The World is Ugly, but You are Beautiful to Me

Chapter 18

Logan and I sat alone last week, and I'm sure today will be the same. today is Thursday, and tomorrow, January 18th, is my birthday.

I'm excited, I guess. But it's not like anything is going to happen. I will be 17 years old, and that will be my only gift. My mom stopped giving me presents the year after my dad died. No one in my school cares enough, and I'm don't talk with my relatives that much. Most of them live in America anyways. Logan is the only person who might get me something, but I know he won't since he doesn't know it's my birthday. I don't want to tell him and make him feel obliged to do something.

**

Being seventeen feels exactly the same as being sixteen. Even though birthdays mark another year of life, it's still just another day. Every day you get older, it's not just once each year that you mature and grow. I don't know why this year I thought it would be different. I guess it was because I'm so close to being independant. Just one more year, and I'll be 18. Just one more year, and I can leave. That's all I want. I don't want to be in London anymore. It's not as good as some people make it out to be. I want to go to collage in America.

Halfway throught the day, Logan rushes up to me while I'm in the hallway, walking to my next class. I slow down as he paces beside me, trying to catch is breath.

He's panting as he exclaims, "You didn't tell me it was your birthday!"

I look at him, confused. How did he know it was my birthday? "How did you find out?" I ask aloud.

"Chelsea told me," he says and I groan. "She's planning on doing something during lunch. I don't know what though. Hopefully something nice. I really don't feel like spending another night in the principal's office,"

"Me neither," I sigh.

**

Just like Logan had predicted, Chelsea struts to our table in the middle of lunch with a gang of snobby girls stalking behind her.

Before I have a chance to tell her to go away, they start singing happy birthday to me. What is going on? I ask myself. She's never nice. Wouldn't my birthday just give her a reason to be less nice? The song attracts many curious eyes in my direction. I hate it.

When I think that things couldn't get any more awkward, Chelsea sweetly asks, " Do you wanna come over tonight? We could go out and maybe even meet some hotties. It's your birthday, after all. May as well have some fun, right?" The weirdest part is how sincere she sounds. But of course, there's a catch; she whispers,"Your mom already said you're allowed. She thinks we're friends and you're getting your nails done with me. Now say yes and meet me at my house at eight."

I shut my eyes to resist from rolling them at her. "Sure," I say so that everyone can hear. Logan looks at me skeptically. He's probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me. I don't blame him, I am too.