For whatever reason, I have some really weird quirks. I'm not talking about routine quirks or personality things. It's like weird facts of life quirks. Stuff like "The president and I both have had breakfast, lunch and dinner, roughly at the same time today."

It'll just hit me. Doesn't really matter what I'm doing, it'll just pop up and refuse to leave my brain.

Today's quirk?

On the most important days of my life, it basically will have the same script.

Normal, then there's a dramatic twist or turn and suddenly I'm on a new path, all remnants of the past stuck, waiting to be restarted.

Example. The day Cat went to Methodist, remember I got the call about her vandalizing Laken's car? I was going to close her account she shared with me and make her work the money I had to pay to get it fixed thru my Dad.

Never happened.

Now I can't really. Dad and Mom will volunteer to give her the money, and yell at me for eating it for so long.

Crap! Cold, cold water!

I scramble out of the shower and grab my towel.

I'm glad I bumped up the heat. This depressing weather is still here.

At least I finished my shampoo and body wash. I hope I just used all the hot water up, and that it didn't break. That's an expensive hot water heater.

I stand there and shiver for like 3 or 4 minutes before talking myself into getting dressed. Ridiculous I know. I'm just weird.

Finally, I start plodding my way downstairs.

I really don't want to cook breakfast. Maybe I should go out…whe—

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I jump out of my skin as Jade quickly has me in a tight hug.

Yeah, it's my birthday. They forgot last year. Everyone did. I didn't really mind, I don't like the spotlight on me.

But they apparently didn't forget this year.

As soon as Jade relinquishes me, Tori has already kissed both my cheeks and is strangling me with love.

"Tori…can't breathe?" I cough out.

"Sorry…" She backs up, only to hug me again.

Banner and everything. They brought out all the stops. That's nice of them. I'm just 19. No big deal.

As mom sang to me on my sixteenth. "One year closer to death, Happy Birthday…"

I'm glad I inherited someone else's sense of humor and not my parents. I love them, but they aren't the jokesters of the family.

"Happy birthday Rob." Beck smiled, shaking my hand and clapping me on the back.

"19 huh? You don't look 19…" Andre smirked, as Jade ruffled my hair.

"Eww! It's wet! Robbie!" She shrieked, wiping her hand off feverishly on my shirt.

"I just got out of the shower, what do you expect?"

"You to completely dry your hair?" She asked, giving me a reproachful look.

"I can't, do you want me to have a Jewish Fro?"

"No, but—"

"Then it stays." I said finally, glancing around for Cat.

But all I find is a buffet from Andre's breakfast place.

"You hungry?" Jade asked, moving to the kitchen.

"What do you think?" I rhetorically asked.

"You're always hungry."

"Bingo."

"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can have EVERYTHING." Tori rolled her eyes, grabbing some plates.

"Aww man. Really?" I frowned, giving her a sad look.

She just bit her lip and giggled.

Jade suddenly handed me a plate loaded to the brim. I patiently waited for everyone else to get their share.

"What are you waiting on?" Andre asked, looking at me weird.

"You guys."

"Oh." He looked surprised. "Thanks."

We all didn't speak much and systematically devoured our helpings. However, they reverted back to treating me the moment I stood to wash my plate.

Jade threw out her arm, stopping my progress. "No, give it to me."

"But—" I began, but stopped by her giving me her "Listen or else" look.

"Fine…I need to ask you something real quick." I conceded.

"I got it." Tori snatched my plate up.

"I'll be right back." Jade said, turning to follow me to my room.

The second she crossed the door she closed it behind her.

"What's up?"

"You know what's up." I said bluntly.

Where the hell is Cat?

I'm trying to remain positive and not send off a furious text, but I'm starting to lose my resolve.

She let out a heavy sigh and collapsed on my bed. "We've been planning for today for a couple of weeks. Apparently when Cat was telling Alex about her plans this week she let slip the party and he didn't like it. She told me he would let her come but texted me this morning at 6 saying he wasn't letting her come back."

"She could have avoided the entire issue by staying in town." I grumble.

"I know…but we both know you do stupid stuff when you're in love."

I couldn't resist rolling my eyes.

"Hey." Jade suddenly grabbed my hand. "Please ignore her for one day. She did this to herself. We want today to be awesome for you. If anyone deserves it, it's you and you know it."

"I'll try."

"Thanks." She smiled. "Can I give my present now?"

"Ok…"

I know what's coming.

Jade quickly had her legs wrapped around me and had me in a deep kiss, causing me to fall back onto my bed. It went on longer than I thought it would, not that I minded.

"Happy birthday." She finally whispered in my ear.

"Nice present." I chided her.

"Hey, you know I can't give that in public."

"True…everyone else would faint."

She climbed off me and offered me her hand. I let her help me up, but saw my hair was messed up.

"Just a sec, let me fix this."

She headed out the door as I made myself presentable. But as soon as I stepped outside my room I froze.

"What'd he say?" Tori asked.

"Where's Cat." Jade replied.

"I can't believe she didn't find a way to get here." Beck grumbled. "After all he's done for her? She's like spitting in his face."

"But Alex's illusion of Superman is slipping. Which is good." Andre butted in.

