Swimming? No thanks

Chapter 19

Alyssa's POV

I woke up to my phone ringing from beside my bed. I groaned as I answered it. "Who is this and what do you want this early?"

"It's me," Dalton's voice ran through the phone. "I just wanted to be the first to say happy sweet sixteen!"

"Thanks. Happy sixteenth to you!" I climbed out of my bed and headed to my closet.

"Turns out my parents made plans for my birthday, so I can't hang out after school. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It's not your fault. We can just do it tomorrow."

"Cool, same time, same place?"

"Of course."

"I'll talk to you at school."

"Yeah. Bye." I hung up and continued to look for something special to wear.

Suddenly, my door was swung open. I looked over just in time for my family to sing happy birthday to me.

"Thank you," I said when they finished.

"I thought we would wake you up." Megan's face fell.

"No, one of my friends already did that, but thanks for the thought."

"So how do you want to spend your birthday?"

"I was wanting to hang out with someone to make up for lost time, but they got held up. So I guess I'm free. What do you guys want to do?"

"Whatever you want to do."

"Could I just have the day out with my friends?"

"Sure."

"Thanks." I smiled at them before they left my bedroom.

Happy birthday, babies! I heard Hadley's voice in my head.

Thank you, I heard Dalton and I say in unison.

You didn't forget our birthday? I questioned.

Of course not. I may not have been with you, but I wished you guys a happy birthday every year.

Thanks for not forgetting about us.

I never could. Now get ready for school.

We will once you stop talking to us. I chuckled.

Things went silent and I resumed putting on my birthday outfit. For some reason, this year my birthday felt more special. It may be that I found my twin and my real mother. I finished getting ready for school just as I heard a knock on the door. I ran down the stairs and answered to find my smiling boyfriend.

"Happy birthday, Alyssa!" He yelled.

"Thank you." I smiled at him. He wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked down to the sidewalk, where we were met by Sarah, Diana, and Max.

"How's the birthday girl?" Max asked excitedly.

"Pretty good. My family sang happy birthday to me, my brother called me and told me happy birthday-"

"You have a brother?!" Cameron asked bewildered.

"Right, you weren't there yesterday. Turns out Dalton is biologically my brother and my real mom is a mermaid."

"What?"

"We'll explain later. Anyway, finally, my mom mind messaged me to tell me happy birthday."

"Sounds like a good day so far."

"Have you called Dalton, yet? It is his birthday, too."

"Of course I have. He says he has plans today."