Those wounds will heal

Glancing down at the cake, Jack was surprised to see Ashlynn had already finished. And that it looked pretty damn good. Huh. Clearing his throat, he nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve got two older siblings, Mike and Lindsey. They’re both… older than me. Lindsey’s got two boys. Cute kids. I think Jesse turns 6 come December.” He said, a bit sheepish. Was it weird that he was already an uncle? Or that his siblings were so much older than him? Jeez…

“Uh… I usually watch something funny. But, did you have any ideas? I’m a fan of pretty much anything.” Jack said.

Making a mental note of Jack’s siblings and nephews, Ashlynn nodded a bit as she listened. "That’s awesome, I’m an only child so it’s always nice to hear people talk about their siblings if that makes sense? I dunno, it’s a little silly.” She said with a shrug.

“Um, I’m honestly not the most well versed in media, or pop culture? I know some cool movies but not a lot. Um, Forrest Gump, Matilda, or The Princess Bride are the three I can think of right away. There’s The School of Rock, ya know the one with Jack Black?”

Cool relief washed over the man’s features as he liberated his head from the confines of the scooter helmet. No matter how cute it looked, those things were always stuffy - which he supposed meant that they served their function. Squinting his eyes at the sun’s rays that reflected itself off the glimmering surface of the channel, Garrett noted that the ferry just happened to be pulling into harbour - right on time, according to a quick check on that cheap Casio watch he always had strapped around his right wrist. “I figured, girl like you, ought to have gone on many dates, right?” started Garrett rhetorically, the same old easygoing smile resting on his lips as he paused, before continuing, “So I wanted to do something different, instead of like just … lunch and movies?” Chuckling, Garrett offered her a hand. “Come on, we’ve got a boat to catch, unless you wanna spend the next half hour being hassled by peddlers trying to sell you knock-off Ray-Bans.”

Ashlynn couldn’t help but roll her eyes yet smile fondly at him “Sure I’m been on a number of dates, but handsome nice guy like you must have been on just as many.” Reaching her hand out to take Garrett’s in her own, she let him lead her off the scooter. Before he could take her far she put her helmet down on the seat where she as sitting just a moment ago. “Not at all, actually going on an adventure sounds so much more fun than that.” She said as she looked around the docks, taking in the hustle and bustle of it all. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to the city life, but it was a much different city feel than the feel from home. “Lunch and a movie are nice but this, I can tell you put thought and effort into this. Its sweet of you.” She said, bumping his shoulder-well more arm from their height difference- playfully.

“Oh, uh, I woke up early this morning. Bought the ingredients a couple days ago and made it from scratch. Had to stick it in the fridge so I could frost it.” Jack mumbled. Baking wasn’t exactly a manly hobby. But, dammit, it was something he liked doing. And people generally appreciated baked goods… right?

“Uh…” He thought for a minute. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything special for his birthday. His dad hated being reminded of anything to do with Jack, so he usually arranged for a “business trip” to take him out of town. And his mom, she’d tried when he was little, but he’d never liked birthday parties.

“It’s been pretty much this for the last few years. Cake and movie.” He said and grinned as he remembered the letter he’d gotten this morning. “My sister sends me a birthday card, which is nice. Her kids sign it too and it’s real sweet.”

With a final flourish of the frosting bag on the cake she finished frosting the cake, standing up a bit straighter and looking over the cake to make sure it was good she gave a little nod of approval. Putting the bag down on the counter she turned back to him to give all her attention to listening to him, it was the least she could do. Seeing him smile widely she couldn’t help but smile back at him. “That is really nice of her and her kids. I didn’t know you had a sister.” She said tilting her head to side and trying not to frown as now that she thought about it she knew almost nothing about him other than seeing his photography and that he wasn’t the most talkative guy. Just thinking about it she felt bad, but also determined to get to know him more. 

Bringing herself out of her thoughts she clapped her hands together and smiled widely at Jack “So movie wise, what were you thinking of? A comedy? Horror? Or do you have a movie thats like your go to for your birthday?”

Startled by how determined Ashlynn was, he wordlessly handed her the frosting bag. There was no point in trying to argue with her and… besides, why would he want to? He’d have to be nuts to say that spending his birthday alone was how he wanted it. It was just what he’d expected.

“Thanks, Ashlynn…“ Jack mumbled, embarrassed. Jeez, now she knew how pathetic he was, celebrating his birthday by himself. “Hope you don’t mind German Chocolate. It’s kinda my favorite.”

Ashlynn began working on finishing frosting with little little problem, sure it had been a while since she had done any baking but she quickly got the hang of it once again. “No way, German Chocolate is awesome. Plus how could I argue when you’ve already made the cake. When did you do this anyways?” She asked, drawing little shapes with the frosting just for the heck of it and to make it look a little more festive and fun.

She wasn’t quite sure how to breach the subject of him spending his birthday alone, but was afraid of opening that whole can of worms when things were going pretty okay with him. Making up her mind she decided to not to talk about it until they were were not in a common area. “So, a cake and movies. Anything else you like to do for your birthday?”

Hurt me? I’m so confused, no one has hurt me...This isn’t a threat is it?

“No, don’t worry about. Really.” Jack said, shaking his head. “I mean, no one knows it’s my birthday. I was just gonna make a cake and watch cruddy movies, that’s all.”

Taken aback by her sudden willingness to help, Jack shifted helplessly. “Y-you don’t have to. I’ve got it covered.” He said, gesturing to the mostly unfrosted cake.

Ashlynn couldn’t believe it and began shaking her head a bit. “Make your own cake, and cruddy movies,” She mumbled to herself  incredulously. “No, that’s no way to spend a birthday. First I’m going to finish this cake with you and then if anything we’re going to watch cruddy movies together.”

Ashlynn knows she’s pretty, she’s been told by her family growing up, past boyfriends and other people in her life but she doesn’t worry about it other than wanting to dress nicely.