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The day of his fifteenth birthday, Stanley was lying on his bed, contemplating everything than that had happened in the past year. It was still mind blowing to him that he had spent his whole summer in Texas, digging holes for a crazy, treasure obsessed maniac. He had broken the curse that had plagued his family for centuries. His hands were calloused from the weeks of shovelling dirt in the desert. The entire thing seemed like a weird dream. He couldn't quite tell if it had actually happened, or if he had imagined it.
It definitely felt like a dream to him. Almost nightmarish sometimes, the long hot days, his parched lips, eating nothing but onions for so many days.
He shuddered, remembering the acrid, bitter juice running down his throat. He could barely look at them nowadays.
The doorbell rang downstairs, and Stanley dashed down the stairs to get it. His parents were out, going last minute shopping before the family they'd invited showed up. It was really just his mother's brother and sisters, who, oddly enough, only decided to contact them after they found out that Stanley and his parents were now millionaires.
He opened the door to see the familiar face of Hector Zeroni, his next door neighbour, and best friend. Also the boy Stanley had a crush on since the first weeks of camp.
"Hey man," Stanley said, welcoming the boy in. "I told you that you don't have to go to the door. You can just come around the back."
Hector grinned, closing the door behind him. "Yeah, but what if your parents were here? They wouldn't want me just barging in all the time and bothering you."
"Nah, they wouldn't care. They love you," Stanley replied.
Hector shrugged. He was tall now, almost the same height as Stanley. His hair was the same curly mop of hair that Stanley loved. Other than his height, he had barely changed in the year between camp and coming home. He was still as cute as the day they'd met, and retained all the amazing stuff Stanley loved about him, even after going to school for a year.
"Happy birthday man," Hector said, producing a gift bag from behind his back.
"Seriously? You really didn't have to," Stanley exclaimed, bubbly feelings springing up inside him.
It wasn't because of the gift. He didn't care about it at all. In fact, he wasn't even expecting anything. Back before camp, when his family still lived in their old apartment, he was used to just getting clothes and some chocolate for his birthday. He didn't even want the present. Just being near Hector was enough of a gift for him.
"Of course I had to. You're the one who saved my life in the desert. A birthday present is the least I could do," Hector said, his voice getting quieter. He blushed, his dark skin becoming just a little bit darker at his cheeks.
Stanley stared at his round face, mesmerising by every little detail. He was so pretty.
Hector placed the bag in Stanley's hands. "Make sure you read the card first," he said, looking down at his feet. He seemed really nervous.
Stanley walked into the kitchen and placed the bag on the counter. Hector stood behind him, and watched while Stanley extracted the envelope from the bag loaded tissue paper.
"I actually have to use your bathroom," he blurted suddenly. "Be right back." He tore of down the hall and out of sight.
Weird. Stanley thought. He carefully slit open the envelope with his pinky.
A folded slip of paper was inside. He unfolded it and began to read, smiling at the messy handwriting that decorated it.
'Dear Stanley,' it read.
'Happy birthday to you! I hope that it's a lot of fun!'
'I really think your amazing, Stanley. I like you a lot and have for a long time. Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?'
Stanley grinned at the mistake Hector had made. No matter how many times he tried to explain it to him, he simply never got the right use of 'your'.
Then it finally registered with his brain what Hector had written.
He likes me. Oh my god. Oh my god!
It took all his willpower not to squeal.
The floor creaked down the hall, signalling Hector's return. He was playing with his hair, blushing furiously and looking anywhere but at Stanley.
"Did you read it?" He asked, biting on his lip.
"Yeah," Stanley said, trying to think of what to do next.
"What did you think?"
This time Stanley was the one to blush. "You like me?" He asked, staring at Hector's hair.
"Yeah..." Came Hector's response.
"I like you too," Stanley replied, feeling cheesy. He liked to imagine going on a date with Hector, but never envisioned how awkward this would be.
Hector raised his eyes and grinned. "Really?"
"Yes," Stanley said, his smile splitting across his face.
Hector came closer, until he was only a few feet away.
"Would you go out with me sometime?" He asked.
"I would love too," Stanley replied, pulling him into an embrace.
Hector hugged him tightly. Stanley rested his chin on Hector's fluffy pile of hair, and smiled, probably the biggest smile he'd ever had.
"Get a room, you two lovebirds!" A warbly voice called from Stanley's right.
Stanley panicked. On the couch sat his grandfather, reading the paper with a bemused expression.
"Oh my god, were you there the whole time?" Stanley asked, pulling out of Hector's arms. Mortification burned all over his face. Hector looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.
"How bout we go for a walk?" Stanley suggested quickly, feeling his face burn with embarrassment. His grandfather chuckled.
"Yeah, that sounds great," Hector replied just as fast, already moving towards the door.
Stanley grabbed his hand and together they went outside.