Grace didn't tell anyone it was her birthday.
Not because she didn't care.
She just… wasn't used to being celebrated.
In middle school, birthdays meant awkward wishes.
Last year, it meant silence.
So this year?
She decided she wouldn't expect anything.
That way she couldn't be disappointed.
8:07 AM.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She frowned.
"Happy birthday, Grace. I hope today reminds you how rare you are."
Her heart stopped.
She stared at it.
Then another text came.
From Zoey.
"DON'T MAKE PLANS AFTER SCHOOL."
Another from Dylan.
"Wear something cute. Not your 'I'm invisible' hoodie."
She blinked.
Wait.
How do they—
Her doorbell rang.
She froze.
Who rings a doorbell at 8 AM?
She walked downstairs slowly.
Opened the door.
Julian stood there.
Holding a small paper bag.
Hair messy.
Eyes soft.
"Happy birthday."
She stared.
"You… remembered?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Of course I did."
Her throat tightened.
He handed her the bag.
Inside?
Her favorite chocolate.
And a handwritten note.
She didn't open it yet.
She couldn't.
Because she might cry.
He noticed.
So he stepped closer.
Just enough.
"Today," he said quietly, "you don't get to shrink."
Her breath hitched.
He smiled.
"I'll see you at school."
And he left before she could fully process it.
At school, the chaos began.
As soon as she walked into class—
"SURPRISEEEEE."
The entire group popped up from behind desks.
Even Ethan.
Even David.
Even Lucy.
Even Theo.
Confetti flew.
(It was mostly paper ripped from notebooks, but still.)
Grace actually stepped back.
"Are you serious?"
Zoey rushed forward and hugged her.
Ella joined.
Dylan dramatically bowed.
"Our main character."
Grace laughed.
Actually laughed.
No holding back.
Julian stood slightly behind everyone.
Watching her.
Not interrupting.
Just… memorizing.
At lunch, they refused to let her sit.
They made her stand on a chair.
"Speech!" Nate yelled.
She covered her face.
"I hate all of you."
"Liar," Adrian said.
She looked at them.
Every single one.
Even Lucy smiling at her.
Even Theo giving a small nod.
Even Zara, watching quietly but not interfering.
She swallowed.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"For… not forgetting me."
Julian's jaw tightened slightly at that.
Because she said it like she expect2ed to be forgotten.
After school, Zoey blindfolded her.
"Don't cheat."
Dylan immediately whispered loudly, "We're kidnapping you."
Grace laughed nervously.
They walked her somewhere.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Then—
"Okay."
The blindfold came off.
They were at the small rooftop near Dylan's building.
Fairy lights.
A cake.
Music playing softly.
A banner that said:
GRACE — YOU ARE NOT INVISIBLE.
She froze.
Her vision blurred.
"Guys…"
Zoey hugged her again.
Lucy handed her a small wrapped box.
"I picked it," Lucy said quietly.
It was a bracelet.
Simple.
Silver.
Beautiful.
Grace looked at her.
And something old between them softened.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The cake cutting was chaotic.
Dylan almost dropped it.
Ethan lit the candles wrong.
David fixed it silently.
They all sang horribly off-key.
Grace made a wish.
Julian watched her carefully.
When she blew out the candles, everyone cheered.
Then the group slowly drifted to the edges of the rooftop.
Pretending to talk.
Giving space.
Julian stepped closer.
"You didn't open my note."
She pulled it from her pocket.
Hands slightly shaking.
She unfolded it.
"You don't realize how much light you bring into rooms you once tried to disappear from.
I'm proud of you.
And I'm grateful you were born."
Her chest physically hurt.
She looked up at him.
"You're unfair," she whispered.
He smiled softly.
"Why?"
"Because you say things like that and expect me not to cry."
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"I don't want you to cry," he said.
"I just want you to know."
She stared at him.
Then suddenly hugged him.
Tightly.
He froze for half a second.
Then wrapped his arms around her.
And from across the rooftop—
Dylan whispered loudly, "ARE THEY CRYING?"
Zoey smacked him.
Ella was already tearing up.
Theo smiled faintly.
Lucy watched with a complicated but genuine expression.
Zara looked away.
And Julian pulled back slightly.
"Happy birthday, Grace."
She smiled.
Fully.
Brightly.
Not hiding.
"Best one I've ever had."
And for the first time—
She believed it.