Higher Than The Alpha (#Wattys2014) »ᴄɵᴍᴘᴌᴇтᴇ«

TWO

TWO – Birthday Cake [Victoria]

Charlie had left at ten last night to return to where he lived. It was kind of sad that not even I called where he lived "home" – for him, not me.

Checking my phone for the time showed that it was time to get up. But that would mean leaving my lovely and cosy warm bed. The thought of Charlie getting me out of bed to celebrate my birthday got me up and out though. A couple of years ago he'd barged his way in and had dunked a bucket of luke-warm water on me. I didn't speak to him for a couple of days after that.

And so, with a sigh, I got out of bed and went to shower and get dressed. Was it bad that I just got dressed in my normal clothes? Didn't bother to dress up for my birthday? Didn't bother to wear a massive badge showing the world that I was now eighteen? I decided not. Besides, who would care other than my mum and Charlie?

Going downstairs, I saw mum sitting at the table with Charlie eating a toffee yoghurt we'd got her from the shop yesterday. Charlie looked up and grinned at me as he saw me appear. Then he started singing happy birthday. And with the tone and volume he used, I wouldn't be surprised if our next door neighbours moved out. Slapping my hand over Charlie's mouth, I looked over to see my mum grinning at us.

"Happy birthday, Vic," she said with a large smile. "Here."

I glanced at the yellow envelope she held out in my direction. "Aw, mum, you didn't need to get me a card."

She rolled her eyes and pushed the card more forcefully in my direction. "You're eighteen. You deserve it. Now take it before Charlie does."

That made me grab the envelope and glare at Charlie. Charlie grinned and turned to my mum. "Can we cut the cake yet?"

"Dude! It's morning."

"So? Cake can be eaten at any time of the day," then he pulled his most innocent looking expression at my mum.

Laughing, she raised her hands in surrender. "If I get a knife and some plates, will you stop looking at me like that?"

Charlie grinned and nodded at her.

Shaking my head, I sat down at the table where they were sat and opened the envelope. Yellow envelope, cream card with a massive number eighteen on the front decorated with a range of celebration items. Opening the card, it said the usual.

To Vic,

HAVE A GREAT EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY.

MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE.

Love, mum.

xxx

And there was also something unusual. I counted the money, then counted again. One-hundred pounds.

"Mum? I can't take this."

"You can and you will," she said in a no-nonsense voice as she placed the plates, knife and monster cake on the table. I rolled my eyes at Charlie who licked his lips at the sight of the cake. "Like I said, your eighteen. And you deserve it. I just wish I could give you more."

I stayed silent. Thanks to paying loans and the mortgage we didn't have much at the end of the month. And that was with mum working full time. I tried getting a job, but mum had just shaken her head and told my to concentrate more with my studies than worry about money. But how could I not?

It was Charlie's question that broke the silence and brought laughter back. "Can we have cake now?"

Mum chuckled and thankfully cut the cake herself. Knowing that if Charlie cut it, half the cake would be on his plate.