Shadow Killer

Chapter 11 = Drawing In Surprises

School had been awesome and fun. Almost everyone I met had wished me 'Happy Birthday!'

My friends and I had all the same classes so I spent the whole day with them but all 'ups' have their 'downs' and my 'down' was Victoria.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at a twelve-oops, thirteen year old get pampered by her friends! It's so sad!" Victoria said and fake cried at the same time which sort of looked funny and stupid.

"You don't care about me." I said.

"Oh, I do, I care about how I can embarrass you and spoil your reputation in the school, or wait, do you even have one?" She started laughing with her two 'pets' who always followed her around but I didn't look at their faces.

"You would never wish me a 'Happy Birthday'."

"You're right. So, sad birthday!" She said. Everything she said was in a high voice that hurt my ears but I wasn't going to show any signs of weakness.

"Thanks. that really cheers me up."

"I know right? I'm just so awesome."

"Oh really? I don't see anybody stopping to stare at your pretty face and wishing you a 'Happy Birthday'."

"Oh, they will."

"We'll see."

My friends came and joined me and we left.

"Well, what do we do now?" I asked.

"We have your forth gift ready." Hanna said while I groaned.

"What is it?" I asked. I was not happy with them.

"You'll see but first let's get home and get you out of that dress." Miranda said.

We reached Hanna's house and they gave me another set of clothes. A pair of jeans and a half-shiny, half-plain top.

"So this is gift number four and for gift number five we are ta-" Miranda said but I cut her off.

"Please tell me it's not store bought." I said.

"Well of course! We're not complete idiots. This is not store bought. We taking you for a nice walk." Hanna said.

"Then why do I have to wear this?" I asked pointing to the clothes.

Hanna was going to tell me the answer but Claire said it instead, speaking for the first time since we came to Hanna's house, "So that you don't look like an idiot in what you wear because your fashion style is so last, last, last season," she started giggling, "Wait that's not funny? 'K I'll stop laughing." She tried her best not to laugh by keeping her hand enclosed in a fist and keeping that on her mouth.

"And by the way Claire, my fashion style is not stupid." I said, trying to defend myself.

I heard a few 'No' and 'Not really' from all three of them.

"Ugh," I said, "Forget it." I grabbed the clothes, quickly shut myself in the bathroom and changed into them.

I hated jeans. I loathed them. They were so uncomfortable but I didn't want to create a fuss or they would buy something else.

"... to her. Okay, she's come. Now we can leave." Claire said. It was like a staircase in volume. First, they were whispering. Then, it became normal as if she wasn't sure whether she wanted Hanna and Miranda or me to hear. Last, she was very loud because, obviously, she wanted all of us to hear.

"Why is this-this walk, a gift?" I asked.

"We wanted to bring you out more. You're never around nature." Hanna said.

"Oh, really?" I asked, "I spent plenty of time with nature."

"Like?" Hanna asked.

"Like... w-walking to and f-from school and..."

"Yeah. That's not really nature." Hanna said.

"Plus you only stammer when you're lying." Miranda added.

"Fine! I don't spend time in nature. It's just so boring! Happy?" I yelled. I immediately regretted it.

"Don't make her angry on her birthday." Miranda said in a small voice.

Hanna continued on with the debate, "That's because you never spend any time in nature."

"What's the point? You just stare at the plants and it's useless. It's a waste of my time."

"Sure, for you it is. You've got to admire the beauty." Miranda said. Claire was unusually quiet but I didn't want to bring it up.

"At least this is better than the rest 'cuz it's not store-bought." I muttered to myself.

"What? I didn't hear you. No way!" Hanna and Claire said together.

"Nothing." I said while Hanna and Claire made such a big deal of speaking together. I didn't say anything else. We then left and just walked along the trees and talked about random topics laughing and sometimes tripping but catching ourselves before we fell. It was fun but boring at the same time. I was sure that if we were in a different environment, I would have enjoyed more but I ignored the 'nature' the entire time so it wouldn't have actually made a difference to me.

On the way home Hanna asked me a question. "So, how was it?"

"Boring." I replied.

"I see. Anyways, I'm not going to yell at you today," she emphasized on 'today'.

"Thanks." I murmured just loud enough for Hanna to hear me. I entered my room and quickly got out of the uncomfortable clothes.

"We have gifts number six to eleven ready." Claire said.

"Okay, alright, let's get this over with." I said.

"Alright," Hanna said, "Close your eyes," I closed them. She continued, "Three, two, one, open!" I opened them to see six gifts waiting for me.