How long has it been since I’ve been thoroughly obnoxious? That is what I asked Nick a few days ago, when one of my other friends told me I hadn’t been “thoroughly obnoxious” in a while. It’s not like I _try_ to be. I wouldn’t even call myself an obnoxious person. I would rather prefer _highly eccentric and overly ambitious_.

All he did was side eye me and laugh. Went back to playing a game on his phone—probably Crossy Roads or something. His silence mocked me. He couldn’t just leave me hanging. I said “I mean, I’m really not an obnoxious person. I just like sharing my happiness with others.”

Then there was that side eye again. That signature smirk. Then an exasperated sigh, before he got up and walked away. Even had the audacity to mutter the words: “Oh, Katt, your not meant for such a cruel world…”

I mean, what was _that_ supposed to mean?

Maybe he’s just grumpy because I forced him to do that Grammar project with the glitter. People made fun of him and talked about it for days after they saw the video. And through those days, Nick provided me with glares, groans, and didn’t talk a whole lot. I suppose that last part is normal for him. That’s the great thing about our friendship. He doesn’t have to do anything, really. I enjoy coming up with conversation, and he enjoys adding little comments and silent judgments.

He’s really a good person, though! Just not very talkative or…a beam of light, but the guy can still make you laugh. And he will actually speak if he finds a topic interesting. That’s mostly why I bring up the really gory movies he watches and stuff like that. Not because I enjoy them—I really don’t. But because his eyes sparkle when he talks about zombies and the most gruesome way to end someone.

I swear he’s okay! He’s not some cereal killer or anything. Just…different. But aren’t we all? In our own ways, at least.

Anyway, since, apparently, I’ve been less obnoxious these past few weeks, I thought it time to step up my game again. To start, I pick up my phone and call my friend, Rain. It’s like 2:00 in the morning, so you can imagine her reaction once she finally answers.

“Fuck, don’t tell me you’re back at it…” she says.

Suddenly, sleep is very far away. Instead, a bright smile and a cheery tone takes its place. “Good morning, Rain.”

“It’s not morning, Katt. It’s 2:00 a.m.”

“Last time I checked, that was morning.”

“Get to the point.” I could practically _hear_ the glare in her voice.

I do a giddy little dance and flip onto my stomach, my bed creaking beneath. “Alright, so you know how Nick’s Birthday is coming up soon, right?”

“You know he doesn’t like celebrating his birthday, _right_?” she says in a sarcastic tone.

I roll my eyes and continue. “That’s not the point right now—”

“But it _should_ be.”

“Anywho, I was thinking maybe we do a little surprise thing for him.”

She sighs. “And I’m guessing you already have something planned?” This was less a question and more of a statement.

I giggle maniacally and roll onto my back, staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars I have stuck to my ceiling. They’re deep red and orange, and without some sort of light, I find I can’t sleep. My dad put them there for me when I was little. He stayed up for hours, just to be sure he got them placed in _exactly_ the order I wanted them. And speaking of lights, my big idea involves quite the show.

“So, what I was thinking was,” I begin, “we tell him we’re all gonna hang out togther on The Hill.” The Hill is the hill we all played at when we were kids. We weren’t friends then, well—Rain and I were tight, but Nick was less…friendly back then? He used to throw bugs in our hair and stomp on moths we rescued. Stupid shit like that that all kids do and deal with. Anyway, the two of us have moved on from all that—_obviously_.

My point is, we go there once every month. It’s a special little thing we do, and we take it very seriously, making it the perfect spot to u leash my little scheme.

“Hello?—Katt, I said _yeah—_”

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Forgot she was on the phone. I must’ve gotten sidetracked just thinking about it all. Can’t leave a friend hanging, I suppose. “My idea is: we go up to The Hill, and we do a _littleee _firework show…hear me out!—it’ll be awsome. And I know he doesn’t like surprises or celebrating his birthday; even celebrations in general. But I have a feeling that even if he doesn’t end up admitting it, this will make his day.”

“Katt…listen, you have a good heart, and I know you wanna make him happy, but I know for a _fact_ he won’t enjoy that. What if we just go up to The Hill like normal—bring snacks and a tent. We could sleep there for the night. Its more lowkey.”

“—Boring, if you mean,” I add. “That’s not good enough, Rain!”

“For you, maybe not. But he’ll appreciate it if we just act like it’s a normal day.”

I sigh. God, part of myself really believed she’d be on board this time, and at the very least, I could’ve convinced her to.

“Rain, c’mon. All I need you to do is buy the fireworks. I’ll do the rest.”

“Sorry, Katt, but I’m out. I’m tired and this isn’t a good idea. Good night.”

Deciding it best not to keep prodding her at 2:00 in the morning, I respond with a simple “Night…”

She won’t help no matter what. Looks like I’ll just have to do this on—

“Katt.”

“Hm!” Geez, her voice really does jump into your train of thought. It’s like she can hear exactly what your thinking. Kinda like when you’re playing a horror game, and the monsters face just jump scares you and screams into your screen, when, only moments before, you were peacefully exploring. I know this because Nick forced me to play one of his dumb games last year for Holloween. I was too scared to do the actual tasks and find a way out, so I tried staling by making little comments like “Ooh, is this ketchup on the walls?—Somebody really needs to clean that up.” To which he’d just roll his eyes and say “That’s blood you imbecile. Not ketchup. There’s a reason this place was shut down. Now go find your way out before the damn thing tears you limb from…“

Yeah, I stopped listening there.

“Back down,” she orders.

Must’ve been thinking out loud by mistake. “Don’t worry about it,” I wave her off like she can see me. “Anyway, gotta go now, bye!”

“Kattherine—”

I hang up before she can say anything else. I’ll just tell her it was an accident tomorrow if she asks. After all, it sorta was. I was planning on cutting her off on the _third_ word.

And in my mind, I heard less of a _“Back down.”_ and more of a _“Back down?”_

What time is it now? I check my phone. I get distracted by my Home Screen after seeing the time (2:27). It’s a picture of the three of us—Rain, Nick, and me—together making goofy faces.

My eyes fixate on Nick. This is becoming less of a plan to step up my obnoxiousity, and more of an idea to make someone else happy.

I shut my phone off and rest it against my chest. “This is gunna be the best birthday ever. You’ll see.”

Sleep, surprisingly, I succumb to swiftly.