November sixteenth. The dreaded day that comes around each year.

Her birthday.

In fact, it should be one of her favorite days, right? Right? Wrong . Kimbra was never one for celebrations. Unnecessary. Yes, birthday parties were a celebration of one's life, accomplishments, and so forth. But it was unnecessary. Nothing about her had ever been worth celebrating. She didn't see much point in such celebrations, particularly if they were about herself. And it only reminded her that she was getting older. Closer to reaching the age to where Huntington's symptoms usually appear.

She just hated being reminded of it.

Dr. Ainsley asked her to come to EcoTech tonight. He lied, saying it was for work and to dress nice. She knew what he really meant.

'We're throwing you a birthday party and if you don't come, you'll never hear the end of it.'

Should she even go?

…

No. No, she shouldn't.

Kimbra thought about cancelling. It's her birthday, after all. If she wanted to stay home in her pajamas, she should be able to. But that wouldn't be very fair to her boss and coworkers.

She could tough it out, for one night. It would be her final birthday in St. Canard after all.

There's no way I'm going to this party sober. I need at least two beers and a shot to make it through the night. Aw, man, that just makes me sound like I have a problem. I don't have a problem, well…I have plenty of problems, but not a drinking problem.

I swear I'm not an alcoholic.

It all felt like a blur to her today. The calls from her family back home. All the birthday messages. The cards. She hated the attention. She hated her birthday. The worst time of the year. She wanted to pretend it was just any other day. Yet, the world had other plans for her.

You could at least show some enthusiasm.

Kimbra put on a fake smile as she stood in front of the EcoTech doors. She knew was soon as she stepped in, balloons would fall from the ceiling. Her colleagues would jump out and shout happy birthday. All the works. She'd have to talk to dozens of people. Thank each one over and over for coming to a party she didn't even want. Make small talk and be reminded she was one year older.

One year closer to possibly being diagnosed with Huntington's.

Observing people was much easier than interacting with them, after all. Kimbra looked down at herself. The dark blue low cut gown outlined her delicate frame. The black high heels hurt her feet and she felt overdressed. She worried about possibly bringing even more attention to herself.

With a deep breath, Kimbra walked through those double glass doors.

On the surface, it probably came off that Kimbra enjoyed the attention. She didn't. Being back in her apartment wrapped in a quilt of her mother's while eating chips and watching some old sitcom sounded much more pleasant of a birthday.

She shouldn't have to keep up appearances or paint on a smile. She doesn't owe anyone a damn thing. But she does it anyway because it was easier that way. Except it isn't. Not for her. She did it, so it would be easier for others. The ones that cared about her. That loved her.

She only did it for them.

The sound of party poppers and cheers of 'happy birthday Kimbra' greeted her. Tacky streamers and balloons hung on the walls. A large banner with the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY hung between the two lobby staircases. Two white foldable tables rested against the far-right wall, filled with refreshments. Dozens of her colleagues and coworkers filled the lobby. Their faces brandished with smiles and joy.

They did this all for her.

"Oh…um, thanks guys. I appreciate it." Kimbra held back a pang of sadness as she put on her best fake (and surprised) smile.

That wasn't very enthusiastic.

This really was her last birthday in St. Canard.

Neil was the first to run up to her, engulfing her in a huge hug. "Happy birthday Kim!" The scent of his flowery cologne hit her in a wave.

Least it's better than what Bud wears.

The force of the hug caused her to stumble back a few steps, but she laughed and hugged the feline back. "Thanks Neil."

He pointed directly at the refreshments table after releasing her. "I also bought your favorite cake, chocolate."

That's not my favorite flavor.

"Her favorite is not chocolate!" And behind them came Leslie holding a pretty purple box from the Angel Cakes Bakery. "It's vanilla!"

That's not it, either.

The two glared at one another before Neil spoke.

"No…no, she specially said chocolate. I remember."

Leslie huffed, almost stomping her foot like an annoyed child. "Are you an idiot? All she buys is vanilla cream cakes! Her favorite is vanilla."

