"Happy birthday princess!" Elijah cheered as he pressed a kiss against her cheek, making her recoil back in confusion and fear.

"You're being...nice," Aaliyah pointed out as he took ahold of her hand and led her towards the passenger seat of his car, opening the door for her before entering from the other side.

"Don't start," Elijah warmed her, before starting the car and driving off. "I'm being nice. Appreciate it," he says, making her sag in her seat.

Elijah then proceeds to take her to a fancy restaurant and told her to order anything she wanted. Aaliyah was skeptical at first but proceeded to order anyway. Elijah took pictures of the food and of her, and when they just were about to leave, the servers came out with a a brownie a la mode with a birthday candle and sung happy birthday to her, making her feel equal parts delighted and shy. Elijah filmed the whole thing on his phone and they both smiled at each other while they shared her dessert.

Aaliyah happily held his hand as they walked back to the car, thinking that somewhere deep inside, Elijah was capable of change. And he's proving it to her right now. He presses a kiss on her cheek before opening the door for her once more like a gentleman. Once they got in, he started to make way towards his house, which confused her. "I️ got a surprise for you," he simply said when he saw the look on her face. Aaliyah giddily wondered what he could've gotten her.

Was it jewelry?

A puppy?

A car?

Okay the last one was a bit of a stretch.

They parked in the driveway but noticed a ton of cars lined up and down the street. "Is someone nearby throwing a party?" She wonders a loud, just as he opens the door to his house and flick on the lights.

"Surprise!"

Aaliyah almost screams in shock as she sees Carolina and a ton of her classmates pop up and cheer. Aaliyah covers her mouth in shock as Carolina rushes up to hug her. "Happy birthday bestie!" She squeezes tightly.

"What the hell Lina?" She gasps.

"Are you surprised?" Carolina playfully bumps her shoulder.

"Yes!" Aaliyah almost cries tears of joy. "This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me! Lina, thank you!" She hugs her once more. "You really are the bestest friend."

Carolina smiles back and was about to sag something when a voice behind them yells, "Shots!"

"Ooh! Birthday girl first!" Elijah chimes. Aaliyah laughs behind her as one of his football buddies brings her the first shot of the night.

"Birthday girl! Birthday girl!"

Aaliyah took the shot and threw it back, the burn making her scrunch her face before she smiles again and yells, "Wooo!".

"Play some music!" Carolina orders, and five seconds later trap music blares from the speakers, hyping everyone up. Carolina orders Elijah to bring more shots while everyone comes up to Aaliyah to wish her happy birthday. She couldn't help but keep a smile on her face at the fact everyone pretty much out to celebrate her. And it was all Carolina's doing.

While the party started getting more and more lively, Jackson and Jay both let themselves. Jackson was pissed at the fact that he was even there while Jay watched in fascination as the party unfolded in front of him. There were teens making out, smoking weed, dancing to the latest Future joint and drinking illegal amounts of alcohol, the dark room being lit by red, purple or blue lighting creating a vibe.

Jay punches Jackson's arm excitedly. "Dude! My first high school party!" He says over the music. He then notices the sour look on Jackson's face. "Aw come on man, you've been pouting the entire way here," Jay pointed out.

"I️ told you I️ didn't want to be here," Jackson reminded him.

"And I️ told you that you need to relax!" Jay laughs. "Come on lets a get a drink! I've never drank alcohol before!" He pushes him towards the kitchen.

The last thing Jackson wanted to do was run into either girls, but when Carolina invited (more like threatened) him to go to the party, he told her he'd show up, but he wouldn't have a good time. And he was right. There he stood in the kitchen of his enemy, surrounded by people that really didn't like him, being used by a girl who only cared about her image and a girl who needed help but didn't know how to get it.

The only one her could trust was, currently getting drunk in front of him and he figured he'd have to haul his ass home and text his parents from his phone that he was sleeping over at his house so his parents would never find out about his night out.

Jackson stood back against the counter next to Jay as he watched him guzzled down flavorful shots of vodka before mixing a drink to have in his hand. Jackson gave him an almost confused and amused look. "I️ thought you never drank alcohol? How the hell did you learn how to take those shots like a champ?" He almost laughed.

