chapter Forty-Six

"So I'll see you tonight after the game." Sidney said calling on his way to the arena for their fifth game in the Rangers series.
"Yeah.. I have to go to dinner tonight because you know we have to celebrate on Jacob's actual birthday instead of mine!" I said getting pissed.
"Its okay, babe. Just think tomorrow me and you will celebrate your birthday tomorrow together."
"I know.. I'll see you later." I said.
"Smile, Jo."
"Good luck." I said and hung up the phone.

"You better go get ready!" My mom said to me when I watching TV on the couch in the living room.
"I don't get why we had to go to dinner tonight." I said.
"Why?"
"because Mom.. Sidney has a game tonight and I have to go to dinner. Oh yeah, I like how Jacob's girlfriend can come to dinner but mine can't.. actually I can't even go to his game!"
"Josephine!"
"No, Mom. Answer me this.. why do we always have to celebrate our birthday on Jacob's birthday? Its been that way since I can remember. We always go to dinner on May 4 instead of May 5. We always blow out the candles on his birthday.. its like my birthday doesn't even exist."
"Stop acting like you are 5 years old, Joey!"
"Mom, its a big deal that I'm not going to see the whole game tonight!"
"Well, news you aren't seeing anything tonight."
"What?"
"We are going to dinner at 7;30 and then we are coming home to open presents and cake."
"This is just great." I said reaching for my phone and she grabbed the phone out of my hands and took it.
"I don't get why you are doing this?" I said.
"I don't get why you are acting like a child."
"Maybe because I still am a child, but no one would realize this because no one even remembers that I am around." I said and then I went upstairs.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get ready like you said, because apparently I shouldn't even be happy on my own birthday! Oh wait its not really my birthday.. its just the day we celebrate my birthday."
I got ready and was completely pissed off. I can't even tell you, but I was going to put on a happy face.

After Dinner
"How did you get this?" Jacob asked me.
"When they came to Pittsburgh I had Sidney pull a few strings and he got it for me."
"You know he's my favorite." Jake said holding up a LeCavlier jersey that I got signed for him.
"I know..Open this one." I handed to him.
"Are you kidding?" He said in disbelief.
"Sidney knows him obviously so it wasn't that hard. Its from both of us." I said about the Gretzky signed jersey.
"This is awesome."
"I know, I'm glad you like it." I said looking at my watch.
"Joey, you aren't going anywhere tonight." Mom said.
Surprisingly enough I didn't get many presents. Jocelyn and Jayden got me a few movies. Mom and Dad bought me some Beverly Hills 90210 seasons and a couple Friends seasons. Jason and Jordan got me some candy. It was nice.. everything was nice and I appreciated everything but I just wanted to be somewhere else. By the time the cake was eaten and the presents were open it was already 10:00. The game would have been over.

Around 11:00 I went down the soccer fields. I needed to get away and think. I needed to talk to Sidney but I didn't have my phone and I didn't know if he would be home so I went to the fields. It was about to storm and the sky was really cool looking. About a half hour later it started to thunderstorm. I just sat there watching the thunder and lightening light up the sky. I was sitting in the rain just trying to get my head straight, until I heard a voice.
"Joey." He said.
"What are you doing here?"
"When you weren't there after the game I got worried. I went to your house and you weren't there and no one knew where you were, but obviously it wasn't too hard to figure out."
"I'm sorry that I didn't go to the game.. I wanted too.. everything just got messed up."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"My mom took my phone.. my mom still has my phone.. my mom wants to ruin my life." I said."Sidney, you shouldn't be in the rain. You can't get sick.. you have to play hockey." I said.
"You are here, I am here. Thats how it works now." He said hugging me.
"I don't get why my birthday always is like this." I said.
"Babe, its fine. Everything is fine.. I'm here." He said touching my face. I kissed him. I kissed him for the first time in awhile. I kissed him and the world seemed to stop.
"What was that for?"
"Lets just go." I said and walked into his car.
"So you won right?" I asked.
"Yeah.. tell me what happened."
"I simply said how I didn't understand why we always celebrate on Jacob's birthday, why we can't ever do anything on my birthday. I also said how I didn't think it was fair because Sarah was going with us but we couldn't wait to go for a time when you could come with us. I mean I'm not even allowed to go to the game tonight, but Sarah is a part of the family and gets to do everything with us? We couldn't go until 7:30 because she works until 7. Thats just ridiculous. then I said about how no one even cares and stuff like that and she took my phone."
"babe, I'm sorry."
"no, I'm sorry. I should have been there tonight. I should have just left or something. I'm sorry I missed it." I said and then he pulled into Mario's.
"Come on, lets get some tea and I'll give you some warm clothes."
"Thanks for standing in the rain for me."
"I like kissing in the rain." He said smiling and then pulled me out of the car and kissed me again.
"Kissing in the warmth might be nice too." I said and pulled away and walked into the house.