บท 81: The New Year
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: January 1st, 2026)~~~
~~~(Time: 9:18 AM)~~~
~~~(Location: At Home, Holden, Oregon)~~~
I'm getting closer to my 18th birthday every day now, and there are only 23 days until that event. That supposedly happy event is drowned out because everyone is recovering from the accident. "I don't even think I should have a party, Ellie..." Ellie has been asking me what the theme of my birthday party should be. She joins me on the couch and mutes the TV.
This is a sign she wants my full attention. I sit up and look down at her from my sitting position. "Listen, Ulysses... Your 18th birthday is supposed to be one of your best ones. I'm not letting you skip out on a great memory... Not even after all that's happened..." I get it. I really do... It just feels... Wrong... To celebrate my life...
There is one problem with her goal to give me the 18th birthday to remember, and I hate to point it out to her. "I wouldn't be opposed to it if there were people to invite, Ellie... All the people I'd invite to my birthday are dead now..." I watch as the realization sinks into her, and she chokes to find any words. Instead, she leans towards me and wraps me in the biggest hug she can muster.
Spending my 18th birthday with my teammates was something that I always looked forward to, ever since I turned 17... "I'm sorry... I should've thought more about it... I'm such an idiot for overlooking that..." It's not her fault... Not directly... We try to block the things that hurt us, and this is no different from a situation like that...
She pulls away and stands up, heading into the kitchen. Leaving me alone on the couch. The TV is now unmuted, and the game is back on. It's Golden State against Portland. It's usually a classic match-up, but both teams are filled with old vets past their primes. They don't move as much as they used to. My eyes watch Steph and Dame go at it, and I'm surprised neither is retired yet.
It's a shame that Damian Lillard's dedication to his team has been in vain. He's likely to retire without any rings. It's two minutes from halftime, and they're trading 3 points made. In reality, I'm a better shooter than either of them, but probably not in their primes... Despite how overpowered the system is making me, I'm still getting better with my basketball skills...
The front door opens without anyone knocking on it, which only means one person. "How's my sugar baby handling the fact he's turning 18 in less than 30 days?" Ellie looks at me with an amused smile, and I have a deep blush at the revelation of my nickname. Hannah loves calling me sugar baby, and she makes it sound so sexy too... Adding to my embarrassment further.
She walks into the living room and sees my face, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. She sees where my eyes are darting from time to time, and she looks into the kitchen to see Ellie smiling at her. My laugh leaks out as Hannah's face becomes red, and her embarrassed smile grows wider and wider. "You heard that?" The nervous panic from her fast words causes both Ellie and me to laugh.
Hannah folds her arms and straightens her arms. Trying to look upset, but she can't hide the smile on her face. "When I was your age, I couldn't imagine being bold enough to call the boy I liked sugar baby... The youth today..." Hannah quickly makes her way over to my couch and plops down next to me. Burying her face in my chest to hide from the embarrassment.
Ellie decides that she's had enough fun at our expense and takes this chance to leave and do some shopping. In the span of a minute, we're all alone on the couch. "So, how does it feel becoming an adult in a few weeks?" I don't know... Living my life again but so differently has changed my perspective so much, and that has changed me...
My arm wraps around her, and I gently hug her, kissing her forehead in the process. "Right now, I feel like shit... You can probably guess why..." Her looks change to a sad one, and she changes her position on the couch to access my hair. She knows that I like it when she plays with my hair. It helps relax me... She kisses the top of my head as she starts.
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