Happy birthday dear me..

It was midnight—my birthday. The kind of sleep I had was the best in weeks, soft and cozy on my cloudy bed. I was in that perfect dreamy state where your limbs feel like air and nothing matters.

Until my door literally exploded.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU DRAMA QUEEN!" Chloe's voice screamed like a firetruck.

I shot up, totally startled. Peter, Edward, Finn, Michelle—everyone jolted into my room with balloons, a tiny party cracker that exploded in my face, and Chloe holding a freaking Bluetooth speaker blasting party music.

"What the actual f—" I yelped, pulling the covers up. "You guys are sick!"

Chloe tackled me with a hug. "Duh, you expected less? It's EMMA DAY."

Michelle gave me this adorable cupcake with a candle and whispered, "Blow it before I cry."

Peter stood there with a little crooked smile, holding a bag. "It's not wrapped well... but happy birthday, Em."

I smiled, genuinely. I made some sarcastic joke about how chaotic my life is and hugged everyone one by one. We laughed, danced a little (yes, in my pajamas), and when the clock hit 1:30 AM, they all slowly made their way out with sleepy faces and cheeky yawns.

I climbed back into my bed, the sugar still running in my veins. I let out a sigh, stretching. "Finally, sleep—"

KNOCK. KNOCK.

I froze.

The knock wasn't at the door.

It was at my window.

I pulled my curtain aside... and there he was.

Liam.

Leaning against the window in the most dramatic, superhero pose possible. One leg on the ledge, one hand tucked into his coat, hair tousled by the night wind. His eyes downcast.

I opened the window, heart racing. "How are you here?" My eyes shimmered with sudden emotion.

He looked up with a soft smirk, voice low and smooth. "Waiting since one hour thirty minutes, my love. How could I miss your birthday?"

I didn't think. I just jumped at him, throwing my arms around his neck. He caught me instantly, hands slipping around my waist like he was born to.

"I missed you," I whispered, my cheek pressing into his shoulder.

He pulled back slightly, brushing hair behind my ear. "I watched you all month. You looked happy. I wanted that. I want that."

I leaned my forehead against his chest. "But you left. And I—I didn't even know if you were real anymore."

"I am," he said, lifting my chin gently. "And so is this."

He kissed my cheek. It wasn't just a peck—it was deep, slow, tender, like he was trying to etch it into my skin. My heart thudded like a loud bass drum. My knees buckled a little.

I whispered, dazed, "Why did you do all this? Why did you love me so much? Even after I—"

His voice broke gently, soft but full of conviction. "Because love isn't about perfect people. It's about choosing someone, again and again, even when they're at their worst. You were never evil, Emma. You were just hurt."

Tears clouded my eyes. I was a mess. I held him tighter. "Then why did you let go?"

He kissed my forehead. "Because sometimes loving means letting go."

We sat by the window, curled together, talking. About everything. Past lives. Present confusion. Peter. The dreams. Liam being gone for a month, watching from afar. I told him I understood now.

We never realized the time. The sky turned orange.

He stood up, brushing my fingers. "It's almost 8. I should go before your mom comes in and murders me."

I grinned through teary eyes. "Don't go."

He smirked. "I'll always be around. Even when this guy—" he pointed vaguely in the direction of Peter's house—"forgets how lucky he is."

Then he left, vanishing before my eyes like a fading star.

Exactly two minutes later, my mom walked in with a cheerful, "Happy birthday, baby!"

I smiled sleepily. My heart was still in the window.

I wanted to sleep before heading to the church. I crashed till 12:30. Just as I stirred, Peter jumped on my bed.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," he said, wrapping his arms around me in a warm, lazy hug.

I groaned. "Why do people jump on me today?"

He laughed. "Because we love you."

He handed me a soft brown dress. "Wear this for the day. You look cute in earth tones."

We went to the church, prayed, took a dozen selfies. Chloe cried a little. Then we headed out to a cozy little café, joked about our teachers, and I sneakily mixed a splash of booze into my Coke when no one was looking.

It was my day, okay?

The whole day passed with gifts, giggles, shopping, mock fashion shows in the trial rooms, and a lot of group selfies with captions like Birthday Baddie.

When I got home and was digging under my bed for my lost watch, I found a box.

It was midnight blue, with little golden stars painted on it.

Inside was a dress.

Not just any dress.

A masterpiece.

It looked like it was stitched out of the sky. Deep navy, a high slit, celestial shimmer—like someone took the solar system and made it into a gown.

I gasped.

There was a note.

"Enjoy, my love. – L"

I didn't even have to guess.

I wore it.

Oh. My. Stars.

Chloe, Reena, Elliza, Michelle, and Zoe barged in for my birthday makeover party. When they saw me, they literally screamed.

"GIRL, YOU'RE A WHOLE GALAXY!" Reena shouted.

"I wanna marry you," Chloe fake-proposed, placing a bobby pin on my finger.

They did my hair, makeup, painted constellations on my collarbone with glitter. I was glowing. Literally.

We headed to Peter's house for the big bash. It was the perfect location—empty, huge, no parents.

The party was madness. Music blasting, snacks everywhere, someone was already tipsy from peach schnapps. We danced, laughed, joked.

Peter saw me and walked over, smile flickering. "You look... unreal. Where'd you get the dress?"

I hesitated. "Liam."

His jaw clenched for a second. "Cool."

I was about to say more when the air changed.

People turned.

And there he was.

Liam.

In the doorway. Like he owned the room. Cold air followed him like magic. He wore black. Of course he did.

I ran up and hugged him tight. "Thank you. For the dress. For the morning. For everything."

His arms wrapped around me, and for a second I could feel everyone's eyes watching.

Peter's, especially.

Liam smirked, looking down at me. "I had to make my galaxy girl look like the star she is."

Peter looked away.

Edward whispered to Finn, "Bro, this just turned into a K-drama."

Finn nodded. "And I'm loving it."

Michelle, sipping juice, whispered to Chloe, "Team Liam or Team Peter?"

Chloe crossed her arms. "Team Emma. She deserves both."

And me?

I didn't know.

All I knew was that I was sixteen, glowing, loved by two boys in wildly different ways—and for once, I was going to enjoy the night, the stars, the dress, and every single heartbeat of it.

Even if I didn't know how it would all end.