MIKEY'S POV

I crept down the hallway on the morn of the 9th of April. I slowly opened Gee's door and winced as it creaked. He grunted and I froze. Then I heard him start snoring again. I tip-toed over to his bed and was about to jump him when I realised how unusually innocent he looked lying there asleep. It was strange to see him so peaceful. I studied him for a second, then decided it was time. I pounced on his bed and yelled.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!" He growled loudly and threw me off the bed onto the floor. I giggled as I got to my feet. He sat up in bed, saw the time on the clock – 7am – and cursed under his breath. I heard my name get mentioned a few times but just laughed. He looked up at me and scowled.

"You should be happy! It's your birthday!" I said gleefully.

"Does this look like the face of a happy person?" He pointed at his face. "Do I not even get a fucking lie-in?" I shook my head.

"Nope." I perched myself on the end of his bed and he glared at me, but when he saw the present in my hand, it disappeared.

"Is that…for me?" he asked quietly, staring at it.

"Yup, here bro, happy birthday," I replied, handing him the flat parcel. His eyes were glinting with anticipation. He tore open the paper and gasped.

"No. Fucking. Way!" he squealed, turning the present over and over in his hands in disbelief. "How the…where the…who the…How the FUCK did you GET THIS?"

"I know people," I winked. He was flipping through a first edition Batman comic that was extremely rare. I had bought it from a small comic book store at the other side of town. The guy who ran it didn't seem – for some reason – to be all that into comics. So when I came across the first edition, and inquired as to the price, he gave me the regular sale price. I was shocked. I kept checking it really said first edition, and it certainly did. So he sold it to me. Even though it hadn't been too expensive, I knew it would mean so much to Gee.

"Mikey… Thank you…" he grinned. He hugged me tightly – something he hadn't done in a long time. I felt a sharp twang of brotherly love in that moment and I guessed Gee did too. He sat back in bed opened the comic at the first page. I immediately shut it.
"Oh no. You have to get up and get ready. Mum and Dad are waiting downstairs to give you your gifts!" His face lit up upon the word 'gifts' and he seemed to bounce out of bed. I left him to it and joined my parents in the kitchen.

GERARD'S POV

I yawned as I shuffled down the stairs. I shouldn't have just jumped out of bed like that. Now I felt a bit shit. I entered the kitchen to the sound of my parents screaming "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and bombarding me with hugs and kisses.
"Thanks," I smiled as they stood back. I brushed my long hair out of my eyes but it fell back in front of them again. It was starting to get on my nerves recently. Mum watched as I fought with my hair. Dad handed me a large soft parcel.

"Happy Birthday, kiddo," he grinned. I tore at the paper and gasped.

"Fuck! A leather jacket!" I squealed, pulling out the stylish black jacket I had wanted so badly. I nearly NEARLY cried with joy. This must have cost them so fucking much. "Mum…Dad…Wow, this is so amazing. Thank you!" They piled on me with hugs again. Then my Mum handed me yet another gift. It was a lot smaller and harder than the last. I opened the wrapping to find a black case. I opened that and picked out a pair of sunglasses.

"We thought they would go with the jacket, and plus, they'll be perfect for you trip!" my Mum chirped. I felt tears brimming in my eyes. They'd been so generous. We weren't exactly the richest of families. These shades must have been so much too. I threw myself at them and hugged them tight.

"Shit guys, I like, can't thank you fucking enough," I exclaimed.

"Well, let's see them on!" Mum squeaked. So I put on my new jacket then threw on my shades. Well, I say threw on…they got tangled in my hair at first. That's when Mum sighed loudly, frowning.

"Right, that's IT," she said suddenly. "A new age, a new look." And with that she just left the room.

"What's she on about?" I asked. My Dad and Mikey shrugged. She came back with the hair clippers. I backed away. "Oh no. No no no."

"Oh yes. Yes yes yes," she replied defiantly. That hair is just annoying you and it's annoying me too. You're beginning to look like a girl. At least look like a boy? Just until it grows back? See if you like it?" I began to protest but her glare made me shiver. She wouldn't give up on this now. I guess she was right. It had been annoying me. So I huffed and sat down at the kitchen table.

"How short are we going here?" I gulped.

"Cropped short. Like a boy would wear it. Don't worry honey. I'm not turning you bald!" I shivered at the word bald. So, unlike the usual me, I just let her do it. I didn't put up a fight. I watched as my long black locks fell silently to the floor. What the fuck would I look like?

MIKEY'S POV

I watched apprehensively as she cut his hair. I couldn't remember Gee without long hair. The trimmings made a weak black carpet on the kitchen floor beneath the chair. Slowly but surely, Gee completely and utterly changed before my eyes. I could see him clearly for the first time since…well…forever. His eyes, his eyebrows, his cheeks, his ears. He certainly did look more like a boy. Much more like a boy.

"There," Mum said proudly, turning off the clippers. "Well, go take a look!" Nervously, Gee got up and he faced me. My jaw dropped.

"What?" he whimpered. "I look like shit, don't I?" I shook my head furiously.

"No…you look…well…normal." He rolled his eyes and left the room in search of a mirror. We waiting anxiously in silence, awaiting the verdict.

"HOLY SHIT!" There it was. The verdict. He ran back into the room. "Mum…wow. Great job." He blushed and she stood there, triumphant.

"Now try on your new stuff!" I piped up gleefully. He pulled on the jacket, then slid his new shades on smoothly, no hair getting in the way.
"Well?" he asked.

"You look so flippin' cool it's actually unfair," I grimaced.

WILLOW'S POV

I parked my car in the lot and began to walk towards school.
"Willow! Wait up!" a familiar female voice called from behind me. Liss joined me at my side and we walked together.

"What did you get Gee?" she asked wonderingly.

"You'll have to wait and see tonight. Not that it's all that exciting," I chuckled. "What about you?"

"I didn't know what to get him…so I just got him a Batman action figure…" she giggled. I giggled too.

"I bet you he'll love it," I assured her. We reached the school steps.

"I hope so – woah! Who's that?" I followed her now-dreamy gaze to a somewhat familiar figure walking towards us. How did I recognise him? He wore blue skinny jeans, a black tee-shirt and a hot black leather jacket. Over his eyes he wore a pair of designer sunglasses. He was hot. He must be new. So why was he walking over to us? We weren't cool. The cool kids hung out on the other side of school. Liss nudged me.
"He's coming this way! What do we do?" she whispered frantically in my ear.
"I don't know!" I whispered back. As he grew closer, I began recognising him more and more. The shape of his face, his nose… He flashed us a grin and when I saw that smile I almost died. I knew who that was. Apparently so did Liss.

"Oh my…shit," she gasped. He reached us and whipped off his shades sexily. He raised an eyebrow at our expressions.

"Morning ladies," Gerard winked smoothly.