Amber.

6 'o Clock That Evening.

"Alright, I give. I loved that poffin place. Even Astro's gonna love 'em."

"See?" Dee laughed. "We told you so!"

We went all around town that day, seeing what Hearthome City had to show. We had a great time. Found out the contest was delayed for a tournament, but we went and registered for it. I even registered Riley.

Dee took her room key from her jacket pocket, fumbling loudly with the lock.

"But, you really had a good time today?" Tess asked.

I nodded, smiling. "Hella."

"Great," Dee responded. "Nobody can say the Thompson girls don't take care of their best friend."

I watched Dee mess with the doorknob. "Are you having a little trouble, Dee-Dee?"

The lock suddenly clicked. "I guess the key jammed." She turned the knob, and we entered.

The room smelled...great. Like frosting and pizza. I turned the light on and-

"Gah! Son of a bitch!"

...Saw Flint readjusting a plate of red velvet cupcakes on the table. He jumped when the light turned on.

I raised an eyebrow. "Flint?"

"Flint!" Volkner, hiding behind a bed, stood up. "Dammit, Flint!"

"We told you to stay down!" Riley and Astro's voices joined in. They stood, too, from behind the same bed.

Flint glared daggers at them. "Well, boy genius, which of you retards had the bright idea to set the candles up to say thirty-one?!"

"Ahem." I cleared my throat. "Boys...?"

They all turned to look at us. Dee shrugged.

"Surpriiiise...?" She offered weakly.

The table actually looked great. It was set up with two plates of red-velvet cupcakes, two of them actually having backwards candles that said 31, three boxes of pizza, and three two-liters of soda.

I laughed. "You guys set up a party? For me?"

"Actually, Volk and I just helped set up," Flint pointed out. "It was Riley and Astro who actually got everything. Astro nearly dropped the cupcakes, too."

"Humph." Astro pouted. "I nearly break my back for my trainer's birthday, and don't get no recognition."

I smiled, picking him up.

"That was so sweet of you guys," I told him and Riley.

Riley looked away, a blush creeping up his face. "I-it was nothing. Happy birthday, Amber."

A While Later.

"Twenty-one." Volkner spread his cards; two fives, a ten, and an ace.

Dee scoffed. "Bullcrap. That's your third win. You're a cheater, Surge."

"What part of 'I can count cards' is so hard to get through your thick skull, Thompson?"

I laughed. "Why don't we just play something else, Dee?"

Predictably, we started playing cards, where Volkner proved he was an amazing gambler. Tess could hold her own against him, though; he had taught her to count cards, too.

Dee gathered the deck, and began to shuffle.

"So, have you guys heard about that tag-team tournament?" She asked. "At the Hearthome Dome?"

Volkner cracked his knuckles. "Yeah," He answered. "We went and signed up today."

"Except me," Riley added. "I'm gonna stay out of-"

"Amber signed you up, Riley," Tess told him.

Riley nearly choked on the soda he was drinking. "A-Amber!"

I shrugged. "I thought you'd like it. Please, Riley?"

We all stared at him. Riley sighed.

"Fine. Since it's your birthday."

"Yeah!" Flint cheered. He nearly fell backwards off the bed.

Riley groaned, facepalming. "Astro, cupcake, please?"

"Yes, master." Astro ferried himself to the table, grabbing a cupcake and bring it to Riley.

We played a round of BS, until my Pokegear rang. The caller ID said "Home"; I'd expected to eventually get this call. I grabbed it off the nightstand.

"Sorry," I apologized to my friends. I went out into the hall, and answered. "Hello?"

A few small sniffling and coughing sounds. "Ambie?"

I knew that voice. "Max? Who gave you permission to use the phone?"

"I did," The seven year old told me proudly. "Ambie, will you come home? I miss you."

Max's voice broke my heart. "I'm sorry, buddy...but I can't. I'm a coordinator now."

"But Mama and Daddy keep arguing about you. I don't like Mama and Daddy mad. They'll be happy if you come home, and then I can be happy."

"That's not how it works, Max," I told him. "There'll be consequences. I can't just-"

"Then make it how it works!" Max yelled at me. "I want my big sister back! Come home right now!"

"Max Daniels, you do not tell me what to do," I said sharply. "You listen to me. Got it?"

Silence. Then, Max whimpered. "I'm sorry, Ambie...I just miss you..."

My heart melted. "I know. I miss you, too. But you've gotta be a big boy while I'm gone, okay? Be a good big brother to Michelle."

"I know."

"And crying and throwing tantrums is acting like a baby. And Michelle's the baby."

"And I'm the big boy," Max sighed. "I'm sorry, Ambie...I love you..."

I smiled. "I love you, too. Now go to bed, okay? It's past bedtime."

"Okay. And...happy birthday." Max hung up.

I was stunned he remembered. Max never remembered my birthday.

"Who was it?" Tess asked when I came back in.

I closed the door. "Max. He wanted me to come home."

"Oh." Tess shrunk back a little. "I've gotten a couple of calls like that from Barry, myself." Barry was the son of their mom's fiancé. He was about Max's age.

Dee scoffed. "The little twerp wanted you back, but not me? How rude!"

And then we all started talking about our families; how Barry liked Tess better than Dee, how Max hated being treated like a little kid, etc. Astro even asked if Max's egg had hatched yet.

Even with Max's interruption, my thirteenth had been a pretty great birthday. Still one of my favorites.