the arms belonged to no other than her adoring husband and let him kiss her.
"So how was breakfast?" he asked "I have to admit, I knew that was going to happen, and I may have eaten your waffle surprise."
Haley couldn't help but laughing at this comment. Nathan always had a special way of touching her heart in the simplest ways, especially when she got to see the look on his face when he got a good grade on a test or understood a problem. It was crazy how every feeling that she had ever felt about anyone else in the world was multiplied by about a hundred when it came to him.
Soon Lucas had joined them and the three couples compromising the fabulous group walked into the school building together. Haley always felt so blessed to have such amazing friends in her company. Some things never changed and she hoped that this was one of them.