Author’s note: There’s been a lack of Sloane content around here so I’m getting off my lazy butt and putting my wee writing skills to use.
Summary: Sloane tries to create the perfect birthday for Aaron, but not everything goes to according to plan. (I renamed my Hayden “Harper” FYI)
Word Count: 1,380
Sloane lined the piece of tape up perfectly with the edge of the package before pressing down on the other side of the wrapping paper. Tongue out in concentration, she didn’t hear when Harper walked in, watching her roommate in amusement.
“How many rolls of wrapping paper have you gone through today?” she asked, startling Sloane from her work. “Only one,” Sloane started, but stopped when she caught Harper’s dancing eyes. It was Aaron’s birthday and Sloane had big plans for the day. She’d been sitting on the secret for two weeks, ready to burst, and Harper had had to run interference the entire time to keep Aaron in the dark.
The living room was littered with balloons, and a big Happy Birthday banner hung against the wall. Veggie and fruit trays sat next to chicken wings and a crockpot that kept the Swedish meatballs warm. It was a simple recipe Harper had found online. All that was missing were the cake and baked spaghetti, taken care of by Damien and Nadia respectively.
Sloane’s phone went off, blasting The Big Bang Theory theme, her ring tone for Aaron. They’d taken to watching the show together, and so far had binge-watched up to season five. Sloane caught the time on the microwave, a wave of panic ripling through her. She looked down at her stained shirt, thanks to an earlier incident involving a meatball sauce splatter.
“We’re supposed to meet at five, and Damien isn’t here with the cake, and Nadia never called me back!”
The phone continued to ring as Sloane ticked off things still needing to be done before she met up with Aaron. Harper answered, mouthing to her roommate to hurry and change. “Hey Aaron! Happy birthday…” Sloane praised the high heavens for her roommate as she ran to her room to throw on something nice.
Laid across her bed was the outfit Harper had helped her pick last night : dark wash skinny jeans with a black long sleeve tee and her crystal pendant. Harper had also let her borrow her ballet flats. Sloane glanced in the mirror once just to make sure her pants were wrinkle free, and shirt outside-in, before dashing out.
“I’ve called Nadia and Damien, they’re on their way,” Harper waved as Sloane grabbed her keys and half-walk, half-ran out the door. She was almost down the steps when the door flew open and Harper shouted from above, “Sloane, wait!” After retrieving her phone and Aaron’s gift, and thanking her roommate multiple times, Sloane was off again, with only fifteen minutes to get to Aaron on time.
He stood by the fountain when Sloane reached him at exactly 5:02 p.m. Sweat gathered on her palms and under her armpits as she nervously made her way over to him.
“Uh, hi!”
He turned around, lips poised to greet her when he stopped to stare. “What? Do I have something on me?” Sloane looked down the front of her shirt, in search of tell-tale stains or a bra strap that may have been showing, but couldn’t find anything wrong. “Nothing…you look beautiful,” Aaron grinned as he took her sweaty hand and kissed it. Sloane stuttered before finally settling for a mumbled thank you. Aaron always found a way to compliment her, whether it was her looks -which she did the bare minimum on- or her intelligence. In the middle of explaining to him a NASA study about how Jupiter’s red spot was shrinking yet simultaneously growing taller, she’d caught Aaron biting back a grin, fully enthralled, and it was enough to fluster her and make her temporarily forget what she’d been talking about.
“This is for you,” she thrust the small, carefully wrapped present into Aaron’s arms, then wiped her hands dry across her jeans a few times. The plan was to keep him preoccupied long enough until Harper texted and gave her the all-clear sign. Easy enough, right?
Sloane watched as Aaron tore into the packing, and his lips parted into a surprised “O”. She’d kissed those lips once. The thought seared in her brain and made her cheeks burn with the sweet memory. Some days she just couldn’t believe her luck. Harper had been his Perfect Match, yet he’d chosen Sloane.
“I love it!” Aaron’s exclamation brought her back to the present, and she helped him fasten the hybrid watch onto his wrist. Aaron admired the wood coloring and navy blue details of the analog face as Sloane went on to describe the various features. “…if you tap the left side twice, you can access your messages. Oh! And that’ll sync your phone,” she trailed off, lost in concentration as she linked his phone and the watch. When she finished, Aaron wasn’t looking at the gift, but at her. Sloane’s face set aflame as she cast her gaze on the ground. “I remembered you mentioned needing a new watch, and I know it can’t ever replace your grandfather’s, but I figured you’d like this one just the same,” she talked to the ground, wringing her fingers.
Aaron gently took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers, catching Sloane off guard. “Thanks, it’s perfect.” His warm smile was enough to settle her nerves as they walked hand in hand through the park. “I don’t know if you’re hungry, but there’s this great brunch place that serves food all day. It’s not far from my apartment,” Aaron told her. Sloane stopped abruptly as she realized what that meant for her plan. “Uh, well, we can go another day. Yes. Not that it doesn’t sound like a great idea!” Sloane tried to lead him him away from the direction they were headed in, but she was now under Aaron’s scrutiny.
“…Sloane?”
“I mean I love brunch! Although, I’ve never understood why it’s called that when there always seems to be more breakfast items than lunch items-“
A black lab bounded across their path then, chased down by its exhausted owner. “Aw, look at his little legs go!” Sloane pointed out, quickly checking her phone while Aaron was distracted.
She had two texts from Damien and a missed call from Harper. The text brought bad news; the bakery had switched their pick-up date with another customer and wouldn’t be available until tomorrow morning. “Oh no,” Sloane moaned, shutting her eyes in distress. “Oh no, what?” Her eyes flew open to find Aaron looking back at her with concern. “Nothing! It’s nothing! Everything’s fine!” Sloane shoved her phone back, releasing a nervous laugh. It missed her pocket and tumbled into the grass. She moved to retrieved it, but Aaron was closer. He handed her the phone, and Sloane took a glance at the newest text. Nadia had messaged her to say that she’d left the pasta in the oven slightly too long, scorching the bottom layer and her dish in the process.
“Sloane, is everything aright? You’ve been a little distracted.”
Sloane chewed her bottom lip, then sighed, resigned. “It’s…work,” she lied. Aaron’s nose scrunched up just the slightest, and Sloane found herself smile at the simple movement. “Work?” he repeated, obviously not convinced.
“Oo-kay. Well, I need to run by my apartment real quick. You can tell me on the way-”
“NO!”
An older woman reading close by, snapped her head up, giving Sloane the nastiest look she could muster, before returning to her book in huff. Even Sloane was startled by her own outburst.
“You wanna explain to me what’s going on?” Aaron’s eyebrow cocked up. Sloane frowned, both deflated and defeated. “I’ve been planning a small gathering for your birthday and it seems that at the last possible moment, nothing is going right,” her right foot tapped impatiently as she spoke. Aaron burst out laughing.
“Sloane, I get to be with you right now, what more could I need?”
“But you don’t have a cake, and you’re favorite dish is ruined,” Sloane lamented, missing his comment. Aaron leaned in and gave her forehead a light kiss, sending tingles down her spine. “I-I, oh,” she stuttered, when Aaron then kissed her on the lips. Sloane melted against him, before finally pulling back with a content sigh.
“So that’s why my phone has been strangely quiet today. Nadia would have blown up my phone by now.”