As Nate could see, both of the rivals were taking this way too seriously, with them rushing about trying to set up their own parties with their own themes. Their top speed from setting up to the chairs and tables to putting out sports and rock equipment was as similar to them competing in an track and field intense track and field training.
As he turned his head towards Brandin's side, he was carrying heavy drums on his back while having guitars tucked under his armpits. The color scheme of the whole area was super black and yellow, as it must be his favorite colors. And there were also the posters that Nate could only assume were notable rock legends based on how eerie their clothes were. Then again, it was Brandin's taste that made him one of the best party guys there was.
"Hey, Aliana? You feelin' a bit tired?" he said mockingly. "That's okay, quit while you can because I'm in it to win it all, baby! Kylee is gonna like how I prepared this party for her way more."
Nate turned towards the other side with Aliana, where she looked like she was sweating even more than she usually does. On her back was a mountain of items, equipment ranging from baseball, soccer, basketball, cricket, volleyball, bowling, swimming, and so on. It was definitely not an exaggeration to say that Aliana might be good at all of these sports.
"Ha! You wish, I'm totally just getting started," she said right back at Brandin. "Obviously, when Kylee, Nate, and the others see how much love my own version of the party has, it would definitely be the winner!"
Nate really wanted to go somewhere else after a long period of time had passed, but his interest in how someone would go beyond their limits just to give a good birthday spiked as he saw them working hard.
But in his mind, the thought lingered that it would have been easier to have a normal birthday party, not something this flashy. It was not worth the time to make something way too flashy; it was all too big. In the end, it was all pointless; the whole event would be forgotten.
"What a total bother..." Nate said to himself. "What was I thinking of making this whole... thing... a competition and me acting as a judge? Maybe them pulling my limbs apart from my body
The two competitors of their personal competition escalated enough that Nate had a hard time keeping track of how they were fitting all their decorations in their respective spots. Brandin and Aliana's things were even towering enough to be taller than his own house. It was a miracle that nobody walking by seemed not to pay any attention to them.
Perhaps the party and sporty auras of these two were potent enough to keep them doing what they were doing.
After a little more time passed, they finally stopped and wiped the sweat from their foreheads. They stood for a moment in front of their newly formed parties, waiting for any visitors to come by as they appreciated their hard work.
Nate stood up on the large rock he was sitting on while tirelessly watching them build their parties. "Alright, finally. I thought you guys wouldn't be finished by sunset, and I was about to ask one of you guys if you were finally done." He clapped his hands in half-hearted anticipation. "So let us see what you guys came up with after a long time."
Aliana went forward first, pushing away Brandin, who was trying to step up before her while pulling her away.
"Alright, let me show my awesome work, Nate," she happily announced to him. "This is what the party is supposed to be for, Kylee."
Nate went to her side and saw that she had added last-minute additions with mountain bikes as a literal throne for Kylee, the sole birthday girl, on the stage for her to gaze above the party visitors. It was definitely a choice to put it there.
And somehow, Aliana managed to put in a whole gymnastics gym with tons of space within, and that mysteriously made Nate all pumped up inside, already making him sweat from looking at the decorations of her party alone.
Aliana chuckled loudly enough for Brandin to hear.
"How's that for the best birthday party? Maybe I'm waaaaaaaay better than the so-called king of parties, hah!"
"Psh, bah! That's nothing; look at my own party, it is obviously miles better than yours, Aliana," Brandin replied to her rival.
On Brandin's side, Nate came to realize how much the decorations from him felt like they were piercing through his body, with how soul-crushing it felt. The stage's negativity emanated its purple aura, but strangely enough, it made Nate feel like a celebration was worth having here.
"So...?" Brandin began to ask. "What's the dealio, Emilio? So are you gonna judge, or are you all now sludge?"
"Nate, who's the winner? Come on, I can't physically wait for any longer, any more seconds, then I'll have to burn off my calories from last night by racing a few laps around the park!"
Nate coughed into his sleeve.
Oh right. I should pick which birthday theme is the best; I mean, that is what I said before. But, like, whatever, I should just randomly pick the one that looks okay, so here it goes.
He raised his pointed hand in the air, intending to direct it towards the winner of the whole party competition, making Brandin and Aliana stare with anticipation at who the winner was. They would really want anyone nearby to validate their feelings of being a winner.
"The winner of this whole thing is—"
But before Nate could finish saying who the winner was, a loud racket disturbed the announcement from up top of the stage.
Nate, Aliana, and Brandin turned instantly at the noise and witnessed someone kicking down the speakers and mountain bikes off the stage, all while eating greasy bacon bits in a bag he was holding. Broken bits and pieces of delicate birthday decorations shattered everywhere upon hitting the floor.
Brandin stepped up, his eyes layered with orange fury. "Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? Who the hell do you think you are?!"
The guy had green hair with a rough scowl that was etched in his face. His orange sweater covered his tall body.
"Hold on, you guys, it's definitely someone I know! I could feel it," Aliana admitted.
It was no mistake. It was another person from school that Nate knew, and it was Dawson Bright, the local school bully with a need to disturb anything around him.
"Yo. What are you dorks doing here in this place?"