The Brave and Beautiful

Adam and Eve

Adam's POV

David, Izzy and now Hope. The words still echoed in my mind; three down, one to go. How was 236 going to get rid of me? Every sound or movement I heard and saw made my skin crawl. What made it so hard was that I didn't have Izzy, David or Hope to help me get through it.  Before, when 236 was about to do something big, I'd have them to help me. We'd go through it together. But now... Now I just don't know. I was the lone wolf, with no one I could talk to about this situation. I felt so vulnerable. But I had to breathe. I look at the clock. 6:25 am. I should probably get out of bed. But then again, it's so comfy, so warm. If I stayed in bed, I could be safe. I could pretend to be sick, stay home, away from 236. But then again my parents would still have to go to work and I'd be home alone. That probably wasn't a good idea either.

I hop out of bed, and grab some clothes. I jump in the shower, eat some food, brush my teeth, and get in the car. Today needs to be a good day. Today I shouldnt focus on 236, I should focus on me. After all, it's my big day.

When I walk into class, all my classmates give me a big welcome. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!!" They all screamed. Not expecting it, I jumped high into the air. But when my feet touched the ground, for once there was a smile on my face. Everyone in the class had a smile, facing me, a big platter In their hands. Emma, Liz and James were holding the platter, on it a beautiful, delicious looking vanilla cake. Pink and blue frosting coated it, and in yellow "Happy Birthday Adam" was written on the top. I blushed. It was all so sweet. And the cake looked amazing, three glorious layers.

"Oh my gosh!" I said. "Who made this cake!"

"Ms. Collins must have" Josh said. "It was here when we came in" Ms. Collins always does this thing where she comes really early in the morning, leaves a note or something for us, then comes super late when school actually starts. The note usually says something like "Sit in your seats, and I'll be there soon" but no one ever sits. I guess she gave me a cake...

"Why'd she make one for your birthday, and not anyone else's?" Liz asked, coming forward from the clump of grade eights. 

"All the teachers love Adam" Jullia said. Emma, being the one holding the platter in the middle, set it down on a desk.

"Shall we?" She said.

"Now?!" Jullia said "It's not lunch, it's the start of the day"

"Yeah, we can't eat the cake yet" James said. Everyone agreed.

"Let's let the birthday boy decide!" Emma said. Everyone looked at me. I was hungry. I don't even know why. Maybe because the cake just looked so good!

"So, what do you want to do with the cake?" Kathryn asked. People started to grow impatient, as I stared at the cake, mouth watering.

"I'll have a piece now!" Some people jumped up, exitedly. Some people groaned, thinking lunch would make more sense. Jullia even looked at her watch, as if saying "It's only 8:10 why are we eating cake?"

Emma grabbed a knife that was on the platter, and started to cut a huge piece. "WOW! That's a huge slice!" I said.

"Oops! Well, the birthday boy always gets the most" she smiled. She handed me the cake on a paper plate, and a plastic fork as well. My stomach grumbled as I stabbed the fork into the cake.

"Hey! Give me a piece please!" Jackie said. Emma started to slowly stab the knife through the cake, but then Ms. Collins walked in.

"What's going on?" She asked. Everyone paused. Then she saw the cake. "Oh, it's a birthday celebration. Who's birthday is it?" In that second, the cake became as dangerous as a bomb. Emma dropped the knife mid- cut, backing away, hands in the air. Jullia gasped, followed by a gasp by Josh. Everyone stepped back from it.