mattheo riddle couldn't tell if he wanted to scream or to punch a wall. maybe both. honestly, he'd expected better from, what, his five friends to remember his birthday. or his parents. or even any of his professors. but no, they'd all greeted him as if it were a normal day.

it was only four in the afternoon and classes had just ended. perhaps there was going to be a surprise party of some sort, perhaps they were pretending to forget to make him enjoy the surprise even more. mattheo smiled to himself, imagining theo and enzo fighting over who got to hide under his bed before they jumped out, yelling "surprise!"

he made his way towards his room, taking a deep breath before pushing his door open. nothing. his heart dropped and he tossed his school back on the ground, shuffling around his desk for a pack of cigarettes. at least he could treat himself to a smoke even though no one else would.

the night air was cool on his cheeks as his back rested against a willow tree right by the black lake. mattheo lifted his chin, blowing out a puff of smoke. he let his thoughts wander and his eyes trail across the frozen lake. it was chilly, mid winter and the ground was coated in snow. he sighed and turned to find you, standing before him.

without a word, you handed him a small box tied with a red ribbon — his favorite color. he took it, confused. of all people, you, his rival, had remembered his birthday?

"happy birthday," you told him and mattheo's cheeks flushed. he silently thanked merlin that it was too dark outside for you to see. still, he stared at you in utter disbelief.

tucking his cigarette behind his ear and running his free hand through his brown curls, he fiddled with the ribbon. his eyes flicked down to the present, then back up to you and he huffed, "you know, you're the first person who's said that to me today."