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“Oh, Tia, is that you?”
“Ah Rin, good morning,” Tia said, beaming over her tea. “What are you doing downtown?”
“I was just getting a last minute gift for Simeon’s birthday tomorrow,” Rin lifted the bag in her hand. “Now that I have it, I thought I’d come take a break at this cafe.”
“What a coincidence, me too,” Tia said, pointing to the shopping bag on the table. “Would you like to sit with me for your break?”
“I’d love to,” Rin took the chair across from Tia. “The weather is so nice, the outdoor seating was a good choice.”
After ordering with the waitress Rin motions towards Tia’s shopping bag, “So, what did you get him?”
“I’m putting together a pack with a variety of teas,” Tia opened the bag so Rin could see inside.
“Oh he’ll love that!”
“And what did you get?” Tia asked, pointing at Rin’s Shopping bag.
“Some stationary and a nice pen,” Rin pulled the pen out of the bag. “Simeon mentioned enjoying traditional writing before, so I thought he might like it.”
“Oh, that’s so nice.”
“I’m surprised I was able to get it done so fast though, I left early thinking it would take longer,” Rin looked at the time on her DDD. “And it’s not even 11:00 yet?”
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?” Tia asked.
“Nope. All the preparations for the party tomorrow are already finished, so I have nothing to do till tomorrow now,” Rin shrugged. “How about you?”
“Same for me,” Tia laughed. “Oh! Actually, there is one thing. I’m going to stay up tonight, so I can call Simeon right at midnight.”
“Aw, that’s such a sweet idea!” Rin gushed at Tia. “Message me when you’re done so I can be the second to wish him Happy Birthday.”
“Why don’t we do a group call and tell him together?” Tia suggested.
“Are you sure about that?” Rin asked, but Tia’s attention had shifted to something past Rin.
“Is that Solomon and Luke coming down the street?”
Rin turned to look, “So it is.”
The girls waved towards their friends as they approached. Luke was the first to notice them and send a big exaggerated wave back, before picking up his pace to go meet them.
“Good morning!” Big eyes shone at the girls.
“Where are you two going?” Tia asked.
Solomon walked up behind Luke, “I’ve been asked to go to the Sorcerer’s Society urgently, and Luke has been summoned by Michael.”
“Simeon’s not going with you?” Rin asked Luke.
“Michael wants to give me Simeon’s gift to surprise him with at the party tomorrow, since he can’t come himself,” the little angel looked up proudly. “So Simeon has to stay at home.”
“It was good to see you two,” Solomon said, placing a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “But Barbatos is waiting to make a portal for us, and we have to hurry if we want to make it back by tomorrow morning.”
The girls waved goodbye to Luke and Solomon. Tia turned back towards their table and then looked down.
“Is something the matter, Tia?”
“I know his birthday isn’t till tomorrow, but isn’t it a little sad that he’s spending today alone?” Tia asked.
“Hmm, you're right,” Rin agreed. “Oh, I have an idea! What if we throw him a surprise pre-birthday party? We can even surprise him at midnight by being the first to get to wish him a Happy Birthday and we could do it in person.”
“Oh, I like that idea!” Tia looked up in excitement. “Oh, but how are we going to justify staying till mid-night?”
“Surprise pre-birthday slumber party!” Rin’s eyes lit up. “If we stay the night, of course we’ll be there at midnight. There’s a clothing store and a market on this block, if we’re quick about it we can grab some PJs and some cake ingredients and be at Purgatory Hall by 1:00.”
“I love it!” Tia stood from her seat. “Let’s do it!”
“Okay, but Tia, we have to pay our bills first,” Rin chuckled.
“Right,” Tia answered sheepishly.
❂ ❂ ❂
Diligent as ever, Simeon dried and put away the last dish he had finished cleaning. He looked over the spotless kitchen. Between Luke’s constant baking practice and whatever it is Solomon tries to do in the kitchen (we certainly can’t call it cooking), the opportunities to see it so clean are rare. As he thought about what to do next, he heard a knock at the door.