"Tv. Movies. Music videos. That kind of stuff," Jay shrugged. "I've prepared for this day my whole life," he joked. "Oh...kay, I️ feel it hitting me now."

Jackson was about to respond when he saw Carolina approach them from the corner of his eye. Jay must've saw the expression in his face, cause he turned to see her make her way towards them as well. "Oh! H-hey Carolina!" Jay greeted nervously, making her eyes fall on him instead of Jackson.

"Jay," she greeted warmly. "I️ didn't know you were coming."

Jay looked down confusingly at her. "I texted you but you must've not seen it. Like my other fifty texts...."

Carolina tilted her head to the side like she had no idea what he was talking about. "Weird. I️ never got them," she said.

"I️t says it was left on-" Carolina then turned to face Jackson, her hair whipping in Jay's face, "delivered."

"Finally! You're here," she smiles up at him while he rolls his eyes at her. "Wanna dance with me?" She asks him.

"I️ don't dance."

Carolina laughs off his statement like he was joking and gets closer to him, placing two hands on his shoulder to draw him close enough to whisper in his ear. "Behave," She hisses, tugging on his hoodie. Jackson let's out a long sigh before letting her lead him on to the dance floor, while Jay hangs back in the kitchen and watches in hurt and confusion.

After half heartedly dancing with Carolina, he follows her as she leads him to where Aaliyah, Elijah and a couple of his football teammates were hanging out.

Aaliyah noticed his presence and sent him a friendly smile. They haven't seen each other since that day they visited her grandmother, but it was her birthday, and Elijah was right there, so they decided to be amicable towards each other. Jackson greeted a couple of his teammates before nodding towards Aaliyah and saying "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," She simply replies as Elijah starts possessively getting close to her.

"I️ ain't even know you partied like this white boy," Elijah said at him, earning a couple of laughs. "What? It ain't poppin in the gated community?" He jokes.

"I️ just came to wish Aaliyah happy birthday, that's all," Jackson offered as his explanation.

"And to hang out with me," Carolina gloated as she pressed herself against his side. Everyone started to "oooh" and joke behind them as Aaliyah visibly looked more and more upset.

"Damn...y'all poppin out?" Devon said with a laugh. "Hey Eli! Looks like you ain't gotta worry about him stealing ya girl anymore!" He taunts, making everyone act a fool behind them.

Before Carolina could open her mouth and say anything else, Jackson quickly shut it up down by saying, "Nah, we just chilling."

This earns another round of "ooh's" as Carolina now flares at him as Aaliyah smirks a bit at the drama. Carolina quickly composes herself before anyone notices. "Okay anyways!" She quickly switches the topic. "Elijah!" She falls out, catching his attention just as he took a sip of his beer. "Come help me put together Aaliyah's last surprise," she anticipates. Elijah takes one last swig if his beer before putting the bottle down, pressing a kiss on Aaliyah's cheek before slipping through the crowd next to Carolina, leaving Aaliyah and Jackson alone.

"What else do you think she has planned?" She asks, sounding excited.

Jackson had a pretty good idea about what her last surprise was gonna be.

Earlier, when school started back again after winter break, Carolina secretly went around school with her phone in her hand, asking everyone that knew Aaliyah what they liked or loved most about her. She even asked Jackson that, which he found surprising and off putting considering how obsessed she was over him.

The music cut off, making everyone collectively complain until they heard Carolina scream for everyone to be quiet, effectively shutting everyone up. "Now," she smiles, "if everyone could gather around the tv. I️ made a little something special for my best friend, the birthday girl!" Carolina squealed excitedly, making a couple people whoop and holler. "Now if you all remember, I️ asked all of you what you guys loved about Aaliyah the most," she says, "and from that I️ made this cute video!" She turns on the tv and prompts Elijah to press play from his phone.

And it was like everything moved in slow motion as the next few moments were terribly humiliating.

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I'm tired. I️ wrote this Well in 3 AM on period cramps. Y'all can't say i ain't ever do anything for y'all.