"I bet it's cool," Topher said, with certainty. As if to prove his point, he opened the box -- and totally grinned even more. Billy, you were so awesome.

"Oh, cupcakes! Awesome!" he said sincerely. "This is -- I mean -- that's, like. What I usually do, for my birthdays. Cupcakes. I mean, cupcakes and laser tag, but we had paintball the other day and that was way better than laser tag, except I never stopped to get a cupcake and you're awesome."