"She ordered chocolate tarts the last time we went out at a restaurant!"

"That doesn't mean her favorite flavor is chocolate!"

"Vanilla cream cakes doesn't mean a damned thing either!"

Kimbra smiled, an actual genuine smile. This is what she was going to miss. People she cared about who made her feel at home. She didn't know how she'd make it working anywhere else without these two bickering in the background.

And her favorite flavor of cake was funfetti.

While Leslie and Neil argued over what flavor cake Kimbra preferred, someone out of the corner of her eye grabbed her attention. Kimbra's breath caught in her throat. Bud was looking at her. He stood there awkwardly, like he'd been waiting patiently for the chance to slip in and talk to her. Kimbra took a quick glimpse at her friends to make sure they wouldn't miss her, and she walked over to the businessman.

A sense of possibilities. The chance to put her heart on the line and admit everything to Bud. Tell him how he makes her feel. There was really no point trying to hide anything from him now.

But…

She couldn't tell him. Ruining their friendship with the complicated words of 'I love you' and then fleeing to Alaska wouldn't be fair to either of them.

What you have now, it will have to be enough.

The white canine spoke first. "Did your mother ever tell you it's rude to stare?"

"Oh sorry," he shook his head, pulling him out of the trance.

Kimbra noticed that the mention of his mother made his jaw clench, but she made no comment.

"Surely, you aren't looking for a way to insult me on my birthday."

"Me? Never." He grinned, making sure to keep his right arm behind him.

The hound must have noticed Kimbra's confusion, as he quickly addressed it.

"Happy birthday," Bud pulled his arm from behind him, brandishing a bouquet of sunflowers. "I know they're your favorite."

"Awe Buddy," she took them. Not something she would have expected from him, as he hadn't mentioned buying her a gift. "You didn't have to get me anything."

He knew exactly how to make her heart flutter without even realizing it. And to think, he was only a foggy three.

Mr. Foggy-three himself stuck his hands in his pants pocket and shrugged. "I know, but I wanted to."

"Thank you for coming, I don't like parties, but I'm happy that you're here." When it came down to Kimbra's birthday, she didn't want to celebrate it at all.

She made an exception this time.

A smile crept across Bud's face. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A few more people walked over to personally wish Kimbra a happy birthday. Occasionally she'd give Bud a 'please help me from these people' glances. He'd just shake his head with a smirk and mouth 'enjoy it'. After what felt like the millionth hug from somebody, Kimbra finally got a chance to breathe.

"I see you're pretty popular." Bud smiled as she joined his side again, looking around at the number of people that had come to the party.

He reached his hand out to guide her away from the crowd, by the window. She accepted it, not before flushing a shade of pink, silently hoping he wouldn't notice. "Dr. Ainsley probably threatened to fire whoever didn't come."

He laughed. "Probably."

Speaking of the elderly man…

"Let me steal her from you for a second, son." Dr. Ainsley brushed past Bud to give Kimbra a hug. "Happy birthday sweetheart. I kept meaning to come over here, but every time I tried, someone else was talking to you."

"Thank you sir," she gently wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid of breaking him due to his age and fragile figure. "You didn't have to do all this for me."

He looked at her, with an expression that meant she should know better. "Kimbra, I have always considered you to be like a daughter to me. I wanted to do this for you."

And yet, I'm leaving you soon.

"I'll leave you alone to catch up with Flud," Ainsley patted her on the shoulder before walking off to pester someone else.

"Kimbra?"

She turned to see Bud pointing at the refreshments table.

"Why are there five birthday cakes?" He asked, still staring at them with a repulsed expression.

A chuckle. "I think everyone is hellbent on figuring out what my favorite flavor is. Neil says chocolate. Leslie says vanilla. Craig thinks it's coconut, and I don't know what the other two are."

"Which one is it?"

"Is what?"

"Your favorite flavor."

"None of them."

He looked at her and back to the table. "Really? None of these?"