Strange, he thought as he walked to the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone. He opened the door to two familiar faces beaming up at him.
“Hi,” the girls said in tandem.
“Hello,” he replied to his surprise visitors. “What brings you two here?”
“We heard from Luke and Solomon that you were alone for the day,” Rin said. “So we thought we’d come keep you company.”
Tia grabbed Simeon’s hand in both of hers and looked up at him with the biggest eyes, “We can’t let you spend your birthday eve alone!”
“So, we thought we’d throw you a ‘Surprise Pre-Birthday Slumber Party.’” Rin lifted one of the bags in her hand, “We even brought the stuff to bake a cake. That is if it’s okay with you.”
Simeon looked between Rin and Tia who was still making big puppy dog eyes at him.
“You’re not really planning on saying no to that face, are you?” Rin laughed.
“Of course not,” Simeon also laughed as he used his free hand to pat Tia’s head.
Tia tilted her head, not quite understanding why the other two were laughing.
“I was just surprised,” Simeon said, as he pushed open the door for them. “It would be my pleasure to spend my ‘pre-birthday’ with you two.”
“We should probably get the perishables into the fridge,” Rin said, heading toward the kitchen.
Once the three got into the kitchen Tia and Rin placed the bags they were holding on the counter. Rin started putting some things in the fridge, while Tia put the dry ingredients aside on the counter.
“Do you want any help?” Simeon asked, reaching for the bag nearest to him.
“Wait, no!” Tia put out a hand to stop Simeon. “That’s not groceries. Those are your presents for tomorrow. We didn’t have time to drop them off at home so we brought them with us.”
“Aw, is there any harm in you letting me have them a little early?” Simeon pouted playfully.
“They aren’t even wrapped!” Tia argued, but was met with big puppy dog eyes meant to mimic the ones Tia made earlier.
Rin looked at Tia and laughed, “You’re not really planning on saying no to that face, are you?”
Tia looked back at Rin, “You really think we should?”
“It’d be a little mean to flaunt that we have his gifts right here and then not let him have them, don’t you think?”
“Okay then, since it was Rin’s idea, you can open her gift first!” Tia said, giving Simeon the gift.
“Hey!” Rin furrowed her brows, but her expression immediately melted into a laugh.
Simeon reached in the shopping bag and pulled out the pen and the stationary set, “Oh these are very nice. I think I know exactly what to use them for too.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Rin smiled. “Tia, your turn.”
“Okay,” Tia held out the other bag for him. “I was going to put it together, in a pack and wrap it, but I guess this is fine.”
“Oh, an assortment of tea’s?” Simeon’s eyes lit up as he pulled one of the boxes out. “There are some I’ve never seen before. Can we try some?”
“Now?”
“Yes, don’t you think they would taste better if we drank them together?” Simeon asked, but didn’t wait for an answer to start preparing a kettle.
The three spent the next couple hours trying tea and chatting, before deciding that they should make the cake next so it could cool and be ready by the time they finished eating dinner.
❂ ❂ ❂
Rin and Tia had brought over the ingredients to make a vanilla cake with strawberries on top. Tia cleaned and cut the strawberries, while Simeon made the frosting, and Rin mixed the batter. Everything was going smoothly, with these three experienced bakers… so far.
“Alright, the cake is in the oven,” Rin said as she set the oven timer. “How’s the frosting coming along?”
“I just finished it,” Simeon said. “Come try it and tell me what you think.”
Rin walked over between where Tia was cutting the strawberries and where Simeon had just finished making the frosting. Simeon held out a spoon with a dollop of frosting on it and Rin scooped up a little more than she meant to with her fingers. As she was bringing the frosting to her lips Tia suddenly spoke up.
“Hey look, this strawberry looks like a heart!” as she spoke Tia turned without looking and bumped into Rin’s back.
The bump caused Rin to miss her mouth entirely and smear frosting across her own cheek and gasp.
