DAMN YOUR KISS; ryden

Epilogue: Things Have Changed For Me.. And That's Ok

"Happy birthday to you,"

His grin grew wider as the cake came into view, and he had to consciously keep himself from clapping his hands together like a delighted child.

"Happy birthday to you,"

It was set down in front of him, and a lighter was produced, flicked on, and held over the wick of each of the candles embedded in the cake's rich-looking frosting.

"Happy birthday, dear Brendon, happy birthday to you!"

They all finished the song with a flourish, Spencer slipping the lighter back into his pocket, and putting a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Make a wish!" Breezy said, with a cute little giggle, clasping her hands together and bouncing on the soles of her feet.

Dallon, standing beside his wife, with one arm slung around her, draping over her shoulders, lent forward just as Brendon lent forward to blow the candles out, halting him. "But not without the hat," he said, with a jokingly warning tone, picking up the rainbow coloured, glitter-soaked, pointed little birthday hat that the rest of them all sported, made generously by Amelie and Knox (with Breezy's supervision, and although Dallon had a feeling the amount of glitter used was unnecessary, that wasn't the kids fault), and holding it out to him.

Brendon rolled his eyes, but his grin remained as he took it from him, and popped it on top of his head, slipping the elastic strap underneath his chin securely. With one last push to tilt it to the side slightly, he raised an eyebrow, and said "Ok. Now can I do it?"

"By all means," Dallon said with a smirk, waving a hand toward the cake. "Knock yourself out, kiddo."

So Brendon pursed his lips once more, leaning toward the cake, his eyes focusing on the flickering orange dance of the candles until his vision became slightly blurred, and it only seemed to become more magical, and then he closed his eyes, and -

His hand couldn't have shot to his pocket fast enough, and he pulled his cell out, keyed in the passcode, scanned the text, tapped back a reply and locked it again, stuffing it away, in double time. During which time his smile grew even bigger, and became cute in its goofiness.

And he surprised them all by leaning forward, blowing the candles out unceremoniously, scraping his chair back abruptly, and standing.

"Wait!" Spencer said, putting a hand on his upper arm, after it had fallen off in shock when Brendon had stood. "What are you doing?"

"I'll..." he bit his lip, and gave a careless, carefree shrug. "I'll explain later. I gotta go."

"Woah-ho-ho!" Dallon said, shaking his head, and waving a hand in a gesture of no, no, hold up there. "You're ditching your own birthday party?"

Brendon couldn't help but snort a laugh. "I ... I guess I am." He suddenly whirled around to Spencer, clasped him in a tight embrace, which he then repeated for Linda, Breezy, Zack, and finally Dallon, and called a cheery "Thank you guys, you're all s'awesome! And ... um, save me a slice."

And despite the indignation that he felt about Brendon just upping, and not even telling them why, Dallon couldn't help but laugh, and shake his head again. "You're such an-"

"Asshole, I know," he threw a grin over his shoulder just before he went out the door. "Believe me, you're not the only one who's told me that."

And with that cryptic remark, he was gone, with a squeak and pound of his shoes on the floor, the slam of a door, and the sound of an engine starting and driving away.

And the ensemble of party-goers all glanced at one another. "Well," Spencer said, with a little shrug. "I don't know about you guys, but I am so not letting that cake go to waste. Linda's a pro." He nudged his girlfriend's hip, causing her to giggle.