The days approaching my birthday pass quicker than I anticipated and my anxiety grows with each passing night. It's stupid, but I really hate my birthday. I hate the fuss, the fake smiles and words, and don't get me started on how much of a waste the birthday card industry is. £2.50 for a piece of coloured card, which already has 'Happy Birthday' written in it, that I will never use again? And those aren't even the worse ones. Some sing when you open them.
I shudder just at the thought of opening such a card.
My iPod, which is shuffling some of my favourite music in an attempt to calm down, falls into silence and I sigh. I have more than enough music on there which means I have been sat in here, hiding from my birthday, for far too long.
I've been up half the night, unable to sleep, so I decide to have a little nap instead of cursing the rising sun.
It feels like only a moment later Sam is shaking me awake, but as I stretch I realise that I must have been asleep for considerably longer than a moment.
"Sorry, I left you as long as I could but if you sleep any longer then we'll be late." Sam murmurs and I nod, glancing at the watch lying on my bedside table and noting that it's gone midday.
"S'alright." I mumble, sitting on the edge of my bed for a second to fully regain consciousness.
"Happy Birthday, by the way." Sam says over his shoulder, his mouth curling up into a happy smile and I return it as best I can.
He walks out, instructing me to dress warm and I nod, not questioning where it is that we're going because I know he won't tell me. I shuffle towards my wardrobe, plucking out a soft t-shirt, jeans and my Totoro sweater to go beneath my coat. I dress sluggishly, tying up my boots and shoving my unruly hair beneath my favourite dark blue beanie.
I trail out of my room and find Sam leant against the sofa, a huge rucksack resting beside his foot and I frown in concern. He glances up at me, sliding his phone away with a satisfied smile.
"You ready to go?" He asks and I nod but hesitate for a second. I go to take off my glasses, intending to switch them to contacts when Sam's voice stops me.
"Why do you always do that?" He asks and I frown.
"Why don't you ever wear your glasses in public?" He clarifies, editing his question so that I can comprehend him and I shrug, fidgeting with the arms of them.
"They don't suit me." I admit, not wanting to say the actual, teasing words that had been thrown at me in high school, unbeknownst to Sam. I have always been an introvert, but I've not always been over 6ft tall.
Sam scoffs, rolling his eyes melodramatically.
"Yes, they do, Elias. Whoever told you that was lying." He states and I pause, my lips twitching upwards.
"Really?" I ask, surprised at his response.
"Yes, they make you look hot. Now can we go?" He asks briskly but I savour the compliment. Sam doesn't hand them out very often, so I nod quietly, sliding my glasses back onto my face with a small smile.
He glances at my jumper, peeking through the opening of my coat and he grins to himself. Smug bastard. I glance at his wrist and find myself equally satisfied that my gift is still encasing it, the metal plate gleaming in the weak January sunshine.
"So where are we headed?" I ask curiously, my mind trying to map out every possible eventuality. Sam winks at me and shakes his head, guiding me towards the train station and I sigh, the possibilities increasing by ten-fold as my mind busily interprets the information.
YOU ARE READING
Growing Pains
Novela Juvenil-A soulmate story- Sam and Eli are best friends, they have been for years and they tell each other everything. Well, almost everything. Elias Grey has felt every cut, bruise and fracture that Samuel Rivera has received for eleven years. He has no...
