continued from X @avenging-with-losers
The store had plenty of options to choose from and they all had different numbers on them. To be honest, she couldn’t say that she knew why. This isn’t her first time getting something for someone she cares about on their birthday, but it is the first time she’s bought something as simple as a card from the shop. Alita picked this one because she liked the cartoon puppy on it.
Lilli went so far as to even place a hand on her shoulder in her best attempt to say that she really did like it and that it was sweet of Alita to get one for her. But she didn’t sound too enthusiastic about it. The opposite, really, and that was disheartening. Maybe she should have gotten something better rather than just a card.
She’d have preferred her to be honest about it and admit that she didn’t like it. Actually, no, scratch that. Honesty wouldn’t have made her feel any less dispirited. There was no escaping it. There was also no hiding the fact that Alita knew she was lying, because those big eyes of hers were way too expressive to hide anything.
“You don’t have to lie to make me feel better.” She said in an almost dead-tone, and she shrugged off her hand. “You don’t like it.” And this time, it wasn’t a question. It was a I know you’re lying. “You didn’t say there was anything you wanted, so, I didn’t know what to get. But we could do something fun? Anything you wanna do.” Alita was trying to replace that frown with a smile. She wasn’t sure if it was working.
Alita remembers Ido telling her that people usually do something special on their birthday. Go out somewhere, or eat their favorite food, or hang out with friends or family at home. Something fun — something to celebrate. Anything.