BONUS CHAPTER: THE BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

1 year after Main Ending.

     Aphmau's POV:

I wake up from my dreams, and arise from my bed. Sitting up tall, I stretch my aching body that was patiently waiting to move once more. I stand up, look around the room for nothing in particular, and start to head out of my bedroom. Before leaving, I grab Aaron's hoodie off the rack on the wall, and wrap it around my waste. Then I walk out the door and head downstairs, going to the kitchen.

I walk up to the calendar in the kitchen while looking for something to eat, when I notice the date. It was my birthday? I had nearly forgotten. Maybe because it's been a little while since I've celebrated it. I spent a year int he hospital, and last year, well, you know what happened then.

Noticing no one seems to be in the house, I look around, and call for Aaron and Lilith. No reply is heard, and the house becomes so quiet I could hear my voice bounce off the walls. I wonder where they both could be at such an early time in the day.

Unfazed by their mysterious disappearance, I make myself some toast, putting butter on all of its sides. I sit down at the dinner table and munch on my pieces of toast, pondering where Aaron and Lilith could be. Maybe they had gone to the grocery store? No, it's still closed this early. Maybe they just needed fresh air? But it would be a major coincidence if they both needed that on the same day. I doubt they are in trouble, but it's still a possibility. Maybe they'd just gone to KC or Katelyns house. Yeah, that seems the most logical.

I finish my toast, rap up my thoughts, and head out to KC's, thinking that's where they might be. I look both ways before crossing the street, and knock on KC's door.

"Kawaii~Chan? Are you home?" I knock once more. No reply or noise is heard on the other side, as if the house was deserted. Where was everyone today? It's never felt this empty here, as far as I can remember.

Suddenly, I bump into someone on my way back home. Katelyn stood before me, looking a little anxious.

"Oh, hey Aph." Katelyn said as casual as she looked, which wasn't very casual if you couldn't tell.

"Hey Katelyn. Do you know where Aaron and Lilith are? They weren't in the house when I woke up, and unless I missed them, they haven't come back either. I'm a bit worried." I asked Katelyn, to which she replied with a nervous chuckle.

"Nope! Haven't seen them at all! Well, I gotta go do...stuff. Bye!" Katelyn walked away in a hurry, almost tripping on a rock as she didn't look where she was going. She was hiding something. What, I didn't know, but it didn't seem super important, so there's no need to investigate.

But as she walked away, I noticed an envelope drop from her pocket, as she continued to scurry from the scene.

"Hey, Katelyn! You dropped this!" I shouted. Katelyn did nothing but walk faster. Maybe she didn't hear me? Everyone's hearing has been getting worse these days.

"Katelyn! Wait, you dropped this!" I shouted once more. Again, she did not turn back. Instead, she passed her house and turned on the next block. Maybe I had bad breath or something.

I look at the envelope in my hands, and am tempted to open it.

'No, that's wrong.' I protested my intrusive thoughts. 'I'll just follow her and return this to her. Buuuuuuut, maybe she was nervous because she didn't want me to know her problems, which are in this letter! I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't help her, so I might as well look in the letter!' I claimed. As I had decided, I opened the letter and read the words written in the page aloud.

"You've been invited to our super secret meeting! Please meet us at 745 Walnut Ave. at 10:00 AM, sharp.

Don't be late.." I spoke. Interesting. Well, this had to be where Katelyn was going after she bumped into me. Hm, maybe this meeting has to do with her problem! I won't intrude on the meeting, but It couldn't hurt to take a little peak.

And so, I followed Katelyn far behind her, watching her cross the street, to turning corners, all the way to Walnut Avenue. After she went in, I slowly approached the window to the building. I saw no one, despite seeing Katelyn go in there before me. It was a bit dark, but I'm sure I'd be able to see my friend's bright blue colored hair.

Not thinking of my actions beforehand, I waltzed right into the building, and didn't even attempt to make my entrance discreet. I squinted my eyes hard, attempting to see in the dark. I was able to make out a tiny light switch on the opposite side of where I was standing, so cautious of bumping into something, I made my way over.

Only bumping into a few things on the way, I finally make it to the barely visible light switch. I close my eyes before flickering it on, keeping myself from getting stunned by the unexpected bright lights in the now lit room. Then I open my eyes when the deed is done, and look around at my surroundings. It looked like it was a studio, somewhere that you rent out for a certain amount of time and do whatever you want.

After checking it out a bit, I turn around to see where the exit was, or rather where Katelyn could've been in the room. Instead, I was shocked (and practically stumbled over my own legs) to see my friends all standing there, including KC, Aaron, Lilith, and Katelyn. They all shouted, "Surprise," and I balanced myself from tripping over myself.

"Guys? What're you all doing here?" I asked, very obliviously and curiously.

"What do you think Aph?" Aaron chuckled

"Take a wild guess." Zane said sarcastically. Being the gullible person I am, I did take a wild guess, without initially thinking.

"You're all at a super secret meeting, like this letter says?" I pointed to the letter in my hand. They all laughed together and let me take another inconspicuous guess. This time, I thought, and gave myself time to think. Then, just suddenly, I remembered looking at the calendar this morning, to see my birthday written as today.

"Wait a second.." I say before they all collectively nodded, assuming I had finally got the memo.

"You guys, you didn't have to do all this! Really!" I said.

"But you deserve it, Aph! After these last couple years, we wanted to properly celebrate." Lucinda disagreed with me. Just then, Lilith, peering from behind Aaron, ran up to me, gave me a hug, and handed me a present.

"Happy birthday, Mom." Lilith smiled. That was the first time she called me mom. I didn't think hearing such a simple word as, 'mom' would make me tear up so much.

"Thank you, Lilith." I gave her a kiss on the head. Then everyone else walked up to me in our small crowd, and they all gave me gifts, before we started eating cake. This is the best birthday surprise ever.

Thank you guys.