Tridents, butterflies and absolute freedom. (Book 5)

Only children

Fliss

It was my birthday today. I was 13, officially a teenager. Me and Charlie worked out last night that when mom and dad were about this age that it was only 5 years off from when they became parents.

That just seemed weird.

Yeah weird.

The door opened "Don't attack me okay?"

Charlie.

"Well, I can't make promises I'm not sure I'll keep- oh go on then, ok."

"Oh good," he came further in "Your teenager self hasn't kicked in yet, here, happy birthday?" He handed me a pink package.

I sighed "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

I ripped it open. Ah!

"Oh my God! Thank you- when did you go to the Capitol?"

The Capitol has the best chocolate I have ever tasted in my life.

"I didn't- I got mom to pick me some up."

"But how'd you afford it?"

"I know I keep telling you I'm a poor student but that's not particularly true if it's your birthday."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I'm going to go."

"Go where?"

"Go back to the couch with the Dog and let you have five seconds peace before you get bombarded."

"Any idea what mom and dad have got me?"

He grinned "I'm not telling you."

"Ugh, ok."

Not two minutes later there was a tap on my door "Fliss?"

Oh!

"Come in!"

My mom came in and sat on the edge of my bed "Morning, happy birthday!"

"I didn't realise you were back yet."

She nodded "I got back at about 1 last night so I went straight to bed."

"Oh, I tried to stay awake but it was kinda a fail."

"Yeah your dad said, um, he managed to stay awake, just, huh."

"Aw, he waited up for you."

She blushed "Yeah."

"What did they say? At the court?"

She shrugged "Not much, so, it's still pretty vague."

"Ah right."

She stroked my cheek "Don't worry though, I'm going to be fine, I didn't do anything they said, not for it to be illegal."

"Ok, um,"

Change the subject.

"Mom,"

"Yeah?"

"Um, what time was I born?"

"Um," her face changed, she stared at her hands on the bed.

"I'm not sure babe, there was no clock around to say so, you know, when you were born? It was about dawn though?"

I giggled "Mom, it's ok if you forgot what time?"

"I haven't, um, Fliss- you weren't born in a hospital or anything?"

What. WHAT?!

"Where then?!"

"You know Pine Lane yeah?"