The song is Clarity By Zedd! Enjoy the cute chapter because at the end I admit I had a few tears.

(Hopes POV)

     I started to grow accustomed to life in Liberty City. I bought another phone and was able to talk to everyone again instead of constantly using Holly's phone. The days seemed to go by faster by helping Holly and her gang take out other gangs and complete different missions. It was almost like I didn't leave Los Santos, except Liberty City looked nothing like Los Santos. A few weeks after I got here in Liberty City I didn't need my neck brace anymore and all the bruises and cuts went away, except the scars from the cuts. I felt someone put me in a chokehold and started giving me a noogie.

     "Wow, 23 today! You're starting to get old there buddy but still the youngest one out of all of us." The grey hoodie masked man I know as Ohmwrecker said to me. I push him away from me and start to chuckle.

     "I'm sorry my parents had sex when they did, maybe you should tell them to have it earlier?" I question. He laughs as he sits down on the couch next to me. We were hanging out at Holly's warehouse, waiting for whatever she has planned for today. It was already six in the afternoon.

      "Have your gifts came in from the guys yet?" Bryce says, plopping down on my other side. I smile and nod my head.

      "I feel like Evan threatened everyone to get me a gift, well maybe everyone except Moo, Craig, and Brian." I shrug my shoulders. CaRtOoNz, Holly, and Kryoz all came out of her office with big smiles on their faces, except CaRtOoNz, I couldn't see underneath his mask but I could tell he was smiling.

      "We have finally planned operation Hope's birthday party. Everyone meet back in the living room in 30 minutes looking nice. We're going to The Alibi!" Holly clasps her hands together and gives me a smile. 

     Our weekly outing is always at that damn bar. I'm not complaining, but we've been there so much I've tried every drink that they have there at least two times already. Today I'm going to try to create my own.

     "Oh Holly, you shouldn't have," I say sarcastically, getting up from the couch and go to my room. Ohm runs up to me and walks with me.

     "I can promise you, that we will try to make your birthday the most memorable that we can. You have my word." He pats my back and goes his own way to his own room. 

     The warehouse is like everyone's second home, everyone has a room here to themselves if they want to sleep here, or sleep at their own home. I choose to stay here so Holly can have her place back with Ohm. At least one person stays here to make sure nothing ever happens to me which I'm really thankful for. If something were to ever happen to me back in Los Santos, I'll probably come back here, everyone here is quickly growing on me, but they won't replace the guys that fast.

     I look at the different size boxes sitting on my bed from all of the guys. Maybe opening a few won't hurt anyone. I sit at the head of the bed and grab one of the medium-sized boxes. I look at it and see that it was from Brian. It's probably a bunch of lingerie and will want pictures of me trying them on. I start to laugh to myself and grab my knife sitting on my nightstand to cut open the tape. I set the knife next to me and open the box. 

     Wow, I guess I was way off.  I pull out the black fabric with white flowers on it and hold it u, a little note falls out of it. I pick it up and see Brian's handwriting all over it as well as a little doodle of me. I start to smile as I read the note.

     You need to wear nicer clothes more often. Luckily I dated you for two years and know what you would actually like that's nice. Your one and only ex-boyfriend that you can stand A.K.A Daddy. I roll my eyes and hold up the dress again, studying it. An off-shoulder dress that'll be mid-thigh, he definitely wants me showing a little skin. Maybe I should wear it for tonight since I definitely don't have nice clothes here. I lay it next to me and set Brian's note on the nightstand. 

     I pick the biggest box next, this one has to be from Evan. I turn the box and see that it is. I smile again and begin opening it. Two hoodies were placed on top, they were Evan's, I seen him wear them when we video chat with each other. I get them out and I can already smell Evan's cologne on them. I hugged them, almost wanting to cry because I missed the smell. I kept holding onto them and pulled out the next item, which was a really heavy sports backpack, there has to be something in here. 

     I open up the bag and saw three bottles of whiskey that Evan and I both enjoy with two whiskey glasses. A piece a paper was wrapped inside one of the glasses. I go to pull it out and see it's another note.

     On your birthday we'll both pour a glass for the other and enjoy it together. 

     I should never have left you that morning, we should've been spending this day together with me showering you with gifts until you scream at me to stop. I miss you like crazy and I'm counting down the days till I get to see you again. Evan. 

     Whenever we talk with one another he always blames himself for what happened and I hate it because he did nothing, it was all me. I know once I get back to Los Santos he'll be glued to my side which I won't mind one bit. I set the bag next to the other boxes as I hear something hit inside the box from Evan. I tilt the box and look inside and see a picture flipped over on its backside with some writing on it. I pull it out and set the box on the ground. I turn the picture over and all of my emotions come at me at once, mostly happy and sad.

      The picture was of Evan and I in his bed back in his penthouse at the casino. I had the blanket pulled up covering all of me except my fingers and my head. Evan had the blanket only covering his waist and below as he wrapped an arm around me and held his phone out to take the picture. He had the biggest smile on his face when he took that picture and under the blanket, I was smiling as well. I turn it around and read the little not. Even after sex, I can still make her smile. I put the picture in the nightstand draw in case anyone wants to snoop my room.

     I decided I'll open the rest of the gifts after we get back tonight. I'll video chat with Evan and we'll drink together and talk about what I did today. I get changed into the dress that Brian gave me and slip on my flats. 

