A Softer Side

Chapter 9: Her Birthday

It was Tuesday October 4th just a few days after the show. It was also Maisie's 15th birthday she got up and made herself look nice for her birthday.

She did her hair and make up pulled on a fall dress and a scarf. Lydia made her pancakes and bacon. "Happy Birthday baby." She whispered.



"Thanks mom" she said

Lydia dropped her off at school. She went to her locker she was putting her stuff in. Bucky came down the hall and swallowed hard when he seen her.

"Happy birthday beautiful" he said in her ear.

She smiled. "Close your eyes" he said

"Why? Please don't hurt me or throw frogs at me" she said

"I am not that bully anymore Maisie just close your eyes." He said

She swallowd hard and closed her eyes. "Now hold out your hand." He said

"Buck.." she said

"Just trust me darlin" he said

She sighed.

"Im trying here but you dont have a very good track record of nice surprises." She said as she held out her hand.

He placed a small bakery box in her hand. "Okay now you can open." He said

She slowly opened her eyes to see the top of the box say.

"Rogers Bakery"

She slowly opened the box then saw a cupcake decorated in fall colors and pumpkins. She smiled "Um think of it as a way to make up for the pumpkin patch when I chased you and you fell and broke your arm." He said

She smiled at him as took a bite. "Oh my gosh this is amazing its pumpkin pie thank you so much!" She said

He laughed.

He opened up his back pack and said "this is also for you"

He handed her a purple and pink gift bags. She finished the cupcake then took the bags. Pink and purple were her favorite colors.

"How did you know?" She said

"How did I know what?" He said

"How did you know my favorite colors?" She said

"You told me the very first day I came to your school. Before I was all rude and stuff." He said then went into his memory of that day.

*flashback*

"Here I will share my crayons with you . Just don't use the pinks or purples those are my favorite colors." 5 year old Maisie said

"Okay. I won't I like blue and red anyways." 5 year old Bucky said

"Those are pretty colors too. They make my favorite color when you mix them together. My daddy taught me that when I broke my purple crayon." Maisie said

Bucky smiled at her then went back to coloring.

She smiled "Then you threw my crayons in the sand box at recess." She said

"Yes but I did help get them out. Now open your presents." He said

She opened the pink bag first it was the smaller bag. She pulled out all the tissue paper to find a pandora box "Bucky" she whispered.

"I love it. Its beautiful" as he put it on her wrist.

She opened up the next box to find another bracelet. It had Cinderella's pumpkin carriage on it.

"Bucky.." she whispered.

"Now open this bag. Then I will explain" he said

She opened up the second bag and pulled out all the purple tissue paper. She swallowed hard when she read the top of the box.

"I know its not the books I ruined all those years ago. And its certainly no coloring book. But I asked your mom if you had a favorite now and she told me that you have been wanting these cause they got lost in the move." He said

She hugged him. "Thank you." She whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her. "Welcome darlin." He whispered.

He helped her pick it all up then they went on to their classes. That night she was having dinner at Olive Garden with her mom and Bucky as well as James and Winnie.

Bucky kissed her cheek as they were standing at the trunk of her car. ,"happy birthday Maisie see you tomorrow" he said

"See you tomorrow" she said as she hugged him.