Build A Boy

Chapter 1: A Not-So-Happy Birthday

Chapter 1

If I were to offer you one million dollars, in exchange for the answer to the question, what is the worst feeling in the world,what would your answer be?

Some may say it's getting shot. Others may say it's getting burned. Some may even go as far as to say that it is getting your eyeballs gouged out with a plastic spoon, but I can tell you that you'd all be wrong.

I happen to know that the worst feeling in the universe is the feeling you get when you loose someone important to you.

No matter how, that feeling of loosing control of everything is by far worse than any pain you can concoct in your mind.

Coming from someone who's experienced it several times it is horrible.

The pain you feel then is the type that leaves you breathless, and searching madly for a cure.

But again, take it from me. It gets better. I know it does.

So keep your head up, and never forget to smile.

•~•

It started out as the perfect morning for a sixteenth birthday.

I awoke to a few rays of sunshine dripping in from between the draping and splaying across my eyelids.

The birds were chirping, the sky was that kind of blue that only pure perfection can achieve, and the few clouds that were lazily clumped to the east were stretching out to high five the sun in a seemingly effortless way.

I'd have painted a picture of it if I could paint.

I grinned as I checked the screen of my phone. It was seven o'clock in the morning, on February 14, but I really didn't need to check the date to know what day it was, because today wasn't just any day.

It was my birthday.

I happily set my phone to my "feel good" playlist, and squealed with delight when one of my favorite songs came on.

Walking into my bathroom, I marveled at the my mirror.

My mother had snuck in overnight and written happy birthday on it in fancy letters.

It was a Santos birthday tradition dating back to when my sister and I were little kids.

I jammed to my music as I wiped my mirror clean, and then started getting ready.

I showered, make-uped, and got ready for school all while smiling like some sort of lunatic.

I knew this was going to be the best day ever.

After my getting ready montage, I headed downstairs, to see my mother drinking coffee at the table.

"Good morning Mom!" I said.

"Morning sweetheart" she echoed.

We talked casually about how fast I was growing up, and what my plans were for the night.

A bunch of my friends were throwing me a party at this awesome new lounge that had opened downtown, and I was brimming with excitement at the prospect.

After breakfast, I headed to school.

Immediately as I entered I was greeted with pats on the back and happy birthdays.

I guess you could say I'm pretty popular at school, but that would only be because of Ki.

Ki being my 180 pounds of ripped, gorgeous quarterback.

Me being a junior and him being a senior automatically made us the topic on everyone's lips.

I spotted Ki waiting for me by my locker talking to my friend Shea.