Is this love or just lust, sir?

Sometimes Sixteen Ain't So Sweet.

"You can't stay off school forever."

It was no use, after the last two days of groaning and rolling around on my bed complaining loudly of how my head was throbbing, my stomach felt like a big bruise and I could throw up at any point - my lie had caught up with me.

"Either we go to the doctors today or you go to school." Mum had given me a worried glance as she gently ran her hand across my dressing table. "Tina, your exams are this year you can't be off just because you feel under the weather."

Normally my parents had sat me down and integrated me about school and if I was trying to hide from something- but they seemed to believe me this time. Dad had found it extremely worrying how instead of running round on the countdown to my birthday I had been tucked up in bed for most of the past few days.

"Can't I just have today off?" I groaned pulling my body up as I gave my mum a tired state. "One more day, it's a Friday."

"It's you're birthday!" Mum cried, looking at me with a smile. "Sweet Sixteen not Sleepy Skiver, now either your ill enough to go to the doctors or well enough for school."

"But mum-" I protested, watching her put down the necklace she had been examining.

"Go to school, celebrate your birthday, have friends over tonight, go out tomorrow night and I promise you will not look back and wonder what the heck you were doing in those fluffy pink socks."

"Mum I really don't feel like going in today...think of it as a birthday present?" I tried again already knowing that I was on a doomed road.

"I've already gotten you a present, and I've lost the recite so I can't get a refund. Tough luck my sweet darling daughter as your mother I love you enough to tell you the truth of what you must do." My mum stared down at me, clenching her jaw slightly in a disapproving manor.

"And what's that?" I sighed, pulling my self up into a proper sitting position.

"Get in that shower and have a hot wash, do your hair all cute, give yourself a fresh sweet look and bloody well put on a smile." Mum sent me an air kiss before making a comment on tidying up my room.

And like that, my day seemed to become a hell lot more complicated than being able to watch the season one and season two GLEE DVD I had stored next to my tv.

-

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Tina, happy birthday to you!" Maggie's loud and demanding voice screeched as soon as I reached my kitchen - taking in the view before me.

My father, Maggie and Zack were stood around the table with a large blueberry muffin with a candle lit: four present bags sat neatly next to the cake. Maggie's blonde hair was in a high pony tale with only a few stands framing her face and a big bright grin taking up her face. Zack's hair was styled in a messy gelled form and a carefree amused smirk played on his lips. My mum went up from the hallway where she was stood and went to stand next to my dad: both with a proud happy but slightly tearful expression, and for the first time this week I was actually happy it was my birthday.

"Oh gee- thanks guys," scratching the back of my head awkwardly for a moment before rushing over and throwing myself at the people I cared for most in the world.

"Presents first or food?" Dad asked me with a glint in his eyes as I stared at the tempting cake and the mysterious boxes.

"Both?" I grinned as I leaped towards the parcels and started to devour my way through the cake as I teared through the wrapping paper.

---

With the wrapping paper ripped, ruined and tossed to the side, my new items laid gently on the table and the cake already being digested - Maggie, Zack and I were at the school gates early. Being my birthday I had been loved enough to be driven to school and with it being so early the three of us toddled of to the library to the warmth.