Chapter 2: My Birthday Dinner Downtown
The next weekend, after Easter, my other best friend, Alex Russo, who was just a year older than me, as well as some of her friends in the band, took me out for a birthday dinner at Station Square in downtown Pittsburgh. Of course, Alex's parents, Harper and Mason were dropping us off because they had to run a couple of errands downtown. "You look nice, Alex," I then complimented my friend. "Thanks, Angel," Alex replied. "So do you." Alex had on her white sundress with the pink flowers on it with a light pink sweater over top and white dress sandals, and her hair was done half-up. Of course, I had on my new blue sundress that my mom gave me, along with silver sandals. Not to mention, the weather was absolutely beautiful again that weekend- very sunny and almost 70 degrees! "Is it okay if we eat outside, Mom?" Alex then asked. "It's really beautiful outside." Alex's mom then agreed, and we got a table outside. I ordered the same thing that I got when one of my older best friends, Sarah Phillips took me back in 2006 for my 12th birthday: chicken parmesan over spaghetti marinara, with a side salad. Of course, Alex ordered a grilled chicken Caesar salad. "I never told you guys about when I first came here," I told everyone. I then cleared my throat. "Well, I had 3 really great friends who lived in Natrona Heights with me back in the day," I told everyone, "and then my best friend at that time, Sarah Phillips, took me out for a birthday dinner right here at Station Square, because she thought that I needed to try new things." "Did you like your dinner back then?" Alex asked me. "Yes," I replied. "Do you like it now?" "Of course," I then told her. "As a matter of fact, Alex, you definitely remind me of Sarah." "Oh, yeah," Alex then stated. "How do I remind you of her?" "She was like a sisterly best friend to me, and so are you," I then explained. "Your outfit is quite girly, and she almost wore the same thing as you did, back then: a sundress with flowers on it and a pink sweater, even though Sarah was in between a tomboy and a girly-girl." "So, you're saying that Sarah has a style that is quite similar to mine?" Alex asked me. "I'd say, more similar to Carly's," I then told her, "since she rarely wore dresses and skirts, except for on a few occasions." A few of Alex's best friends from the marching band- Justin, Max, Theresa, and Jerry, were also eating with us. "I forgot to mention that Sarah's brothers, James and Henri couldn't come out to eat with us that day," I notified everyone. "Why couldn't they come?" Justin asked. "Well, because Henri was left at home with a baby-sitter, and James had a scholarship interview at Carnegie Mellon University," I explained to everyone. "Lucky me," Justin remarked. "I'm glad I don't have a scholarship interview tonight." The 6 of us then got a huge birthday cake to share. "I also enjoyed the birthday sundae that Sarah and I shared together," I stated, "and am especially glad to be sharing a birthday cake with all of you guys right now." I was glad to enjoy my special day with a couple of my good friends from the marching band.