The morning began with Olivia bursting into the main hall of the Hart Estate as if she were a movie star walking onto a stage. We were sitting quietly, enjoying breakfast and planning how we would spend the day. But when Olivia has something important to say, there's no room for small details like "moments of peace."
"Listen up, everyone!" she announced, raising her hands as if she were about to accept an Oscar. "This will be my first real birthday. My first birthday with friends! And I want it to be epic. Literally, epic."
Ellie, who was busy carefully cutting her toast into perfectly equal pieces, looked up, surprised.
"First real one? What do you mean?" she asked softly.
Olivia paused dramatically, crossing her arms as she gazed toward the horizon as if recalling dark times.
"Exactly what I said. I've never celebrated a birthday with friends before. Before I met you all, my birthdays were… sad. Just me, bland food, and maybe a gift sent by some distant cousin who barely knows me, plus expensive gifts from my sisters and brother. But now… now I have you. So I want you to do something memorable. Something that says, 'Here was born Olivia Hart, the undisputed queen of all things fun.'"
Lindsay set her coffee cup on the table and smiled sweetly.
"Olivia, that's incredible. We'd love to organize something special for you. In fact, it would be an honor."
Ellie nodded quickly, though she seemed a little nervous.
"Yes, of course. I want to help too. But… what kind of things do you have in mind?"
Olivia grinned widely, adopting that expression that always spelled trouble.
"Oh, that's the best part. I don't want to know anything until the big day. I want surprises. Epic surprises. So I'm leaving everything in your hands. I trust you completely."
The three of us exchanged uncomfortable glances. We knew what it meant to tell Olivia we had it under control: her expectations would be so high that we'd probably have to put on a circus or something equally absurd to meet them.
"Well, that sounds… interesting," I said slowly, trying to stay calm. "But we'll need to plan it together. Make sure it's up to your standards."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, pretending to be indignant.
"Of course it has to be up to my standards. We're talking about me, after all."
Later, we gathered in one of the more secluded rooms of the house to discuss ideas without Olivia overhearing. Ellie was the first to speak, holding her notebook filled with nervous scribbles.
"I think we should do something simple but personalized. Something that truly reflects who Olivia is. Like photos of important moments or letters written by each of us."
Lindsay nodded thoughtfully.
"That's a great idea, Ellie. We could combine it with activities so everyone can participate. Maybe games or something light and fun."
I leaned back in my chair, processing what they were saying.
"You're right. We need to balance the sentimental with the practical. But you know how Olivia is. If we don't do something grand, she'll be disappointed."
Just then, we heard footsteps approaching. Olivia appeared at the door, holding a tray of snacks she had gone to fetch, but clearly she had overheard part of our conversation.
"Grand? What exactly does 'grand' mean?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
Ellie grew nervous, but Lindsay quickly responded.
"Oh, we're just talking about how to make sure everything is special for you, Olivia. Nothing out of the ordinary."
Olivia shook her head, unable to contain herself.
"Let me guess: Ellie suggested something simple and adorable, Lindsay proposed group activities, and you, Sack, tried to find a middle ground between practical and extravagant."
We stood there with our mouths open for a few seconds before Ellie let out a nervous giggle.
"I guess we know you too well."
Olivia placed the tray on the table and crossed her arms.
"Well, since you're organizing my birthday, let me give you some hints. First, I want a themed party. Maybe something like an elegant gala or even a Hollywood-inspired night. Second, fireworks. With my face on them, ideally. Third, the cake must have lots of chocolate. And finally, live music. Understood?"
Ellie's eyes widened, visibly overwhelmed.
"Fireworks with your face on them? Seriously?"
Olivia nodded with total seriousness.
"Of course. It would be epic."
After a few minutes of awkward laughter, we decided to divide the tasks to manage the chaos. Ellie volunteered to handle the gifts, Lindsay took charge of the activities and decorations, and I was responsible for the overall logistics. However, just before ending the meeting, Ellie timidly raised her hand.
"There's a problem…" she murmured. "I don't know how to handle the gifts without ruining the surprise. Every time I try to think of something, I imagine Olivia opening it and saying, 'Is this all?' as if it's completely insufficient."
Lindsay smiled kindly at her.
"Don't worry, Ellie. We'll all work together to make sure it's perfect. Besides, Olivia loves anything that involves attention and effort. You'll see that everything will turn out fine."
I nodded, trying to convey confidence.
"Exactly. Together we can make this birthday unforgettable. For Olivia, but also for us."
Ellie took a deep breath, as if trying to calm herself.
"Alright, I think I can do it. I thought about creating a memory album with photos and notes written by each of us. Something capturing everything from when we met her until now. We could also include small letters with personal messages. That said, I'll need help choosing the photos and writing the notes because I don't want it to turn out badly."
Lindsay smiled, excited about the idea.
"That sounds amazing, Ellie. It's exactly the kind of detail Olivia would appreciate. We can work on it together, so you won't feel so pressured."
"Thank you," Ellie said, visibly relieved. "I think if we all collaborate, it'll be easier. Plus, we can add fun little details, like inside jokes or funny moments we've shared with her."
I nodded, feeling like we finally had a solid plan.
"It's perfect. A personalized gift that reflects how special Olivia is to us. Now we just need to get to work."
Though there were still doubts lingering in the air, I knew we'd do everything possible to keep our promises. After all, Olivia had found something in us that she'd never had before: true friends.