"You think he still likes her?" Beck asked, sounding keen on knowing the answer.

"I can't tell. Cat's messed him up and he can't even tell. I used to be able to get a read on him easy, that's how I figured out he liked Cat back in junior year. Now he subconsciously hides everything."

"And Cat caused that?" Andre asked.

"Yeah, unless Stephanie fucked him up without us knowing."

"That would make sense; they broke up way too fast for it to be normal. And the only account we got was from Cat, who was not right that day." Tori prophesized.

"Good point. He's taking a while…ROBBIE!" Jade yelled.

"Coming…keep your pants on geez." I rolled my eyes.

I swear, life runs like a play. I am officially on cue.

"You ready for fun?" Tori smiled at me.

"Yep."

"You're with me man." Beck said, as Jade and Tori piled into Tori's Mustang. Andre followed in his Mercedes SLS Coupe.

"Why am I not driving?" I asked once beck had backed out of the driveway.

"You have a habit to not let yourself relax. So we're taking everything out of your control."

I opened my mouth to protest. I'm not a child.

"No. You need to chill dude. I need to ask you something anyway."

If he asks about Stephanie I'm stopping him cold.

"Ok, ask away."

"Are you and Jade interested in each other?"

"What? What on earth makes you think that?" I asked, turning to get a good look at him.

"Cat told me she heard you guys a few days ago when you got back. Then found your luggage."

"So?"

"And today? Usually you ask whatever it is in front of everyone. But instead you retreat to your bedroom and shut the door."

"What's your point Beck?" I don't like his dodging the issue.

"You're sneaking around."

"Beck…"

"I need to know whether I should start looking for other girls and leave her to you."

Ahh…

"Don't worry. I don't like Jade. She…is being kind of possessive of me right now."

"Possessive?"

"Yeah."

I almost said she likes him.

It's the thrill of the chase after all.

"What did she do in your bedroom that caused you to hesitate?"

"Uhh…it's best I don't answer that." I spat out.

"Dude. Did you lie to me?"

"No, she's told me she doesn't like me."

"Then what is so bad?"

"She kissed me."

"Both times?"

"What?"

"Cat said she heard you guys."

"Oh…yeah. Then too."

He whacked his hand on the steering wheel.

"Dude! I have asked her and she said she likes someone else."

"You won't tell me will you."

"No. The best advice I can give is start making a subtle move. She's waffling right now."

"On the guy?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah."

"Ok…"

"You know you're really important to her."

"I know…" I sighed, pulling into a parking lot.

"My money's on you."

"You better not be fucking with me Rob."

"I'm not."

"Why'd she kiss you then? Did she explain?"

"First time, she missed me, today it's my birthday."

He was quiet for a minute.

"Makes sense."

"It's the truth."

I feel bad for being such a good liar.

He killed the ignition and hopped out of the car.

"Ready for some roller coaster fun?" Tori smiled, pulling on her light jacket.

"Yeah."

As promised, they refused to let me pay for a two hour all access pass for the five of us.

We took a couple of rides then took a break, since all of us felt a bit queasy.

"Wow, that's a low price on Cotton Candy. You want some?" Jade asked Tori.

"Sure."

"I got it." Beck injected, quickly heading over to the stand. Jade and Tori looked from each other, then to me.

"Don't ask me, maybe he wants something and didn't want to sound selfish." I threw out there.

"Andre!" A girl yelled out, waving to him.

"Hey!" He smiled back, darting to her.

Jade and Tori looked at each other again.

"What is it with guys today?" Jade asked.

"Don't ask me, I don't have my free will with me today."

"Easy now. We just want to save you from yourself." Tori smacked my arm.

"Thanks for that."

"Sorry about Cat." She suddenly spat out.

I couldn't hold eye contact with her. "Not your fault."

"I'm planning on giving this guy a piece of my mind when I do finally meet him." Jade said darkly.

"You haven't met him?"

"Nope. She's keeping him on a tight leash."

"Or he has one on her." I muttered darkly.

"True."

"Here you go." Beck said, handing each of the girls a gigantic cotton candy.

"Aww, thanks Beck." Jade smiled, moving to him for a hug, but inadvertently hitting him in the face with the cotton candy.

"Ahh." Beck mumbled, moving it out of his face. Tori laughed in the background and Jade took a gigantic bite out of the part the collided with Beck's face.

Oh.

Beck at least had the sense to look mollified.

"Sorry, what'd I miss?" Andre said, sauntering back to us with a smile on his face.

"Not much, you look happy." Tori smirked, punching his arm.

"Eh, it was the usual. 'I like your parties, you should do another one soon.'"

"Why aren't you doing any parties?" Jade said, mouth half full.

"Summer has been slow so far. It picks up after the fourth of July."

Suddenly Jade's phone started going off.

"Hello?...Yeah, I'll bring him over after we're done here….it'll be another two or three hours….great, love you too…bye."

"Let my guess, my parents?" I threw out there.

Who else does she love that I'm also close to?

"Yep, they want you for dinner."

"Do I get a say in this?"

"Well, you could be reasonable and just say yes."

Everyone burst out laughing.

"I guess I could do that. But where's the fun in being easy to please?"