The Birthday That Broke Us

Joanne's POV

It was my birthday.

Derek's childhood friend, Melody, smashed a cake straight into my face, frosting dripping from my hair to my clothes. I blinked through the mess, locking eyes with Derek.

"I want to break up," I said, voice steady despite the storm inside.

His hand—outstretched to help her wipe off the whipped cream—froze midair. Just for a second. A flicker. That was it.

Then came the look. That familiar, dismissive disapproval.

"Joanne, do you seriously have to kill the mood right now?" he snapped.

I stared at him, shoulder-to-shoulder with Melody, and felt nothing but exhaustion. Not anger, not shock—just bone-deep weariness.

Wiping cream from my cheek, I said calmly, "Derek, there's no point anymore. Let's just end it."

That got his attention.

He grabbed my wrist, grip turning icy. "Melody was just messing around! Do you really have to blow this up into some breakup drama?"

My makeup was ruined. My hair, a sticky disaster. The birthday moment I'd waited for? Gone.

I laughed—sharp, humorless—and yanked my hand free. "I'm not joking. I don't want this. We're done."

I needed out. Now.

But of course, Melody blocked the door.

"Joanne, don't be so uptight," she said, all fake sweetness. "Derek and I have always been like this. Cake fights are normal! I thought you were family."

Classic Melody. Twist it so I'm the unreasonable one. The guilt trip. The "we're just close" excuse. It always worked—I'd swallow my anger, force a smile.

Not this time.

As she stared, waiting for me to fold, I scooped cream off my shirt and hurled it.

"If it's all fun, let's all have fun."

Derek lunged in front of her like I'd thrown a knife. The cream hit his chest instead.

He turned on me, eyes blazing. "Are you insane?!"

Then—yank. His grip crushed my wrist as he shoved me aside. I stumbled, skull cracking against the wall. Pain exploded. I pressed a hand to the throbbing spot, barely staying upright as he roared:

"Melody apologized, and you're still pulling this? You just want everyone miserable, huh?"