❛ SUPERMARKET FLOWERS ♪ ❜ - z. herron

fifty-two: you're. fucking. delusional.

"How does it feel to be SO much older than me?" I say, hugging Daniel.

"Shut up, you're making me feel so old." He says, hugging me back.

I say, tightening my ponytail, "Ready to range?"

Jack walks in as Daniel continues, "Pft, always." He pointed his thumb at Jack, who's listening to our conversation, "He hid ices all around the house for me."

"You think I'm not going to ice you on your birthday?" Jack says, raising an eyebrow while sipping out his white claw.

"Well, I'd prefer to not get absolutely blasted." Daniel says, exhaling a breath.

Emerson walks around the other side of the counter, slinging an arm over me. "Oh, c'mon, it's your birthday Dan."

"Yeah and I think I want to remember it." He says, running a hand through his hair.

"Where's the fun in that?" Jack points.

Zach pops his head around a corner, "Are you coming to get the party started or are we just going to celebrate without the birthday boy?" He smiles.

*

I walk around, drink in my head, bopping my head to the beat of the song playing. It makes me feel weird how much more in my element I am. I used to absolutely despise parties and would never go to them unless dragged against my will, but here I am, having the best time. As I walk around, trying to find my friends, I take little sips of my drink. I'm still DD, and I want to have enough time to get sober before we leave.

I turn down a hallway, scouring to see if I can maybe find someone. The second I turn, I see a couple making out— the girl's hair a tousled mess in the boy's hands. As I go to turn away, leaving them to do whatever they please and saving my eyes in the process, I notice something.

Grey beat up converses.

I know Zach's shoes anywhere. Those are the exact same pair he wears when he doesn't wear his boots. My stomach knots are so tangled that I feel nauseous. It's not the type of knot that I think when he smiles at me, nothing like that. It makes me feel like I just fell off a cliff, not knowing what's underneath me.

"Unbelievable." I scoff. His head immediately detached from hers, trying to see me in the dark lighting.

"Ira?" He says, squinting.

I walk out of the hallway, immediately to the drinks table in the kitchen. I hear footsteps behind me as I walk, but I find no interest in looking behind me as I walk into the kitchen.

"Wait up." He says, jogging until he finally stands next to me, his hand out to grab me. "Jesus, you walk fast."

"What do you want?" I say, pouring myself another glass.

He looks at me confused, "Wait, what did I do?"

I turn to face him, "Are you serious?"

His face changes from confused to taken aback, "Kira, why are you so mad? What did I do?"

I chug the whole glass, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand after. "That chick." I say, pointing in the direction of the party.

He holds up his hand in surrender, thinking for a moment, before looking at me confused again, "What about her?"

"The fact you were sucking on her face. That's what about her."

He smirks, putting his tongue to his lower lip, "Are you jealous?"