Birthday Wish (Kenny Clark & Mindy Long)

It was July ninth, Mindy Long's birthday, or at least it was going to be for another hour or so. For her big occasion, the only place the girl had been was her bedroom; and she couldn't have been happier. She was curled up on her small love seat; snacks and soda covered the table in front of her, and a controller sat in her hands. A smile was plastered on her face, and she peered out the corner of her eye at the only person who could have created such a perfect birthday, her best friend, Kenny.

"No, no, no, no, no! Come on! Come on!" Kenny wildly exclaimed as he furiously slammed the buttons on his own controller.

In contrast, Mindy was tapping along, playing against him with ease, "You know you're not going to win; why bother?"

"Shut up; I am so going to win!" Kenny fired back, and Mindy laughed.

Friends since first entering school, Mindy and Kenny were inseparable, even now, as they pushed out of high school and headed towards college. There was a certain code they lived by, they never missed a day without talking, they never left town without getting the other's clearance, and most importantly, they never missed a full night of fun on birthdays. It was a simple code, but it was one that made Mindy feel supremely important. As long as Kenny adhered to that, she knew that she was still the main girl in his life, and that had started to mean more to her than anything these last few years.

Unbeknownst to Kenny, his tomboy best friend had been going through quite the metamorphosis during her years in high school despite how well she hid it from him. Sure nothing different had happened during those days, but what didn't happen and what Mindy wanted to happen were two very different things.

Mindy wasn't a girls, girl; she knew that, and she'd tell anyone else it with pride. She didn't find a need to dress herself up with the latest clothes; borrowing a t-shirt from Kenny when she needed a spare worked just fine for her. Make-up was pretty much non-existent in her room; say, a few minor items that she received as gifts were used quite sparingly. She didn't want to be on the cheer squad in school; she didn't want to be noticed at all, but what she did end up wanting was; Kenny.

"Ugh, again?!" Kenny exclaimed, tossing his controller down and throwing himself against the back of the couch with an exclaiming sigh, "You're cheating," He looked over to the slim Asian with a grin,

"Don't be a sore loser," Mindy stuck her tongue out. Kenny's minor look of frustration fell away in an instant, and he shut his eyes, letting out an easy laugh that hit Mindy's ears like music. She marveled for just a moment; at his thick brown hair, the warm brown eyes, and the tenderness he always had for her in his voice. It was years ago now that she made the realization that she wanted her best friend, and since that day, that little tickling thought had now turned into a deafening screaming demand.

"Okay, fine birthday girl," Kenny suddenly said, causing Mindy to blink a few times and pull herself out of her short-lived daydreaming trance. He looked over to the Asian with an ever-easy smile, "You won. I'll accept defeat."

"Oh, how brave of you," Mindy reached over and gave him a playful push, "As if you have a choice in that matter,"

Kenny pressed his tongue against his inner cheek, "I am being. Kind. To the birthday girl." He sharply clarified, and Mindy let out a giggle, "Now you got about an hour left of that excuse working for you, so what else do you want to do? Movie time?"

Mindy nodded back, "Oh yeah, totally movie time. Put in the classic!" Kenny pushed off the couch and walked over, grabbing the heavily used DVD that sat on the shelf next to her game console. It was the last part of their yearly tradition, a stupid eighties horror that they knew how to quote line for line. The irony always made them laugh that, as people, they didn't even like horror, but the campiness of this old-school movie had a certain charm in their hearts, and Mindy loved watching it with Kenny time and time again.

Kenny swapped out the game disc for the DVD and, as it booted up, moved over and hit the light switches on the wall, letting cool darkness engulf the room, with the only light coming from the television. He crashed back down onto the loveseat, and at once, Mindy was tossing a blanket over both their laps and scooting in close. "Okay, looks like we're good to go," Kenny kicked up his feet, hit the play button, and Mindy nuzzled right into him. Perhaps this was the real reason she loved this part of the tradition the most, it was the easiest way for her to get this close to Kenny, and he never batted an eye. It was as natural as breathing.

The movie started, and Mindy let out a comforted hum, "You aren't falling asleep on me, are you? I don't intend to watch this movie alone," Kenny gave a little nudge by flexing his shoulder,

"No, no, I'm awake...you're just warm...and your shirt's soft," Mindy murmured back, shutting her eyes briefly.

Kenny turned his head and looked down at the girl, "Oh, you cold? Need me to kick up the heat or something?"

"No, this is perfect," Mindy swiftly denied the offer, "I'm cozy now," Kenny relaxed, and the pair began to watch the movie, but as the minutes ticked by, Mindy started to feel a lump forming in her throat. This moment of comfort and joy that she had oh so been looking forward to felt hollow suddenly. Year after year, she had this moment with Kenny, and as much as she loved it, what did it lead to? Nothing. The next day things were back to normal; the just friends banter, the terribly awkward flirting that she knew Kenny couldn't recognize, not that she could blame him, and the knowledge that he was actively looking for someone else to fulfill that desired role of girlfriend.

Kenny wasn't looking at her when it came to that, and she knew it. She'd heard so many names in that place; Rachel White, Anna Ross, Nicole Moore, all beautiful girls he couldn't get enough of, and then there was her. They'd been through everything together growing up; he was the first and only guy that came into her head the second she realized she was even interested in guys. All the stories she wrote, the romance, the sex, all with him as the stand-in within her mind's eye. If she ever wanted that to be a reality, for her not to lose him down the road to someone else, she had to do something. She couldn't be afraid anymore, not with college so close; tonight, this moment, was the time. It was now or never.

"Kenny," Mindy lifted her head, and Kenny looked down, "Are you...bored of this?"

"The movie? I've seen it a hundred and ten times, but no, it's great. I'm happy," Kenny quickly smiled back,

"No, idiot, not the movie," Mindy sat up, so she was resting on her knees, her face twisting with worry that immediately had Kenny turning and sitting up as well, looking at her intently, "This. What we do, day in and day out."

"Mindy, what are you talking about? Am I bored of us being friends?" She immediately nodded, "How could you even ask me that?!" Kenny looked equal parts hurt and bewildered, "I could never be bored with being your friend! You mean so much to me. I looked forward to this night all last month. You're my best friend and the most important person in my life. I'll never be bored with you, Mindy. Ever. That's a promise."

Mindy's lips tightened, and she turned her head. Her heart was thumping heard, and her stomach just about dropped down to her feet, "But only as your best friend, right?"

Kenny tilted his head, "What do you mean?"

Mindy squeezed her eyes shut and let out a calming exhale, "Now or never..." She said under her breath before looking back up at her best friend, staring him in the eye, "You see me as your best friend, and I am forever grateful for that, but that's all you see me as. You don't ever sometimes think of me as something more?"

"I...I really don't get what you mean," Kenny, for all his brains, couldn't figure out something staring him smack in the face. Mindy let out a breathy laugh and shook her head, "What?" He chuckled back with uncertainty,

"Okay..." Mindy wet her lips, "Do you know what my only birthday wish was this year?" She leaned in ever so slightly,

"No," Kenny lightly shook his head, "What was it?"

"To have this happen." At once, Mindy leaned forward, jamming her lips right against Kenny's. The teenager let out a surprised, muffled hum, falling backward as Mindy's body followed, lying on top of him. He braced himself with one hand and made sure Mindy didn't fall with the other. Finally, with the pair settled, Mindy broke away from his lips and nervously stared down at her relatively dazed friend beneath her.