Andrea Paisley hated birthdays.
Not because she didn't like cake, or gifts, or candles.
She hated them because they reminded her of something simple.
No one ever celebrated hers.
When she was younger, birthdays usually passed quietly. A "happy birthday" from family, maybe a small cake, and that was it.
No parties.
No friends.
No loud laughter filling a room.
So when the day came again this year, Andrea did exactly what she always did.
She ignored it.
The entire school day passed like any other.
She didn't mention it to anyone.
Not to her classmates.
Not even to her sister that morning.
After school, Andrea wandered through the city for a while, trying to clear her head.
Her thoughts were heavy.
Matthew.
Samuel.
Rumors.
Everything tangled together inside her mind.
Eventually she ended up at Šachta again.
The lake was quiet like always.
Andrea sat near the water, pulling her jacket tighter around herself.
She stared at the surface of the lake and tried to cry again.
Tried to let something out.
But the tears didn't come.
Her eyes only burned.
By the time she finally left, the sky had already turned dark.
When Andrea walked home, her eyes were red and puffy from the cold wind.
She pushed the door open quietly.
"Hello?" she called.
No answer.
Strange.
The house was usually louder.
Andrea stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
Then the lights turned on.
"SURPRISE!"
Andrea froze.
Her brain struggled to process what she was seeing.
People.
A lot of people.
Standing in the living room.
Balloons.
Music playing softly.
A cake on the table.
And faces she recognized.
Her sister stood in the middle of the room with a huge grin.
"Happy birthday!"
Andrea stared at her.
"What…?"
Her eyes slowly moved across the room.
Tom Čonka stood near the wall with a few of his friends.
Samuel Daňko leaned casually against the couch, surrounded by some guys Andrea recognized from school.
And near the kitchen—
Matthew Neyman.
Vanessa beside him.
Andrea's heart skipped violently.
Her brain still hadn't caught up.
"What is this?" she whispered.
Her sister walked over excitedly.
"You've never had a proper birthday party," she said. "So I made one."
Andrea looked around again.
More classmates.
More faces.
Even some of Matthew's and Samuel's friends.
Her chest felt tight.
"You… invited them?" Andrea asked slowly.
Her sister nodded proudly.
"I texted a few people from your class. Matthew helped me get some numbers."
Andrea's stomach dropped.
Matthew.
Of course.
For a moment she didn't know what to say.
Then Tom stepped forward slightly.
"Happy birthday," he said politely.
Andrea blinked.
"Thanks."
Samuel raised his drink slightly from the couch.
"Didn't know it was your birthday," he said.
His voice had that usual teasing tone.
"But I guess I'm here now."
Andrea rolled her eyes automatically.
"Lucky me."
A few people laughed awkwardly.
Matthew hadn't moved.
He was watching her carefully from across the room.
Andrea felt that familiar tension again.
Her sister clapped her hands.
"Okay! Music!"
The room slowly filled with noise again.
People started talking.
Someone poured drinks.
The party began.
Andrea stood there in the middle of it all, feeling completely overwhelmed.
She had never seen this many people in her house.
Never had this many people show up for her.
Tom approached her again later.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Andrea nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Just… surprised."
Tom smiled slightly.
"Your sister did a good job."
Andrea looked across the room.
Samuel was joking loudly with his friends.
Matthew was talking with Vanessa and a few others.
Everyone seemed relaxed.
Normal.
Like this was a regular party.
But inside Andrea's chest something strange was happening.
A mix of confusion.
Gratitude.
Fear.
And something else.
Later that evening, music filled the house and people began dancing in the living room.
Andrea stood near the kitchen drinking soda when Samuel suddenly appeared beside her.
"Still alive?" he asked.
Andrea glanced at him.
"Barely."
Samuel smirked.
"You look like you want to escape."
"I might."
Samuel leaned slightly closer.
"You know what's funny?"
Andrea sighed.
"What now?"
"You fight everyone," he said. "But tonight you look terrified of your own party."
Andrea frowned.
"I didn't ask for this."
Samuel shrugged.
"Maybe someone thought you deserved it."
Andrea didn't answer.
Across the room, Matthew was watching them again.
His expression unreadable.
Samuel noticed it too.
He followed Andrea's gaze.
Then he smirked.
"Well," he muttered, "this party just got interesting."
Andrea felt a strange tension settle over the room.
Like something was about to happen.
And she had the feeling her birthday was about to turn into something much more complicated than a simple surprise party.
The music got louder.
People moved the chairs away from the living room walls to make space to dance. Someone turned off the bright lights, leaving only the warm yellow lamps and the colorful LED strip Andrea's sister had placed near the ceiling.
The house didn't look like Andrea's house anymore.
It looked like a party.
Andrea stood near the kitchen counter, still holding the same glass she had barely touched.
Her mind was spinning.
Samuel noticed first.
"Are you going to stand here all night," he said lazily, "or actually enjoy your own birthday?"
Andrea shot him a tired look.
"I didn't ask for this."
