The music was at its highest volume as people were laughing and excited at the same time. Drinks were being passed all around and while some were drinking, others were just dancing,

Daniel, Liam, and Sam were all sitting on the staircase, watching while holding a bottle of beer each.

“This is a great turn out Liam, who would have thought that you would have a real birthday party after all these years,” Sammy said.

Liam smiled. “I don’t believe it myself,” he continued. “I don’t even know half of these people you have brought.”

Sam laughed, “well, we don’t really know them either, but you know us right?” he asked, laughing as he cheersed with Daniel

Just then, Charlotte came in. She was in a black tank top and a pair of jeans.

“Hey birthday boy, are you having fun?” She asked as she walked closer to the guys.

“Well, apart from the fact that my stupid friends have invited people I barely know, other than that I am a super bag of fun,” ’Liam replied.

“Wow! Well, you can’t blame them. People like us don’t really have many friends… apart from people we work with, who I expected would be here in the first place,” Charlotte replied.

“Well, we called few who said they couldn’t make it because of one thing and the other and we just had to bring people, right?” Sam explained.

“Well, it’s okay. Nice job,” Charlotte replied, smiling and raising her cup. Soon, Daniel and Sammy excused themselves and walked away.

“So, where is Emily? I thought I would get to meet her in person today?”

Liam wanted to reply, but then his phone rang. “I think she might be the one calling,” Liam replied, and excused himself from the noise.

“Hi” he said as he picked the call when he got to his room.

“Hi, baby… happy birthday,” Emily said. He could detect guilt in her voice.

“Oh, you remember, let me think… Facebook reminded you right?”

“Baby, I am so sorry, sincerely. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Oh! I know! You were thinking about your job, I get it. So are you coming home to make it up to me or what?”

She groaned. “Well…baby, I am on my way to Washington but when I get back, I promise I will make it up to you and...”

Liam didn’t listen to the rest of what she was saying. “Okay, have a safe trip,” he said quickly before hanging up. He let out a big sigh and sat down on his bed,

This was supposed to be a whole day of joy for him. He dug a hand to the back of his pocket and brought the blue box. He was supposed to give her this ring and she just kept ruining every chance he had. Maybe the universe was sending him a message about how stupid his plan of getting married to her was. But he loved her, no one has ever understood him as she had done over the last year... and they had been through thick and thin together, and now... He shook his head and put the ring back into his pocket while walking out of the room.

As he got out, he met Charlotte on the staircase. She looked worried.

“Are you okay?”

“Yea, sure,” he lied, sitting down.

“Liar! After all these years, you still haven’t gotten better at lying.”

He smiled painfully. “You know me so well.”

“Of course, we dated for six months, and we were friends way before that, you remember?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“So after me, how many ladies did you date?”

Liam stared at her. “You must be joking.”

“No, I’m serious. After I left, did you finally ask Rita out?”

Liam laughed. “Ew… never! I’d rather chew my arm off.”

“You know that girl had a huge crush on you then,” Charlotte teased.

“Stop it, Char. You know how that always made me feel.” He replied, laughing.

“Well, college was fun,” Charlotte remarked. Just then they were both startled by the noise of a broken bottle. “Okay party boy, I hope you don’t mind if I drive away all these idiots that your friends invited.”

“Please, go ahead!”

“Thank you.”