Hanahaki || DNF Fanfiction/AU

The One Where We Meet Clay

35K reads??? ty all so much! (p.s. i have another book out if you get done with this one and want more of my work❤)

Clay was woken suddenly by his alarm clock blaring. He groggily reached over and smacked the top of the box on his nightstand, being rewarded by silence once again. He rolled back over to try and go to sleep.

Most people would be excited for their birthday. You're a year closer to death! Whoop-dee-do. But not this birthday. Today Clay would start having the worst pain of his life.

His mom always told him that it wasn't that bad the first few months. As long as you found your soulmate quickly, you'd be fine. But Clay had never given any thought to the matter, always focusing strictly on schoolwork and maintaining his close friendships. He knew it would come back to bite him in the ass, and to be quite honest, he couldn't care less at the moment.

His sister came bursting into the room. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU BIG BUM!!"

Clay let out a loud groan. "Get out, Drista. I'm not in the mood."

"Aw come on, Clay. You're turning 16! You get to see whether you like dicks or chicks today."

Clay picked up his pillow and threw it at his younger sister, who was laughing hysterically. "Don't say it like that, Jesus. Plus they could be nonbinary or something."

"True. But if they're still under 18, which I'm sure they are, they haven't gotten gender-neutral surgery yet."

"Ugh, shut up."

"Nope. Get up, Mom's waiting for a picture." Drista threw the pillow back at Clay, then left the room. She flicked the light on as she left, earning a pained shout from her older brother.

"Drista you bitch- get back here!"

"Clay, don't call your sister a bitch," their mother called form the kitchen. "Hurry up and get dressed, it's your birthday!"

"I know," Clay answered, then muttered, "You don't have to remind me."

He got up and went over to his closet, leafing through the hangars before picking out a plain white tee and lime green hoodie. He then grabbed some black ripped jeans and white socks and changed into his casual clothing.

Clay stopped in the bathroom to brush his hair and teeth, although his sandy hair never liked to stay tame for long, and always returned to a messy state by the time school ended.

"Clay! Oh, honey, why aren't you wearing something more... proper?" His mother was leaning on the island in the kitchen, Drista sitting on the stool opposite side of where Clay was.

"Because my birthday isn't that important."

"Clay, jeez, you're going to figure out who your soulmate is today. Be a little more excited!" Drista cut in.

"I'm just figuring out what their gender and favorite color is. I could not even find out who they are and die in two years."

"Clay! Don't talk like that, you'll find them."

"Eventually. Honestly I'd be surprised if I found them within the first 6 months."

"Hon, I'm sure you'll find them. You're not going to die like this, got it? I won't allow it."

"Yeah, I'm gonna be the one to kill you, 'kay?"

Clay rolled his eyes at his sister and sat down across from her at the island. "So what's for breakfast?"

"I made Eggos and sausage for your birthday."

"Bet you like that," Drista muttered, giving Clay a devilish grin.