Baljeet sat in between Ms. Biffany and Linda Flynn-Fletcher and they all sat and nervously waited. They were currently at the DMV waiting for Buford and Ferb to finish taking their driver's tests for their licenses, and the tension was palpable. This was a huge moment for the boys and as such, there was much freaking out in the process. More so, on Buford's end, as Ferb seemed to be his usual relaxed self. Baljeet stared at the clock, willing it to move faster. They'd begun their tests about 10 minutes ago, and from what he'd heard about the test itself, they shouldn't be much longer. Phineas and Isabella were upset they couldn't be there as it was close to midterm time and the winter holiday break, they couldn't afford to miss school. They did, however, demand any and all news immediately.
Ferb walked back into the building and walked past his waiting family. He had his typical emotionless expression on his face, so no one was quite sure how to take that. It wasn't until they saw him head to the desk and take his picture did they realize that he'd done it. Ferb was now an officially licensed driver. Once he'd received his temporary copy, he joined his family and showed it off, finally smiling for the first time all day. They all yelled in excitement and congratulations for the young Brit. He sat down and joined them and waited for his friend to finish up his test.
Buford opened the door to the waiting room and scanned it for his family, before rushing up to Baljeet and wrapping him in a hug so tight, it lifted him from the chair.
"I take it things went well," Baljeet joked wrapping his arms around the young man clinging to him for dear life.
"You betcha, buddy. I aced it!" he yelled into his boyfriend's hair.
"Congratulations, honey!" his mother yelled, adding herself to the hug. Baljeet wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to breathe and cursed his boyfriend and his mother's unusual strength.
Ferb gently tapped Buford on the shoulder and quickly reminded him that he had to actually go and get his license, or at the very least his photo taken. He was surprised to be enveloped in a hug in response. "Thanks for all of your help, man. Couldn't have done it without ya."
"My pleasure. What else is family for?" He smiled, returning the hug.
Once all the pictures were taken and all the text messages/phone calls were made. They made their way to their cars.
"I think we should have a party to celebrate our young men," Linda proudly suggested.
"Sounds good to me? What do you think guys?" Biffany asked.
"Well, with Christmas only a week away, let's just celebrate then." Ferb suggested.
"Yeah, we've got a lot to celebrate this year! We're licensed men, you two finished your first semester of college, Christmas, of course, and Baljeet's birthday."
"Uh, if it is all the same to you, I'd rather we didn't celebrate my birthday this year. But a party does sound nice." Baljeet quickly added futilely hoping no more questions would be asked.
"What do you mean not celebrate your birthday?" Biffany asked.
"Um, it is not important. Perhaps we can go back to planning the celebrations!" He tried to cover. "So, how does it feel to have your licenses, guys?"
"Amazing!" "Pretty cool" they both simultaneously answered.
With the promise of continuing the party planning and perhaps going out to dinner together that evening, the two cars went to their respective homes.
Baljeet and the Van Stomms got home and quickly made their way inside to escape the flurry of snow that was beginning. Biffany headed to the kitchen to make hot chocolate, while the boys went up to their room.
"So what was all that about you not celebrating your birthday?" Buford asked once he'd closed the door. Baljeet rolled his eyes, hoping that his comment would have been forgotten and that he wouldn't have to have this conversation so soon after a great achievement in Buford's life.
"Nothing, it's not important."
"It is important. Now spill."
"Now is not the time for this, Buford. Let us just enjoy your success and be happy for once."
"Baljeet, it's very obvious when you're not happy. How can you expect me to be happy, if you're not?"
"It is really no big deal, I just don't want to celebrate my birthday."
"You still haven't told me why."
"I don't really feel that I should. You just did something amazing today. Can we please just have one day where we enjoy something and not worry about me? Today is all about you, all right. Now can we please drop it and just be freaking HAPPY?!"
Buford just stared at Baljeet. He sat down in front of his bed and stared at the boy. Baljeet tried to go on and pretend that wasn't what was happening, but he'd always hated being stared at. This was something Buford knew and was taking full advantage of. Minutes of silence that felt like hours passed between the two boys before Baljeet finally returned eye contact.
"WHAT, Buford?! What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me what's going on. Why is that so difficult? Why do I always have to force you to tell me things?"
"Look, this isn't a big deal!"
"If it's not, why won't you just tell me?" he coolly replied.
"Because, I don't want to do that! I'm tired of burdening you with my problems, Buford."
"Baljeet...for a genius, you can be dumb sometimes." He smirked. He then gestured for Baljeet to join him where he was sitting. Once he had, he continued. "I don't understand why you put yourself in this situation. You work yourself into a fit and it just eats at you until someone can finally get it out of you. Isn't that something that your therapist talked about?"
Baljeet just nodded.
"You have a support system, but you never want to use it. You always listen to others when they're upset and you go out of your way to help them...why can't you ever let us return the favor without making a federal case out of it?"
"...because, I'm not worth it."
"Baljeet..."
"I know! I know! You hate it when I speak about myself that way but it is true, Buford!"
"Why? Why do you think that it's true?" Buford was trying to remain calm, but he hated it when Baljeet downplayed himself. "You have got so much going for you...things people would kill to have. You've got brains, you've got your looks, you're nice, you can do amazing things and have so many talents. What gives you the right to look down on yourself?"
"You are mistaken, Buford. It is I who lacks something that everyone else seems to have."
"This is about them again, isn't it? 'Jeet, when are you going to realize that you don't need them."
"My father is dead, Buford. My father is dead and my mother hates me with everything she has. How am I supposed to celebrate the anniversary of my birth, when the two people responsible for it despise me. I know I shouldn't feel this way. By feeling this way, I feel like I'm spitting in the face of everyone who's shown me kindness since then. Now I'm ruining what's supposed to be the best day of your young adult life with my problems. This wasn't how today was supposed to go, Buford. It wasn't."
Buford wrapped his arms around his trembling boyfriend and tried to calm him down.
"Look, you can't help how you feel. Even I know that. Just think back to all the times you've been there for me, even when you didn't really wanna be. You know how bad it makes me feel, you not letting me return the favor? You haven't ruined today. I do wish it you'd talk to me instead of going around with all of this on your brain. That's energy we could be spending making out or something." he grinned. "I don't like your reasons behind it, but if you feel that strongly about it, we don't have to do anything for your birthday. I just...thought it was a big deal, is all."
"My birthday? Since when is it a big deal?"
"Not just that, this'll be your first birthday where I'll be shopping for a gift as a boyfriend and not a frenemy. It was going to be mine and everyone else's chance to show you that you matter, that no matter what those people think, you're an amazing person to know. Those thoughts you have about yourself, they're all wrong, 'Jeet. I'm kicking myself because I haven't been able to make you see that yet, but I'm not giving up."
"I had no idea that this meant that much to you."
"Of course it does, dummy. Because you do. You probably wouldn't know given how little you actually tell me. Can you please stop fighting me on this? I want to help you, ok? Nothing will change that."
"...all right. I'm sorry."
"Don't be, just do better." Buford said, playfully knocking on Baljeet's forehead, then kissing it.
"...I suppose a small celebration, wouldn't be too bad." Baljeet relented. Buford's face lit up.
"I'll see what I can do." Buford winked.
The boys sat and waited for their friends to get home from school so that they could fawn over Buford and allow him to properly enjoy his achievement. They sat and discussed anything and everything that was on their minds. Shared stories, reminisced, and laughed. One thing was for certain, neither of them would forget that day.