Grey Twins

III

"Yo tell Lex happy birthday!" Some dude in the school hallway said. Birthday? Oh shit I totally forgot.

I went to my ap calc class like I totally didn't forget it was my birthday. So many people have told me to tell Lex happy birthday in this class but they can just tell her that themselves.

As the class was finishing up and everyone packed up the teacher Mr. Webb handed me a sticky note.

Happy birthday to you too! I need to talk to you so stay after.
- Webb

Ugh I hate talking to teachers. I stick the note somewhere in my backpack and wait for the bell to ring.

Once it does everyone leaves I go to the teacher.

"Why don't you tell anyone today is also your birthday?"

"Why would they care. Lexie is better"  I said telling him the truth.

"You are the first one in this school to graduate early. No one has done that here. You. Meredith. You are better." He said trying to convince me.

"I don't know. Lexie has everything. The guys. The friends. The great parents. The-"

"They're your parents too"

"We're treated differently. Anyways she has the looks. The great clothes. The money."

"But she doesn't have the good grades. She doesn't have all the teachers stunned by her achievements. She is not valedictorian. She is not the one that's getting a honors diploma handed to her at the end of the year."

"I know"

We talked a few minutes more and I left to go home. Well after waiting for Lexie since she is the birthday kid.

Once we got home Lexie said she had to get something for the garage so I just went into the house.

"Surpi- you're not lex. Get out." Ellis said. So I did. I closed the door and went around the house to my bedroom window where I climbed in.

"Surprise! Happy birthday Lexie!!" I heard people say out in the living room. I changed into my gym clothes and went to the gym to blow off some steam.

I was on the stair master when I started to feel really dizzy again. I got off and sat down on the floor. My watch telling me my heart rate was above 100. Fuck. Tachycardia. My chest started to hurt and I ended up fainting.

When I woke up I was told I was in extreme tachycardia when I came into the hospital. Which could lead into arrhythmias called atrial fibrillation. They told me I had to slow everything down.

"Is there anyone I could call?"

"Not really"

"Parents? Siblings? Relatives?"

"Dad is an alcoholic, mom a job junkie, sister too obsessed with herself, and relatives hate me. Mom works here but is celebrating my sisters birthday."

"Our records say it's your birthday too"

" I know"

"So they aren't gonna celebrate yours"

"They never do. I walked in the house today and they went, "Surpi- you're not lex. Get out.""

"I'm sorry Meredith"

"It's fine"

"It's not Meredith, all this stress you're carrying is causing your heart to beat too fast and-"

"And can lead me to heart failure and or death, I know" I said as The dr nodded.

"So how much do I need to pay? I don't want any mail from the hospital going home to my parents saying they need to pay my bill."

"Um okay go to the nurses station on your way out and they will tell you"

I nodded and left to go pay my bill.

Two hours later I was sitting on my favorite bench at the park. I run my thumb along the "A+M bff" engraved into the middle of the bench. I sigh as I get up and walk to the gym Since my car is at the gym.

I arrive at the gym and take my keys out of my pocket and get into the car driving home.

I get home and Ellis and Thatcher are fighting over who gets to give Lexie her next present. Stupid really. All of Lexies friends are now here. They all stare as I walk pass.

"Freak where my present?" Lexie says I'm guessing towards me.

"How should I know" I shrug and walk to my room.

She's too obsessed with her self and Ellis and thatcher are just feeding more into her obsession. Her friends too. They're all wrapped around her finger and can't do anything without her.

I lay in my bed after my shower it's been a few hours and I'm counting down the minutes till the day is over.

15min.

I decided if no one is celebrating my birthday I'll celebrate it my self. I drive to the nearest open grocery store and bought my self a cupcake and two purple candle with the numbers 1 and 7 on them.

I drive back home and head to my room. Once inside I locked the door and put my cupcake together.

5min.

I lit up the candles and sang myself a happy birthday. I blew out the candles and smiled slightly but tiredly. No one cares.

I went to the kitchen and placed the cupcakes in the back of the fridge. And placed the candles in my bedroom closet.

1min.

I laid in bed, looking at my alarm clock.

10
9
8

I have work tomorrow. I totally forgot.

3
2
1

12:00am

It's official. Not one person in this household told me anything. Makes no difference from any of my other birthdays.

I go to sleep and try to get a good sleep before school and work tomorrow.

The next morning I get dressed in some boyfriend jeans, converse, and a grey hoodie since it's December almost January.

Lexie is riding with Mark So I leave after her. I get to school and sign in through the office since I have late arrival.

I go through all my classes like any other day. I get to my last class of the day and this kid, uh I think his name is Derek, comes up to me.

"Hey" he says I don't know why since he never talks to anyone like me. I look at him and then back down at my paper.

I see he doesn't leave and just sits in the empty seat next to me. He takes something out and starts writing on it. He then places it on the end of my table.

'Hey Meredith. I know you probably don't like me but Lex and her friends keep talking crap in the hallways about how you lost a friend'

'Yea, I know, they're not exactly quite.' I write and place it we're here placed it.

'Who was it?'

'Like I would tell you.'

'Right sorry. Uh anyways I know we've never talked but do you wanna get coffee after school?'

'Busy.'

'With what? Reading? Wishing you had more friends?' I read what he wrote and place the card back unanswered.

I'm guessing he felt bad because he took it back and wrote more before placing it on my table again. From what I read It said he was sorry. But I ignored him. They're all the same so what ever.

The bell rang and I left school to go home and gets change into my work clothes. They gave me a shirt with the company name on it and told me I could wear whatever bottoms I wanted.

I got leggings under my sweats and a hoodie under my shirt since it's colder at night. I leave for work and see what We're moving today.

*Furniture from one storage room to another storage room across town.
*Relocating a trailer home
And some other small stuff that will fill up the 8 hours of work tonight.