11:59 PM.
I stared at my phone like my life depended on it.
My heart was beating so fast it didn't even make sense. It was just a birthday… right? This was the first time in a very long time that I was actually excited about my birthday.
11:59…
11:59…
Then, 12:00.
I sucked in a sharp breath, sitting up immediately.
"I'm eighteen…" I whispered, a slow smile spreading across my face.
Finallyyyy.
I rolled on my bed like a maniac shrieking.
Something about it felt different already, I felt like I was a woman.
And without even trying…
My mind went straight to him.
I knew any second from now he was going to knock on my door. He was always the first to wish me a happy birthday.
And just like I predicted, a few seconds later, A soft knock landed on my door.
I shrieked again.
Another knock.
"Bea?" his voice came, low and careful.
My heart literally skipped.
I jumped off my bed and rushed to the door, trying not to look too eager… and failing.
I opened it.
And there he was.
Leaning slightly against the doorframe, eyes on me… soft, but intense in a way I couldn't explain.
"Happy birthday," he said.
"You waited till midnight?" I asked, trying to act like I didn't know he would.
"Of course," he replied. "It's important."
My chest warmed instantly.
I stepped aside. "Come in."
The moment he walked in, my room felt smaller.
Or maybe it was just me overthinking everything.
He held out a small box. "Here I got you this. The real surprise comes later."
My heart skipped at that.
"More?" I raised an eyebrow, already excited.
He smirked slightly. "Relax. You'll see."
I took the box from him, our fingers brushing for a split second.
I opened the box slowly. Inside it was a necklace.
My breath caught. "This is so nice Mac, thank youu."
"I'm glad you like it B," he said, watching me closely.
"I love it," I corrected softly.
Without thinking too much, I asked him
"Help me put it on?"
The words slipped out so naturally.
His expression shifted slightly… just for a second.
But he nodded.
"Turn around."
I turned, lifting my hair to one side.
I felt him step closer.
My breath hitched slightly as his fingers brushed against my neck, cold at first, then warm.
He took his time fastening it.
His fingers grazed my skin again.
And again.
And I felt it.
Every single time.
"Done," he said quietly.
But he didn't move away immediately.
Neither did I.
For a moment, we just… stayed like that.
I turned slowly to face him.
And yeah… that was a mistake.
Because now we were really close.
My heart started acting stupid again.
"Thank you," I said softly.
He nodded, his eyes dropping briefly to the necklace… then back to my face.
"It suits you."
Something about the way he said it made my stomach flip.
"Yes it does," I replied, trying to sound normal.
Failing.
A sudden loud sound downstairs broke the moment.
"I should go," he said. "Get some sleep," he added. "Big day later."
Later.
That word sat in my chest.
"Goodnight," I said.
"Goodnight… Bea."
And then he left.
I closed the door slowly, leaning against it.
My heart was still racing.
I touched the necklace lightly, biting my lip.
That moment…
It wasn't nothing.
I knew it wasn't.
The next morning came way too fast.
"Bea! Wake up!"
My mom's voice dragged me out of sleep.
"I'm up!" I groaned.
"It's your birthday, don't start the day lazy!"
I sat up, stretching, a smile slowly forming again.
Right.
My birthday.
When I got downstairs, my mom was already in the kitchen.
She turned when she saw me.
For a second… her expression softened.
"Happy birthday," she said.
Not overly emotional or dramatic, Just… real.
"Thank you," I smiled.
She walked closer, adjusting my hair slightly like she used to when I was younger.
"You're eighteen now," she said. "Try to act like it."
I rolled my eyes. "Here we go."
But I smiled anyway. I hugged her, cause I knew she wouldn't if I didn't. She just doesn't know how to show her emotions.
I turned slightly and saw my stepdad there, Leaning casually, just watching me.
"Happy birthday, B," he said.
And just like that…
Everything from last night came rushing back.
The necklace.
The closeness.
The tension.
"Thank you." I said shyly sitting down.
After breakfast my mom dropped me off at school.
I didn't even bother pretending to pay attention in class that day.
Like… what was the point?
It was my birthday.
My eighteenth birthday.
Nothing else mattered.
"Bea, if you don't stop smiling like that, I swear I'm going to slap it off your face," Anna said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"I'm literally just existing," I replied, trying and failing to hide my smile.
"Exactly," Maye added. "And you're existing like you've already received a gift we don't know about."
I paused for a second.
Because technically…I had.
My fingers subconsciously brushed against the necklace resting on my collarbone.
Anna caught it immediately.
"WAITTT....what is that?" she grabbed my chin, pulling me closer. "Since when do you wear cute things like this?"
"Since today," I said casually.
"Who gave it to you?" Maye asked, already knowing the answer.
I shrugged. "Just… someone."
"BEA."
"WHAT?"
They both stared at me.
Then screamed.
The rest of the school day felt longer than usual.
Not because it was boring.
But because I was waiting.
Waiting for after, for whatever he had planned.
When the final bell rang, I didn't even wait.
I grabbed my bag and headed out immediately.
My heart was already racing and as soon as I stepped outside, I saw his car.
And Him.