Birthday Girl
The cafeteria was in its usual noisy chaos when I walked in, but something about the energy felt… off. People were glancing at me, whispering behind their hands, their laughter sharper than usual. I tried to ignore it, heading for my usual spot where Sarah was already seated.
“Emma!” Vanessa’s voice rang out like a siren, stopping me in my tracks. I turned to see her standing on a table in the center of the room, holding a cake of all things. A large, pink, and glittery monstrosity with my name scrawled across it in icing.
My stomach churned.
“Everyone!” Vanessa called, clapping her hands for attention. “Let’s give a big round of applause for the birthday girl!”
The cafeteria erupted into cheers and whistles. My face burned hot. It wasn’t my birthday. Not even close.
Vanessa beamed as she jumped off the table, holding the cake high as she strutted toward me. “Come on, Emma! Don’t be shy! Everyone’s here to celebrate you.”
My feet stayed frozen in place. Sarah shot me a worried look from across the room, but before I could move, Vanessa was in front of me, the sugary smell of the cake filling my nose.
“This is too much,” I stammered, holding up my hands. “Vanessa, it’s not—”
“Oh, don’t be so modest,” she interrupted with a dazzling smile. “Everyone deserves a little sweetness in their life. Especially you.”
Before I could respond, she launched into a loud, overly dramatic rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Her voice was off-key, her grin razor-sharp as she dragged the entire cafeteria into the act. People sang along, clapping and laughing, but the whole thing felt cruel, not celebratory.
“Vanessa, stop—”
“Make a wish, Emma!” Vanessa cooed, stepping closer. “And don’t forget the most important part…”
With one swift motion, she shoved the entire cake into my face.
Gasps and laughter exploded around me as the cake smeared across my skin, the sugary frosting sticking to my hair, my clothes, and dripping down onto my uniform. My vision blurred with frosting and humiliation as the sticky sweetness overwhelmed my senses.
I stumbled back, trying to wipe the mess from my face, but Vanessa wasn’t done.
“Oops,” she said, her voice dripping with mock regret. “I guess I got a little carried away. But hey, at least now you’re the center of attention!”
The laughter around me grew louder, the sound twisting in my ears. My uniform was ruined, my skin sticky and my hair coated in frosting. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of them.
Logan’s voice cut through the chaos. “What the hell, Vanessa?”
I blinked through the mess to see him shoving his way through the crowd, his jaw tight and his eyes blazing. He grabbed a handful of napkins from a nearby table and handed them to me, his expression softening.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, though my throat felt too tight to speak.
Vanessa shrugged, her smirk still in place. “Oh, come on, Logan. It’s just a joke. Lighten up.”
“Are you kidding me?” Logan snapped, stepping toward her. “This isn’t a joke. This is pathetic.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Relax. She’s fine. Aren’t you, Emma?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I just turned and walked out of the cafeteria, the laughter still echoing behind me.
***
In the bathroom, I scrubbed at my face and hair, but no amount of water could wash away the humiliation. The door creaked open, and I tensed, expecting more mockery. Instead, Logan stepped inside, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets.
“Emma…” His voice was soft, apologetic.
“What do you want, Logan?” I snapped, though the tears in my voice betrayed me.
“I’m sorry,” he said, stepping closer. “For not stopping her sooner. For letting this happen.”
I turned to face him, my hands trembling. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine—for thinking I could ever just… fit in here.”
Logan’s jaw tightened, and he took another step forward. “Don’t say that. You’re better than any of them. Don’t let Vanessa make you think otherwise.”
