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The sound of her own knock echoing down the empty platform jolted Morrigan from her thoughts. Her thoughts that, up until a moment ago, had been fussing over whether her measly gift offering was enough for the girl she’d slowly come to consider a friend. She had only ever bought birthday gifts for Hawthorne, and even then she’d only gotten to do it once so far, so her gifting abilities were far from splendid.
The door swung open to reveal familiar brown skin, a long thick braid, and a scowl. Cadence fixed her with a haughty glare. “What do you want this early?” Her deep, husky voice crackled and it was obvious she’d just woken up. Immediately, Morrigan felt guilt creep into her - should she have waited until later? Maybe after school? She realised, however guilty, she didn’t want to turn away from the girl so she barrelled into it without another thought.
“I just wanted to give you your birthday present. I’m really sorry I woke you up so early and I’m sorry the gifts aren’t great. It's just I don’t know you that well yet but I know you too well to just put kred in your card so I was in a weird place and this was the best I could do.”
She winced as she finished and thrust the gift bag at Cadence. It was only then (as she finally looked up from the floor) that she noticed Cadence was very still. Unnervingly still. The kind of still that growing up cursed had told her did not bode well.
Morrigan could only stare back as her mind worked furiously. She’d gotten the date wrong hadn't she? Yes, that was it. It was the wrong day and Cadence was going to think she was an idiot and slam the door in her face, she could see it coming.
“You remembered?”
Cadence’s voice came out so quiet that, if Morrigan hadn’t been staring straight at her, she wouldn’t have realised it was her at all.
“I- what?” Ok, not what she’d expected her to say “Well yeah, of course I did. I remember you, remember? You told me your birthday was today when you stayed at the Deucalion over summer. At least I think you said it was today. It is today, isn’t it?” Morrigan found herself unreasonably nervous for how simple her original task had been.
“Yeah…it is today.” Cadence’s tone was almost questioning. “It’s just… nevermind. That’s really sweet of you, I suppose. Thanks”
Morrigan exhaled a breath. She had done it. But Cadence was still giving her a look of shock. Her confidence wavered slightly.
“Do you want me to go? You don’t have to open them in front of me or anything just let me know…whenever if you like them-”
“NO!”
Morrigan and Cadence both jumped at her sudden outburst.
“No,” she said, more calmly. “I’ll open them now, with you, please.” The slightly whiny tone of her please took Morrigan by surprise. Cadence also seemed slightly embarrassed, but was pointedly ignoring it.
She reached for the gift bag (which Morrigan was still holding in her face) and took it gently, like it might spontaneously combust if she were too rough with it. Tentatively, she reached out and pulled the candle Morrigan had settled on.
“You remembered I like that terrible birthday cake smell?” she said, exasperated as she read the label. And it was true, Morrigan did remember she liked that smell after the smoking parlour had wafted it for hours whilst she, Cadence and Hawthorne talked in the summer.
“You said it was always one of your favourites?” Morrigan said sheepishly, “I thought it was my best bet.”
“This is brilliant, AND oh- it smells incredible.” Cadence took an exaggerated sniff and Morrigan heard both of them giggling at it.
It was strange, she thought inwardly, how easy it was to laugh with Cadence. Her heart gave a small shudder and her stomach did a strange flip, but she chalked it up to her nerves and let it go. Best not to think about it too hard anyway or the feeling might go. Besides, Cadence had just noticed the second present.
“Morrigan Crow, you did not.”
“I did?”
“I love you.”
Her heart did it again.
“Why? It’s only a book-”
Cadence spluttered, “Only a book? Morrigan I mentioned wanting the next Ermeline Pine Murders book ages ago, it wasn’t even out when I said it and you just remembered that until now?”
“Was I not supposed to?” She was genuinely confused by the girl’s reaction. Was it really not normal to remember things that long? She’d thought it was a good idea at the time but then again, she didn’t have much experience in birthday present-buying.
“Morrigan, no one has ever remembered anything I’ve wanted for my birthday, let alone for that long. I don’t think you realise-” she cut herself off, obviously trying to halt herself before she said anything else. She took a deep breath and seemed to decide something. “Morrigan, you know that no one remembers me, it’s my whole thing. So you just remembering things that I mentioned months ago is a really… bizarre thing. I suppose.” She finished with a shrug. Morrigan swore she saw the other girl's eyes turn glassy, but she turned away pointedly to set her gift down in her living room and Morrigan knew when not to push.
Trying to take in the weight of those words, Morrigan found herself unable to do anything but stare at her friend's face. Her friend’s face that, for the first time, carried the burden of twelve years of not being remembered by anyone. Twelve years of loneliness. She felt as though she was finally able to understand Cadence in a way she hadn’t before. They really were quite similar, but for much different reasons, now that she thought about it. The girl who couldn’t be remembered and the girl people would rather forget.
She opened her mouth to say something, to try to put her thoughts into words to comfort or reassure Cadence, but Hawthorne Swift decided that was the opportune moment to burst through his own station door. The sounds of shouting, screaming, and general chaos of the Swift household flooded the station 919 with the noise of a hurricane. Cadence let out a snort of laughter and Morrigan giggled along with her as her - no their - best friend practically fell onto the platform.
“You have to help me, Baby Dave won’t let me go to school.” But his plea fell on deaf ears as Morrigan caught herself looking at Cadence, really looking, for the first time. But a shrill shout roused her from her trance as fast as it had come.
“HAWTHORNE COME BACK!”
Baby Dave was being restrained by Cat and Dave Swift while she struggled to reach her brother. Morrigan and Cadence shared another look. A beat of silence passed, then they both descended into hysterics again.
“Happy birthday, Cadence.” Morrigan said through her wheezing.
“Don’t mention it” was all she got in reply.