Birthday Shenanigans: Split Decision Part 1

“Oof”

 I am practically shoved into someone else in line and almost dropped my plate of food. 

“Sorry” said by some little dweeb as he runs off with his friends to check out the other areas of the cafeteria. 

Ugh! I HATE when high schools come for a school visit to check out the campus. All they do is take over the dining halls at lunch time. Causing the people who actually belong here to have to wait in long lines and be pushed around. I glare at the kid as I make my way to the table that Eric is currently sitting at. What the…? 

“How did you get your good so fast?” I ask, sitting down with a huff. Every line is miles long. Okay, not really but you get the idea. 

“I don’t know. I guess not too many people wanted omelettes today” Eric says with a shrug. I look over to the omelette station and see a line there too. Sure Eric. 

“Oh, I see. I bet you got special basketball treatment, huh?” I asked him with a playful look. You know, since he is a basketball star and all. 

“Nah, it’s not like that” Eric denies, grinning.

“Okay” I say in sing song tone of voice. He can deny it all he wants but my eyes don’t lie. Although my eyes do tend to exaggerate. Or is that my brain?

“Anyways baby, how’d your test go?” Eric asks me. I had a test in biology which wasn’t so bad. Surprising, isn’t it? Especially for me!

“It went fine, I guess. I don’t think I failed or anything. Think I got a solid B on it” I tell him with a bit of a yawn. The main reason why I did okay was because I pulled an all-nighter last night. Wouldn’t suggest it but sometimes it’s called for; especially if you procrastinate. 

“See! If you actually study it’s not so hard. Although I’m not sure why you always wait until the night before to start studying” he says. 

“It’s the curse of procrastination” I say while taking a bite out of my sandwich. If the line wasn’t so long, I so would have liked a corn dog instead. Stupid visitors. 

Funny how it happens only to detain people. 

“Oh yeah, I forgot about how that makes you wait until the last minute to open your book” Eric says, rolling his eyes. He mocks but it’s true. I’m living proof of it. 

“It’s true, Eric. I’m a living example! It always happens to me” I say, defending my theory. 

“Whatever you say, babe” he says, smiling with a shake of his head. 

“All I know is that I’m happy to give my brain a much deserved break. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!” I say happily while grabbing another fry. Literally, Thursdays feel like Christmas Eve every week; especially since I get Fridays off this semester. Hooray for me. 

“No kidding. This week was draining. Between basketball games and classes, I’m exhausted” Eric says tiredly. Man, I don’t know how Eric does it. His schedule is so much more hectic than mine and I feel just as tired as he is. Or is that due to my all-nighters?

“Let’s just stay in bed this weekend. I’ll give you a back massage” I offer as I kiss his cheek. I give the best massages. Eric always falls asleep during them

 So I take it as a job well done. Or is it because they are boring? Nah, I’m just that good! 

“I’ll take you up on that” Eric says with a grin. I look around the crowded cafeteria when I notice a girl wearing a pink bedazzled birthday tiara. It totally doesn’t go with her outfit. Like at all! Wait a minute…

“Crap! I totally forgot about Lily’s present. Scratch the massage. My weekend is filled” I tell Eric. Yeah, the cuddling session has been postponed as much as I hate to say that. You know how much I love cuddling time. 

“Filled doing what exactly?” Eric asks me. 

“Finding the perfect birthday present for Lily. I still haven’t decided on what to get her and birthday is in two weeks” I say holding up two fingers to emphasize my point. It’s Lily’s twenty first birthday, so it’s a big milestone. Not just any regular birthday celebration this year. 

“The shopping queen is having trouble for once? I’m shocked” he says sarcastically. Har har har. How funny. 

“You're hilarious. Seriously Eric, I want to get her someone special; not just anything” I tell him. Buying a birthday for Lily has always been a difficult task. Let’s just say celebrating her birthday is not a positive experience for her. 

“I’m sure you’ll find something, angel. But is it really going to take you the whole weekend to do?” Eric asks me. I give him a pointed stare. 

“Eric, look who you're talking to. You know scavenge every store three times around if I have to” I remind him and I’m not joking either. 

“How could I forget?” He says with a laugh. 

“But I really gotta find something quick and then I got to get out of Lily what she wants to do to celebrate. She isn’t going to weasel out of some kind of celebration for her twenty first” I say, remembering how she always tries to come up with some kind of excuse around this time every year. I’ll even do something between the two of us. And you know I never go small; always BIG! 

“Alright but just because your old enough to buy alcohol doesn’t mean you can go crazy” Eric tells me while giving me a stern look. Got his message loud and clear. 

“I know. And even if I were to buy any alcohol, Felipe would have a heart attack” I say with a grin. Felipe would really think I was a bad influence on Lily for sure. 

“Within good reason. You and Lily get yourselves into a lot of situations” Eric says rolling his eyes. We get ourselves into these “situations” by accident. It’s not like we purposely get our butts in trouble. 

“I guess but that’s NOT going to happen this time. Lily won’t want to do anything crazy for her birthday, anyways. But that’s besides the point. Finding a present is my current priority and since I believe in no take backs, I’ll still make room for your back massage” I tell him. 

“How did I get such an awesome girlfriend to fit me into her shopping schedule?” Eric asks me in fake wonderment. I stick my tongue out at him. 

“You’re being mean” I say with a pout. And to think I was being nice. Hmph. 

“I’m kidding! Listen, how about this. If I take you shopping and out to dinner, will you give me a massage?” Eric asks with a charming grin. How can I resist his cute face? Plus how can I turn down such a deal?

“Deal. Take me shopping and I’ll rub your back… among other things” I agree with a grin of my own. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. 

“Right. Among other things” he says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. So now I just have to figure out what to get Lily. Maybe I can get something out of her later. I’ll take anything at this point. I need just a hint and I’ll be golden. If only she was easy about her birthday. Sigh.