“Oh, I’m sorry Rin!” Tia circled around to Rin’s front and repeated her apology. “I’m so sorry, don’t be angry.”
“Apology not accepted,” Rin said with a mischievous grin. “You need to be punished!”
Before Tia could even think of what she meant by that, Rin reached over Tia’s shoulder and grabbed the rest of the frosting on the spoon Simeon was still holding. In a moment frosting was smeared across Tia’s face and she let out her own gasp. The angel standing behind the girls couldn’t help, but laugh at the event playing out before him.
“What are you laughing at?” Tia’s attempt to sound tough was completely lost behind the giant smile plastered on her frosting covered face.
She reached for the bowl and the next thing Simeon knew, he had more frosting on him then both the girls combined.
“Oh my gosh, she threw an entire handful at you!” Rin covered her mouth both in astonishment and to cover the jovial laugh she couldn’t hold back.
“You don’t get to laugh either,” Tia said with a giggle, grabbing another handful. “You started this!”
Tia swung her frosting covered hand towards Rin, who managed to catch her wrist. It was to no avail though. The force from her wrist suddenly stopping was still enough to send the frosting flying and land on Rin’s clothes. However…
“You made a mistake,” Rin chuckled. “You made an enemy out of both me and Simeon and then allowed yourself to get caught.”
Rin used Tia’s wrist to spin her around and then grabbed her around the waist.
From over Tia’s shoulder Rin shouted, “Get her Simeon! I’ll hold her still!”
“Wha-” Tia didn’t even have time to get a full word out before Simeon haphazardly tossed frosting in their direction.
The uncontrolled throw ended up hitting both girls.
“Not me, you goof!” Rin laughed.
Tia tried to take her opportunity to grab more frosting, but Rin’s hands were still around her waist and she pulled Tia away. However, Tia’s hand was already on the bowl, so Rin’s pull caused Tia to yank the bowl to the floor, spilling what was left of the frosting. The three stared at the mess on the floor for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“We made a huge mess,” Tia said looking from herself to Rin and Simeon.
“Did we?” Rin laughed. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“We should get cleaned up,” Simeon said. “Let me get the shower ready.”
“Oh, you should go first, we’ll start cleaning,” Tia smiled at Simeon. “It is your birthday after all, you shouldn’t have to clean.”
“But-”
“No arguments,” Rin chimed in. “Go.”
“Alright, alright,” Simeon said, before walking off toward the bathroom.
The girls started clean while Simeon took the first shower. Once he returned they agreed on ordering pizza instead of making anything more before Rin went off to shower next. After she finished cleaning off, Rin messaged Tia to come take her shower.
While Tia took her shower, Rin took their clothes to wash and Simeon finished the cake and waited for their food. The timing seemed to line up perfectly, as Tia finished washing and changing, at the same time Rin finished removing icing from their clothes and putting them in the washing machine, all just in time from Simeon to call them for the arrival of their dinner.
“Oh good, I’m starving,” Tia said grabbing Rin around the arm and pulling her towards the dining room. “Let’s go eat!”
As the girls entered the room, Simeon looked up at them and fumbled with the plates he was carrying to the table.
“Oh, be careful,” Rin said. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry, I was just surprised,” Simeon smiled shyly at them. “I wasn’t expecting your outfits.”
“Oh,” Tia looked down at her and Rin’s clothes and back up at Simeon. “It is a bit early for PJs, but it’s the only change of clothes we had.”
“It’s less about that,” a light blush started to grow on the angel’s cheeks. “And more about the fact that you're matching. It- It’s cute.”
“Hmm?” Tia tried to look at Simeon, but he turned his face away to hide his blush.
“I think he’s jealous,” Rin giggled. “He wants matching PJs too.”
“Oh!” Tia exclaimed. “Sorry Simeon, we can get you some next time, okay?”
“Rin, don’t tease her like that.”
“Oh, it wasn’t her I was teasing,” Rin said, hugging Tia from the side.
