HOME | DD

Description
As I walked into my small apartment, I turned the lights on, easily welcomed to an empty and silence room. Closing the door behind me with my foot, I threw my keys on the small table near the door. Holding onto the little box with one hand and pressing my other palm to the nearby wall, I toed off my boots before finally heading to the kitchen.

When I got there, I placed the box on the kitchen counter and took off my backpack from work, throwing it haphazardly on the kitchen table. It may have been Saturday, but I had still come into the office to do some extra editing on a few videos. It’s not like I minded as I had not planned for the day and someone had to do it.

But today was a little special to me. Nothing too important, but still special, I suppose. It was my birthday, first birthday away from my family. I had been living alone for almost a year now, ever since I moved to Texas from a small part of Pennsylvania to work for RoosterTeeth. It was fun working with so many talented people. They were great, especially with the fact that they had hired me after my internship.

And now I was twenty-five. The little box on the kitchen counter was my way of celebrating. As far as I knew, no one at the office knew. I'm not the type to go around making it a big fuss. If people knew and wished me a happy birthday, cool. If they didn’t, I’m not going to hold it against them.

Turning back to the box, I finally opened it, revealing a single cupcake. My favourite, a lemon flavoured one from a local cupcakery. Taking it out and placing it aside, I went to a drawer and rummaged around for a candle and a match.

“Aha!” I said as I found an open pack on unused birthday candles. With a tiny smile, I inserted one candle into the cupcake’s frosty and lit it. I leaned towards the counter, crossing my arms on it and resting my chin against them. Silently I watched the little flame wave and flicker.

“Another year,” I whispered to myself. For another brief moment I stared at it before closing my eyes. Maybe it was childish, but I wished in my head and then blow out the single candle. Leaning there, I kept my eyes closed, soaking in the moment.

Ding-dong

My eyes shot open as my body straightened itself from the surprise ring of my doorbell. Confusion crossed my face as I looked between the clock and the direction of the door. With a fleeting glance, I looked at the cupcake, my head tilting to the side. And with that, I briskly walked to the door. I couldn’t imagine who it could be at a time like this. Pausing at the door, I took in a breath and opened the door.

“Uh, Gavin?” I lamely said as I saw the Brit standing in front of me. I gave him a shy smile as I did happen to have a little crush over him. Generally I had no problem whenever I was around him; I could act like I always did. But it felt different now, with him standing at the door of my apartment.

However, when I realised the case of beer in one of his hands and a bag on the other, I smiled my more confident, crooked smile.

“What’re you doing here?”

Green eyes looked over me before answering. “Well, all of us just found out it’s your birthday today. Barbara found out on twitter and Caleb saw on Tumblr from the fans,” he only half explained.

I rubbed the back of my head, embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m not one to make it a big thing. Here, come in already,” I said, inviting the man to my small apartment. “But what are you doing here?” I asked as we settled in the kitchen.

He handed me the bag as he settled the beer next to the forgotten cupcake. “Geoff kept saying that you shouldn’t celebrate by yourself. And here, he and Griffin got you something. I think Millie made you something too.” He stared at the lone cupcake as he spoke.

Taking the bag, I set it aside. “I’ll have to thank them later. And should I worry about the others bombarding me Monday?” I glanced at the beer, smiling to myself that it was my more preferred brand.

“Yeah,” he answered, smile at me.

I grinned back. “And you’re here to celebrate with me? I thought you didn’t care much for birthdays.” I joked around, lightly pushing at his arm.

He shrugged. “Mine’s not important.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Gathering up the courage, I rose on my toes and planted a kiss on his cheek, maybe a little too close to his mouth. “Thanks,” I whispered, still close to him.

He ducked his head down, planting a firm kiss on my lips. I gladly reciprocated, wrapping my arms around his neck. Once separated, we stared at another, smiling.

“Happy birthday.”

Description
As I walked into my small apartment, I turned the lights on, easily welcomed to an empty and silence room. Closing the door behind me with my foot, I threw my keys on the small table near the door. Holding onto the little box with one hand and pressing my other palm to the nearby wall, I toed off my boots before finally heading to the kitchen.

When I got there, I placed the box on the kitchen counter and took off my backpack from work, throwing it haphazardly on the kitchen table. It may have been Saturday, but I had still come into the office to do some extra editing on a few videos. It’s not like I minded as I had not planned for the day and someone had to do it.

But today was a little special to me. Nothing too important, but still special, I suppose. It was my birthday, first birthday away from my family. I had been living alone for almost a year now, ever since I moved to Texas from a small part of Pennsylvania to work for RoosterTeeth. It was fun working with so many talented people. They were great, especially with the fact that they had hired me after my internship.

And now I was twenty-five. The little box on the kitchen counter was my way of celebrating. As far as I knew, no one at the office knew. I'm not the type to go around making it a big fuss. If people knew and wished me a happy birthday, cool. If they didn’t, I’m not going to hold it against them.

Turning back to the box, I finally opened it, revealing a single cupcake. My favourite, a lemon flavoured one from a local cupcakery. Taking it out and placing it aside, I went to a drawer and rummaged around for a candle and a match.

“Aha!” I said as I found an open pack on unused birthday candles. With a tiny smile, I inserted one candle into the cupcake’s frosty and lit it. I leaned towards the counter, crossing my arms on it and resting my chin against them. Silently I watched the little flame wave and flicker.

“Another year,” I whispered to myself. For another brief moment I stared at it before closing my eyes. Maybe it was childish, but I wished in my head and then blow out the single candle. Leaning there, I kept my eyes closed, soaking in the moment.

Ding-dong

My eyes shot open as my body straightened itself from the surprise ring of my doorbell. Confusion crossed my face as I looked between the clock and the direction of the door. With a fleeting glance, I looked at the cupcake, my head tilting to the side. And with that, I briskly walked to the door. I couldn’t imagine who it could be at a time like this. Pausing at the door, I took in a breath and opened the door.

“Uh, Gavin?” I lamely said as I saw the Brit standing in front of me. I gave him a shy smile as I did happen to have a little crush over him. Generally I had no problem whenever I was around him; I could act like I always did. But it felt different now, with him standing at the door of my apartment.

However, when I realised the case of beer in one of his hands and a bag on the other, I smiled my more confident, crooked smile.

“What’re you doing here?”

Green eyes looked over me before answering. “Well, all of us just found out it’s your birthday today. Barbara found out on twitter and Caleb saw on Tumblr from the fans,” he only half explained.

I rubbed the back of my head, embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m not one to make it a big thing. Here, come in already,” I said, inviting the man to my small apartment. “But what are you doing here?” I asked as we settled in the kitchen.

He handed me the bag as he settled the beer next to the forgotten cupcake. “Geoff kept saying that you shouldn’t celebrate by yourself. And here, he and Griffin got you something. I think Millie made you something too.” He stared at the lone cupcake as he spoke.

Taking the bag, I set it aside. “I’ll have to thank them later. And should I worry about the others bombarding me Monday?” I glanced at the beer, smiling to myself that it was my more preferred brand.

“Yeah,” he answered, smile at me.

I grinned back. “And you’re here to celebrate with me? I thought you didn’t care much for birthdays.” I joked around, lightly pushing at his arm.

He shrugged. “Mine’s not important.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Gathering up the courage, I rose on my toes and planted a kiss on his cheek, maybe a little too close to his mouth. “Thanks,” I whispered, still close to him.

He ducked his head down, planting a firm kiss on my lips. I gladly reciprocated, wrapping my arms around his neck. Once separated, we stared at another, smiling.

“Happy birthday.”