"Nope." Kimbra replied, popping the 'p' at the end. "I'm just a funfetti kind of girl." She stood by his side, waiting for a comment.

"Of course you are."

Kimbra couldn't contain the smile on her face as his face twisted in disgust at her choice. "What's yours?"

"I'm more of a pie man." He thought for a second, tapping his chin. "I like blueberry."

"That's such a basic choice."

"Funfetti is something only a child would choose." He scoffed.

"You're supposed to be nice to a girl on her birthday, Mr. Flud."

"But she makes it so hard!"

It was actually kind of adorable. Their playful bickering. The snarky replies and seeing who could make the better comeback. Bud didn't back down from finding any way to insult funfetti. Kimbra's laughs only encouraged him to continue. Not that she minded.

In the beginning, it hadn't registered that Kimbra would form any kind of attachment to the water salesman. She was too focused on hating him and trying to get rid of him. Forming an attachment to him, and falling in love, wasn't the plan. No…no, the plan was to finish C.O.R.E. Leave the city and move back to Alaska. Simple. Easy. Cut to the point.

Her heart had to get involved and make things complicated.

You're leaving soon. In December, you're leaving everyone behind and cowardly moving back to Alaska. Spector and Dr. Breen were right, you are a disgrace for a scientist. You're letting everyone at EcoTech down. You're only running from your problems here. You just want to run from your feelings for Bud. From being out of your comfort zone here. All you do is run.

The cacophony of the party guest's voices started to become overwhelming. She needed a break from it, or she'd get thrown into a panic attack. End up snapping at someone and ruin the party for everyone. A break, that's all she needed. A few minutes to recharge and desensitize.

The rooftop.

Kimbra took a staggering breath, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bud, I… I think I need a moment. Alone."

The concern on his face was evident. Even it surprised her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just…" she gestured at everyone around her. "I'm overwhelmed."

"Oh, yeah sure. Take your time. Everyone will understand."

"I'll be right back," Kimbra softly touched his arm as she moved around him to go upstairs.

"I'll be here."

She thought that maybe his smile faltered for a split second when she left. Her brain tricked her into just seeing what she wanted, so that's what she assumed happened. Just another moment of her desperately wishing for something.

You deserve so much more.

Stepping out onto the rooftop eased her growing tension. Car horns and the bustling of late night traffic filled the air. The city never seemed to sleep.

You deserve more than this.

Those confusing feelings for Bud crept up once again. She pushed them away. Until recently, she had tried to bury her love for him. Each moment around him made it more challenging. It frustrated her. Made her want to throw something against a wall and scream.

He's just a sleazy businessman. Nothing more than a con man who only cared for himself. He's only using you to help his business. You don't like capitalists, and Bud Bernard Flud isn't an exception.

Painting him in a negative light made it easier to not long for him.

Kimbra couldn't remember what compelled her to go to the rooftop. Her safe space. The place she escaped to after Dr. Breen tore into her presentations or ideas. Where she cried when she longed for home or the anniversary of her mother's death rolled around. Her therapist said it's just a response to longing for home. The chilly air and the desire to get as far from the city as possible.

Being so far from Brittlesburg, Alaska, hurt. Not having her mother watch her grow into a (somewhat) successful woman, hurt. Having to worry every single day that she might have inherited an incurable disease that she watched her mother succumb to, hurt. She wouldn't wish that pain on her worst enemy (besides maybe Spector or whoever stole her lunch from the breakdown last Wednesday).

Maybe she used the EcoTech rooftop to escape from it all. Even if it was only a temporary solution.

The crisp November air did nothing to soothe the flush of her skin. She took a long, steadying breath, and rested her elbows on the railing. The city skyline and the neon lights twinkled like stars in the night.

Truly, she had nothing to complain about. They only had weeks to go now. Soon, she'd be out of St. Canard and thousands of miles away. Bud wouldn't have to worry about getting ridiculed by her anymore. Not have to worry about coming by once a week to check in how the project came along.

Soon she'd leave for Alaska.

