❝I got all I need, in a world of doubt❞

- LSD (Labrinth, Sia & Diplo), No New Friends

"Smells really good," Tanner said Saturday morning as I tried to put all cupcakes I'd baked earlier that morning into two boxes of twelve cupcakes I'd gotten the day before.

"Yeah? I'm so glad I could make it," I really was glad. I'd even gone ahead with the help of Tanner to cover the cakes with frosting and put some sprinkles and chocolates on top of them.

Tanner kissed the top of my head and I smiled before walking up to my room to get fully prepared before leaving. I was going to take a cab to River's place after I'd told him countless times not to come pick me up. I felt a surge of excitement at the thought of seeing Riley today and seeing Zee tomorrow.

I grabbed the boxes of cupcakes, "Tanner, I'm out. I love you!" I shouted before bolting out the door.

*

My heart melted when I saw how much effort Maddie must have put in just to celebrate her last born's birthday. The house was decorated with colorful balloons, but the most eye-catching balloon was a LED lit up balloon of Riley's new age, 11, a banner over it with her name on it. There was loud music, a PRETTYMUCH bop that some kids were dancing to. Some kids ran around laughing, chasing each other, some played tag, while some chattered excitedly over pizza or some dessert.

Seeing these made me wish I could be a kid again. I never had a birthday celebration. It was usually just Tanner going all out to do something for me.

I inhaled, taking in the aroma of food and all kinds of dessert. A little girl ran to me, hiding behind me and giggling. I chuckled when I saw the boy chasing her approaching me. She screamed and ran off. They were so cute I could cry.

I wasn't having baby fever, was I?

I looked around and saw Riley wearing a purple dress, a party hat over her dark hair. She giggled with her friends and then her gaze met mine.

"Renée!" I smiled widely as she ran to me, flinging her arms around my waist.

"Hey, birthday girl," I laughed, bending to kiss her forehead. "Happy birthday, Riley."

"Thank you," she had a wide smile on her face that matched River's.

"Look at you! You're so pretty," I gushed.

"Thank you, Renée. Are those for me?"She asked softly, her gaze averting to the boxes in my hand.

"Yes, they are. I made you cupcakes."

"I wanna see them!" She jumped in excitement and I carefully opened the top box, showing her its contents.

"They look so good! Can I have one?"

"Sure," I smiled. "They're yours."

I watched her decide which cake to pick and I was pleased. She finally took one, eating it before reaching to take another one, "I'll share them with my friends! Come meet them," she said, but Maddie walked over to us. "Renée, I'm so glad you came," she said, giving me a hug.

I hugged back, "Thank you for inviting me. It's a wonderful party you set up."

"Thank you," she smiled down at Riley who now hugged her side.

"Mom, Renée baked me cupcakes!" She looked up at her mom, a smile on her face.

Maddie's eyes went soft, "Aw, Renée, that was so sweet and thoughtful of you. Thank you so much."

"It's nothing," I replied, handing the boxes to her.

"Have you seen River?" She asked, taking the boxes from me.

"No, I haven't," I shook my head.

"He's probably somewhere around with his friend Xavier, I'll let him know when I see him that you're here," she smiled before walking away.

"Come meet my friends!" Riley grabbed my hand and pulled me to where her friends were. After meeting and talking with her friends, Ava, Kayla and Carmen, I spotted River walking side by side with an equally tall guy with long, blonde hair, and I knew that had to be Xavier. Both of them had little boys on their shoulders and I liked the sight.

I locked gazes with River and then shortly, he was laughing, letting the boy off his shoulders. He walked up to me, throwing his arms around me, and I hugged him back, taking in his scent.

"I'm glad you made it here safe," his voice held a teasing tone.

"What did you think?" I pulled away and playfully whacked his arm.

"I really was considering you and the cakes. Did they turn out well?"

"They turned out great. Riley's had about two of them and she liked it," I couldn't help my wide smile and I chuckled when he wiped an imaginary tear from his eyes.

His friend who had already let the boy on his shoulders off, came closer, saying, "I can't believe how rude River is. When were you going to introduce me, man?"

River playfully rolled his eyes, shoving him before turning to look at me, "Renée, this is my best friend, Xavier, the one I told you about."

I smiled at him, waving a hello.

"Xavier, this is Renée, the one—"

"The one you always talk about, yeah, I know," Xavier looked at me. "My dude here never shuts up about you."

"He's exaggerating," River looked at me.

"I'm not kidding. We're just meeting for the first time. I would never lie to someone I just met," Xavier said dramatically and I chuckled.

"I'll be right back," River said, leaving me and Xavier to get acquainted, and that wasn't hard. Xavier was a fun, lively person and in a very short while I'd already learned that he'd known River since they were eleven, it was his tenth month of not cutting his hair, he was also an artist except he went to school and sometimes painted with River in his free time.

River came back with a medium-sized box of pizza and drinks. "I got the large-sized box because Xavier eats like an elephant." He handed us our drinks.

Xavier chuckled, shoving him lightly, "Shut up." He then turned to me, "River told me you're good at Madden."

"Yeah, even though I whooped her ass," River jested as he opened the box and took a piece of pizza for himself.

I rolled my eyes, "Hush, that was luck."

"Was it really?" He squinted his eyes at me. "Well, how about you play with Xavier?"

"You know, that's a good idea," Xavier smiled, opening his bottle of Dr Pepper. "And just so you know, I'm way better than River is."

"Because of what you just said, I'm team Renee," River smirked at him and I flipped my hair.

"Fine. We should make a deal , then. If I win, you, River, will give me fifty bucks—"

"Fifty dollars?! Are you insane?" River's eyes went wide, while it was Xavier's turn to smirk as he continued, "But, if Renée loses, you, River, will give me fifty bucks. Deal?"

River eyed him for a while, "You're crazy, bro, but deal," then he looked at me instantly, "Renee, I'm not about to lose fifty bucks."

*

Almost thirty minutes later, with an almost abandoned box of pizza, constant running of hands through the hair by Xavier, shouts of annoying but encouraging words from River to me and intense game playing, I jumped in excitement, my hands in the air as I shouted in triumph, "Ha! How does it feel to lose?"

Xavier remained seated in the beanbag, a defeated look on his face.

"Renée, that was good," River commented, "You're good." And I shot him a proud smile before he laughed in Xavier's face, "You know what to do."

Xavier ran his fingers through his hair again, "It's fifteen dollars, right?

I burst into laughter while River said, "Ha ha, very funny, Xavier the comedian. Pay up."

"What the hell, this money should go to Renée, she's actually so good. I can't believe she beat me," he laid back on the beanbag, his hands behind his head.

"Well, I'm her manager—" River stated.

"Plus, this is what overconfidence does to humans," I shrugged and me and River laughed, giving each other a fist bump while Xavier scowled.

I spent the rest of the day with River and Xavier. I hadn't had so much fun with just two people in a while, and I felt like I had no care in the world. It was so hard to tell that I'd just met Xavier that day, and when we went back down to the party, with River by my side as we played with some of Riley's friends, I realized I actually had all I needed.

*