Chapter Text
Aelin awoke with something, actually, more like someone poking her ear. Her eyes were still closed as she swatted away the offending finger.
“Five more minutes,” she mumbled. She heard the deep vibration of his fully changed voice chuckling from beside her as he renewed his efforts, poking her ear, her cheek, her chin – anywhere to annoy the crap out of her. “I’m serious, Buzzard, fuck off.”
She cracked an eye open, and sure enough, her best friend crouched beside her bed, wearing a satisfied smirk across his stupid beautiful face. Aelin’s heart fluttered, as it always did when he was this close to her, but she shoved her stupid unrequited feelings aside and finally opened both her eyes. His grin widened as he tackled her with a giant hug.
Aelin’s arms went around his wide shoulders and returned the hug weakly, still not fully awake. And still not entirely convinced she wasn’t dreaming. She rested her chin on his shoulder and inhaled, breathing in the comforting scent of his pine shampoo.
“Happy Birthday, Ace,” he whispered.
“Sweet sixteen,” Aelin said, finally pushing herself up to sitting. She pulled her long blonde hair into a messy bun on top of her head and relaxed against her headboard.
Rowan tugged at the sleeve of her sleep shirt. “Is that my shirt?” he asked. Aelin looked down at the Orynth High gym shirt she’d stolen from him months ago.
“No?” Aelin lied, and he let out another low laugh.
“I’ve been looking for that. I went out and got a new one, you know. I thought I lost it forever.”
Aelin smiled. “You did.”
Rowan glared, but there was no real ire behind it. Aelin laughed, relieved that she definitely wouldn’t have to return her favorite sleep shirt now that he’d gone and replaced it with a new one.
“So, not that I don’t love seeing you at…” Aelin looked at the clock. 7:20. Ten full minutes before her alarm was supposed to go off for school. “…the ass crack of dawn, but…is there a reason you woke me up early or did you just want to torture me on my birthday?”
Rowan grinned again, turning to grab something from her nightstand. “I made you something.”
He turned to her, and held out a plate with a giant, slightly misshapen cake on it. Covered in little brown balls and little marshmallow things. Aelin’s brow crinkled.
“It’s a breakfast cake. Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Pebbles and Count Chocula. And Nutella frosting.”
Aelin’s jaw dropped. Breakfast was her favorite meal in the world, and Rowan always gave her hell for wanting the most sugary chocolatey cereals she could find. The fact that he made her a cake out of them… Something in her chest clenched.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she whispered.
“Uh, thanks?” Rowan replied with a laugh.
Aelin held out her finger. “Shhh, I’m talking to the cake.”
Rowan laughed and held out a fork. “I’m sorry if I’s not great. My Aunt Maeve tried to help with the recipe, but…”
Aelin took the fork and shoved a large bite into her mouth. “Iss perfect,” she mumbled around the chocolate crumbs. She swallowed and wiped her mouth and really looked at her best friend. His green eyes were lit up with excitement, watching her enjoy her birthday cake. “Thanks, Rowan,” Aelin replied in a moment of unusual sincerity.
Rowan shrugged, but she watched as a soft pink hue colored his cheeks. And as Aelin and Rowan sat on her bed, eating her breakfast cake, Aelin decided that this was the year she was finally going to kiss her best friend. She just hoped it wouldn’t ruin everything.