And maybe he'd even thank her for that.

Twenty minutes. Kimbra had been gone for almost twenty minutes. Bud glanced at his watch for the hundredth time. No , twenty-two minutes now. She had been gone for twenty-two minutes, and it started to worry him.

Where was she?

"Hey man," a totally not sober Neil leaned against Bud. "We're about to tell our favorite Kimbra stories. I bet you have the bestttttt ones."

Bud thought back to all the times he spent with the scientist. The time she had a security guard tackle him. All the insults and shenanigans she attempted in hopes of getting rid of him. The corners of his mouth turned up. "I'm sure I have a few up my sleeve."

"Where's she at anyway?"

Bud's eyes surveyed the room. No sign of her. "Huh, I dunno. She said she'd be right back."

What was going on with her?

He asked himself that question over and over. As he checked the entire first floor. As he rode the elevator up to the eighteen floor, where Kimbra's office was. Where C.O.R.E was. The project department floor.

He just hoped she was somewhere there.

Stepping out from the elevator, the hound shivered at how unsettling the dark corridors were. He only ever walked these halls during the day, when they were full of EcoTech staff. With the intrusive thoughts pushed back, he made his way to Kimbra's office.

Once there, Bud lightly knocked on the door. "Kimbra?"

No answer.

"Kimbra, your guests are asking about you." He knocked sharpened on the door again. Still no response.

They actually weren't, but he needed an excuse to be looking for her.

Bud turned the knob of the door, and opened it. He peered into the dark room and flipped on the lights. No one was there. Papers sat messily on the desk, as usual. At the top of the filing cabinet, stood Herald the homicidal fern. The fact how the damned thing was still alive was a mystery. Bud pondered if it truly was homicidal and drained the life from others to extend its own.

Great, now you sound like Kimbra.

He moved through the office, searching for any sign that Kimbra had been there. His focus moved over out the window. The lit up billboard of himself that towered over nearby buildings caught his eye.

Bud couldn't believe that a few months ago he bought that thing out of spite towards Kimbra. It actually helped the company sales, so he somewhat owed his current success to her. From the project speech to the publicity, Kimbra and her project had helped the Flud Water sales tremendously. Using the project for his own gain was planned. It's why he volunteered as a sponsor in the first place.

But getting close with Kimbra wasn't in the plan. He didn't expect to befriend her, to like her, or to actually grow attached and care about her. He wasn't the type of person to get attached to people.

He felt as if thousands of tiny needles were piercing his chest. Just thinking about her is what did it. Ignoring it as usual, he kept looking for Kimbra.

She shouldn't be missing her birthday party.

After almost twenty minutes of running around every department. Bud Flud readied himself to call it quits. Assume she ditched the party and just went home.

Did she go home? No, she wouldn't. Not without telling all her friends and coworkers goodbye.

The only place he hadn't checked yet was the roof.

When he got there, immediate relief overcame him. She stood at the railing, staring out into the city. Bud looked at her a long minute before saying anything. He didn't know why he did. Her purple hair lightly swayed in the wind. She hadn't noticed him. Not yet, at least.

Say something idiot, say something, anything.

The chilly November air made him involuntarily pull his coat closer to his body. He wasn't built for this time of year, unlike her. The bitter ice queen of St. Canard. The scientist with the cold heart and desire to isolate herself from the world. Someone who judged others without a second glance. That's who Bud thought Dr. Kimbra Wulfe was at first.

But that wasn't the truth.

Kimbra was someone kind, funny, and smart. She was damaged and held onto her pain way too close. She cared for people, but didn't know how to socialize. Not only that, but she was stubborn, hell she was stubborn, but she used it to her advantage. He had been completely wrong about her.

And here she was, hiding away on her birthday, of all days.

Bud spoke up as he approached her from behind. "Hey, what are you doing up here? I figured you'd be with everyone else."

