"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 52 - "35's Awaiting..."

Chapter 52 - "35's Awaiting..."

Clara's PoV

'Happy Birthday Mummy' Poppy squeaked as she bolted into the room and jumped straight on top of me.

There is no boundaries these days. It's just a good thing that I had clothes on. Because if I didn't that would have been a challenge to explain to a 4 year old.

'Thanks Duckling' I huffed pulling the duvet further over my head to hide myself from the world.

'Come on Mummy. We made breakfast and presents' she said pulling be duvet away as I pushed her off me and insisted that she go and find another room to be on or someone else to annoy.

'Come on Clara. Up. It's fine to see the daylight'

'I don't want too' I grumbled.

- - -

Turns out downstairs in this house was no better than being in bed - except from the fact that there was coffee made for me downstairs.

'Hey Mummy. Me and Evie bought you this' she said as she handed me the present and card but Evie was a stubborn old thing.

After last nights arguing she was still refusing to talk to me even though she was the one in the wrong.

'Thanks girls' I smiled as I opened the bag that obviously John had given them the money for but I had been wanting a new rucksack for so long and it was such a nice colour.

I started instantly transferring things from my old rucksack into my new one which was pure white on the outside and had a silver interior with a few useful pockets.

'Do you like it?' Evie asked suddenly shocking me with life of a voice.

'It's lovely. Thank you' I said kissing her forehead as she straightened her school tie and jumper.

'What do you say to Mummy Evie?' John instructed as Henry ran towards me all dressed and ready for school. He was just waiting of his toast.

'I said it'

'No you didn't'

'Happy Birthday Mummy Clara' Henry said as he handed me a piece of paper that looked half digested but that was fine. It was the thought that counts.

'Yeah. What ever. What he said' she grumbled leaving the room grumpily.

'Well someone's in a good mood'

'She's of having that stuff back until she says sorry and means it' I scoffed stirring the sugar into my coffee.

'Sugar? You never have sugar in your coffee!' He grumbled.

'It's the stress' I growled turning to go upstairs to get dressed.

After settling on a dress and cardigan I met everyone at the car with my new rucksack and was cornered by John.

'I haven't forgetting about you you know'

'Huh?'

'Your 35 today. I've got you a great present' he smirked.

'First of all I'm 25 today. And that's very cute'

'You can't be 25 with an 11 year old daughter. People won't believe it' he said rolling his eyes.

'Why not? I could have been 14 when I had her' I scoffed unlocking the car. 

- - -

'Happy birthday' a voice shouted across the car park way too loudly for my likening. It meant that people could potentially hear him and what he was saying.

I hate birthdays. Not so much because of the age. I don't mind getting older because that's just something that happens - it's more the prospect of attention. I can't stand being the centre of attention.

I like to give other people attention I just don't like getting g it myself.

'Shut up Adrian or so help me I might just punch you in the face' I growled as he bounded across the car park with a present and gift bag in hand anyway.

'Oh don't be such a grump' he scoffed. 'Your not allowed to be grump on your birthday' he huffed.

'I like being a grump I thought we agreed no presents?'

'We did... but then a little bird told me it was your 35th and I couldn't just let that go unmentioned...'

'Tell me god you didn't mention it to anyone here did you?' I whined.

'Well I was in charge of getting the card and all the teachers signed it then someone told me that it was your 35th so I made the teachers gather in the staff room for Cake?'

'It'd better just be cake otherwise so help me I might punch you in the face' I complained.

'Of course it's just cake' he smirked but I knew he was lying.

- - -

As soon as I had escaped the teachers lounge that morning I went straight to my classroom because then I would be safe from all birthday festivities other than the fact that I kept getting birthday texts.

Alas nothing in this school is that simple so I ended up with teachers gathered in my classroom even though I just wanted silence.

Then to top the whole awful day off - Mr Foster decided that we would have to sing happy birthday in the hall at assembly because that is customary for every kid in the school.

Turns out that that I share a birthday with a set of twins in the reception class (Poppy's class) and someone in year 6.

- - -

'Right. I've had enough of birthday stuff. Can we please drop it?' I asked as I walked in the front door then straight back out of it when I saw that there was balloons on the lounge floor and banners on the wall.

Unfortunately by the time I got out of the house my car keys had been stolen and moved.

'Right who stole me car keys?'

'Me' John smirked standing with the keys in hand. 'I'm going to pick up your birthday present' he said unlocking it. 'Now stay here and have cake with the kids and order the pizza' he said.

'Why can't you go snd pick up the present in your own car?' I huffed.

'Because I need this one to trade in to get the new one you've always wanted' he said rolling his eyes as I suddenly perked up and having a birthday didn't seem so bad after all.

'New car?'

'Indeed'