I was so swamped with homework, I didn't even call Landon or Abby back today.

Landon and Chloe went for lunch this afternoon. They invited me with them but I kindly declined due to my amount of horrible fucking homework.

They finally met and decided to hang out and it sucks I couldn't go with them but I'm glad she finally met him.

Chloe apparently told Landon about my birthday this weekend, and he left me a message saying "I'm getting you gift and you better take it or else I'll return it."

It brought my mood up honestly.

Abby called me twice today. Both times we're in class so I couldn't answer. I texted her but she never responded.

I'm sitting at my desk finishing up my calculus work, when I hear a knock at my door.

No one ever knocks on my door. Chloe just normally storms right in.

"Yes?" I yell to the door.

"Housekeeping!" A voice says, trying to play off a weird Russian and German mixed accent.

What?

I get up from my desk, my bunny slippers sliding on my wood floors, and open the door.

Only to see Abby with curled hair, a classy black outfit on, and 3 suitcases.

I scream.

She screams.

We both scream and she tramples me in a hug, pulling me down to the ground.

"Holy shit!" I yell. She's laughing hysterically and I can't help but join.

She's actually fucking here.

"What the hell?! I can't believe it!" She lifts herself off of me, a giant, beautiful smile on her face.

"Surprise!" She yells and realization hits me.

"This is my surprise?!" I yell in shock.

"Yes, dumbass!" She hits my arm playfully and I laugh.

I begin to tear up and she pulls in for another hug.

"I've missed you so much," she says into my hair and her warm sugar smell fills my nose.

"I've missed you too," I say through small sobs.

This is the best birthday gift I have ever received.

Abby gets up from the ground and reaches out her hands to pull me up.

"Wait, how are you here?" I ask, "and how did you get my dorm number?"

She attends full time college in Texas. A Christian university for that matter. How did she make the time to come visit me?

"TCU is having their annual fundraiser and event here in New York." She says, "I'm here a week earlier than expected so I'll be here a full 2 weeks with you."

She smiles again.

"And I got your address from Chloe. We've been chatting this past week about the plans for your birthday."

Of course they have. Chloe is sneaky that's for sure.

I hug her again.

"I'm just glad your here."

I pull back quickly, "where are you staying?"

Her face falters a bit, "well I haven't paid for a hotel room yet and the school only paid for my ticket here and my ticket back, so..."

"So?" I edge.

"I figured I could stay with you. I brought an air mattress and everything."

I smile, "if we can find room sure, I'd love to have you here."

Abby smiles again and we both grab her suitcases and lug them into my room.

——————

After two hours of unpacking and catching up, Abby is all ready for her stay.

She unpacked half of her shit and laid it out in orderly fashions. Sectioning them from her "school clothes" to "NYC clothes."

And she told me about the guys she's met and hooked up with in Texas.

Apparently, their hot but have no brains.

"So if your here for my birthday, what exactly are we doing?" I ask.

She smirks at me, "That I can't tell you missy. But it'll be fun and I want you to bring anyone you'd like."

Anyone. My only two friends sounds like a great start.

"Don't give me that look. A small group will be perfectly fine," she says, pushing her cases underneath my bed.

I huff a sigh and slams herself onto my bed next to me.

"I see why you like living here. The traffic and rude people are incredible."

I slap her stomach and she lets out a laugh.

"It's good seeing you again. In person," I say and she looks over to me. Her brown eyes are just as warm as when I last saw them.

"Me too."

My door opens and Chloe comes waltzing in, a bag of what appears to be food in her hands.

Abby sits up, "Hi Chloe!"

Chloe smiles at her, running over to hug her, "It's so nice to finally meet you!"

Abby laughs and I smile.

"I'm so excited for all of us to hang out. Maybe you can help me drag Mandy's ass out of this building once and a while," Chloe points to me and I grab her bag of food from her hands.

"What's in here?" I ask.

"Pizza and Caesar salad for us to share. Landon asked you to check your phone by the way," Chloe says, taking off her coat.

Abby looks over to me and her eyes widen. "Landon? Who's Landon?"

"A friend," I say as I pull out the food and get up to grab paper plates and plastic cutlery.

"Why didn't I hear about this?" She asks.

"Because he's a friend? You'll probably meet him this week." I dish our food and go to sit on the floor in the circle they've formed on my rug.

"Just like Carter is a friend?" Chloe asks with her eyebrows raised and takes a sip of her Dr. Pepper.

I look over at her and flip her off, handing her her plate.

"Carter?! What the hell Mandy! Who are these guys?" Abby slams her hands on her legs in frustration.

"Landon is a friend," I clarify, "and Carter is some random weirdo I met a coffee shop. He's nothing special."

I take a bite of my pizza, "and I did get Landon's message by the way."

Chloe smiles, "good. I told him to say that."

"What do these dudes look like?" Abby says curiously, taking a bite of her pizza.

"Landon is absolutely gorgeous. Like Calvin Klein model gorgeous," Chloe starts and I roll my eyes. Abby seems extremely interested.

"And Carter..." she pauses, "he's sexy and rich and everything in between. He's perfection-"

"In his looks," I cut her off, "his personality is fucking annoying."

Abby eyes me, "sounds like you like him."

I choke on my pizza.

"What?"

"You never say anything about a guy's personality unless you're interested. I know you way too well."

I huff a sigh, "it won't happen Abby. He's annoying as shit. He may be hot yes, but no."

"She even declined his request to be her friend," Chloe confesses.

Okay, let's just expose Mandy today why don't we.

Abby gasps, "she didn't!"

Chloe nods.

I roll my eyes again, "I told you. He's annoying."

The conversation of guys ends there as we all talk about school and New York and the best places to go for this week and next.

Chloe is off to bed by 9 and we bid her goodnight. Abby and I change into comfy clothes and watch some tv on my laptop before she falls asleep on her mattress, tired from jetlag.

I pull her comforter over her body and hop into my own bed.

Staring up at my ceiling and hearing the streets of New York still busy, I toss and turn in my bed.

I'm so happy Abby's here for my birthday. I truly am.

But I know my mother will have an issue with it. She'll say how it's a distraction and I should celebrate, but not something over the top and not something that will take my mind off of my studies.

She just loves to see me miserable.

I can't even begin to muster what she'll say on my birthday. She may even send me a fucking text instead of a call.

I just hate the control she has over me. As if I'm a pet and not a person.

I stare out my window at the lights and taxis passing by. The silence and darkness of my room slipping me into a deep sleep.

But for some reason, blue eyes fill my mind as I close my eyes.

And I don't understand why.