April 7, 1999 2:49 PM

Cassie

I came home from school. The box was in the fridge. The others were with me, mostly by protest. Rachel and Marco especially. They didn't think we should do this. Jake too was uneasy, but thought as I did. David was one of us.

Truth was, I was a bit unwary too. It hadn't really seen David since last weekend, when he . . . when I . . . when we kissed. I don't know what it was. I don't know if it was because I didn't expect it. No, I did expect it. Just not so soon. David had known me less than a month. He had at one point hated all of us, but the night I saw him. The night my father reminded me to feed that deer. The night I stopped him. I felt it. When we were racing.

I felt him and watched him fall in love with me.

I never really believed in love at first sight. Jake's affection for me took years to develop as did mine. Yet, David fell in love with me in a month. It was overwhelming. I still had feelings for Jake, but this feeling for David was different. I wasn't quite sure what it was.

David knew I was with Jake. I didn't think he would do anything, that way I wouldn't have to deal with it. Then he kissed me. My first. Funny, I always thought my first would be with Jake. It was everything I thought it would be. Except that it wasn't with Jake. I ran out of there like a scared little girl. I found him later on his rock by the river. His thinking place. I told him I couldn't be with him because of Jake. He was surprisingly accepting, but I left him there to be alone with his thoughts. I hadn't seen him since.

He was always the most comfortable around me. He never did take to Marco, and I don't think he likes Jake or Rachel much.

Another surprise was how quickly his feelings 180'd about Tobias and Ax. He used to see them as subhuman, but now I think they are his best friends in the world.

This was actually Tobias's idea. After Marco and Ax cracked into the school database to pull out David's file, Tobias saw the date and decided we should do this.

The four of us were in the barn waiting for Tobias to show. Tobias flew in and told us the coast was clear.

He's playing Mortal Kombat 4 with Ax. They'll be busy for a while.

"You know, I have some major homework, and I still haven't caught up on my sleep." Rachel whined.

"Come on, Rachel." I said. "Who else is going to do this if not us."

"He doesn't know we're coming, Tobias?" Jake asked.

He doesn't even know we know.

"Ya know?" Marco added.

"Let's just get this over with." Rachel whined again.

We walked toward Ax and David's scoop. They were in the middle of a battle. David was very focused. A Bug Fighter could have landed thirty feet from them and he wouldn't have noticed.

The sound of video game death is heard. "Sub-Zero wins. Fatality!" said the game.

"Who's the coolest kombatant in the whole fucking universe??!" David yelled triumphantly.

"Could you be any more of a geek?" Marco said suddenly.

David turned around suddenly. "What are you guys doing here?"

Go ahead, Jake. Tobias said. Open the box.

Jake opened the box and presented to David the contents inside. David stood wide-eyed at the box which held a chocolate cake with vanilla icing that beared the message in green. His name had been added later by me, using chocolate icing. Marco was ever so paranoid. Jake proceeded to light the fifteen candles.

"No fucking way! I never told you guys." David said flabbergasted. He looked at me.

But it was Tobias who said it first. Happy Birthday, David.

"Happy Birthday, David." Jake said.

Happy Birthday, David Aximili said

David looked at me. Did he still care for me. Does he still carry that intense love for me? I smiled back. "Happy Birthday, David."

"Happy Birthday, David" Rachel said quickly.

"Happy Birthday. Blow the candles. Make a wish already." Marco said.

David looked at the cake. He looked at me, with that contemplating look on his face. But then he turned his gaze over to Megadeth, his cat, who was lounging in his box.

David smiled with a far-off look and blew out his candles.