Simeon shook his head, “Come sit down and let’s eat.”
The three sat down and enjoyed their dinner and then the cake with the new frosting while chatting away, even for a while after they had finished their food. It was calm, not the most thrilling part of the ‘pre-birthday party,’ but for them it was enough. Besides, the best part would come at midnight. That is, if they could make it to midnight.
❂ ❂ ❂
As the conversation started to die down Simeon looked at the clock.
“I can’t believe we managed to talk for this long,” Simeon said.
“It’s because we’re so comfortable with each other, that we can talk for so long without noticing the time passing,” Rin replied.
“Still, it’s almost 10:00,” Simeon pointed out. “Maybe it’s time we figure out sleeping arrangements?”
“What? You want to go to bed already?” Rin asked. “There’s still something we want to do.”
“And that would be?” Simeon looked at Rin quizzically.
“Um-”
“We want to watch a movie,” Tia chimed in. “It’s your birthday, so we should watch your favorite.”
“Hmm, I suppose we could,” Simeon said. “Let me go get it.”
“That was perfect Tia,” Rin patted Tia’s shoulder. “Good thinking on your feet and that movie is the perfect length. It’ll finish up just a little before midnight.”
Simeon returned with the movie and the three of them settled down on the couch to watch it. When the movie finished Rin showed Tia the time on her DDD.
“Five more minutes.”
“Ok, now it’s really time for bed,” Simeon yawned.
“Wait, one last thing,” Rin asked. “Can we go to the balcony in your room for a moment?”
“I don’t mind,” Simeon said, “but may I ask why?”
“We’ll show you when we get there,” Rin replied.
As they followed Simeon up the stairs and to the balcony Tia and Rin could barely hold back their smiles as excitement for midnight raised in them.
They reached the balcony and Tia pulled out her DDD just in time for her and Rin to watch the time change from 11:59 to 12:00. Tia grabbed Rin’s arm in excitement.
“Happy Birthday Simeon!” they shouted together.
“Huh?” Simeon was surprised by the sudden shout.
“It’s midnight,” Tia held out her DDD to show Simeon the time. “So it’s officially your birthday!”
“We wanted to be the very first to say it,” Rin added. “And we were excited to get to do it in person, especially after getting to spend a whole day with you.”
Simeon felt his cheeks get warm as he felt overwhelmingly touched by the girl’s sincerity. Before he could even say anything Tia threw her arms around Simeon and Rin followed suit.
“Happy birthday,” Tia said again.
“Okay, now I think it's time for bed,” Rin said as she loosened her arms from around the other two. “It’s been a fun, but long day.”
Tia let out a yawn as she loosened her own grip.
“So what are we going to do about sleeping arrangements?” the angel asked.
Without waiting for an answer, Tia ran inside Simeon’s room to his bed.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said, patting the bed. “Let’s sleep together!
Rin and Simeon were both taken aback by the sudden proposal, but it only took them a moment to realize… This is Tia.
“Tia, you should know when you say that,” Rin tried to hold in her laugh. “It sound like you mean-”
Rin was cut off as Simeon put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head, “Don’t. You’ll only wear yourself out trying to explain.”
“Ha, as an angel, I thought you’d just want to stop me to protect her innocence,” Rin laughed, but the tired look in Simeon’s eyes told her she shouldn’t push the subject any more.
“Alright then, we’ll just have to do what she says then.” Rin said, pulling Simeon’s arm, leading him to the bed.
Tia’s eye’s lit up, “Simeon, you’re in the middle!”
With a gentle smile the Simeon complied and crawled into bed. The girls each took either side of him and wrapped their arms around him to make the most of their space. After such an eventful day, the girls found themselves asleep in moments.
The angel, however, was not was not so lucky. Even though he had been the first to want to go to sleep hours ago, now he found it hard to quiet his mind. His head raced with thoughts of how special these two girls made him feel. He might be a little tired at his party tomorrow, but it was well worth it.