He was surprised the birthday girl herself had slipped out of the party. It was her day. She should be downstairs having a good time. Not sitting out on the roof by herself. Then again, this was Kimbra he's talking about. She'd rather stay isolated from the world. To her, it seemed easier to live that way.

She spoke. "I don't like people."

"Really?"

"Bud," Kimbra waved a hand over her face. "I hate basically everyone . I'm not a people person. I hated you the first few weeks we knew each other."

"You hated me ?" He reeled back, clutching his heart melodramatically. "I don't believe it."

She snorted, but said nothing. She looked as if something had been bothering her.

Bud continued. "But I don't think you should be missing your birthday party."

Kimbra kept her back to him, gazing out into the skyline that sparkled like stars. "I know I should be… it's just…" She sighed. "I'm just sad, I guess."

"Why?"

She seemed a little distant, like she didn't want to talk about it. "The reactor core is almost completed."

He studied her for a second, before his eyes glanced back at the skyline. "Shouldn't you be happy about that?"

"Yeah… but… it's just the one time I felt useful here." She continued. "That I felt like I actually belonged in St. Canard after all." Her fingertips touched together as her brow furrowed, deep in thought.

It killed him to know that she wasn't sure of herself. But it was more than he could say for himself.

"So you're really leaving St. Canard?" He stood by her side now.

"Yeah… I am." For the first time in her life, Kimbra felt a tinge of sadness at the thought. She usually felt happy to leave the city.

I hope you change your mind.

"Why?"

She looked away. No answer.

He asked again. "Kimbra, why?"

Now she's looking at him. "I don't have a reason to stay." And then she regretted it a little because it wasn't entirely true.

Can't I be the reason? And it occurred to Bud how strange it was to want to be the reason she stayed.

The CEO pulled Kimbra into his arms and held her close. "Hey, take a deep breath, it'll be okay."

"I'm just tired of my hard work not mattering to anyone." Her cheek rested against his chest. He felt her steady breaths as he held her.

"I'm sorry you feel that way but…well, I, for one, am happy you're here."

She had a sense that he really meant it.

"Thank you," Kimbra pulled away and gave the salesman a small smile. "I'm actually a bit sad you won't be around anymore."

"Really?"

"You've kind of grown on me." It came out a little more sincere than she intended.

"It's my irresistible charm, isn't it?"

He could've sworn he saw some amusement in Kimbra's blue eyes.

"No, it's because you're actually a pretty decent guy."

Bud found that hard to believe, considering how their first meeting went. He'd been called a conman, sleazy, annoying, and even a pain-in-the-ass. It has been almost seven months since they met. Sometimes people change, their feelings change.

Perhaps both have changed for him. For some reason, he knew that was a good thing.

"I'd be careful, you might just fall for me." It left his mouth as a small whisper, that the chilly November wind carried to her ears.

She frowned. "I'm not falling for you."

"Your eyes say otherwise."

"And I'm sure there are plenty of women swooning over you, so whether or not I do shouldn't matter."

"Those that do aren't as pretty as you." That comment earned Bud a small smile.

"Good night Bud," Kimbra placed a hand on his chest, which seemed to linger a few moments too long to be just that of a friendly gesture.

Bud bristled up slightly, but made no move to stop her.

Then she pecked a small kiss upon his cheek. "See you next week, okay?"

He watched her walk back inside. Leaving him all alone with his thoughts. His stomach felt like it was being tied into knots. That feeling crept up on him often in the last month, but he brushed it off as stress due to overworking.

Bud placed a hand on his cheek, where Kimbra kissed it. He felt something in his chest shudder, leaving him breathless. It took a full minute for him to regain his breath.

He was in love. Could it have been anything else? He thought hard. No…no, this was love. Bud was certain of it. In some strange turn of events, he fell in love with that weird scientist. His mind had only fully realized his feelings for her now. Bud didn't know how long he loved her. The last few weeks, he had begun to suspect some feelings surface for her, but he assumed it was strictly platonic.

So, this is what this feels like.

Bud stood there until realization set in.

He loved her.

And isn't that one hell of a revelation.