My Name Is Harper

iii

I opened my eyes and looked across to my sister's bed. She wasn't there. I sat up then went down stairs looking for her. I yawned and rubbed my eyes at the bottom of the stairs. "Happy birthday!" my family screamed. It rang in my ears.

"Thank you." I said tiredly and smiled. My sister and brother were both already changed for school and college. My mother passed me a birthday bag with wrapped presents inside. "Thank you." I said again. I sat down on the sofa and started to take the packages out of the bag. The first one was a fairly small box. I ripped off the paper. The box was blue and cardboard. I peeled the sellotape and opened the box. Bath bombs. I sniffed the box and the smell of an avocado bomb and a lemon bomb infected my nose. I smiled and thanked my parents again. I took out a very thin rectangular box this time. I ripped the paper off....an Anastasia eye shadow palate. I never wear makeup. "Mum." I began. "You do know I never wear makeup?" I said to my mother.

"In case you have a date, or a party."

"Um. Okay. Thanks." I said in an unimpressed tone. I opened the third. After taking off the paper I saw a small white velvet jewelry box. It contained a silver necklace with "Callie" in Sseungi calligraphy font. "Awe this is nice. Thank you." I said and put the necklace on.

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Maisie and I walked in through the school gates. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Callie! Happy birthday to you!" my friends sang loudly. I noticed someone in the back. Familiar messy brown hair, thick rimmed glasses, green eyes and freckles. Mason. He waved and smiled. "Happy birthday Harry!" Harry was the nickname he gave me when we were together. It was because I had a celebrity crush on Prince Harry at the time. I smiled back and blushed slightly. I still love Mason even though it's been 2 months since we were forced apart. Now though, Mason has a girlfriend and I'm scared to try and start something between us again. 

My best friend Maya handed me a bag with 'Happy Birthday' on it. It was blue and obviously a boy's bag. I preferred that. Anything girly makes me want to throw up. Inside was a red and black flannel shirt. "Thank you!" I said and threw myself onto Maya in a hug. "I have to hide this from my parents though, anything at least a bit gay and they pounce." Maya knew the real me. Pansexual and scared I have to say. Scared that my parents would find out and kick me out, scared that I would never be allowed to speak to Maisie or Caleb again.

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"Callie" Maisie yelled from the end of the corridor. The final bell had just gone and I was packing away some of my books in my locker. I turned my head. "Do you have the money for the haircut?" She asked as I took off my jacket and put on my flannel shirt that Maya got me.

"Yep." I smiled. "I can't wait." I said, running my hand through my long, dirty blonde hair. "I can't wait to chop it all of. Shorter than yours!" I said, gesturing to her chin length brown hair. Maisie smiled back.

"Let's go then." She said. We began walking towards the hairdressers.

"Maisie." I said, looking up from the ground to her.

"Yeah?"

"You might already know this but...well...I'm pan." I said nervously, she was the only person in my family who was by my side whatever happened.

"Yeah I know. I also know you have a crush on Layla Sanders. I can read you." She laughed. I chuckled nervously in return. "Don't worry! I'm here for you!" She said and shoved me slightly. I smiled, happy that I now have closure.