Samuel shrugged.
"People usually don't ask for surprises."
Across the room, Matthew was still watching them.
Andrea felt it again.
That strange pressure in her chest.
Samuel followed her gaze.
"Oh," he said quietly. "So that's the problem."
Andrea turned back to him immediately.
"What problem?"
Samuel leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"You're still thinking about him."
Andrea scoffed.
"Please."
Samuel smirked.
"You kissed him."
Andrea's jaw tightened.
"You really can't stop talking about that, can you?"
Samuel raised his hands slightly.
"Relax. I'm not telling anyone."
Andrea crossed her arms.
"You already told enough people."
Samuel didn't respond to that.
Instead, he grabbed a drink from the counter and took a sip.
Then he looked at her again.
"You know what I don't understand?"
Andrea sighed.
"What now?"
Samuel tilted his head slightly.
"Him."
Andrea frowned.
"What about him?"
Samuel nodded toward Matthew across the room.
"If a girl kissed me like that," he said casually, "I wouldn't just pretend it never happened."
Andrea froze.
Samuel continued, his voice quieter now.
"But he did."
Andrea looked down at the counter.
Her chest tightened again.
Samuel noticed.
For once, he didn't make a sarcastic comment.
Instead he said something softer.
"Why him?"
Andrea blinked.
"What?"
"Out of everyone," Samuel said, "why Matthew Neyman?"
Andrea looked at him.
For a moment she almost answered honestly.
But before she could—
Someone clinked a spoon against a glass.
Andrea's sister stood near the cake.
"Okay!" she shouted. "Birthday moment!"
People gathered around the table.
Andrea groaned quietly.
"No…"
"Yes," her sister laughed. "Come here!"
Andrea walked over reluctantly while everyone started singing.
The song felt awkward and loud and strangely unreal.
She stood in front of the cake while people clapped.
Candles flickered in front of her.
"Make a wish!" someone shouted.
Andrea stared at the flames.
Her mind was blank.
What do you wish for when you're not even sure what you want?
After a moment, she blew out the candles.
Everyone cheered.
Her sister hugged her tightly.
"I love you," she whispered.
Andrea hugged her back.
"Thanks."
The party slowly returned to normal again.
Music.
Dancing.
Laughter.
But Andrea noticed something.
Matthew had stepped outside.
Alone.
Her heart skipped again.
Samuel noticed her looking.
"Go," he said.
Andrea frowned.
"What?"
"You're obviously thinking about it."
"I'm not."
Samuel rolled his eyes.
"You're terrible at lying."
Andrea hesitated.
Her heart was beating faster.
Samuel smirked slightly.
"Relax. I won't follow you this time."
Andrea gave him a suspicious look.
"You promise?"
Samuel lifted his drink.
"Scout's honor."
Andrea shook her head but eventually walked toward the door.
Cold air greeted her when she stepped outside.
Matthew stood near the fence, looking at his phone.
He noticed her immediately.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Matthew sighed quietly.
"Happy birthday."
Andrea looked at the ground.
"Thanks."
Silence stretched between them.
Matthew glanced toward the house.
"Your sister worked hard on this."
"Yeah."
Matthew hesitated.
"Are you okay?"
Andrea laughed softly.
"That question again."
Matthew stepped closer.
"I'm serious."
Andrea looked up at him.
"You already decided what that night meant."
Matthew frowned slightly.
"Andrea—"
"No," she said quietly. "It's fine."
Matthew studied her expression.
"You're still upset."
Andrea shook her head.
"I'm used to it."
Matthew looked confused.
"Used to what?"
Andrea shrugged slightly.
"Being the girl people don't choose."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Matthew's expression changed.
"Andrea, that's not—"
The door suddenly opened behind them.
Samuel stepped outside.
Of course he did.
He leaned casually against the doorframe.
"Well," he said, looking between them.
"This looks dramatic."
Andrea sighed.
"Seriously?"
Samuel smirked.
"Relax. I'm just getting air."
Matthew looked annoyed.
"Do you mind?"
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"Your party?"
Andrea rubbed her temples.
"Can you two not do this right now?"
Samuel looked at her.
Then at Matthew.
Then he smiled slowly.
"Oh."
Matthew frowned.
"What?"
Samuel pointed lightly between them.
"This explains a lot."
Andrea groaned.
"Samuel—"
Samuel lifted his hands.
"Hey, I'm not judging."
But his eyes sparkled with mischief.
Matthew crossed his arms.
"Say what you want to say."
Samuel shrugged.
"I just think it's funny."
Andrea glared at him.
"What is?"
Samuel smirked.
"That the girl who hates me…"
He nodded toward Matthew.
"…likes him."
Silence fell.
Andrea's heart dropped.
Matthew looked at her.
Samuel's grin widened slightly.
"And the best part?" he added.
"I think he has no idea what to do about it."
The tension between the three of them hung thick in the cold night air.
And for the first time that evening—
Andrea realized her birthday party had turned into something much more dangerous than she expected.