Birthday
Beep...beep...beep...
Aria groaned and forced open her tired eyes to peer at the alarm clock. After bargaining with herself to skip applying any makeup in exchange for ten more minutes of sleep, she pressed the snooze button and rolled over, closing her eyes.
"Wake up, wake up!" A shrill, excitable voice shouted in her ear, making Aria jump.
"You can't sleep in, it's your BIRTHDAY! Look I brought you cake for breakfast!"
Eyes still closed, Aria smiled.
"Thanks, Harps". She sat up, looking at the eager face of Harper, her best friend and roommate. Harper was bouncing up and down on her bed, a badly concealed present hidden behind her back.
"You're like a child, Harps. It's just a birthday" Aria said. She hadn't been very excited for her birthday since... well since it happened. Pushing that sad thought to one side she picked up the cake by her bedside and took a big bite. Mmm chocolate.
"Here, open it!" Harper thrust the present into Aria's hands, nearly making her drop the cake. Aria could almost feel the excitement exuding from her friend. She tore off the wrapping paper, finding a small velvet box. She opened it to see a gorgeous silver necklace; a delicate chain with a shining crescent moon hanging off of it. It was perfect.
"It's beautiful! I love it! Thanks Harper." she gushed, enveloping her in a big hug.
"As soon as I saw it, I knew it was you! I always catch you looking at the moon, now you can see it whenever you like!"
Harper was right; the moon held a great fascination for Aria. It captivated her. She never felt closer to her mother than when she looked at the moon.
"Right birthday girl, get dressed! I've got a whole day planned and we're already ten minutes behind schedule! Chop chop!"
And with that, she whisked out of the room, leaving Aria to wonder how she got so lucky to have found such a wonderful (if not hyper organised) friend.
"Okay Harps, I'm done! I can't shop any more!" Aria collapsed down on bench in the shopping centre, surrounded by bags from at least twelve shops. Harper sat down next to her, casting a proud eye over their many purchased.