     Maybe one more present won't hurt. I pick up the smallest box and see it was from Craig. I open the box up and see another smaller box inside. I pull out the smaller box and open it up. It was a charm bracelet with all of the guy's gang name initials all over it. M.L for Mini Ladd, V for Vanoss, T for Terroriser, and so on. There was also V.C on it, Vanoss Crew. 

     A note was taped on the box saying how it was Craig's idea but everyone pitched in to buy it. I instantly put it on and I felt like my outfit was complete. 

     I grab my phone and knife and head out of my room. Everyone was sitting in the living room all talking to one another until Holly saw me and all talk subsided. She gave me a smile as she stood up. She was wearing a long red sleeved shirt and black ripped skinny jeans. All of the guys were wearing either a dress shirt or a button-up shirt and pants to match their outfit.

     "I think I'll go change. I'm way too overdressed clearly." Holly's eyes went wide as she quickly was shaking her head no.

     "It's perfect. Brian did a good job, with my help of course." She flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave me a smile. I slide my knife under my bra strap, a trick Holly taught me, and sit down next to Cartoonz.

     "Why are you sitting down? We're about ready to leave! Get up." Holly is only a year older than me but she still to this day treats me like I'm her little sister, I've grown used to it by now.

     We all rode in the black SUV instead of walking the one block which I still did not know why. It seems like this morning Holly has been acting really strange towards me as well as doing weird things, like driving the SUV. Maybe she has some surprise party planned at the bar, god I hope not, I hate surprises.

     I was the first one to walk in and everyone was going about their usual thing, good, no surprise party. One of the bartenders who only serves us, Megan, waved at us as we came in.

     "Happy birthday Hope! I know you said no presents but I know how much you like food so I made a cake for everyone!" She bends down underneath the bar and pulls out a small circular cake with white icing. I sit at my usual seat in front of her and smile at her.

     "I guess I'll take it, come on guys grab a slice." I give her a quick smile and look at Holly and the guys as they continue to stand at the door smiles on their faces. They still don't move even after I looked away from them, okay weirdos. Megan cut off a piece for me and slides it to me on one of the white plates. A fork reaches from behind me and takes a piece of the slice.

     "Don't mind if I do." A voice I haven't heard in person in so long says.

     I turn towards the group and Holly looks like she's about to cry with her hands clasped in front of nose and mouth, still, they did not move. I turn even more and already felt tears form in my eyes. Towering over me wearing a light blue dress shirt and black dress pants, was Brian. He took a bite of the cake and smiled at me. I practically jumped out of the barstool as I hugged him. He hugged me back even more tightly, he feels stronger since I last hugged him. Has he been working out?

     "See, I haven't missed your birthday yet and I'm not planning on missing this one. Happy birthday, Shortcake." He kissed the top of my head and hugged me even tighter. 

     Shortcake, a nickname I haven't heard since we were dating. He's called me it since we met in high school when he moved to Los Santos from Ireland. I look up at him from the hug, tears already dripping down my cheeks.

     "How did you get out of the city?" I whisper to him. He looks down at me and gives me a sad smile.

      "I had to pay someone for Warren's men to turn a blind eye for me. I'm only here for a day before I go back. No one could know, not even the guys, but you deserve this more than anyone." He gives me another squeeze before looking at the group with a smile.

     "Thanks to Holly I get to lay low and spend my time here with you. This is her birthday present to you, you're already wearing mine." I turn to Holly and the boys as Holly runs over to Brian and I and hugs us as well.

     "MY PRESENT WINS BY FAR!" She yells. Brian chuckles softly and brings her in the hug.

     "Nice seeing you again Grape, it's been a bit hasn't it?" Brian says. When he first met Holly and I in high school, she had the brightest purple hair and the nickname just stuck with her.

     The night seemed to go by too fast. We all drank and told stories about what happened since July or the last time we saw each other. I never left Brians side all night, he either had his arm around me or was holding my hand. It felt like old times when Brian, Holly, Jell, Autumn, and I would go and hang out wherever. Brian picks up my hand and looks at the charm bracelet.

     "You know your on there too, look." He turns my wrist and holds up the initials, C.C. I look at him confused, not knowing I had a gang name.

     "Crazy Cake. We all came together and thought of it. Crazy because well, I mean look what's all that's happened. None of us would do what you've done which is where Crazy came from, and Cake is from Shortcake." He gives me a smile as he looks at all the other charms. Look out world, Crazy Cake is going to kick your ass.

     "When you wake up, I'll be back in Los Santos, but I'll stay with you throughout the whole night," Brian tells me. I got the last box off from my bed and got under the covers. 

     Brian turned off the light and crawled into bed next to me. Ohm gave Brian some sweatpants to sleep in so he doesn't have to wear his clothes from earlier. Brian opened up his arms and I moved closer to him so he can hold me. His fingers softly brushed my hair as I held onto him tightly, if I held him tight enough maybe he wouldn't have to leave me. 

     He began to hum softly in my ear. Within the first couple of hums, I already knew what he was humming, Can't Help Falling In Love With You. His go to for whenever he wanted me to go to sleep when we were together. Every single time he hummed it, it always got me out within a few minutes, tonight was no exception. Just when I got asleep I felt him softly kiss my forehead.

     "I still love you so much, and I always will." He whispered to me but sleep took me away before I could even react to what he did.

     I woke up to the sun shining through my room, I turn my head and sure enough, Brian wasn't in my bed anymore. I wanted to cry but instead smiled, beyond thankful for him risking his life to come see me for a few hours and make me happy.